Bitter Orange

Amanda's life shattered on her daughter Kendall's second birthday when her husband James vanished. A cryptic message revealed a shocking truth, forcing Amanda to confront a dark family secret that put her life in danger. As Amanda struggles to rebuild her life, James reappears, demanding custody of Kendall. Their bitter fight leads to a devastating court battle, leaving Amanda desperate to protect her daughter. But when tragedy strikes, Amanda's world is turned upside down. With time running out, she must join forces with James to uncover the truth behind their daughter's disappearance. As they navigate the treacherous landscape of their past, Amanda and James must confront the painful secrets that tore their family apart. Can they put aside their differences to save their daughter, or will the truth destroy what's left of their shattered family?

In the quiet of the forest, the darkest fears are born. The people of Dunballan, harbour a dark secret. A secret more terrible than the Beast that stalks the dense forests of Dunballan. A secret that holds David McCavendish, last in a long line of Lairds, in its unbreakable grip. It’s down to Sally, David’s lover, to free David from the sinister clutches of the Beast. But, with the whole town against her, she must ally herself with an ancient woodland force and trace Dunballan’s secret back to its bitter origins. Those origins lie within the McCavendish family history, and a blasphemous heresy that stretches back to the beginning of time. Some truths are too terrible to face, and the darkest of these lie waiting for Sally, in the Quiet Places. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

For three years, Grace Silver endured the bitter reality of being the Luna of Crimson Moon Pack—watching her mate Alexander repeatedly choose Victoria, his childhood sweetheart and supposed savior, over their sacred bond. Each time Victoria's "heart condition" flares, Alexander rushes to her side, leaving Grace alone. When rogue wolves nearly kill Grace during a vicious attack, Alexander abandons his wounded mate to comfort Victoria through another convenient "heart episode." Broken by this final betrayal, Grace decides to sever their mate bond, hiding a life-changing secret: she carries Alexander's twin pups, a blessing as rare as it is dangerous in their world. "I don't need your protection anymore," Grace declares coldly, though her dormant wolf aches with each word. However, after their divorce, Alexander found that his true love was Grace. What made him even more regretful was that he found Grace was the legendary "Moonlight Savior," the mysterious healer whose abilities Alexander has desperately sought to strengthen his pack. His wolf howled with regret. "You're still my Luna," he growled, his Alpha power making the walls vibrate as he begs for her return. But can Grace forgive the mate who chose another while she silently carried his pups? In a world where sacred bonds are everything and betrayal runs deep as blood, Grace must decide if Alexander deserves a second chance at their mate bond, or if some wounds cut too deep to heal.

“But at least allow me to show you. I will court you, and prove to you how breathtaking you are every morning, noon, and night, not just in bed.” “Stop cringing me.” ** Dandeline, an aromantic and intimidating enchantress, has added stressful days to her 99+ more problems when she agreed to help the newbie werewolf. Hessuel, who’s annoyingly humble and determined to learn how to howl with no grammatical errors, has set a country trip with Dandeline to find his ‘ghost’ mate who also left him a mark. That was the plan… until the time they spent together, their battles together, even their nonsense arguments, have made it possible for their ‘friendship’ to culminate into love. But as this ghost mate enters the triangle, their beautifully invested feelings suddenly change to a bitter rivalry. ✔Romance-Comedy ✔Slowburn ✔Action-Adventure ✔Historical Fantasy ✔3 seasons in 1 book ✔NOT FOR KIDS

"Don't touch my son! You never even wanted him, did you?" *** Because of love, Sasha was willing to engage in a clandestine relationship with her friend's father, Vincent. Vincent justified it by claiming that his wife was having an affair, so he needed a companion. However, one day Sasha discovered that Vincent's wife's lover was her own father. Confused, Sasha found out that Vincent had only used her as a bed-warmer doll to seek revenge on her father. Sasha decided to leave Vincent. However, her friend wouldn't let her go peacefully and continued to harass her. The situation worsened when Sasha found out she was pregnant. Eventually, she made the decision to disappear forever, leaving behind her bitter past. Unfortunately, several years later, when she had built a good life with her son, Vincent came back into her life.

Sebastian Sanchez never wanted her, but that's not what led to their divorce. He cheated on her with her best friend and the pain in her heart was multiplied many times over. But, now Isabella Rossi has managed to escape the shadows of her past, building her own happiness after the bitter divorce from Sebastian. She had no time to dwell on all the things about the past that had hurt her. After all, she now had the center of the world that made her forget everything. However, her life is shaken up again when Sebastian reappears in her life, bringing an offer of much-needed financial help. Sebastian hasn't changed; he is still incredibly wealthy, strong, gorgeous, charming, and intoxicating as sin. With her business on the verge of bankruptcy, debts mounting, and daily needs Isabella is cornered between her immediate needs and her desire not to go back to her ex-husband. Isabella insists on keeping her distance from him, seeking other help and trying not to fall for his advances. The situation becomes more complicated for Isabella when Sebastian finds out the major secret she has been keeping. Stefano Archer Rossi; her son. The little blue-eyed one who bears a striking resemblance to Sebastian Sanchez. Sebastian was the most domineering man she despised. But how can she resist Sebastian's relentless pursuit? Using their child as the focal point, transform a traumatic history into a lovely one? There is a razor's edge between love and hatred, and Isabella sees it when they clash. Isabella risks dying if she gives in to this unusual desire and becomes entangled in a deadly game of love and hate.

