Cast Shadows

The things we want are so very rarely the things we need. Clifton Heights, a modest Adirondack town, offers many unique attractions. Arcane Delights sells both paperbacks and hard-to-find limited editions. The Skylark Diner serves the best home-cooked meals around, with friendly service and a smile. Every August, Mr. Jingo’s County Fair visits, to the delight of children and adults. In essence, Clifton Heights is the quintessential small American town. Everyone knows everyone else, and everyone is treated like family. It is quiet, simple, and peaceful. But shadows linger here. Flitting in dark corners, from the corner of the eye. If you walk down Main Street after dark, the slight scrape of shoes on asphalt whispers you're not alone, but when you look over your shoulder, no one is there. The moon shines high and bright in the night sky, but instead of throwing light, it only seems to make the shadows lengthen. Children disappear. Teens run away. Hunters get lost in the woods with frightening regularity. Husbands go mad, and wives vanish in the dead of night. And still, when the sun rises in the morning, you are greeted by townspeople with warm waves and friendly smiles, and the shivers pass as everything seems fresh and new... Until night falls once more. Handy's Pawn and Thrift sits several blocks down from Arcane Delights. Like any thrift store, its wares range from the mundane to the bizarre. By daylight, it seems just another slice of small town Americana. But in its window hangs a sign which reads: We Have Things You Need. And when a lonely traveling salesman comes looking for something he desperately wants, after normal visiting hours, after night has fallen, he will face a harsh truth among the shelves of Handy’s Pawn and Thrift: the things we want are rarely the things we need. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Charlene Samarah Adams is the only daughter of the current Alpha of the Red Moon Pack. She is a sweet and gentle girl who everyone recognizes, but once she turns her back, her shadows are judged. The “unlucky wolf” they call her. The Alpha, her father, agreed to make her marry the son of the Beta, though things turned upside down from that moment. Someone leaked information about her birth, and everyone looked at her with dismay and disgust. After receiving an embarrassing rejection from her supposed partner that their parents arranged for Charlene, she escaped the pack. Not wanting to ever return, she crossed the borders— the sole line her parents told her to never cross— the Lycans’ territory. Contrary to what she expected, the Lycans were not what tales told her. What will happen if the enemy’s pack suddenly welcomes her because of the prophecy? What will she do if the Moon Goddess, Selene, tells her that she’s the destined Luna of the current King of the Lycans? Will Charlene fight for her rights, or will she let the Lycan King decide who his Luna should be? Every choice has consequences. Alpha Adhler Ace Frost already has the Luna he wanted to mark. Will his choice differ in the presence of Charlene… will his decisions change once he unravels the truth about her?

I always thought getting accepted into Elite Order Academy would finally make my family proud. Perhaps then they would stop controlling my every move. Maybe my brothers would stop resenting me. Perhaps I wouldn’t feel so invisible anymore. No one believed I could do it—not even my mate, Alpha Jaxon Trevane. The night I planned to tell him... I found him tangled in bed with my best friend. Heartbroken and humiliated, I left everything behind and went to Elite alone. But the academy isn’t the fairytale I dreamed about. Beneath the grand halls and traditions, a brutal game is being played. The four ruling Alphas of the North, South, East, and West fight for power, dominance... and now, for me. A virgin. Untouched. Unclaimed. The prize they all want. There’s the mate who shattered my heart and swears he’ll win me back. The brilliant strategist who wants me as his Luna. The dangerous playboy who promises no one will ever touch me but him. And the cold, possessive Alpha who watches from the shadows—and would destroy anyone who dares to take me from him. But in a place where love is a battlefield and lust is a weapon, falling in love might be the most dangerous thing I ever do. Welcome to Elite Order Academy—where every desire has a price, and my body is the ultimate trophy.

In the bustling streets of New York City, Kathrine is determined to make a name for herself and build a successful life. However, her dreams come crashing down when she gets fired from her job for constantly being late. Feeling defeated, she seeks solace in the company of her loyal friend, Dylan. As they venture out into the vibrant nightlife of the city, fate takes an unexpected turn. Kathrine and Dylan find themselves at the renowned Medusa Lounge, a place known for its mysterious allure. Little does she know that this encounter will change her life forever. Inside the lounge, Kathrine catches the eye of Andrew, the enigmatic owner and the secret Mafia boss of New York. Drawn to her resilience and determination, Andrew offers Kathrine a chance at redemption. He sees potential in her and offers her a job at the lounge, a position that could open doors to a world she never imagined. Caught between the allure of a dangerous lifestyle and the desire to make a living, Kathrine finds herself torn. As she delves deeper into the dark underbelly of New York's criminal underworld, she must navigate treacherous waters, balancing her loyalty to Andrew and her own moral compass. In this thrilling tale of ambition, love, and danger, Kathrine must decide how far she is willing to go to survive in a city that never sleeps. Will she succumb to the seductive power of the Medusa Lounge and its enigmatic owner, or will she find a way to rise above the shadows and forge her own path?

Claimed by Samael Velasco to be his future bride, Merryn hid in the shadows of his protection from the day he found her. She lived her entire life believing it as truth until the day came when this shattered. The shocking revelation that changed her perception also urged her to escape from Samael’s gilded cage. To him, she was just a possession and his precious pet. Her heart throbbed and yearned for something real. She knew not what this meant, at least not yet. Until she escaped, and ran right into the arms of Samael’s known mortal enemy… Giovanni Salvatore, a rare lycan of Royal bloodline. He is the king of the lycans and the werewolves. The ruler of the Mystic Mountain Kingdom. Merryn’s appearance in Giovanni’s life upset a few well-laid plans for his future. And so began a path of mutual discovery and perils they couldn’t begin to imagine. What will she do when she finds herself in the cave of wolves? ^~*~^ This tale is for those 18 or older. Reader’s discretion is advised.

