Chapter 18 Catcher In The Rye

Aaron Hale has survived on grit, secrets, and nightlife shifts in an East L.A. club—never knowing the owner watching him from the shadows is Zayden Blackwell, a powerful man whose obsession runs deeper than lust. Months before Aaron ever notices him, Zayden secretly buys the club, manipulates shifts and tips, and even pays Bianca—Aaron’s first love—to break his heart, all to push him into accepting a mysterious job at his mansion. But Zayden isn’t the only shadow tied to Aaron. Slate, Zayden’s cold half-brother, once saved Aaron’s life during a kidnapping attempt Zayden himself orchestrated years ago. Slate was meant to “manage” Aaron in the mansion, not fall for him, but his forbidden desire grows uncontrollably. Inside the mansion, Aaron discovers a locked room filled with photos and belongings of himself—Zayden’s collection—and a drawer of secret notes from Slate, revealing his own obsession. A staff member reports Aaron’s every move to an unknown enemy, while a hidden safe shows Zayden prepared legal documents to control Aaron’s entire future. A mysterious texter warns: “He’s lying to you. Both of them are.” At the mansion’s deadly climax event, Aaron flips the psychological game—forcing Zayden to surrender the control he’s never given anyone.

Elara, a human, had been invisible most of her life—ignored by her father, who lived only to serve the pack; abandoned by her mother, who left; and dismissed by wolves who couldn’t care less. But the night she witnessed the future Alpha murder his best friend—the heir of a rival pack—Elara wished for nothing more than to vanish again. Instead, every eye turned to her—as Kaelen Duskbane’s supposed new lover, the heir to the Duskbane pack. Dragged into a dangerous game where deception is a weapon and loyalty can kill, she had become a target in plain sight. Behind Kaelen’s shadow lurked something darker than anyone dared to whisper, and Elara was standing far too close. Caught between ruthless heirs, bitter rivalries, and secrets carved in blood, Elara must decide: keep her head down and survive… or risk everything by stepping into Kaelen’s world. Because in the opulent halls of the Duskbane estate, humans don’t feast with wolves— they are devoured by them.

Ashley was once the strongest warrior, the most gifted healer, and the chosen Luna. Her future was set… until the night she vanished. Kidnapped by rogues and left to die, Ashley reached out to her mate, Alpha Jace, only to be met with a cold “contact later” as a response. The rogues laughed at her. “Even your Alpha doesn’t care if you live or die.” Alone and wounded, Ashley escaped but lost her wolf, Amy, in the process. When she was in need of his help, Jace was attending to Carina, his childhood friend. Ashley felt hurt and betrayed once she realized this and made the painful decision to reject Jace and sever their bond. But Jace refused to let her go and proposed an enticing offer. Just when Ashley tries to believe him, she uncovered the truth—she was never the mate. She was a stand-in. A shield to protect Carina. As the final straw, Ashley turned the tables. She blackmailed Jace’s beta, Lucas, when she discovers his involvement with the rogues and forced him to help her escape. But at the edge of her freedom, Jace is waiting and the final blow is delivered: losing her wolf was part of their plan. As Jace completed his plan by marking her as his forever, Ashley braced for the end. Until the Lycan King arrived. He doesn’t come to save her. He comes to claim her. But why would the most powerful man want a broken substitute? And what will happen when Ashley discovers she was never a pawn—she was the prize?

The marriage between Zoey Jenner and Laurence Scott initially started as only a transaction. However, she has always had feelings for him, and the show isn’t as make-believe as it seems. Her husband, on the other hand, has never once considered her feelings or felt anything for her in returned. For her, he holds not a bit of love. Zoey’s long-held crush for Laurence dies on the day he made her have a surgery in the hospital. She abandons her pride and begs her husband to show mercy to their child. Yet, Laurence only calmly says, “Don’t be naive.”Many years later, Zoey returns to Northwell. He pins her down in a dark corner and says huskily, “Zoey, don’t go.”