On my birthday, I proposed a family trip to the northern grasslands. My younger sister, Clara Harrington, who was studying in the southern territory, decided to drive through the forest to meet up with us. But unexpectedly, she was attacked by Rogue wolves in the woods, and her body was never found. My parents, Oscar Harrington and Margaret Vale, placed all the blame on me for her death and cast me out of the family. Overwhelmed with guilt and sorrow, I left the pack to atone for my sins. I took on odd jobs to earn money to send home, all while searching for any trace of Clara. Three years later, I found myself in the southern territory and began working as a delivery runner for a forest cafe. One day, while delivering an order to Werewolf Academy, I saw my parents and Clara standing at the school gate. She said, "Dad, Mom, Adeline has been wandering for three years. Shouldn't we let her come home?" But my mother replied calmly, "She is too selfish. It's only right that she suffers a little. We can bring her back once she realizes her mistakes." My father nodded in agreement. "Let her wander for another year. We'll bring her home next year." I clutched my stomach, my face pale as I forced out a bitter laugh. Three years of exhaustion had left me gravely ill. My wolf was gone, and I only had three days left to live. I could't wait until next year for my father to come and take me home.

The day my ex finally made it big, the doctor told me I had less than three months to live. On TV, a reporter was interviewing James Larson. “Mr. Larson, what drove you to success?” James chuckled, but his eyes were misty. “The biggest push? Probably when I was diagnosed with kidney disease eight years ago, and my ex walked out on me.” “I’m grateful she didn’t marry me. That was the wake-up call I needed.” After the interview, he called. “Amelia Simmons, I made it. Do you regret it now?” I rested a hand on the spot where my kidney used to be and let out a bitter laugh. “I do. And I have cancer now. Happy?” James sounded satisfied. “Serves you right.” He never knew—I got cancer because I gave him my kidney all those years ago.

Three years ago, Moon-Lake Pack — once a proud member of Lupus Celestial, the central pack alliance — lost everything in a brutal defeat to the Rogue Packs that had long plagued us. The Lycan King believed my father — the Alpha of Moon-Lake — had conspired with the Rogues, and our pack paid the price. My father and I were enslaved and cast out, becoming the laughingstock of all the packs. Even my mate, Chase, turned his back on me. But three years later, I was sent back to Lupus Celestial by Chase’s order — just as he was preparing to bond with his future Luna. Everyone assumed I had returned to sabotage the ceremony. “Taryn, do you still think you stand a chance of becoming his Luna?” “Chase never liked you. He’s always adored Wynette.” “Why would you show up now — just before he bonds with his mate?” Warnings, veiled threats, and even silent beatings made one thing painfully clear: I was not welcome. And Chase — the one I had once believed was my fated mate, the one I’d felt an unexplainable pull toward — stood by, cold and detached, watching it all in silence. His eyes held nothing but loathing. “You still think you can live freely outside Lupus Celestial after betraying us time and again? What exactly are you plotting at my bonding ceremony?” I let out a bitter laugh and wiped the blood from my lips. He didn’t know my wolf had been gravely wounded by a silver dagger — and I didn’t have much time left. “Don’t worry. If I hadn’t been dragged back, I’d never have returned. And if I truly wanted to cause trouble, I’d have killed myself first.” Chase didn’t respond. He just scoffed. But when I walked away — from his pack, from his world — he was the one who crumbled. He begged me to return, as if losing me shattered something deep inside him.

On my son's fifth birthday, my Alpha mate allowed his childhood sweetheart Sarah to pick him up from school. I discovered through the tracking device on his watch that he was near the edge of the forest. Having heard reports of rogue wolves attacking in the area recently, I anxiously rushed over, determined to bring him back immediately. He refused to leave with me. While we were locked in this standoff, several rogue wolves burst from the treeline and attacked us. During the fight, I was wounded badly, blood streaming down my face, while I kept my son safely behind me, completely unharmed. But when my Alpha mate arrived to rescue us, he ran straight toward his childhood sweetheart who was hiding off to the side. "Aunt Sarah is a delicate Omega with no fighting ability, Dad. Save her first! Mom, you're so strong, just hold on a little longer!" my son called out. I watched them leave, a bitter smile forming on my lips. They all seemed to ignore the silver dagger piercing my heart as I protected my son. I was dying.