Burned

CASTELLO DI CARTE MAFIA CHRONICLES, BOOK 1 [Also known as PRECARIOUS: THE GAME OF HEARTS] 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀 When my mother's declining health forced me to reconsider my career options, my boss steered me in an unexpected direction. The was simple: get in, get the information, and get the out. Except, it wasn't that easy. Especially when my target was the most nefarious man alive in New York. The closer I got to him, the more I saw sides of him I never expected. He burned me with his scorching touch, demanding and eager gazes. He was determined to have me at all costs. One might think he would stop at that, but—devil, help me—he needed more. More than I was ready to give. There was a reason I never wanted to the Underworld. When my past came crashing onto my doorstep, every lie unravelled, but nothing prepared me for the worst. The truth about the connection between the man I desired and my dead sister. 𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐒 We all know what they say about sweet things: when consumed excessively, they turn from savoury to bitter. That was what she was. A poor excuse for a sweet I wanted to devour. I wanted to make her suffer with the same intensity. She deserved it. And so did her scheming sister. Only, I didn’t know the latter was dead, and I might be the one at fault. But did that stop me from craving her? , no. My desire to have her magnified. She became mine the moment she walked into my life with those hauntingly blue eyes. She could give me the one thing I never had in life: happiness. But being the master at ruining everything, how could I ever be the man she wanted me to be?

“You've been there for me through the best and the worst, shared my happiness and my sadness, you're the person I want to argue with and wake up next to every day of my life. I can go on for hours about how much you mean to me and how much I love you, but I always believed that actions speak louder than words, so I'll knee before you and ask; Will you marry me, will you give me a lifetime to show you how much I love you?” Aria's body was covered in goosebumps, her whole body felt like it had frozen over. She heard every word he uttered like a siren in the night, but her brain wouldn't function. This wasn't supposed to happen. “I can't..." She didn't realise that the words were out of her mouth till she saw his face fall and the crowd gasped. “What do you mean you can't?” Deagan stood up and took a step towards her, but she stepped back before he could touch her. “I- I just can't, I'm sorry.” Tears welled in her eyes and her heart burned with pain, she knew she was hurting him and that made her heart break even more. ### Aria and Deagan face the test of time as two people from opposing social standings trying to navigate a relationship, standing strong when their families try to tear them apart until the secrets they keep from each other are revealed. Will Deagan win back his girl or is his past too heavy a burden to face? There's a fine line between secrets and lies, until keeping a secret means having to tell a lie...

"Will you reject me?" I asked lowly, ignoring the huge lump that had formed in my throat. I could only fight back my tears as they burned my eyes. His green eyes were like orbs of ice, piercing into my soul. It was glazed and cold, yet seemed to have a lot of secrets hidden in it. "Reject you?...I am cursed. You won't survive being my mate. I advice you kill yourself before I do it myself." He muttered silently and walked away immediately. Ella was the alpha's daughter. She was the supposed heir and first female Alpha of the pack after her parents failed to bear another child, but her life went sour. She was abhorred, rejected, and termed a demon by her father and entire pack after she murdered her mother on the day of her supposed first shift. Her life became more hellish as her father got another woman as his second mate and also abducted the Beta's daughter. She believed her finding and meeting her mate would bring the end of her suffering, but when she was faced with her fated mate, the cursed Lycan prince who stared back at her with contempt, irritation and hatred, her last hope became bleak. Ella was thrown into his arms as another prey to be devoured and everyone believed it was a death sentence. She was his third mate and next to get killed by his beast just as his curse demands. But when no one expected it, the unimaginable happened.

Complete! - Jet likes being alone. Alone with her ship, taking care of herself.But then she's tricked into Frentin space. And the genetically modified humans don't take tresspass lightly. With her freedom now forfeit, Jet is taken captive by a Frentin and threatened with slavery to the hottest alien race in the galaxy.Icaan is an ex military trader, down on his luck after he was betrayed. He finds a wayward human woman on the edge of Frentin space and does what any good Frentin would, takes her in to face her punishment. But he didn't bargain for the independent and brave human he's taken captive.Can two aliens burned by their pasts find healing and hope together? Or will one really condemn the other to a life of slavery for one little mistake?Join the steamy romantic adventure of a lifetime as Jet thaws her alien captor and their spaceship really turns up the heat.

For five years, my fated mate, Alpha Kaelen and I have had 98 marking ceremonies. And every single time, his teeth would stop right at my neck. All because the Omega he claimed was "like a sister" to him always managed to faint at just the "right" moment. At the 99th ceremony, that Omega got "hurt" again. "I swear I'll complete the marking next time," Kaelen said, scooping up the other she-wolf without a backward glance. I burned the Luna gown I'd worn 99 times and changed back into my royal princess dress from the Moonshadow Realm. Then severed my mate bond and walked away without a second glance. It wasn't until searing pain hit Kaelen, and he crying for me to come back, that the Shaman coldly told him: "She is a true princess! And you were never worthy of her."

