Crooked Arm

I died on the day I was supposed to marry Ryan Wolfe. When I didn’t show up on time, he angrily married his childhood sweetheart, Lorelei Floyd, instead, and publicly announced, “Alexis Harding cheated before our wedding and called it off herself!” The rumors crushed my mother, and she died from a heart attack right then and there. But Ryan seemed to have forgotten that he, in a fit of rage to defend Lorelei, slashed my arm and locked me in a basement for ten whole days. I begged him and pleaded for mercy, but all I got was his cold reply. “You’ll stay here for a while, so you can fully understand the pain you caused Lorelei. And maybe, just maybe, it’ll rid you of your wicked thoughts.” When he found my corpse, ravaged by maggots, he lost his mind.

My husband came home on our anniversary with my best friend on his arm and divorce papers in his hand. He told the world I cheated. He took my name, and left me sleeping on the. streets with a secret I hadn't told anyone — his baby growing inside me. I had nothing. Until a great-aunt I barely knew left me a vineyard, an estate, and a second chance I didn't ask for. I was finally building something. A business. A life. A future for my child. What I didn't know was that I was surrounded by more enemies. The new man I was falling for had been sent to find me. And the man who divorced me was now fighting to get me back — because I had become the one thing he couldn't beat.

“I see how you look at me, Daddy,” I teased as I stared up at him defiantly. Dario’s jaws clenched, and he dragged me by the arm until I was facing the door and my back was pressed against his chest. “And what do you want, princess?” My heart raced, my breath coming in huffs at his closeness. I have dreamt of this day for so many years. Now that it was here, there was no holding back… **** **** Tragedy struck Isla when her father and pack were completely destroyed after her eighteenth birthday, and now, the only person who can take care of her is Dario, her father’s best friend. However, not only is he her godfather, he’s her fated mate and the one man that she has wanted all her life. He was the one forbidden thing that she couldn’t have. But couldn’t stop wanting.

“You can reject me all you want, Destiny… but I will never let you go.” Those were the words that turned my rejection into a prison sentence. I gave my heart, my loyalty, and my life to Alpha Coren Silver. I stood by him through war, prayed for his return, and waited for the mate I loved to come home. But when he finally did, he came back with another woman on his arm… and his child in her womb. When I finally found the strength to reject him, he didn’t accept it. But Destiny, my name and my truth, does not bow easily. No matter what chains he places on me, I’ve promised myself one thing: I will reclaim my life… even if the Alpha who owns my heart and body won’t let me go until I remember exactly who I belong to.

"What is your name?" "Again, sir, that is no concern of yours". "A mystery", he said. "I shall have to call you Delicia. May I put on your shoe for you?" She gave a start, her cheeks flamed. "No!" she said chokingly. "You may do nothing for me except drive on!" "Why, that is easily done!" he replied, and bent, and before she had time to realize his purpose, lifted her up in his arms, and walked off with her to his curricle. Miss Tellaro ought to have screamed, or fainted. She was too surprised to do either, but as soon as she had recovered from her astonishment at being picked up in that easy way - as though she had been a featherweight, which she knew she was not - she dealt her captor one resounding slap, with the full force of her arm behind it. He winced a little, but his arms did not slacken their hold, rather they tightened slightly.

All she wanted was a child. Not a husband. Not a relationship. Just one last thing to cross off her bucket list. Single since birth and proud of it, she's the youngest of five, a professor, a homeowner, and completely content with her quiet, independent life—until a drunken night out flips her world upside down. What was supposed to be one reckless, out-of-character mistake turns into something far more complicated when she discovers she’s pregnant… and the father is none other than Poseidon Atticus Koznetzov—elusive billionaire, CEO of Koznetzov Industries, and a man she never expected to see again. Now he’s back—and he wants answers. Caught between her carefully planned life and a powerful man who doesn’t take no for an answer, she must decide. Will she keep him at arm’s length and raise her child on her own… or let herself fall into the kind of love she never wanted in the first place?

