Courier-journal Com E Edition Novels & Stories

On New Year's Eve, I prepare a feast. The clock strikes twelve, but my husband, Vincent Porter, still isn't home. My daughter, Lorelei Porter, tugs at my sleeve and holds up my phone. "Look Mommy, Daddy is at this lady's house!" Vincent has posted an update on Twitter. He is with Christine Snow, his childhood sweetheart. They are smiling at the camera, with a boy who looks about ten standing between them. In front of them sits a swan-shaped cake. The caption reads, "The most special day for the most special you." My heart sinks into my stomach. A marriage that came later in life can never compete with a pair of childhood sweethearts. I accept defeat.

Five years after I rejected my mate, Shawn, he had become the Lycan King — and most importantly, he now had a beautiful mate. During the Werewolf Alumni Reunion, someone suddenly brought me up. “What’s Kendra been busy with? She hasn’t shown up at a single reunion in years.” Someone sneered. “She’s too busy seducing alphas from other packs — on airplanes.” “On airplanes?” “Yeah. She’s a werewolf flight attendant with FullMoon Airways. They cater to alphas and lunas from all kinds of packs. I’ve seen her on board before. You wouldn’t believe how flattering she acts around those prestigious wolves.” “Really? Kendra’s a werewolf attendant? No surprise — she’s always dreamed of being claimed by some single alpha.” Hearing that, Shawn, sitting at the center of the table, flinched slightly. His fists tightened. “A werewolf attendant?” he murmured. “Yeah, Shawn... but haven’t you gotten over her by now? It’s been years.” He froze for a second, then quickly composed himself and held his mate’s hand beside him. Everyone’s attention turned to the flickering moonstone ring on her finger. “I’ve long forgotten her,” he said flatly. “Come to my bonding ceremony next month. There will be a sacred ritual at the temple.” “Wow...” Applause filled the hall. But only I, whose soul had been drifting in the air all along, slowly lowered my head upon hearing the news.

I wheel myself into the birthday celebration that Wales Price has thrown for me. The atmosphere is originally lively, but a brief silence descends when everyone sees me. The guests are there for different purposes, but celebrating my birthday is not one of them. "Is that Mr. Price's crippled fiancée, Joey Hertza?" "Yeah, but the one he really loves is Anna Giovanni. I saw them kissing in a corner earlier." They use their wine glasses to block their mouths as they speak loudly. They think I'm still the crippled deaf I used to be. They don't know that I regained my hearing last week. I can hear every mocking comment they make. Meanwhile, Wales stands there and allows it to happen. He doesn't stop the guests from talking about me. He seems to have forgotten that I only ended up like this while protecting him. I shoved him away when the accident happened and got trapped underneath the car myself. When I was rescued, Wales swore to stay with me and care for me for life. It's only been three short years since then, but he's already changed. I receive a message on my phone. "Ms. Hertza, the lifelike corpse that you've ordered is now complete. Reply to this message with your confirmation, and your death-faking service will be immediately effective. We will send the corpse to your and Mr. Price's wedding in five days." I don't even hesitate as I reply with my confirmation. Enjoy your wedding, Wales.

A guide to being the writer who writes book that readers want to read, you will learn to write attractive and bestselling novels

"Dad, Mom, I've decided—I'll go through with the marriage arrangement with the Kingston family. I'll be back by the end of the month." Daphne Wharton made the decision in the middle of a camping trip with Luke Hardy. She curled into herself, pulling her scarf higher against the chill. For a moment, there was only silence on the other end of the line. Then, her mother's voice came through, thick with tears. "Daphne, we know this isn't fair to you. Our company is struggling, and the Kingston family is willing to help—but only if you marry their son. We've failed you as parents…" Her father let out a heavy sigh beside her mother. Daphne listened, her gaze unfocused. A faint, bitter smile tugged at her lips. "It's okay, Mom, Dad. This is what I should do. I'll be back in fifteen days—when their son returns to the country."

