Clenching Fist

Trapped in a gilded cage, a defiant artist becomes entangled with a ruthless mafia Don. Valentina, a talented artist and stripper struggling to survive in the city's underbelly, witnesses a brutal act that plunges her into a world of danger. Captured by Dante Russo, the enigmatic head of the Russo famiglia, she finds herself a prisoner in his opulent mansion. Haunted by a violent past, Dante is a man shrouded in secrets, ruling with an iron fist and a hidden vulnerability. As tensions rise between rival factions vying for control of the city, an unlikely bond sparks between Valentina and Dante. She uses her art to capture the brutality and fleeting moments of tenderness within his world. But their connection is a dangerous dance. Can they navigate a web of deceit and betrayal, or will the city's dark secrets consume them both?

In a world ruled by packs and power, Kyara has always been the weakest link—a rejected mate, abandoned by a man who should have protected her. But her world spins out of control when a centuries-old prophecy stirs, marking her as the key to a mysterious, dangerous future. As packs gather and enemies close in, Kyara finds herself thrust into the arms of Alpha Eric Blackwood—cold, commanding, and terrifyingly powerful. Eric has never needed anyone. Feared by all, he rules with an iron fist and no mercy. To him, Kyara is nothing more than a pawn to secure his pack’s survival—a fragile girl marked by fate and prophecy. Yet, the more time he spends with her, the more he begins to realize that there is something far more dangerous about her than he ever imagined—something that could save or destroy them all. But Kyara’s heart is torn. Her past mate, Victor, rejected her and now wants her back, after learning of her true power. Will Kyara give in to her once-beloved mate, or will she discover a strength within herself she never knew existed? And when Eric’s control finally falters, will their love be enough to survive the storm that’s coming? A prophecy. A pawn. A powerful Alpha who is about to fall.

He joined them like the others to destroy me. When he was good, he made me believe we could weather the storm. When he turned bad he made me believe he was the storm. “Good luck to your present Luna and if you haven’t good luck when you find her. I never loved you more than a friend, and today I’ll repeat I don’t love you, never did and never will not in a million years. What happened between us was in the past which was never meant to blossom. Let me go, I don't belong here, not in this pack and never will….” Before the words could successfully leave my lips a deafening sound rocked the cell and a large open dent came on the wall. Tagon. He took long hoarse breaths, his tight fist stuck in the wall. His eyes darkened with angry growls. What kind of a man has he turned to? It felt so hard not to think of the past. It was so hard not to think about how things were. The good days. He was the sweetest man I’ve ever met. I was foolish back then to think those affections were real. I was stupid to think my tainted blood could be made pure by garnering his favor and his affections. There were only two events he ever got mad: the first time we met where he met me crying and the second was when I told him… nevermind. He clicked his tongue sharply, “As long as you live you would forever be under my dominance. I own you. Your life, your blood and even your soul to do whatsoever my soul pleases. You are my slave and that’s your lot!”

"Did you hear me, Luca DeLuca? I want a divorce. You betrayed me far too much. Last night was the final straw for me." I snarled, clenching my fists at my sides. I was proud of myself for remaining strong in front of my so-called mate. He always made me feel like a weakling. Still, he did not answer. Did he even hear me? "Luca?" I tapped the table until he finally looked up at me. "For God's sake, Serafina. Are you blind as well as stupid? Can't you see that I am busy?" Luca growled at me, causing me to be silent. He did despise me. The truth finally settled in my gut like a stone in that very second. I was nothing to him. He did not even care about me. Not one bit. For three long years, Serafina stood by her fated mates side, hoping that one day he would love her. But, each day caused more pain and suffering for Serafina, especially when she found her mate entangled with his ex lover. The one who truly had his heart. With his betrayal and rejection towards her, as well as the shame and disappointment her mother threw at her, Serafina finally snaps and demands a divorce, leaving the DeLuca estate and returning to her childhood sanctuary. Unfortunately for Serafina, her mother is not going to give up the idea of gaining power and greed, she forces her daughter to marry an old widowed Alpha despite Serafina’s refusal. Will Luca see sense before he loses his fated mate for ever or is it to little to late for his cursed Luna?

Kyla is arranged to be married to Vixen, a powerful mafia boss with an unbroken reputation. To the outside world, he's cold, hard, ruthless, and merciless. She's kind, tender-hearted, beautiful, and caring. Given Vixen's reputation, Kyla doesn't want to fall in love, but soon, she learns that even the coldest hearts have a soft spot, and Vixen's just might be her. And although she doesn't like to admit it, hers might be him. Will they ever find love, or will this be a loveless marriage after all? ------- He raises his fist and I could swear I made a whimpering sound. I turn away and I look at the window as Vixen gets quiet. "Kyla." he says, his cold, hard mask still intact. I look at him, not saying anything, and he shifts in his seat, well aware of why I reacted that way. "Who did it?" he asks. I look down at my hands and I don't reply. "Was it those assholes at the university?" he asks, genuinely concerned. "Kyla?" he says, his fingers brushing against my arm. I jump at his contact and suddenly a tear falls from my eyes. "God." he says as I begin to cry. I can tell he's not used to emotion.... "How was your first day sweetheart?" she asks sincerely. "A couple of frats tried getting in her panties in broad daylight and everyone around was gonna let it happen. How's that sound?" Vixen says, obviously still pissed.