An alarm wakes everyone up at 1:00 am. It turns out that a few college students have gone missing during their exploration in Wolffang Valley. My heart goes tense at the news. After all, my stepdaughter, Nancy Campton, had told me yesterday that she'd be exploring that place! Since Nancy has asthma, I specifically prepare medication that's meant to treat asthma in my medical kit just in case anything happens. After carrying my backpack, I begin urging my husband, Jack Campton, who's also the leader of the rescue team, to set off right away. But he keeps stopping me in my tracks. "What's the rush? Let's wait for Dakota to finish doing her makeup." Half an hour later, Dakota Sweeney, who has a face full of makeup and is wearing a pink rescue jacket, begins complaining in a high-pitched voice. "Why did you keep rushing me? Thanks to you, my eyeliner came out all crooked!" On the way to the valley, Dakota actually pulls out a pair of pink lace panties. After unscrewing the cap of a bottle of life-saving water, she starts washing it with said water. I can't endure her stupid antics anymore. "Have you gone nuts? This bottle of water could potentially save someone's life!" But Dakota replies in a matter-of-fact tone, "I'm a woman with principles! I must wash my underwear that I've changed out of on the same day!" Jack shoves me away at that moment. He then snatches the bottled water from me before passing it to Dakota. "Willow Armstrong, you're the crazy one here! Is it wrong for Dakota to take care of her hygiene?" As I stare at Jack, a cold smile slowly spreads across my face. It's not wrong for Dakota to take care of her hygiene. I just wonder if Jack is capable of facing the consequences behind Dakota's tendency to drag things out.

„Mein Alpha, wenn deine Luna wüsste, dass der Embryo, der in ihren Bauch transplantiert wurde, eigentlich unser befruchtetes Ei war und sie somit nur unsere Leihmutter ist, wäre sie wahrscheinlich so wütend, dass sie sich umbringen würde, oder?“ Elora schnappte nach Luft. Mein Gefährte, Damon, der Alpha des Silbermondrudels, knetete Eloras Brüste. „Ich mag sie auch nicht. Aber wenn sie stirbt, wer soll dann mein Rudel leiten? Du kleines Luder“ Damon lachte leise, zog sie von vorne zu sich heran und stieß von hinten gnadenlos in sie hinein. „Also müssen wir das geheim halten. Wenn unser Kind dann geboren ist und die Position des Alphas von mir übernimmt, werden wir ihr den endgültigen Schlag versetzen.“ Ich tat so, als wüsste ich von nichts, brachte das Kind zur Welt und zog es mit großer Sorgfalt auf. Zweiundzwanzig Jahre später, nachdem mein Sohn Torin sein Studium abgeschlossen hatte, übergaben wir ihm die Alphaposition und meinen gesamten Reichtum. Bei der Übergabezeremonie, vor den Ältesten, Adligen und Anführern verbündeter Rudel, kam Elora Arm in Arm mit meinem Gefährten herein. Dann hielt sie mir das Testergebnis einer DNA- Analyse entgegen. „Torin ist der leibliche Sohn von Damon und mir. Jetzt ist es an der Zeit, ihn mir zurückzugeben.“ Mein Sohn zog ein kleines Fläschchen hervor und sagte gnadenlos zu mir: „Das ist ein Trank, den ich von einer Hexe bekommen habe. Trink ihn jetzt, brich die Gefährtenbindung zu meinem Vater und verschwinde so weit und schnell wie möglich von hier!“ Ich lächelte leicht. „In Ordnung.“

"Dammit! I said stop! “He grabbed my arm, grinding me to a sudden halt. When I turned around, his lips were pulled into a thin line stretching all the way to the edges. The playfulness was gone from his eyes, aggravation slipping in its place. "Why should I stop Tan? So you can try to get me into your bed like those girls you sleep with every day?" I questioned, pulling my bare arms around myself to shield myself from the cold chills. "Because I don't want you here Holly. I want you gone, far away from RCU. I don’t want to see your face or be anywhere near you," he blatantly pointed out, no hint of remorse in his voice. "Excuse me?" Was he being serious right now?

I never expected my life to change the day my mother remarried. Suddenly, the boy I once knew the boy I swore to marry when we were children became my stepbrother. But Roman isn’t the boy I remember. He’s colder now, distant, with eyes that hold secrets I can’t begin to unravel. Our worlds collide under the same roof, separated by just a thin wall and the tension neither of us wants to admit. Forbidden desire simmers beneath every glance, every touch. He keeps me at arm’s length, yet I can’t stop craving the dangerous pull between us. As the lines blur between hate and passion, I’m forced to confront the past I don’t remember and the truth Roman is desperate to hide. How far will we go before we step too close?