Novels by Joy Apens

"Dark, addictive stories with unexpected twists. Each story is about 20,000 words, so settle in and prepare for eleven intense tales filled with complicated relationships, hidden secrets, rivalry, difficult choices, and surprising connections. Every story introduces new characters facing circumstances that could change their lives forever. **Unexpected Connections: Dark Story Collection** Athlete and Team Manager Business Rivals Childhood Friends Former Rivals Reunited Family Friends Two Longtime Neighbors Researcher and Journalist Executive and Secretary Housekeeper and Employer Younger Man and Older Woman Doctor and Researcher"

"I will ruin you for any other man. I will be your first and your only, Arabella. You will not survive me." His voice whispered in my ear, rough and husky. *** Luciano Since the day I watched my family die before my eyes, I have craved revenge. To inflict pain on my enemies. And now, that revenge is in the form of my rival’s daughter. Sweet, innocent Arabella Bianchi. My plan is to make her my slave, breaking her until there is nothing left of my captive. But as time goes on, my wolf threatens to undo my hatred for her. Slowly, the lines between love and hate begin to blur, a bond I cannot accept. And I won't because monsters like me deserve no love.

"On the bed!" He commanded gruffly, leaving no room for questions. Everything was quiet and I heard my heart pounding. It was difficult to even breathe. He suddenly moved, reaching for me. I felt his fingers brush over my shoulder, the silky robe slowly slipping off of me. My heart filled with dread as I thought about how I looked in his eyes right now. My body trembled, my eyes shut and it felt like my face was on fire. "Please..." I begged in a broken and shaky voice. “I don’t want to be your breeder.” *** Talon the Black is as his name suggests. Dominant. Heartless. Ruthless. King of the Lycans, Talon is madly in love with his mate, Willow, but things start to fall apart when she cannot bear him a child. Driven to desperation, Willow begs him to breed a filthy human and while Talon is reluctant to, he does as his beloved wants. Abused and maltreated by her parents, Avalyn has been sold by her father to the Lycans. Her life is even made worse when she realizes that she is to be the Lycan King’s breeder. She is to sleep with him and carry his child even though he is already married. It is a cold business exchange, her curvy body in exchange for an heir, nothing more. But what happens once this ruthless King starts to fall in love with her? Can they hide their forbidden love from Willow or would there be to pay once she finds out?

"A Dark Werewolf Romance **Olivia** Because of a debt I never created, I was sent straight into Matteo's world. Now I'm living inside his isolated mansion, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and rules I never agreed to follow. Matteo is powerful, ruthless, distant—and he happens to be the Alpha everyone around him fears. I should find a way out the moment I realize he has no intention of allowing me to simply walk away. But Matteo expects obedience, while I have never been good at following someone else's commands. He thinks fear will make me surrender. He's wrong. The more he tries to control my future, the more determined I become to challenge him. Yet every confrontation reveals another side of the mysterious Alpha, and soon I begin to wonder whether the ruthless man everyone fears is hiding something far more complicated. I came here because of a debt. I refuse to let that debt determine the rest of my life. **Matteo** I've never met anyone who challenges me the way Olivia does. She arrived at my mansion looking completely out of place, yet she refuses to be intimidated by me. She questions my decisions. She breaks my rules. And every time I expect her to retreat, she surprises me instead. I should send her away before her presence creates problems I cannot control. Instead, I find myself paying attention to every move she makes. She thinks she can convince me to let her leave. What she doesn't understand is that her arrival has uncovered secrets neither of us was prepared to face. I never expected Olivia to become important to me. But somehow, she has. And now I have to decide whether keeping her close will protect us both—or destroy everything I've spent years building."