The poor lighting made it hard for her to see the face of the person who’d caught her, but when he opened his mouth her body sagged in relief. “You almost made it, human.” Maximus recognized the girl he saved in the woods. “What did you think? You'd sneak into my packhouse undetected and make it all the way up to my quarters without me knowing? Tell me, what did you plan to do up there?” His eyes narrowed and his head tilted sideways at her. “I have a proposition.” Maximus was shocked at the lack of fear in her voice. “You wanted me to catch you.” Star smiled inwardly at his tone. “I needed to talk to you.” She answered simply. “What could a hunter possibly want from a werewolf? I understand you’re new at this, but in case it hasn't occurred to you, your kind murders mine for a living.” He started harshly, his fingers closing around her neck tighter. “I'm not one of them.” *** Star Cullen's whole life is thrown out of balance when her father proclaims that if she wants to go to college she has to attend The Academy for a year- the very place that changed her brothers. Seeing it as a way to appease them all she goes against everything she believes in and goes along with his plan, only to return a year later to find the rest of her family dead. Hunters and Werewolves are notorious enemies, but what happens when a huntress and an Alpha find themselves on the same side of an even greater threat? When sparks fly, someone is bound to get burned, after all, love is a double-edged sword

She stood in the driveway watching the ambulance pull out. Feeling more alone than ever, tears streamed down Tatiana's face. Her father looked so weak and human. Looking back at the house, She could not go in. She could smell sickness inside. Blinded by tears, she made a run for the forest. Shedding her clothes under a rock before crashing in deeper. The forest around her was a blur. What if her father never came back? She would have no one. What had she done to the Moon Goddess to be forsaken? Her fear switched to anger, and she pushed forward faster and faster. Talia's muscles burned, but she kept running. As her wolf finally entered a clearing, her fur stood on end. On the other side of the clearing stood a sizeable sandy-colored wolf with amber eyes fixed on her. His ears perked up, and his head cocked to the side. Staring at each other from across the field, Tia could not take her eyes off him. She had never been this close to another wolf, and he was beautiful. Wobbling slightly, Tatiana realized she better move to the cover of the trees. As she turned, she heard an earth-shattering snap, and pain rolled up her left leg. She collapsed and looked down at her leg. It was caught in a trap. Her white fur turning red as blood seeped from the wound. Forgetting about the other wolf, she let out a tortured howl. Stabbing at the trap with her free paw, she whimpered and whined in agony. Her head rolled back as the pain threatened to render her unconscious. It was then that she noticed the wolf again. He had moved across the clearing and was now standing above her, and this time he was not alone.

Everyone always talks about how amazing it would be to find your mate. For me, that's the last thing I want. I mean when you're held prisoner by some sick bastard, there's not a lot you can offer your mate. No matter who it is, they can't save me from this. All that finding my mate would do is crush my heart and make my life that much more harder. Yet when I saw him at that gas station, I couldn't get him out of my head. I need to stay away, but I don't know that I can. I keep finding myself traveling to him even when I don't mean to. This doesn't bode well for me. *** "I have to go." I told him. "No, wait." He grabbed my hand, causing a strong spark to course through my body. It made me inhale deeply, intoxicating me with his scent. I pulled my hand away quickly, as if he'd burned me. His eyes widened as he stared at me. He had felt the spark too. He furrowed his brows at me, but I let the shadows start to swallow me, disappearing before him. "Please, come see me again." Were his last words to me. ***** Zerena has had one rule all her life, never find her mate. The life she leads is dangerous and not her own. Held captive by a scientist, forced to do his bidding alongside 4 others. Zerena has always known that if she found her mate it would cause her more trouble than anything else. As a shadow weaver, she knows nothing but darkness & cruel fates. She's used to danger, but how will she handle love?

“That’s my husband, Sandra!” I shouted, my voice trembling with a mix of fury and heartbreak. “What is going on? Tell me you planned this! You’ve wanted him from the start, haven’t you?” My composure shattered. The heat of my emotions burned through me, and all I wanted was for this night, the night I had dreamed of, to unfold as planned. “I’m sorry, Delilah,” Sandra stammered, her voice quivering with guilt. “I was just as shocked as you. But Farrell is my mate. How could I have known the moon goddess would do this? I didn’t choose this. But it’s clear now, the moon goddess has rejected you as the Luna of our pack.” <<<<<<<<<<<< Delilah’s life shattered on the night of their mating ritual. Farrell, the man who promised her the world, discovered his true mate, her best friend, Sandra. Farrell was supposed to mark Delilah that night, making her the Luna of the pack. Instead, Delilah was cast out, her dreams reduced to ashes. Lost and heartbroken, Delilah sought solace in a moment of vulnerability, a one-night stand with a powerful Lycan King. To his shock, she turned out to be his true mate. But Delilah’s story is far from over. Who is she, really? What secrets does her destiny hold? As layers of mystery unravel, Delilah’s life takes an unexpected turn, uncovering truths that could change everything. Dive into this gripping love triangle filled with suspense, supernatural powers, magic, war, and jaw-dropping revelations. This is a tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat. She has pinned all her hopes on her marriage. Being a human and marrying the Alpha of a powerful pack was no small feat..

Framed and abandoned by her pack, Eden had gone through so much pain and suffering. The pain of losing her only family is fleeting but the betrayal is even worse. The betrayal is sealed into her heart and resides in the opened wound that never let her forget the times she was tortured and reaped off her dignity by the one she loved. The face of her betrayal burned through her mind. The face she would never forgive or forget.