Barely Surviving Meaning

My company had arranged a wilderness survival retreat deep in the heart of Moonshadow Forest—a place where even seasoned wolves tread cautiously. That night, a sudden downpour ripped through the campsite, drenching the earth and filling the air with the thick scent of damp moss and shifting soil. I woke abruptly, the cold seeping into my bones. Instinctively, I reached out to the space beside me, seeking the warmth of my mate. Empty. A sharp pang of unease clawed at my chest. My wolf, dulled by the suppressant herbs I had taken to blend into human society, stirred restlessly. Fumbling in the darkness, I grabbed my phone and dialed Nigel. The line barely had time to connect before he emerged from the undergrowth—disheveled, breathless. His grip was iron-tight as he seized my wrist, pulling me downhill. His scent was sharp with adrenaline, but beneath it—something foreign, something wrong. We ran, my boots sinking into the mud. My keen vision caught glimpses of his rumpled clothing, the way his collar was misaligned—and the faint imprint of lips on his jaw. My pulse pounded in my ears. Betrayal. I wrenched my arm from his grasp, my claws itching to unsheathe despite the human form I forced myself to maintain. "Where were you?" My voice came out low, edged with the danger of a wolf barely leashed. The suppressants in my bloodstream faltered under the weight of my fury. The storm had driven everyone into their tents, leaving the clearing eerily silent as we reached the base of the mountain. But she was there. A woman stood beneath the flickering glow of the emergency lanterns, her hair tousled, her fingers gripping Nigel’s jacket as if it belonged to her. I knew her. The new intern. Her face held an unsettling resemblance to mine, as if the Moon Goddess herself had carved her from the shadows of my reflection. The realization struck like a silver dagger to my chest. Even the mate who had once sworn to fight the world for me had given in to betr

We’ve all read the books where the Alpha’s mate is hurt or gets kidnapped and the Alpha has to save them. But what happens when it’s the strong Alpha that gets taken? And something so traumatic happens to him, that he’s left completely broken. Left as only a shell of who he once was. And it’s his Luna that needs to rescue him… Maddox is the Alpha of the Night Wolf Pack. He was once full of life, a jokester and known for pranking his loved ones. Addison is a rare, enchanted witch & his beloved Luna. His pack was once abused and tortured until it’s previous Alpha was killed and it’s people set free. Maddox is now determined to bring peace to his new pack. However, things take a turn for the worst when someone close to the old Alpha seeks revenge. And he plans to take that revenge out on the new Alpha. Finn is an abused pack slave. His only dream is that one day his mate will find him and rescue him. But what happens when his mate wants absolutely nothing to do with him? Will he ever know freedom? Find out, in this journey where they discover what the true meaning of family, friendship, love and loyalty really is. ** Trigger Warning! Abuse, rape, torture. ** This is book 3 of A Broken Alpha series. This book can be read as a standalone.

Do you ever wish a secret billionaire would sweep you away to a tropical island? Do you ever wish that you could be like Cinderella and find your happily ever after with the prince? From New York Times bestselling author Krista Lakes, comes a sweet but spicy Billionaire Romance Series that will have you believing in happily ever after! Each story in this series is a stand-alone one. But with all the stories happen in one world, characters will reappear in other stories. ****** The First Set: Saltwater Kisses– An accidental marriage between Jack and Emma. Rainwater Kisses– Falling in love, and finding how they fit together with Owen and Kaylee. Freshwater Kisses– Finding love in childhood friends with Robbie and Sam. BONUS: Kisses From Jack: The first half of Saltwater Kisses, but from Jack's perspective! Timeless Love Stories: Champagne Kisses– A story of long lost love and second chances with Dean and Rachel. The Second Set: Sandcastle Kisses– Finding love in all the wrong places with Noah and Izzy Hurricane Kisses– Surviving the storm together with Logan and Olivia Barefoot Kisses– A Cinderella story with Aiden and Lena The Third Set: Sunrise Kisses– Ava and Bastian discovering true beauty Waterfall Kisses– Leo finally succumbing to Charlotte's charms Island Kisses: Gabe finally meets his match in Harper!

*Abandoning ship isn’t my style. It wasn’t hers either, but our circumstances ripped us apart. Now it’s not just a literal ocean standing between us. Francine Chirilova has no direction. After coming out of the closet leaves her without a family at age 18, the quick witted 25 year old has been forced to survive on her connections and kind personality. Throw in a rapidly decreasing appetite and a tendency to gravitate toward abusive women for a epic shit show. While recovering from her latest 4 year long mistake, she makes a strong, yet unlikely connection with her virtual best friend. Que in recovering alcoholic Vasilisa Krovopuskova, aged 26 from Siberia, Russia. After surviving a grueling upbringing on her own, trust is a difficult concept to grasp. Already having experienced heartbreak once before, she wasn’t looking for anything serious when Francine crash landed into her life via an online sanctuary for lesbians. With an ocean separating the two, neither Francine nor Vasilisa know which direction to swim in. Will they stay on their side of the world, or drown trying to get to the other? *Disclaimer* - Strong mature content. 18+, please Book one. To follow is book two: “Our Blank Canvas.”

