Novels by Buba

My mind reels, but before I can form a coherent thought, a voice cuts through the air behind us—cold, hard, and achingly familiar."What the fuck did you just say?"My blood freezes in my veins. I spin around, my heart nearly stopping in my chest.Vincent stands before us, his powerful frame rigid with tension, his dark eyes burning with fury. The careful composure he wore during our earlier confrontation has completely shattered, replaced by something primal and dangerous.Why the hell did he have to hear what Lewis said?The silence stretches between us, heavy and suffocating. Around us, I'm dimly aware that other guests have begun to notice the tension. Conversations quiet, heads turn in our direction. The string qua

KAIAI smooth down the midnight blue dress Talia insisted I borrow and take a deep breath before stepping out of her car. The Grand Lyceum looms ahead of us, its neoclassical columns strung with thousands of white lights that cast everything in a warm, magical glow.The full moon hangs directly overhead, massive and silver, making my wolf stir restlessly beneath my skin."You look incredible," Talia says, linking her arm through mine. She's wearing a stunning emerald green gown that brings out her dark eyes. "Thank you for coming with me. These kingdom galas are insufferable when you're flying solo."I adjust the delicate straps of the dress, feeling exposed in the elegant fabric. "I still can't believe you talked me into this." I'd almost canceled twice today, worried about leaving Mom

KAIAIt's been three days since the late-night incident with Vincent, and I've been doing my best to ignore what happened. Whatever I felt when he touched my wrist—whatever that electric pull was—I buried it deep. We're keeping things strictly professional now. Polite emails, brief interactions during meetings, and absolutely no more after-hours encounters.Which is why I'm sitting in the corner of the conference room with my notepad, doing my job as his assistant while Vincent meets with Derek Homes, the contractor from Riverside Holdings. What should have been a routine project update has quickly devolved into something uglier."The foundation specs were clear from day one," Vincent says, his voice carefully controlled. He's wearing a charcoal gray suit today, perfectly pressed, but I can see the tension in his shoulders. "

KAIAThe Moonfang Construction building is eerily quiet at nine PM. Most of the staff cleared out hours ago, leaving just the security lights casting long shadows across the empty cubicles. I should have left too, but the quarterly reports won't finish themselves, and Vincent needs them for the board meeting first thing tomorrow morning.At least Lewis Thornfield hasn't shown up again since that bizarre encounter at the café last week. One less thing to worry about while I'm drowning in spreadsheets and trying to ignore how the past few days of professional tension with Vincent have left me feeling like a live wire.Every interaction we've had since I started has been charged with this underlying current of... something. The way he watches me during meetings. How his jaw ticks when other wolves dismiss my suggestions. The careful

KAIAI push open the door to Moonbean Café and breathe in the rich aroma of coffee and fresh pastries. The little café sits just down the street from Moonfang Construction, tucked between a bookstore and a flower shop. It's become our unofficial meeting spot since I started working here two weeks ago.Talia waves at me from a corner booth, already nursing what looks like her third espresso of the day. I slide into the seat across from her, grateful for the familiar warmth of her presence. Sometimes it feels like I never left, like we're still seventeen and planning our weekend adventures."Large caramel macchiato," I tell the waitress who appears beside our table. "Extra shot.""Rough day?" Talia asks, raising an eyebrow."You could say that." I pull off my blazer and hang it on the back of my chair. The navy fabric is wrinkled from sitting hunched over spreadsheets all afternoon.Talia leans forward, her dark eyes bright with curiosity. "So what did you and Vincent talk about the oth

KAIAI arrive at Moonfang Construction fifteen minutes early, my black coffee steaming in my hands. It's just a job, I tell myself as I scan my keycard at the employee entrance. I can do this.The elevator ride to the fifteenth floor feels endless. When the doors finally open, I step into a bustling workspace—cubicles arranged in neat rows, floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the forest, and the constant hum of productivity. My new desk sits in the corner, a modest workstation with a computer and a stack of files waiting for my attention.I'm settling into my chair when I feel it—that familiar prickle along my spine that means I'm being watched. I look up to find Vincent standing near the conference room, his dark suit immaculate, his expression unreadable. Our eyes meet for a brief moment before he turns away, dismissing me like I'm nothing more than office furniture.Fine. Two can play that game.I spend the morning familiarizing myself with the filing system and reviewing pr

