Novels by Vanessa

Kellan’s PovThe sound of Sasha's chair scraping against the floor and her sudden bolt out of the coffee shop echoed in my head long after she was gone.I had watched her rush across the street, climb into her car, and drive away into the dark night. Her words about her family falling apart, about a scandal and a life destroyed overnight, hung heavily in the air between the empty coffee mugs.She thought I was just another spoiled rich kid who never had to worry about a thing. She thought my life was a fairy tale.For the first time since Marcus proposed that stupid billionaire bet, winning the money didn't matter to me anymore.This wasn't about proving a point to my teammates, and it wasn't about my ego. It was about Sasha. I needed her to see that I wasn't just a face on a billboard or a last name with a trust fund. But sitting there alone in the quiet cafe, I realized something important: rushing her would ruin everything.If I pushed too hard, she would just build her walls highe

Sasha’s PovMonday morning arrived with a strange, eerie quiet that instantly put me on edge.I walked into the West Wolves training facility carrying my heavy camera bag in one hand and a tripod tucked under my arm, bracing myself for the usual headache.I expected Kellan West to jump out from behind a corner, flash his bright white teeth, and make some annoying comment about my camera or my serious face. I had my mental walls built up high, ready to push him back into his place like I always did.Except, Kellan did not show up.Well, he was there, skating hard on the ice with the rest of the team, but the moment I stepped onto the sidelines, something was completely off. During the morning drill, I set up my tripod, struggling a little bit to lock the heavy metal legs into place. Suddenly, a pair of large hands reached out and clicked the final latch securely into position before I could even blink.I jumped back, my heart pounding against my ribs, and looked up. It was Kellan. He

Kellan’s PovHer words felt like a physical slap across my face. “You could be the last man on earth, Kellan West, and I still wouldn't date you.”I stood frozen in the middle of the crowded hotel ballroom, watching Sasha's back as she stormed out the glass doors. For the first time in my entire life, a woman had rejected me, walked away, and left me completely speechless. Usually, girls laughed at my jokes, smiled at my winks, and practically tripped over themselves just to get a text back. But Sasha Reed? She looked at me like I had a bad smell, and no matter what I did, I could not charm my way past her walls."Whoa, man. You look like you just got hit by a truck," Marcus said, dropping a heavy hand onto my shoulder.I blinked, pulling myself out of my daze, and turned to look at my teammates. Marcus, our alternate captain, was grinning from ear to ear, holding a glass of sparkling water. Behind him, three other guys from the team—Luke, Tyler, and Noah—were watching me with mass

Sasha’s PovThe second week of working with the West Wolves started with a headache, and his name was Kellan West. I thought the first day was bad, but I was so wrong. Ever since my boss told me I had to follow him everywhere for the whole season, Kellan acted like he owned me, my camera, and my entire life.Monday morning rolled around, and I was standing near the edge of the ice rink, trying to adjust my camera settings. The boys were skating hard, practicing drills for the upcoming game. I raised my camera, looking through the lens to catch a good action shot of the forward line.I waited for the player to skate past, focusing my lens, and just as I pressed the button to take the photo, a giant blur of blue and white jersey jumped right in front of my face.Click went my camera.I lowered it slowly. Standing right inches away from me was Kellan, grinning like a mischievous kid who just stole a cookie from the jar. He was breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his forehead, and hi

Sasha’s PovThe bitter wind outside the West Wolves training facility cut right through my heavy jacket, but it was nothing compared to the chill in my stomach as I pushed open the heavy glass doors.I didn't want to be here.Ten years ago, the hockey world had spat my family out after a devastating scandal stripped my father of his career and left us counting pennies just to survive. Since then, I had built my life around a strict, unbreakable rule: keep your camera steady, keep your mouth shut, and stay as far away from professional hockey players as humanly possible. They were loud, dripping with unearned wealth, and entirely full of themselves.Yet, here I was, clutching my camera bag like a shield, walking straight into the lion's den to photograph the most arrogant team in the league."Just take the photos, collect your paycheck, and leave," I muttered to myself, marching across the polished concrete floor toward the rink.I found a quiet corner near the edge of the ice, unzippe