At Least We Met

"Meet my sons, Mia. Sons, meet Mia, your soon-to-be step-sister." Then three tall, sturdy, muscular men joined us at the table and I had no doubt that they were my step-brothers. They looked just like their father. I gasped, shrinking in fear as I remembered where I had met them. Quinn, Jack and John, the triplets of misery in my high school life. I would be a fool if I ended up liking the boys who had bullied me and treated me like I wasn't worth . They are different at this time from the wolves in my dream. They are playing the role of a gentle older brother. I heard that they were in the Navy and I must admit that was where fitted them. I hoped that they met with men who were stronger than they were who could give them a taste of their own medicine and bully them, just as they had bullied me. Later, they claimed that I was their mate. "Keep it a secret from our parents, okay? We'll cherish you, Sis."

Welcome to the world of forbidden fantasies. Ryan Parker 35 year old, CEO of the Parker industries, cold hearted, ruthless and reversed. The name that could shake the entire business world. His aim was never to chase love. He hunted for dominance and power. He only made one mistake in his life, hiring the daughter of his best friend, Alina. She was innocent, that had captured his mind since the first time she walked into his office. Alina Spenser 18 year old, sweet, Assistant to Mr Ryan Parker. She had a crush on Mr Parker the first time she met in teens. He was her father's best friend, the man her father talks about. With a sharp jawline and commanding voice he made her burn in places she doesn't understand. But the time blurred and he vanished from their lives without a warning, swallowed by the hunger of building business and ambition. She moved on, at least that's what she thought, only writing her small crush in her diary. Until one day he came back to her father’s funeral. And everything has changed since then.

Tired and desperate, a twenty two year old Caroline Dawn just wanted to have a descent job, a peaceful and a happy environment. She just wanted to at least experience a wealthy life. But despite of that, Caroline is a woman of principles. She wanted everything to go in a process. She wanted to work hard for herself and achieve the victory on her own. But when she met her Billionaire boss, Arthur David, everything got complicated. She never taught that loving someone could be as hard as this. She built a wall to stop herself because she knows that it's hard to enter the man's world, she covered herself with beliefs and had to stand so strong. The world was too cruel, running away is the only way to escape from the pain and agony. The man she loved the most failed and destroyed her, destiny was too hard to her as well and when she started to run, the only thing she have is her anger dominating her heart and a fading love. She started to run, she promised that there is no turning back anymore.... even if it will break her, even if it will destroy her, or even if it means she will carrying a child, alone.

I kept on running with Kay as we manoeuvred our way through the messy crowd. Kay pulled me through and we finally got out of the club. We couldn't take the main entrance because Yoshim's men were there. We were running through the dark alley, panting and gasping for air. Relief washed over me when I realised that I finally left that hell hole. We kept on running when I heard a gunshot. I immediately halted and felt a warm liquid trickling down my arm. I looked around and saw no wound, I glanced at Kay and my eyes widened. I immediately brought my hand to my mouth trying to suppress the scream that wanted to come out. Kay held his arm as he bled profusely, he groaned in pain and fell on his knees. “Oh my God, Kay are you alright? Ugh, what am I going to do.” I said while hyperventilating. I heard footsteps and looked up only to be met by those same devilish eyes. He wore a grin on his face. And to his left was Gail who clung to him like a barnacle. How did he even know I escaped? “Haha, I overheard your little conversation with the guard, so I told Yoshim.” She smiled while talking. “Gail, what the is wrong with you?” I said with anger and tears in my eyes. She shrugged her shoulders and her mouth curved into a smile. I pressed my hand on Kay's wound to stop the bleeding, he groaned in pain and I couldn't stop my tears. “I should've gotten rid of you a long time ago.” Yoshim said while pointing a gun to my head. I closed my eyes and waited for him to pull the trigger.

In an East London lock up, two film makers, Jimmy and Sam, are duct taped to chairs and forced to watch a snuff film by Ashkan, a loan shark to whom they owe a lot of money. If they don’t pay up, they’ll be starring in the next one. Before the film reaches its end, Ashkan and all his men are slaughtered by unknown assailants. Only Jimmy and Sam survive the massacre, leaving them with the sole copy of the snuff film. The film makers decide to build their next movie around the brutal film. While auditioning actors, they stumble upon Melissa, an enigmatic actress who seems perfect for the leading role, not least because she’s the spitting image of the snuff film’s main victim. Neither the film, nor Melissa, are entirely what they seem however. Jimmy and Sam find themselves pulled into a paranormal mystery that leads them through the shadowy streets of the city beneath the city and sees them re-enacting an ancient Mesopotamian myth cycle. As they play out the roles of long forgotten gods and goddesses, they’re drawn into the subtle web of a deadly heresy that stretches from the beginnings of civilization to the end of the world as we know it. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Elizabeth Jael Valmonte is one of the ten undeniably gorgeous and passionate heirs of the Valmonte clan, a ravishing, rich, and famous family known for being business-oriented and having members that are at top of their respective fields. She loves singing more than anything. She's born to conquer the stage and make everyone fall for her sweet voice. But when her father, Arthur Valmonte, fell into a coma and her mother, Harriett Valmonte, suffered severely because of a car accident, her world fell apart into pieces right before her eyes. According to the investigation of the police and base on the damage, at least two or more vehicles should be involved for the accident to happen that way. But the big mystery is why only her parents' car was present when a witness came to the scene? Lost and devastated because of her parent's situation, her older brother, Rueben Valmonte found something that could be the reason behind everything. Struck with amazement that her father might have an affair with Lucille de Silva, known for her acting awards, generous donations, and the wife of Gabriel de Silva, a potential candidate for the position of Mayor in the upcoming elections, she prepares herself for war. But what can a seventeen-year-old do to avenge her family when all this time she thought she had a perfect one? Jael met an arrogant guy in a shoe store. They both liked a limited edition designer heels but only one stock is left for their desired size. This guy caught the attention of Jael because of his inconsiderate and nosy attitude. She met the same guy again where her parent's accident happened to found out that he bought the whole area, making him her new lead to know the root of the tragedy.

