Novels by Steph Lori

ElenaIt’s going to be the full moon tonight…today is the day I’m supposed to get married to Mikhail. I will be getting married to Mikhail. However, I can not push back the worry, turning my stomach in nausea. It just feels like I’m doing something wrong, you know what? Yes, I know I’m doing something wrong, but it feels like this day is going to be my worst day, something is going to happen…something bad. The hairs on my back have been standing, there’s something about the weather…I understand that this is winter, but the cold isn’t ordinary; perhaps it's not in the weather, it’s my body, like ice water has replaced my blood or something. “Your Father would be happy in the heaven palace,” Mother stated, her voice cracking, tears slipping down her cheeks. It is tears of joy. Anyone can notice the joy that rides on her eyes as she stares at me, admiring everything about me. Though it felt too much for me, the dressing, make–up, attention…it’s supposed to be a simple wedding, the majo

Elena “I made a mistake, mother,” I say, the lump bulging in my throat as mother strokes my arm. Darius was gone now. Mikhail has assigned a room to mother and was placing Esther to bed, leaving just mother and I alone. We are seated on what’s now her mattress, and I need to pour it all out. I need to tell someone my wrongs before I drown and die in it.Mother shakes her head, pulling me to her embrace. She’s still not aware of what I’m about to say, yet she’s already disagreeing that I did no wrong. It hurt me more to think she has faith in me. I did not just fail father, I failed her too, wasting time with the culprits I’m supposed to bring to their knees and apologize before us, getting the justice father deserves. “There’s no wrong that can’t be fixed,” She mutters, patting my back softly, which only made my chest ache. “This can’t be fixed, mum, I sided with the wrong people, the people that–” I cut myself up, unable to let the words slip past my lips, afraid of her judgment.

Mikhail. “Dad! I found it.” The tension in the steamy bathroom is broken by Esther’s voice from the other side. Elena released me from her hold, a silent indication for me to attend to Esther first. But I’m not ready to head out that door. Not when I’m certain Elena has something to say. She’s been acting a little out of it since her mother’s return. I expected the sad reunion, but not her getting lost in thoughts, acting all suspicious as though she had something hidden. I turn to Elena, about to approach her, but she speaks up, halting me in my steps. “You should attend to Esther. I also need some time alone.” She nods, assuring me she’s okay, but her eyes are telling a different story but I obliged, walking out of the bathroom door to meet Esther, whose gaze shifts past me to the door. “Elena is having her bath, let’s give her some privacy,” She nods with a wide smile on her face, and I guide her out of the room, heading for hers. I guess Darius and Mrs. Jones are still busy

Elena“It was supposed to be me, I was supposed to be dead, not your father,” Mother begins, and I shake my head continuously disagreeing with her. Father is dead already, and I can’t bear to imagine her away from me. Darius, who’s seated across from us, doesn’t butt in; he’s serious today more than ever, and since he came this morning, he has been giving weird, suspicious glances.“I had woken up to find your father’s dead body lying bare on the ground. I wanted to run out, he was still breathing, I could still hear his breathing while he warned me not to step out,” Mother continues between sobs, and I keep passing her tissues, grabbing the used one and trashing them to the floor. “Foolish me, I stayed still between the cracks of the door. The one who had stabbed him was seated, waiting for him to give his last breath,” Mother’s fist clenched. “And who was that?” Darius finally butts in. “Ezekiel, the beta bastard,” My heart shatters. I’m suddenly drawn into a dark world, mother’s

Elena I’m dumbfounded. I have been since midnight. Since I heard my mother’s voice, since Darius said they were on their way to us. Mother didn’t say much aside from crying after I told her I was well. She sobbed so hard that I broke down in tears also. Right now, pacing at the grand entrance of the pack house, I can’t help but think about her return. Did Mikhail really find her, or has he held her for long, and now that I agreed to get married to him, he’s about to let the cats out of the bag. “You should come inside, it’s going to snow soon,” Mikhail drapes a fur coat over my shoulder, jerking me out of my thoughts. I want to fake a smile, but I can’t even pretend at the moment. I’m so close to asking him questions, to telling him everything I’ve been up to since I was away. But what if he’s truly the villain? What if this is all his plan? Again, what if I am the one who’s wrong, what if Mikhail is innocent, and I fell into the trap of his rivals? What if I have been manipulated

ElenaI writhed in pain, shifting to grab the ringing device on the side of the table. My body aches from three days of fucking. But seeing the caller ID, I shot up the bed, regretting standing too quickly the next second. My legs feel numb, my down area still feels as though it’s still being pounded. This time, there’s no pleasure attached to the hard feeling, just pain, and it makes it harder to walk. I silence the ringing device, grab my robe, struggling to tie the robe while trying not to wake the Alpha beside me, the one whose rut I’m not sure has gone down. I make my way out of the room with my device. Every step doubles the pain. Eventually, I make it down to the dark kitchen, not bothering to put on the lights, and I lean on the counter, dialing the familiar number, which goes through immediately. “I told you not to call me till I do, Ezekiel,” I whisper to the receiver on the other end, who hisses before speaking. “You’re taking long, Elena. It’s been almost two weeks, an