Three months after the mysterious disappearance of my Alpha mate during his patrol, I found him in a bar near the border. He was cuddling his childhood friend, a she-wolf, laughing smugly. "I wanted to get rid of Bethany for ages! Thanks for giving me the idea to enjoy the freedom I've been looking forward to for a long time." The she-wolf nestled delicately against his chest, feeding him wine with her mouth. She asked him when he was planning to return—his answer was nonchalant. "I'll enjoy myself for another week and go back once Bethany's gone mad. That'll teach her not to be such a micromanager!" His close friends all praised them. "Great move! After this, the Luna will obey your every word." "The witch's disguise potion is so useful. No one recognized you all this time!" No one noticed me hiding in the shadows, watching how carefree he was. I called the pack's elder; using my position as the Luna, I announced that the Alpha was dead and that it was time to prepare for the election of the next Alpha.

Ella era una mujer cuya vida dependía de los demás. Se vio obligada a ser una chiva expiatoria y al final se quedó embarazada. Él era el soltero más destacable con abundantes riquezas y poder. Al principio él pensaba que ella era la flor del mal, manchada de codicia y engaño. Y ella ya decidió no enamorarse de él, así que desapareció de su lado. Furioso, juró buscarla hasta los confines del mundo para recuperarla. Toda la ciudad sabía que sería encontrada tarde o temprano. Con desesperación, ella se quejó: "Ya no me importa este matrimonio, así que ¿por qué todavía no me dejas ir?" De manera dominante, él respondió: "¿Me has robado el corazón y has dado a luz a mi hijo, y ahora me dices que quieres escapar de mí?"

When Italy's Most Dreaded Capo discovers his true identity, the world is thrown into disarray. A bloody war erupts between werewolves and the Mob. The dice has been cast, and the Capo must decide whose family he actually belongs to. The werewolf clan (where he was once a Beta) or the Mob clan (where he is now a Capo)? Is he his Alpha or his Don? His Mate or His Moll? His past life or the one he has grown to love? It's a conundrum with no way out without spilling a lot of blood and losing loved ones. ************************************************* Ryder's eyes were partially closed as he held a pistol to his head. That was the end of it. He's probably finished. He was not afraid of death. But this was a particularly painful time since it was his Beta who was holding the pistol to his head. Jason, who used to be his wingman, was now going to be his assassinator. "Do it," Don Carianno urged, irritated by his tardiness. Jason pressed the gun's point harder on Ryder's temples, but his fingers wavered around the trigger. He couldn't pull it off. "Remember what we've gone through, man. Jason, you and I have a long history. You're not going to be able to accomplish it. You can't get rid of your Alpha..." ****** This is the second book of ONCE ABUSED, NOW LOVED. Although it may be read as a stand-alone, it is highly recommended that you first read the first book to have a better grasp of this one. BOOK 1 - ONCE ABUSED, NOW LOVED. BOOK 2: ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA.

She was abandoned before she could walk. Raised in a cold, forgotten orphanage and later tormented by the family who adopted her, she learned to survive with silence and scars. Love was a fairytale she stopped believing in long ago—until he looked her way. Rex Radford. Reckless, magnetic, and dangerously untouchable. The notorious heartbreaker and scandal-ridden heir of multi-billionaire Alfred Radford. His life was one endless party of fast cars, wild nights, and nameless girls—until her haunted eyes brought everything to a halt. He wanted her. But she disappeared. No one knew she vanished carrying his twins. Far away from the glittering chaos of the Radfords’ empire, she gave birth in silence—alone, terrified, and determined never to look back. Her world became about survival, her children, and burying the past so deep it could never find her. But fate had other plans. Six years later, she returns. Not as the broken girl they once ignored—but as a woman reborn. Fierce. Untouchable. Powerful. And with two children whose faces mirror a man who never knew they existed. Now the world whispers. The tabloids burn. And Rex Radford—cold-hearted, beautiful Rex—wants answers. But she’s not the same girl he once tried to break. And when jealous rivals, buried secrets, and twisted betrayals rise from the shadows, she’ll have to decide: Will she risk everything to let him into her life again—or protect her children from the man who once shattered her world? This is not just a love story. It’s a war between the past and the future, between pain and forgiveness, between a woman who rebuilt herself from ashes—and the man who unknowingly gave her the fire.

Shania thought she had it all—her husband Adrian, her home, her future. But that illusion shattered the day her twin sister, Stephanie, appeared on her doorstep, cradling a baby that looked unmistakably like Adrian. The triumphant glint in Stephanie’s eyes delivered the truth: betrayal. Two facts now defined Shania’s life: 1) Her husband, whom she gave up everything for, had slept with her sister. 2) She became pregnant by a stranger after a drunken night, just 240 days after Adrian struck her. Enter Stefan—an enigmatic billionaire with his own dark past. He needed a woman whose name began with 'S' to carry his child. Unbeknownst to Shania, Stefan had been orchestrating her life from the shadows, drawn to her for reasons she could never have imagined. And now, a baby is involved, divorce papers are moving from one home to the lawyer, and a fresh new contract marriage is being drafted. Will Stefan reveal his secrets before it’s too late? And can Shania find the strength to confront her past and embrace the unexpected bond forming between them?