Abductors bind me in a basement, subjecting me to the torment of dozens. Meanwhile, my husband, Evan Foster, dines by candlelight with his lover, Carmen Locke. My abductors grant me one chance to call for help, and I dial Evan's number. I'm certain he will come for me. I believe Evan would give his life for me, as he once vowed that his future held no meaning without me. Clinging to hope, I call the number etched in my heart. However, Evan scolds me for interrupting their date. "You think I'll come get you? Dream on. Maybe I'll bother to collect your body if you die out there." His words crush me, and I do die. Five days later, Evan stands before the autopsy table, grimacing at the mangled remains before him. Even as the police department's finest forensic expert, having dissected thousands of bodies, he condemns the killer's brutality. Yet, despite his cold dismissal of my desperate plea over the phone, he now wears a look of pity. Evan, if you knew these fragments belonged to me, would you still find me worthy of your compassion?

He vowed to love her forever. Then forgot she ever existed. After surviving a coup that left him broken and bloodied, Alpha Rowan Blackthorne awoke with a shattered memory— and no trace of the bride he’d married in secret days before. The council claimed she died in the chaos. He believed them. But three years later, a mysterious woman storms back into his life, demanding his blood to save a sick child. A child with Rowan’s silver eyes. A woman who feels achingly familiar… and maddeningly out of reach. Calla has spent years hiding among humans, raising the son the Alpha forgot. She’s built a new life, buried her past, and vowed never to return. But when her child’s life is on the line, she has no choice but to face the man who once called her his mate—and abandoned her without a second glance. Rowan doesn’t remember her. But his wolf does. And the deeper he digs into the truth, the more dangerous it becomes—for them both. Because the same enemies who tried to erase Calla once… Are ready to finish the job. Revenge. Redemption. A bond that refuses to break. She’s the bride he lost. He’s the Alpha she won’t forgive. But fate has other plans.

The smoothie shop was a whirlwind of activity during the lunch rush when a customer's call shattered my focus. "Is this the manager?" a sharp voice demanded. "I ordered a smoothie with just a touch of sugar. Why is it so sweet?" I checked her order and explained calmly, "Miss, Chocolate Bliss has a naturally sweet base." Not long after, she called again. "I asked for five ice cubes. Why are there only four?" Swamped and barely keeping up, I apologized and moved on. Before I could catch my breath, the phone rang once more. "I requested the guy in the black shirt to deliver my order. Why did a girl show up?" Suppressing my irritation, I clarified, "Miss, we handle the drinks; deliveries are managed by couriers." Finally, the calls stopped. But as the rush subsided, the headquarters called, telling me that a customer had lodged a complaint, accusing me of seducing her boyfriend.

“Kill her, or she will kill us all.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Clara’s life was supposed to be perfect. A fated love, a bright future, and a bond that nothing could break. But when a prophecy names her as the harbinger of destruction, her world shatters. Betrayed by her mate and sentenced to death, Clara barely made it alive outside the dangerous world, finding refuge among rogues when she was saved by the notorious Rogue King. Years pass, and the once-naive wolf becomes the feared Rogue Queen. When a wicked force threatens all werewolf packs, Clara must face the man who broke her—Alpha Adrian. Fate brings them together again, as they must uncover the truth behind the prophecy, face the betrayal that tore them apart, and fight a war that could end everything. But can love rise from the ashes of hate? Will Clara go against the mate who betrayed her or follow a new path? Or will darkness consume them all?

Olivia had always been at a great disadvantage her whole life. From growing up in a home where she’s barely loved to being sent off to pay off her father’s debt to an Alpha King and to being severely maltreated by her mate. When she’s close to giving up, Life throws a certain blue-eyed boy at her. He gives her sparks and makes her happy enough to continue bearing the pain. Olivia knew what it felt like to be truly loved by one person. Alpha Julian of the silver-crest pack finds his mate where and when he least expects it. When he goes undercover to investigate the violation of the spirits code She’s the Luna of his worst enemy, Alpha Leo. He wasn’t going to give up his only chance at experiencing true love because of a treaty, he does what he thinks is the best. He KIDNAPS HER.

The deal was simple – have one dinner with the notorious crime lord, Declan Shaughnessy, and my dad’s gambling debts would be canceled. But I knew I was in deep trouble when he met me at the door looking fine as hell with those piercing blue eyes and a mouthwatering body built for sin. Over dinner, I could barely breathe when his hand grazed mine, and that wolfish grin set me quivering down below. An innocent slow dance quickly turned into a down-and-dirty horizontal mambo on his couch. Now I’ve become his burning obsession, and I’m trapped by the new debts my father owes the mafia. When that devilish grin spreads across Declan’s handsome face, I know that he'll never set me free-- especially now that I’m carrying his baby. ******** This steamy romantic suspense story is a standalone novel in the Wicked Billionaires Club series. Enjoy!