Everyone in Salt City knew that Michael, the city’s richest man, doted on his wife as if his life depended on it. As his wife, I was once the object of everyone’s envy. But when Rachel appeared, I realized for the first time that even the one who loved you the most did not have their heart set in stone. Afraid I would find out, he hid Rachel in a villa on the outskirts of Salt City and spoiled her beyond imagination, all in a place I could not see. Yet every time he was intimate with her, Michael would still warn her coldly, “If you ever let Evelyn find out about this, your good days will be over.” But she was never obedient. Relying on Michael’s favor, she surreptitiously flaunted herself before me every day. Her presence constantly reminded me that Michael was no longer the man who only had me in his heart. So, I chose to respect his decision and vanish from his sight.

An anonymous girl is seen running away from men who are behind her like wolves, amidst the darkness of the valley and the gleaming moon. Panting, gasping for breath she reached for her shield huffing. As she saw his silhouette she felt relieved and started to run to him to find warmth in his embrace. As she stepped closer to him, the men stopped. Suddenly she heard his voice which made her steps stall and her heart crack. "Stop! Don't come near me" She felt her bleeding heart slashed by his stern words. She expected his comfort to surround her and his love to transcend her plight, but neither happened. Eventually, her demons overcame her as her feet began to give way. Her bruised body started to feel twice the pain as before. "You don't trust me" she muttered and let the darkness lull her to sleep. It's difficult to say what led her to give up: the same distrust from her loved ones twice, or the fact that she was the favorite victim of all the bad luck. ****** Hailey is a nerd, anti-social and awkward. Her striking orbs were hidden behind rimmed spectacles and her curvy figure was hidden behind her oversized hoodies. During high school, she was the most famous person in college. What changed? Enter Mark Anderson, the hottest guy in college. Girls swoon over him and boys envy him but does he give a damn? Naa! He isn't a playboy or a bookworm. He is just the man of dreams. His plan is simple. He is saving himself for the queen of his heart. His parents were his role models. Their love was the ideal example for him and he wanted something like that. Magical. What happens when they meet? ******

After five years of playing the perfect Mrs. Prescott, Lucille Sandwell finally woke up on the day of her daughter's one-month milestone. Her husband, Gideon Prescott, reserved all his tenderness and devotion for the woman he truly cared about, yet expected Lucille to remain mature, self-reliant, and endlessly understanding. In front of everyone, she flipped the table and said, "I want a divorce. I've had enough of this marriage." He responded with a cold laugh. "How did you become this vulgar? You throw around the word divorce at the slightest thing." Only after she disappeared did he realize that his world had begun to fall apart. Without her, everything went wrong. Three years later, they met again at an international summit. She returned as a celebrated master architect and stunned the entire room. Under the blaze of camera flashes, he dropped to his knees and begged her to come back. She only smiled and walked past him, another man at her side. Later, he received a gilded wedding invitation. The bride, dressed in white, leaned into the arms of his best friend. With red-rimmed eyes, he crashed the wedding. All he heard was her quiet voice. "Gideon, being the understanding one is exhausting. From now on, I only want to live for myself."

It doesn't matter if she is an angel; it's more than enough as long as she rules beside me in hell. Born with a silver spoon, Clara Lawson has everything she could ask for love, money, and freedom. After graduating, she plans to marry her boyfriend and live a peaceful life. That was the plan until she encounters the last man she wants to cross paths with, the tyrant mafia. Morris Casper is known for his cruel methods and ruthless reputation force her into an engagement. Clara never thought she would ever fall for the person she hated, on top of that, the man ten years older than her but her childish heart can't seem to resist the older temptation.

When Sienna Vance’s world collapses after catching her fiancé cheating, one reckless night with a mysterious stranger seems like the perfect escape. But the stranger is Andrea Voss— ruthless billionaire and the man who just acquired her father’s failing architecture firm. Now Andrea offers her a deal: one year as his personal assistant and companion in exchange for saving her family’s company. What begins as a business arrangement quickly becomes something far more dangerous as Andrea's possessive commands awaken desires Sienna never knew she had. In his penthouse and boardroom, Sienna must navigate the thin line between submission and surrender. But the more she fights him, the more she craves the man who owns her body… and threatens to steal her heart. Warning: This is a dark billionaire romance with intense power dynamics, explicit content, and possessive themes. Reader discretion advised.