"""Are you always this impossible?"" I ask, glaring at him. Zayn gives me an amused look. ""Only when you're around."" ""Then staying on this island with you is going to be a nightmare."" ""Finally, something we agree on."" I should walk away. Unfortunately, on an abandoned island with nowhere else to go, avoiding Zayn Dawson is easier said than done. *** A boat cruise gone terribly wrong... All sharp-tongued Cara McKay wanted was a relaxing trip away from her ordinary life. She certainly didn't expect to end up stranded on an abandoned island. And she definitely didn't expect her only companion to be Zayn Dawson—the arrogant, confident man who seems capable of testing her patience with every word he says. Zayn isn't happy about the situation either. Being stranded far from civilization was never part of his plans, especially when the only person beside him is a stubborn woman who challenges him at every opportunity. Cara drives him crazy. Zayn infuriates her. But with no immediate way off the island, their endless arguments soon become the least of their problems. They need shelter. They need food. Most importantly, they need to work together if they ever hope to return home. As the days pass, Cara begins to realize there is more to Zayn than his careless reputation suggests. And Zayn discovers that the woman he once considered impossible may be the only person he can truly rely on. Two stubborn strangers. One abandoned island. And nowhere to escape from each other. What begins as a disaster may become the adventure that changes both of their lives forever."

"A collection of ten famous fairy tales retold with darker twists, unexpected turns, and completely reimagined characters. Each story is approximately 30,000 words, taking familiar tales into mysterious new worlds filled with secrets, complicated relationships, unexpected encounters, and surprising revelations. Forget everything you thought you knew about these classic stories. Familiar heroes and villains return with different motives, new challenges, and secrets that could change their stories forever. Ten dark and twisted fairy tales are waiting to be discovered! Dark Fairytale Series Rumpled — A Retelling of Rumplestiltskin Sinderella — A Retelling of Cinderella Allissa in Wonderworld — A Retelling of Alice in Wonderland Lost in the Woods — A Retelling of Hansel and Gretel Snow White and the Seven Guardians — A Retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Red — A Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood Tangled — A Retelling of Rapunzel Bella and the Beast — A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast The Unexpected Maid — A Retelling of The Duckling Tale Goldilocks and the Three Were-Bears — A Retelling of Goldilocks Step beyond the familiar stories and discover what happens when beloved fairy tales take a darker and more unexpected path."

"I bet you still feel me," I whispered, tracing a lazy finger down her spine, just to make her shudder. "Still stretched from how deep I was inside you." She sucked in a sharp breath, but I caught the way her thighs pressed together, the way she burned with the memory she was so desperately trying to bury. "Shut up," she bit out, her voice shaking. I chuckled, dark and low, brushing my knuckles against her jaw. "Why? Does it drive you insane knowing you let the villain ruin you first?" Camilla He used to make my life hell. Stefano Madden, the golden boy with ice in his veins and a filthy mouth that cut deeper than knives. I was the fat, invisible girl he loved to humiliate. Now, I’m curvy, successful… and unfortunately, his personal assistant. I swore I’d never fall for him again. But the way he looks at me now? Like he wants to ruin me all over again, only slower, dirtier, deeper. And I would let him. Stefano I broke her once. I should’ve walked away. But Camilla Whitlock grew into every man’s fantasy and I hate that she makes me feel. So I push her. Tease her. Own her. Until the line between cruelty and desire snaps. I take her, claim her, and when I put a baby in her, my obsession turns lethal. But when she’s stolen from me, all bets are off. I’ll burn the world to bring her back… even if she never forgives me.

""You don't belong here, Jasmine. Don't forget that."" Hardin's cold voice makes me freeze. I look up at him, trying not to show how much his words affect me. ""You think becoming part of this family suddenly changes who you are?"" he asks. ""It doesn't."" I clench my hands, forcing myself to remain calm. ""I never asked you to accept me."" ""Good,"" he replies, turning toward the door. ""Because I don't trust you or your mother. And I'm going to find out exactly why you came here."" He leaves without another word. I stare after him, realizing that moving into the Alpha's home hasn't rescued me from my problems. It may have brought me directly into an even bigger one. *** Jasmine Scott is an omega who has spent most of her life being overlooked. Raised in a poor neighborhood by her struggling single mother, Jasmine has always been treated as an outsider at school. Everything changes when her mother marries the Alpha. Suddenly, Jasmine is living in a world of status, privilege, and powerful werewolves. She hopes the change will finally give her and her mother the peaceful life they have always wanted. There's only one problem. Hardin Scott. The Alpha's handsome and arrogant son wants nothing to do with Jasmine. He is convinced that she and her mother entered his family for selfish reasons, and he refuses to believe otherwise. Determined to expose what he believes is their hidden agenda, Hardin makes it clear that Jasmine will never truly belong in his world. But Jasmine refuses to be intimidated. The more they clash, the more Hardin begins to question his assumptions about her. Jasmine isn't the calculating outsider he expected. And as family secrets gradually surface, both of them discover that the truth behind their parents' marriage may be far more complicated than either imagined. Why did Jasmine's mother really marry the Alpha? What secrets are hidden inside this powerful family? And when everything they believe begins to fall apart, will Jasmine and Hardin remain enemies—or discover that they have been fighting the wrong battle all along?"