Excerpt “Did he touch you?” Nicholas leaned in, his face inches away from mine. His closeness was suffocating,stealing the breath in my lungs. “Nic, stop!” My breath hitched and I shrank back. “I’ll take that as a yes, which hand?” He questioned again, clenching his jaws so hard that I could see the muscles rippling. “It was a mistake..” I whispered. “That doesn’t look like a mistake, Mira..” he moved closer to me. “It was, please let it go” I pleaded with my last bit of energy. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll bring both hands for you to choose,”. ********. Mira Cavallo thought she could leave her dangerous past behind and stay safe with her five-year-old son, Rocco but unknown to her, safety is an illusion in the mafia world. Her peaceful life is shattered when armed men break into her home, rips her son from her arms and forces her back into the clutches of her former boss, Lucius Moretti also known as the bloodhound. To save her child, Mira must return to the mafia world, seduce a very dangerous Mafia leader, Nicholas Sterling and uncover his secrets that would pull him down or kill him. As Mira inches closer to the truth, Mira discovers some hidden truth about Lucuis and Nicholas and she also realizes that she isn’t just fighting for her son but for her freedom in a dangerous game of power and desire.

Elara’s life is shattered when she is forced into an arranged marriage with Damian Volkov—the ruthless Alpha of a powerful werewolf pack and the feared king of the mafia underworld. As the daughter of a desperate businessman who struck a dangerous deal, Elara becomes nothing more than a pawn in a world of violence, secrets, and supernatural power. Damian is cold, calculating, and possessive, ruling with an iron fist both in the criminal world and among his kind. At first, their marriage is nothing more than a contract—an agreement to secure power and settle debts. But as Elara defies him at every turn, she awakens something primal in the Alpha King, something far more dangerous than any enemy. Torn between duty and the growing intensity of their bond, Elara must navigate a world of deadly rivalries, betrayals, and forbidden passion. As secrets unravel and enemies close in, she realizes that escaping Damian’s grasp may be impossible—not because of the deal that binds them, but because her heart may no longer want to run. In a world where love and power collide, will Elara survive her fate, or will she become the queen of darkness beside the Alpha Mafia King?

Gianna Benton, a woman who came from a great family, a family with ancient history, had always lived a life that's overshadowed by her younger sister, Quinn. After her unfair death with her unborn baby at the hands of the man she loved, Gianna got reborn. Now with the opportunity to live again, Gianna rejects her mate and gives herself to alpha Axel, falling into an unexpected contract marriage. Both plans to use each other, and falling in love isn't part of the deal for them. Gianna plans to get her revenge on her former lover, alpha Nathan, who killed her in the past because of her younger sister, but surprisingly to her, alpha Nathan wants his mate back, and Gianna is determined not to let the past repeat itself. —------------------------------------------------ "Is this hell?" "Gianna, what's wrong with you? I know that you are excited, but you need to stop acting weird." Mom said. I reach out my hands to touch her face, but she slaps my hands away. This is real, I thought. Somehow, I have gone back in time to the day I got married to Alpha Nathan. "I need to take a picture of you, but I can't do it without your sister. Wait here for me while I go get your sister." Mom left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. My hands formed a fist in anger as I thought of Quinn and Alpha Nathan. I don't know how I have traveled back to the past, but I'm not going to let myself make the same mistake I did in my past life; I'm not getting married to alpha Nathan. No matter what, I need to put a stop to this wedding.

Luca Castillo is a name that strikes fear across every pack. Ruthless, powerful, and cold-blooded, he rules with an iron fist, never hesitating to eliminate threats. Mates are a weakness, and love is a luxury he can’t afford. His only loyalty is to his pack—until the night he hunts down a rogue and everything changes. Raven was never meant to exist. Marked by a forbidden prophecy and hunted since birth, she’s spent her life running, hiding the dangerous secret buried in her blood. When she crosses into Luca’s territory, she knows she won’t leave alive. But she doesn’t expect him to hesitate. She doesn’t expect him to claim her. The bond between them is instant, raw, and impossible to ignore. But Luca refuses to be ruled by fate, and Raven refuses to be owned. As enemies rise and secrets unravel, they’ll be forced to choose -betray their hearts, or destroy everything they’ve ever known. Because some bonds aren’t just made by the moon. Some are forged in blood, fire, and destiny.

“You can fight me all you want, hate me and even curse me, Sienna! But you'll forever be mine. No one! Not even the goddess can touch what belongs to me.” Sienna was a rogue, a nobody— a woman who had no place in his massive world. She was fierce, sharp-tongued and determined to survive. Kieran was ruthless, untouchable— the Alpha King feared by all. He was a king who ruled with an iron fist— he trusted no one, power was his weapon and control was his obsession. Yet she disobeyed him, when she looked him in the eye with an untamed fire, he felt something he'd never felt— obsession. She was dangerous, a betrayer he needed to crush. But the more he pushed her away, the more he craved to own her. When she finally dared to challenge him…he knew one thing— she was his, even if he had to break her. Will surrendering to him destroy her or will it be her only way to survive?