ANTONI carry Eveline inside the cabin, and the bruises covering her body make my jaw clench. Purple marks bloom across her ribs, her arms, the side of her neck where Xavier caught her too hard during combat training. Each one is a reminder of how brutal I've been.I didn't mean to hurt her like this. But the training is necessary—essential—if she's going to survive what's coming. I can't risk another vampire attack. Can't risk finding her with fangs buried in her throat, her blood soaking the ground, her heartbeat fading while I'm too far away to save her.My wolf would destroy me if I let that happen again.I lay her on the bed as gently as I can, then head to her bathroom. The tub is old-fashioned, deep and claw-footed, and I turn on the faucet, letting warm water pour out. Steam rises as I add the scented oils I found under the sink—lavender and something floral I can't name. She needs this. Needs to soak the soreness from her muscles, needs sleep that isn't interrupted by pain.W

The following day's training is a little different—but not in a way that makes it easier. Anton decides to add a few more activities to help me "build strength," which apparently means torturing me with equipment I didn't even know existed."Lift it!" He points at a massive tire lying on its side in the dirt—the kind that belongs on a tractor, not in anyone's workout routine.I stare at it, then at him, then back at the tire. He can't be serious.I mouth the words: "I can't lift that.""You can. Now lift it."I take a deep breath and grip the rubber, bracing my legs the way he showed me. I pull with everything I have, and the tire lifts—barely. It comes up halfway before my arms start shaking violently. I drop it with a heavy thud, stumbling back and gasping for air."Again.""I can't lift it, Anton," I mouth, my chest heaving."You need to. Now lift it." His voice carries that Alpha command that makes my wolf whimper in submission.I grit my teeth, grab the tire again, and this time

I wake to a pair of blue eyes staring directly into mine.My heart jumps into my throat. I blink hard, rubbing my face, trying to make sense of why Anton is crouched beside my bed, his face inches from mine in the dark room.I grab my phone from the nightstand and type quickly: What are you doing here?"It's time for your training." His voice is low, matter-of-fact.I squint at him in the darkness. He's already dressed in fitted joggers and a compression shirt that outlines every muscle in his chest and arms. My mouth goes dry for a second before I force myself to focus.I type: Isn't it too early?My blinds are drawn, but even through the cracks, there's no hint of sunrise. It's still pitch black outside."No, it's not. You have ten minutes to get ready and meet me downstairs." He stands and walks out without waiting for a response, closing the door behind him with a soft click.The moment he's gone, I check the time on my phone. 6:00 AM.I was right. It's ridiculously early.For hal

The following morning, I step out of my room and nearly collide with Anton standing directly in front of my door. His hand is raised like he was about to knock, his expression unreadable in the dim hallway light.I reach for my phone to ask him what he’s doing here, but he speaks first."Come with me." He turns and heads for the stairs without waiting for a response.I follow him down to the living room, my confusion mounting with each step. He doesn't say anything else until I'm seated on the couch, and he's standing near the fireplace, arms crossed over his chest like he's preparing for battle."I've realized that finding your Aunt Elena by yourself is important to you." His jaw works like the words cost him something. "I've decided to let you continue your search. On one condition."My heart lurches. For the first time since I met Anton, genuine hope blooms in my chest. My hands fly through excited signs that he can't read, so I fumble for my phone, typing quickly: Really? What's t

"Everything is ready. You can go in, Luna," Liam says, stepping out of the dungeons. His face is tense, a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead despite the cool air.He just finished chaining Anton to prevent him from going on a killing spree. All day, I've been praying his wolf won't lose control and kill anyone during the full moon.I pull out my phone and type: Thank you, Liam.He nods once, then steps aside to let me pass. The heavy metal door looms in front of me, and I take a breath before pushing it open.The sound hits me first—the rattle of chains, the low growl vibrating through the stone walls. I descend the stairs carefully, my hand trailing along the cold wall for balance. The dungeon is dimly lit, just a few flickering bulbs casting shadows across the floor.Anton is in the center of the room, his wrists and ankles bound by thick silver chains bolted into the reinforced walls. He's struggling against them, his muscles straining, his head thrown back as he fights something

Morning comes with heat pressing against my back and something steady thumping against my ear. I blink awake slowly, confused by the darkness. My eyes are open, but I can't see anything—just black pressing in from all sides.I try to turn over, but something holds me in place.Not something. Someone.Anton's arm is wrapped around my waist, his chest flush against my back, his breath warm against my neck. I'm completely pinned, my body tucked against his like we've been sleeping this way for years.When did I cross to his side of the bed? Panic flutters in my chest. Or did he cross to mine?I try to wiggle free without waking him, but the movement only makes him tighten his hold. His arm pulls me closer, eliminating the last inch of space between us, and that's when I realize why I couldn't see—my face is pressed against his chest, his skin blocking out everything else.His heartbeat thuds steadily beneath my ear. Strong. Rhythmic. And strangely... calming.I stop struggling.The sound