Bare Bones Synonym Novels & Stories

I volunteer to be the mate of Carl Wood, the Alpha of the Nightfall pack, as a direct measure to resolve the conflict between our two packs. He marks me on a full moon night. His gaze is so fervent in that moment that I interpret his look as a genuine sign of his attraction. Carl personally leads the elite fighters across the border two years later. He grabs my head, making me witness the gruesome dismantling of my mother, father, and brother by the pack; his gaze is alight with vengeful satisfaction. "Did your father show mercy during our youth when he destroyed my pack, Aria? Do you truly believe that having you here is enough to make up for this vengeance?" Carl assumes the position as the most powerful Alpha of the northern region, with Selena Hall established at his side as his Luna. I am kept barely alive, imprisoned in the depths of the dungeon in the pack. If I attempt to end my life, Carl retrieves the bones of a relative from the cemetery and incinerates them right in front of me, bellowing with bloodshot eyes, "You're not allowed to die unless I allow you to, Aria!" I immediately cease all resistance after that. Carl's heart was pierced by a silver-tipped arrow during his escape years ago. I had to implore the dark witch to use dark magic and substitute my sound heart for his. There are only three days left before the poison completely takes hold of me.

Hana I was never meant to be a free soul that could drift through the world with no responsibilities. I was born into the world as the heir to the Shadowlands, a witch and the granddaughter of the High Witch. One day, the High Witch sent me on a mission. It was only supposed to be a simple task, and I knew it was a test. But then he found me, or maybe I found him. Cael. A wolf shifter, eyes like ice, and my soul sang out to him. I know that being around him, and the way my magic hummed. I knew what he was; he was dangerous. Cael I came into this city with blood on my hands, revenge carved into my bones, as old as time. I swore I had only one goal, and that was it. Not power, not money, and most of all not love. But fate played a cruel game. The witches I loathe and see as a means to an end; the second most powerful witch to set foot on this planet is my mate. Hana is a temptation who has the mouth of a sailor and the body of a goddess. To claim her is a risk that I will have to take, while fighting this world for a deep-rooted revenge. Together Their bond is a curse yet fated by the Moon Goddess herself. Every stolen touch burns like coals deep and powerful. Every denial and space only pulls them together. As a rebellion simmers in the dark, and ancient enemies who longed to be awakened, stir in their slumber. Hana and Cael are brought together and have to decide: Will they seek revenge, love, or will they burn the world on fire, and make it crumble at their feet?

For as long as I can remember, my family and I have been living in an underground basement that's completely shut off from the outside world. My parents have told me that the zombie apocalypse is terrorizing the outside world. The air is completely plagued with the zombie virus, and we'll die if we ever leave the basement. In order to save the supplies—which are already dwindling, to begin with—I've starved myself to the point I'm all skin and bones despite being only 18 years old. When I realize that there's only one last can of food left, I leave behind a suicide note. "Mom, Dad, now there's one less mouth to feed. You'll last a few more days." After that, I slit my wrist right away. Once I'm dead, my soul phases through the thick and heavy metal door. Bright sunlight illuminates the entire world. It's a beautiful, peaceful world filled with greenery. I can even hear birds chirping in the distance. Mom, Dad, and a bunch of people are throwing a barbecue party on the lawn. The mouth-watering smell of food being grilled permeates the air. So, it turns out that the zombie apocalypse is just a lie that's designated to trap me inside the fortress. I'm the only one who has died in this sunny, peaceful world.

This isn’t your typical medieval romance. My name is Penelope Ernaut, the first daughter of the Ernaut Dukedom. I once had it all—status, power, a future. Until one betrayal shattered everything. My pack fell. My bloodline crumbled. And I ran, dragging my sister with me, hoping we could escape it all. However, we didn’t. She left me. Just like everyone else. After dying in the hands of my sister who returned and my mate who saw me as a toy, I was giving another chance to live again and I came back to make them bleed... But I never expected the Lycan King. Dain Zevryn—His Majesty. To come into my life. He was cold, dangerous, and beautiful in all the ways that make you ache. To the world, we were nothing more than allies and business partners. But behind closed doors, I was his only sweet toy, stripped bare for his sinful duties. I thought this time I was taking control of my story. But the deeper I fell into his world, the more I realized—I didn’t escape the cage. I just stepped into a prettier one and would I ever escape it this time?

He was sent to kill him. He chose to save him instead. Dante Voss is the most feared operative in a shadow organization known only as The Meridian — a man built from discipline, silence, and controlled destruction. He doesn't ask questions. He completes missions. Until the night he's assigned to eliminate Elian Rhys, a brilliant rogue journalist who has gotten dangerously close to exposing the most powerful criminal empire in Eastern Europe. Elian Rhys doesn't run from danger — he chases it. Armed with nothing but a sharp mind, a sharper tongue, and a death wish he'd never admit to, Elian has spent years dismantling corrupt systems from the shadows of his encrypted laptop. He's used to being hunted. He's never been wanted. When Dante chooses to pull Elian out of the crossfire instead of pulling the trigger, neither man is prepared for what follows — a frantic, continent-spanning flight through underground networks, enemy safehouses, and burning cities, where the real danger isn't the assassins on their trail. It's each other. Dante has never needed anyone. Elian has never trusted anyone. But survival has a way of stripping a man bare — and somewhere between a firefight in Budapest and a stolen night in Lisbon, something raw and irreversible begins to build between them.