(18+) Dark werewolf romanceHe is out for revenge…Eight years ago, Nikolai Slade, alpha of the Selene pack was a kind and loyal ruler, his gentle Luna by his side until disaster struck. Ambushed, he watched in defeat as an enemy pack raped and killed his wife and unborn child. Now grief stricken and burning with rage, Nikolai hungers for blood, biding his time for he won’t rest until he seeks his revenge. The outcast…Born without a wolf, sweet, innocent and virginal Liyah Verbeck is shunned and maltreated by her pack. When she is kidnapped by a gorgeous man, with silent, cold eyes of silver, she believes that her worries are over, but unknown to her, they were only just beginning.A dark tale of two shattered souls, bound together by vengeance, reunited in love.

"Yes baby, just like that. Oh yes! Yes!" I opened my mouth as utter shock and pain filled my body. My husband was my step sister on our wedding night. Hot tears dropped from my eyes as the sounds and grew louder and louder. *** Larissa, the esteemed Luna of the Tokenmoon pack, had it all. A loving husband and a strong pack. But it was all a lie. Stefan, her alpha husband, was the devil. He maltreated and abused her constantly while cheating on her with her step-sister. To make matters worse, he rejected her and sent her away. Heartbroken, Larissa was lost until she stumbled across her second chance mate. . . Kaden. Kaden, handsome as sin and the alpha of Griffen-howl pack is a broken man. When his wife runs away with another man, while abandoning him and his son, he vows never to believe in love. But when a homeless woman, Larissa comes into his territory, it appears that he might be breaking those vows. She is his second-chance mate but will he be able to believe in love again?

“We are your darkest nightmares, Nadia,” a gravelly voice said, dark chuckles meeting my ears. Chilling. “Remember when we told you that you can't breathe without us. Cannot do a thing unless we deem it so? We were being serious Nadia. And for breaking that rule, you will be punished. Severely. No one messes with us and gets away with it." *** Innocent and naive, Nadia Burke has always kept her head down, enduring relentless bullying from Alex and Sandro Davalo, the powerful and popular werewolf twins at her elite high school. For years, they’ve mocked her for her poverty and inability to shift. But when they all end up at the same college, Nadia’s hopes for a fresh start crumble as the twins resume their torment. This time in a darker and brutal way. Everything changes when Nadia finally shifts, revealing magical powers that could heal even the gravest wounds. Suddenly, Alex and Sandro can’t ignore her, discovering she’s their true mate. As rival packs target Nadia for her rare abilities, she and the twins must confront their painful past and find the strength to protect each other. Together, they face deadly enemies, uncover shocking betrayals, and discover that love—and forgiveness—may be their greatest strength. Book Two of Bullied By My Alpha Stepbrother

“You disgust me.” I blinked back the tears that wanted to fall and forced myself to move forward. This was just another challenge I had to face, another hurdle in my mission. I couldn’t let Hunter break me, no matter how much he seemed to enjoy tormenting me. I would survive this. I had to. Even if it meant swallowing my pride and scrubbing floors until my hands bled. *** As an Omega from a rival pack, Faelen Earhart’s mission is clear: infiltrate the ruthless Howle Wulf Pack and pose as a servant. But blending in proves harder than expected, especially when she catches the eye of Alpha Hunter Blackethorn—a notorious who loathes weakness and makes Faelen’s life a living nightmare. Despite his cruelty, Faelen finds herself drawn to him, sparking a dangerous attraction that’s as thrilling as it is confusing. When Faelen uncovers an imminent attack from her own pack, she faces an impossible choice: remain loyal to her pack or protect the man she’s come to care for. Her warning changes everything, forcing Hunter to confront his own feelings. In the battle that follows, Faelen’s courage will redefine her loyalty, Hunter’s heart, and the future of both packs.

