Corrupt Shadows Novels & Stories

He was one to go unnoticed by those around him for his head was always hidden behind the thick warm material of the black and grey hoodie. She was outspoken and not afraid of anything or she thought, her once fearless exterior came crumbling down in a heap of shuddered tears when she witnesses her best friend being murdered. Calder Evens liked to hid in the shadows keeping himself hidden from his enemies prying eyes, but one night he makes a life changing mistake and finds himself coming face to face with the one thing he feared most. Falling in love. Left with no other option but to take the extremely attractive young witness with him and for ever turning his life and empire upside down.

Lyra Jenkins’ heart is shattered, devoid of hope and her world in tatters with the guilt of everyone perceiving her as the murderer of her beloved father. However, she finds solace in the arms of an unexpected lover, Caleb Sawyer. But her respite is short-lived, as he callously chooses another woman over her, leaving her reeling in a deep dilemma of despair. Then the bitter ashes of betrayal and rejection settle in, and she resolves to reveal her true identity, driven by a thirst for revenge. In this bleak world, can Lyra find redemption? Can she break free from this toxic cycle, or will the shadows of her past forever define her future? Will she give him a second chance if he seeks forgiveness? Hell no! Second chances are not meant for scumbags like him.

"I, Darius Vaughan , Alpha of Blood Moon pack, reject you, Lyra Quinn, as my mate." The words cut deeper than any blade, shattering Lyra’s heart before the laughter and scorn of the pack, that followed. Rejected. Humiliated. Banished. She should have died that night. Instead, the rejection awakened something within her, something ancient, silver. Something extraordinary. Now, whispers of a “Silver Queen” carried waves through the lands, a wolf powerful enough to command shadows and bend fate itself. But power, they say, comes with enemies. The Alpha who rejected her is bound by a curse, the rival Alpha who courts her hides a deadly secret. And the prophecy that follows her name promises only two endings: unite the packs… or destroy them all

Alpha Julius Maia and her wolf have lived peacefully alone since her escape, enjoying the serenity of the forest without ambition for more, leaving the horrors of her past behind her. That is, until a sequence of events leaves her stumbling across the territory lines of an unforgiving Alpha, one whose grasp is so tight, she fears she may never break free. But it seems her new Alpha isn’t the only problem she faces. Secrets from her past lurk in the shadows, threatening to crumble the very fabric of her reality as they lie in wait, patiently preparing for the perfect opportunity to attack. Maia’s life is turned upside down, and she finds herself wondering if she’ll ever find peace again…

Charlie never asked for this life. Bound in an arranged marriage to Damiel, a ruthless mafia alpha and heir to a powerful empire, he quickly learns that in Damiel’s world, secrets are weapons and trust is a luxury. Damiel is wealth, power, and danger wrapped into one…and he wants everything Charlie has, including the parts he’s been hiding from the world. As shadows of the past and mafia politics collide with the fragile threads of desire, Charlie must navigate a world where love and survival are never guaranteed. One mistake could destroy them both, and sometimes the only way to protect yourself is to hide in plain sight. In a life built on deception and control, can Charlie and Damiel find a connection strong enough to survive? Or will their truths remain buried, forever camouflaged?

Kora's world shatters when her mate—her Alpha—betrays her with her own best friend. Stripped of her title as Luna and marked for death, she barely escapes their murderous scheme. But fate intervenes in the form of a powerful, enigmatic Alpha who saves her life. Just as hope begins to flicker in the shadows of her pain, Kora uncovers a new twist in her destiny—she’s pregnant with his child. Determined to protect her baby and believed to be dead by those who wronged her, Kora vanishes into the night. But she won’t stay hidden forever. With fire in her heart and vengeance in her blood, she vows to return—not just to face her past, but to make them all pay.