After my father died, my mother remarried and took my younger sister and me with her. But her new husband had one condition—she could only bring one child. From people who used to hang around my dad, I later learned that my grandfather was actually a wealthy antique collector. My sister clung to him for her own future, refusing to let go. But in his eyes, her only job was to get straight A's; everything else—her clothes, her meals, her allowance—was kept to the bare minimum. I went with my stepfather instead. His business took off, and we eventually moved into a huge mansion. He even set me up with an engagement to the heir of a powerful, wealthy family. My sister was eaten up with jealousy. One day, she doused me in gasoline and dragged us both back in time to that day we had to choose our futures. This time, she lunged for my stepfather's hand and held on tight. "I want to stay with Mom and Dad," she announced. I didn't miss a beat. I immediately ducked behind my grandfather. 'Fine, Phoebe. You're the one who chose a life as a bargaining chip. Don't blame me for it. You can have it.'

Sam and I have been married for ten years. He always said he would give me the wedding of my dreams. However, three days before the ceremony, my eyes, which had been blind for the past six months after saving Sam’s life, miraculously regained vision. The first thing I saw when I opened them was Sam tangled in bed with his pretty secretary, Alisa. The bed was still shaking while Alisa typed on her phone. She showed it to him, smirking. [Sam, we're out of condoms. Why not ask your blind wife to grab one for us?] Sam’s veins bulged at his temple. His eyes darted toward me in panic. Alisa, however, scoffed and typed again. [What are you so scared of? Your wife’s blind. What’s she gonna see?] Sam sighed in resignation. “Hazel, can you pass me the box of cigarettes from the nightstand?” That cigarette box he mentioned was clearly labeled: Durex Ultra-Thin—Bare Feel. My heart shattered, and I booked a flight to Rockbridge before the wedding. When Sam came running after me, hysterical, I said coldly to him, “Sam. I can see.”

I'm a nationally certified animal trainer running the Lion King, Caesar's final assessment. I've barely stepped into the enclosure corridor when the steel guillotine door slams down behind me. My wife's laughter crackles over the loudspeaker. "Everyone, we're doing the ultimate challenge today! We're locking the so-called number-one animal trainer in the Lion King's enclosure and taking bets on whether he wets himself in ten minutes!" Caesar crouches low and rumbles a warning. I reach for my tranquilizer gun but stop cold. The liquid isn't the right color. In a phony sing-song voice, the veterinarian, Hugh Archer, says, "Lucian, I forgot to mention, I swapped your tranquilizer darts for pepper spray so you won't hurt Caesar by mistake. "You two are so close. Just win him over with love!" I look at Caesar, his eyes bloodshot from the stimulant, and it clicks. Hugh still resents that I stopped him from touching a tiger with his bare hands a few days ago. I tune out the trash blaring over the loudspeaker, pull a remote from my pocket, and hit the button. It's the master switch for the electric fence gates around every predator enclosure in the zoo. If I don't make it out, no one does.

“Agapi (love)” purrs a voice, a rich velvety voice as hot breath hits against my ear, sending shivers down my core making me whimper. “Words Principessa (Princess)” comes another soft yet firm smack to my ass. “Please” I whimper. My need for them growing. “Please what?” asks another. “What is it that you want? Say it Neonata (Baby Girl)” commands the dominating voice in the group. “Take me! I can’t bare it any longer” I cry. Tears threatening to fall from behind the blindfold. “See that wasn’t so hard, was it?” asks one of the voices, as I suddenly hear the smirk behind it. ~~~~~~~~~~ Isabella Moretti has always been a Princess. That is until her father seeks the help from four powerful men. Lucus, Grant, Alex and Tony are these men. Not only are they powerful but also leading men of the Mafia, each dominating within the office, streets, and bedroom. From wanting what they want to sharing just about everything. Wanted by many, Isabella has no choice but to marry not 1 but 4 of these powerful men, each offering pleasure in ways she could only dream of. But with 2 other families after her, can Isabella survive the madness? Or does acknowledging one’s deepest desires prove to be much, forever ruined by these notorious men?

She knew the wedding was inevitable. That’s why she let herself have one last night, one reckless, sinful night with him. Nico Moreti. The man who made her forget the world. It was supposed to be their final goodbye. A stolen moment before she was forced into a marriage she never wanted. But when she walks down the aisle the next day, ready to marry the most feared mafia boss in the country, she looks up and sees him. Her Nico. Standing beside the groom as his son. The realization hits her like a bullet to the chest as his cold, burning gaze strips her bare in front of everyone. She never thought she’d see him again much more him turning out to be her new stepson. She never wanted this marriage. Never wanted to belong to Salvatore Moreti, a man who buries his wives before their bodies go cold. But she’s trapped. And the man she loves? He’s part of the people sharpening the knife. Because Nico won’t forgive nor let her go. And he sure as hell won’t let her forget who touched her first. Now, there’s no way out. Because in this world, love doesn’t save you. It destroys you.