Freedom... Was all Anastasia Redeye, an eighteen years old werewolf princess wants, however, it was like when an Omega dreams of becoming a Luna. Unless there is a miracle, it is going to be forever that way. Anastasia was made to dress and behave the way she didn't want, and on the day she clocks 18, her father reveals his plan to her, and that is, she was promised as a gift to the greatest Werewolf Alpha. Well, not as a bride, but as one of his mistresses. This struck Anastasia's heart, remembering her the need to leave this prison called home, thus, she escape. However, on her journey to find this freedom, she met a guy who she didn't hesitate to tease whenever they met, and gradually, she fell into the pool of love. But what would she do when there was suddenly a crisis in his pack and he asked her to leave? Would she stay because of love or leave because of her freedom? If we commit ourselves to one person for life, this is not, as many people think, a rejection of freedom; rather, it demands the courage to move into all the risks of freedom, and the risk of love which is permanent; into that love which is not possession but participation.

After dying in prison from experimentation, I had gone back in time 2 years before my death. My faith in the Imperial Family, my affection for my own family, they can all go to hell! For that goal, I seek the second prince of this Empire, Azazel von Elysian for cooperation. "I will help you become the Emperor. In return, make me your Empress. I want everyone to be at my feet." With this agreement, we were bound by a bond where we would crush the Empire to create anew. I will make him the perfect Tyrant. - "Verena, tell me what you desire. I'll give it to you with all my heart." He whispered softly to my ear while holding me from behind, as if to lock me in his embrace forever. "Why are you asking me when we have already reached our goals?" He tighten his embrace, burying his head onto my shoulder. "... Please forget I asked." As time passes, he has developed a strong attachment to me, bordering on obsession. "Please don't abandon me... If you do, I'll kill myself." My eyes went wide, shiver ran down my spine as I unconsciously stepped back because of his threat. That Tyrant Emperor that I created is kneeling on the floor in front of me, the one who has used him. As if he's child who would be abandoned by his parents. I thought he would hate me at the least, but he turned into a crazy, obsessive tyrant that followed my wishes. He wouldn't let me escape his golden cage that he created for me. "If you're going to hell, Verena, bring me along with you." - Warning : The story contains adult content such as violence, consumption of heavy drinks, illegal drugs, blood and murder. Readers who are uncomfortable with the content, it's recommended not to read.

“You're still my wife! ”Ryan yelled clutching onto her arm. “ oh please, spare me that crap”. Valerie said, rolling her. eyes. ” Can we at least talk ?”. He asked her Instead, she yanked her arm from his, and without a second glance or word she turned to leave, but then she halted and turned to him. “ I'm going to make this very clear and I'll do it once only, the Valerie you are looking for is dead and long gone, so stop following me about because I won't hesitate to deal with you, now if you'll excuse me I have better things to do with my time “. Valerie said and turned to leave. “ I looked for you Val, I did. I searched for you for three whole years. None one knew where you were, what else could I have done !”. He yelled. “ we’re still married you know, I did not sign those papers“, Ryan told her. “ see yourself out of my house and don't show your face around here again “. And she left. “Oh, but we will see each other again very soon “, he smirked. **************************************************** Valerie and Ryan’s marriage wasn’t near perfect .Ryan, forced to leave his girlfriend and marry Valerie yet Valerie loved Ryan so much and was the perfect wife to him she gave him her life and did everything to please him yet he never cared about her. Until that night. The night he chose his girlfriend over her and her baby’s life. Barely making it out alive Valerie left and never looked back. Five years later. Valerie is back in town and she and Ryan's paths cross but she is no longer the same girl he once knew.

You think you've had a bad day? My name is Braddock Westfield, Billionaire Alpha (head werewolf) of the Crescent Moon pack I've searched for my fated mate for 22 years and finally conceded to the elders to choose a Luna to produce an heir. The night before our union my pack was attacked by rogues (werewolves with no pack, no morals, mostly criminals), we suffered no losses except my Gamma (Lead Warrior), who now we need to pick up 100 miles away in a small human town at a Diner. I receive a call as I pull into the parking lot, that my chosen mate has been kidnapped by rogues on her way to my pack. Pissed off, I enter the Diner, an intoxicating scent hits me and my wolf howls in my head "MATE" (22years of searching and on my Union Day, you find her). Two men crash threw the door inside the diner, yelling "Charlie get your ass out here now, we're not done with it yet." The old woman behind the counter grabs a shotgun and makes them leave. A waitress comes out bringing food and that intoxicating scent, my heart clenches when our eyes lock and our mate bond snaps tethering our hearts together, as I look at her broken nose, bruised face, split lip, swollen green glistening eyes. I need to get her to leave with us, promising to keep her safe, revealing I'm a psychiatrist with facilities, to help her rebuild her self-esteem and build her confidence to help her, move past her obvious trauma. Explaining she's a werewolf and I'm her fated mate and at least 20+ years older than her, that may be more challenging. Let's not forget, I now need to find my kidnapped chosen that I need to reject. All this before 9am.