Synopsis: Shattered Vows: The Hidden Heiress's Coldest Return "I gave you four years of my life, my genius, and my heart. You gave me a divorce settlement and a motel room. Now, I’m taking back the throne you didn't even know I owned." For four years, Elena was the perfect "charity bride" to Grant Thorne. She lived in the shadows, wore shapeless sweaters, and secretly saved his failing company from bankruptcy using her hidden genius. She endured his coldness and his mother’s cruelty, believing she was an orphan who owed him her life. But on their anniversary, the illusion shatters. Grant serves her divorce papers to marry a "high-society" mistress, mocking Elena for being "small" and "statusless." Little does he know, Elena isn't a beggar she is the long-lost heiress of the Valerius Empire, the most powerful conglomerate in the city. The car accident that "orphaned" her wasn't an accident at all; it was a lethal trap set by those she trusted most. Stepping back into the world as the Ice Queen of Valerius, Elena sheds her mousey persona for 30-inch silk hair, designer armor, and a heart made of diamond. She isn't just coming for her crown; she’s coming to erase every person who stepped on her. Standing in her way or perhaps beside her is Dante Blackwood, the "King of the North" and her family’s greatest rival. He’s a man who has been watching her from the shadows for years, holding a secret contract that claims her as his own. In a world of high-stakes auctions, corporate massacres, and blood-stained legacies, Elena must decide: Will she destroy the man who broke her heart, or will she burn the whole world down with the wolf who’s been waiting for her to wake up?

Adrian Wells just wants to be left alone. Quiet nights, warm tea, and his sketchpad are all he needs to survive in a world that has taken too much from him already. Scarred by the fire that claimed his family and plagued by anxiety that keeps him from truly living, Adrian has grown used to solitude. But someone else has been watching—and waiting. When a black box appears at his doorstep, filled with unsettlingly personal gifts, Adrian brushes it off as a prank. But the messages grow bolder. The intrusions into his life become impossible to ignore. Someone knows him. Someone sees him. And that someone is Evan Thorn. Evan isn’t just a stalker—he’s a protector in his own twisted way. Rich, intelligent, and obsessive, he believes Adrian is his to love, to shield, to possess. From anonymous letters to watching from the shadows, Evan orchestrates a careful descent into Adrian’s world, eliminating anyone who gets too close. But he isn’t the only one watching. When a more violent rival stalker emerges, Adrian finds himself caught between two versions of danger: the chaos of the unknown and the devil he’s slowly come to understand. As the walls close in, Adrian is forced to rely on Evan—the very man who shattered his sense of safety. What begins as fear turns into something darker: a toxic intimacy that blurs the line between captor and comfort. As Adrian starts to feel seen for the first time in his life, he questions whether love can grow in the shadows—or if it’s just another kind of cage. In a story about obsession, trauma, what, If someone breaks you just to put you back together, is that still love? And when you finally escape them, do they ever really leave?

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

"Why do you always look at me like that?" she whispered. "Because you're unlike anyone I've ever known," Damien replied, his voice low and husky, sending shivers down her spine. "Your presence is like a thorn in my side." Eira scoffed. “You're nothing but trouble, Damien. A brooding vampire with an ego the size of a castle. But you need me. Without me, you’ll be dead.” “I hate that," he admitted. She smirked. "Hate that you need me? So, what is it, Damien? A weakness you'd rather keep in the shadows?" Damien leaned in, his face dangerously close to hers, his gaze dropping to her lips. Eira's breath caught, her shock palpable. "I might need you, Eira, but I don’t want you," he said, his eyes betraying a desire he refused to acknowledge. "Remember that." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, her thoughts in turmoil and her lips tingling with the ghost of an almost-kiss. *** The Silverstone Pack is out for blood, determined to avenge their alpha's brutal murder. All eyes are on Damien, the prime suspect, who now lives in the shadows, focused on survival. His only goal is to stay one step ahead and keep himself well-fed. But everything changes when he encounters a girl who is mysteriously immune to his powers. In her, he finds a glimmer of hope he thought long lost. Eira, heartbroken from a recent breakup, unexpectedly crosses paths with Damien. Her confrontation with him quickly turns into a nightmare when she is taken captive. Damien, desperate and cornered, offers her a chilling deal: help him save himself, or face unimaginable suffering. With little choice, Eira agrees, setting off a chain of events that will forever change the course of her life.