Twin brothers, Killian and Cillian, born to rule, grow up worlds apart after their mother’s tragic death. Raised by different aunts, Killian becomes a ruthless, iron-fisted leader, while Cillian rules with compassion and fairness. Rosalind, a beautiful and resilient omega from the streets, enters their lives and a love story is sparked. One that ignites both passion and conflict between brothers: Killian hates her while Cillian finds himself drawn to her. When a rogue pack led by a vengeful witch threatens their pack, Killian and Cillian must unite to protect their people. In this battle, the twins are forced to confront their true feelings and their bond. Rosalind, caught in the middle, is torn with her love for both brothers, a love that defies the pack's norms. As the brothers present Rosalind as their Luna, they challenge the very foundations of their society. In a tale of love, power, and sacrifice, can the twin alphas and their shared mate overcome ancient laws and forge a new destiny for their pack?

"""Let me go."" Roksolana pulls away, her eyes blazing with defiance. Jamal studies her for a long moment. ""You still think you can challenge me after everything that has happened?"" ""I challenged you before you brought me here,"" she replies. ""Why would I stop now?"" His expression changes slightly. Most people fear Sultan Jamal Aamil. Roksolana refuses to. *** His Unwilling Captive... Bold, proud, and determined, Lady Roksolana was once the privileged daughter of a powerful ruler, surrounded by wealth, status, and everything she had known since childhood. Then war changes everything. Captured during an enemy attack, Roksolana is taken far from home and brought before the powerful Sultan Jamal Aamil. She expects cruelty. She expects imprisonment. What she does not expect is to become the one person in the palace who refuses to fear him. *** The Ruthless Ruler... Feared by his enemies and respected by his people, Jamal has built his reputation through strength, intelligence, and absolute authority. When Roksolana is brought to his palace, he initially sees her as little more than a valuable captive from a rival kingdom. But Roksolana refuses to behave like one. She challenges his decisions, questions his authority, and refuses to surrender the proud spirit that once made her a respected lady in her homeland. Instead of breaking her determination, every confrontation only makes Jamal more curious about the woman who dares to stand against him. And slowly, something begins to change. *** Bound Together by Fate... As Roksolana learns more about the man behind the feared ruler, her hatred begins to collide with unexpected understanding. Jamal, meanwhile, discovers that Roksolana is far more than a symbol of his victory. But the palace is filled with secrets. Political enemies are preparing their next move, dangerous schemes are unfolding behind closed doors, and someone close to Jamal views Roksolana's growing influence as a threat. Caught between two kingdoms and surrounded by people with their own ambitions, Roksolana must decide where her loyalty truly belongs. Can Jamal learn to see her as his equal rather than his captive? Can Roksolana trust the ruler who changed her life forever? And when betrayal threatens everything around them, will their growing connection survive the battle for power? A sweeping story of rivalry, loyalty, palace intrigue, unexpected feelings, and two strong-willed people whose lives become intertwined in the middle of a dangerous struggle for power."

"Ever since losing her parents, quiet and intelligent Amelia Forbes has learned to keep to herself. Unfortunately, that has never stopped Jason, the school's arrogant star athlete, from making her life miserable. Confident, ruthless, and popular, Jason seems determined to challenge Mel at every opportunity. Then everything changes when they are paired for an important school project. Forced to spend time together, Mel discovers a side of Jason she has never seen before. But years of resentment cannot disappear overnight, and a serious confrontation between them finally pushes Mel too far. This time, she refuses to remain silent. While most people choose to stay out of their conflict, one person unexpectedly stands beside her—Adrian, Jason's best friend. Adrian listens when no one else does. He supports Mel as she begins rebuilding her confidence and finally gives her the courage to stop letting Jason control her school life. Jason never expected that. And he certainly never expected how much seeing Mel with Adrian would bother him. For the first time, Jason is forced to confront the consequences of the way he treated her. The girl he once dismissed is moving forward without him, and Adrian may understand her better than Jason ever tried to. Now Jason wants to change. But Mel hasn't forgotten the years of pain he caused. Can Jason prove that he is no longer the person who made her school life miserable? And even if he can, will Mel ever trust him enough to give him another chance?"