Sofia Miller is a shy and quiet girl from Ohio who moved to New York to chase her dreams of being an actress and making it big in the world after the death of both her parents in tragic untimely ways, fortunately, and unfortunately, her path gets completely change when she meets a ruthless, arrogant and emotionless man who saved her life on her first day in New York City, Spencer McCarthy, the CEO of the McCarthy hotels and a and mafia boss which he took over after his father who founded the hotel and the operations was murdered. Their lives get interwoven and she begins to fall deeply for him only to find out that he is betrothed to one of New York City's socialites and the daughter of a political executive whose father helped keep the government off his dealings, Kara Rodrigo. What will become of Sofia's life now that she is in such a dynamic? Will she ever achieve her dream? What happens when she finds out he is a lord, and mafia boss and has committed several murders? Will she still love him? What will Kara do when she finds out her husband-to-be is cheating on her with a commoner? Will Spencer find his father's killer? Who will Spencer choose between Kara, his betrothed whose father he is in business with or Sofia , a common nobody from Ohio? Will Sophia's love triumph on the crossfire?.

On the day of our wedding, Maverick Lowe sacrificed me as bait to save his childhood sweetheart, Janet Stewart, from her kidnappers. I was left behind, brutally tormented by the gang. The next day, the entire internet was flooded with indecent videos of me. Maverick publicly branded me a disgrace, broke off our engagement in front of everyone, and soon after, paraded Janet as his bride. While I was drowning in despair, my childhood friend Alfred Hawkins confessed his love. He said he had always cared for me, and vowed to shelter me from every storm. With him by my side, I slowly climbed out of that darkness. We married, and soon after welcomed our daughter, Ruby. The three of us built a life of simple, perfect happiness. Until one day, I stumbled upon Janet sobbing in Alfred's arms. Between tears, she choked out, ''The doctor said… without a matching heart, Yoana won't last another month…'' Yoana, her little girl, had been born with a congenital heart defect. Alfred's hand lingered tenderly on her shoulder as he whispered. ''Don't cry. I told you, Ruby's heart was always meant for Yoana. ''After her birthday, I'll arrange the accident. Then Ruby will be delivered straight to the hospital…''

**This is the sequel to University of Love. It can be read as a stand alone book. ** Ember has grown up believing she had no wolf, magic or dragon. Her twin, Ash, on the other hand has had it all. Deciding it best to transfer to a human high school, she ends up meeting her mate, a hybrid just like her. Her mate brings out her dormant wolf, causing Ember's life to unravel. She thought she would be happier once she got her wolf, instead her life has only gotten more complicated. Having been decieved before, Ember has a hard time accepting the mate bond. Can she overcome her past to find happiness with her mate? What happens when a siren comes into play? Can she stay the course and accept her mate? *********************** I went to grab the microscope from the center of the table at the same time Toni did. Our hands touched and my head started to ring loudly... a terrible headache brewed. Where his hand touched mine felt like fireworks had gone off. My hairs stood on my arms, goosebumps ran through me.  I grabbed my head from all the ringing. It was so loud and strong. I squeezed at my temples, wincing at the pain.  "Mate." Toni's wolf said so silently, I almost didn't hear it.  I started getting dizzy, my head was spinning, and my vision was tunneling. Can I have a mate? I don't even have a wolf. Shouldn't he be with someone with someone that does?  "Ember?" His voice rang in my ear, but it was too late. I was falling out of my chair, passing out. I felt him catch me before I hit the floor, his touch sent fireworks through me, before the darkness took me.

(R-18)Story of a girl who lost everything in life. But only one thing left her sufferings. She wants nothing but want to find the biggest mystery of her life that change everything. When she is suffering, she met a person which change her life. In this world he gives her everything she wanted. Let see how can a human become the light of someone lost path? And how can both overcome their difficulties together? And live a happy life with each other after many years of tears. Follow me on Instagram to know more about my work: @shinecl17 (This work is unedited)

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