Cutting Teeth

Violet eyes with piercing sight. Mane of gold in pale moonlight. Skin so hard and lily white. Voice so soft, yet filled with might. He comes to me in the dark of night. Flash of teeth, smile so slight. There is no fear, no need to fight. In his embrace, I crave his bite. -S.R. Michele, or Shelly to those closest to her, is a typical 21 yr old, trying to find her way in life. She has good family, a close circle of friends. She's outgoing and friendly, and a bit reckless and impulsive sometimes. And she has certain gifts...when she touches things, she can see into the past, she can feel what was felt by others, and she can sense things before they happen. Ok, so maybe she's not so typical. An impromptu trip to New Orleans, a party on Bourbon Street, and an attempted assault in a dark alley lead her into a world she didn't know existed...but one she's not afraid of. She doesn't know if the violet-eyed stranger that comes to her rescue, and follows her home, is a friend or a foe - and honestly, she doesn't care. Once you've had a taste of the darkness, it's hard to pull away... **** This book was written in the late 1990's - early 2000's, and originally published in 2004, under the title: Diary of a Vampire by S.M. Royston. It was my first book, and it wasn't long until I came to hate it! (Please, don't look it up - I promise you, it's terrible) So here we are, years later, and I've decided to throw out my original work, and re-write it. Because I'm the author, and I can do that. The story, characters, and settings are the same - but the writing style is different, and in my opinion, much, much better. I hope you enjoy it. ****

Not long after getting married to my husband, he says he wants to teach me how to scuba dive. My leg cramps when I'm practicing alone in the deep sea. However, my husband, a swimming instructor, chooses to save his unattainable love—she's jumped into the sea to commit suicide. I don't ask him for help. Instead, I allow myself to slowly sink. In my past life, I stopped my husband from leaving. He saved me with gnashed teeth and allowed his first love, Millie Quirke, to drown. By the time he went to save her, she'd already disappeared in the water. He comforted me and told me it was okay, that he was glad he'd saved me. However, one night, he brought me back to the seaside. Just as I let my guard down, he grabbed my neck and plunged my face into the water. Then, he dragged me out before I could suffocate. "You were just cramping—it would've passed! But Millie got dragged away by the current because of you! You can remain in the ocean with her!" When I open my eyes again, I'm back to the day I was scuba diving.

Aria was born with nothing; an orphaned girl in a cruel world that only ever wanted to break her. Raised in a pack that never accepted her, she survived in silence… until the day Alpha Lucien, who is her ruthless, cold-blooded stepfather sank his teeth into her neck, marking her as his mate. Trapped in a twisted bond with the man who should’ve protected her, Aria fights to resist the pull of the forced connection. Every touch, every word, every dark promise he whispers is meant to dominate her spirit. But Aria won’t break easily. Not even under the torment of betrayal, pain, and an unwanted claim. When his stepbrother named Kael appears bearing eyes filled with sorrow and secrets of his own, Aria’s world begins to shift. There’s something different about him. Something dangerous. Something… familiar. As hidden truths unravel, enemies rise from the shadows, and a forbidden past resurfaces, Aria is forced to choose between submitting to a destiny she never asked for or fighting for the freedom and love, she’s always deserved. In a world ruled by alphas, marks, and power, can an orphan girl defy fate and reclaim her life before she’s devoured by the darkness?

A wild night of reckless and careless thinking, what could possibly go wrong? -----☆----- 19-year-old Jake Miller isn't your typical everyday guy, he doesn't drink, smoke, party nor does he like girls. In fact, he's an antisocial butterfly whose wings were clipped at childhood. But what happens when his new roommate asks him to accompany him to a party? An accidental kiss with a stranger was definitely NOT on his list. The kiss rocks Jake's world and he's left questioning everything he ever thought he knew about himself and his interests. 24-year-old Liam Morgan, smart, handsome and always prepared and the next CEO of a renowned empire. He thought he had his life all planned out: he'd have the perfect wife, perfect home with his dream job as CEO and most importantly, never be like his father. But then everything took a turn for the worst and he's left to re-evaluate his life. He doesn't know what to do anymore and in a moment of self pity, decides to have a wild night out. While in his drunken state, Liam accidentally kisses a total stranger not knowing the domino effect it would create. Their encounter leaves Liam questioning himself and his values. Fear and obsession soon find themselves following hard after Liam. His first chance encounter turned him into someone he vowed never to be like. With secrets cutting deep, can Liam be the guy that Jake deserves or will their chance encounter remain only but a burning memory in Liam's mind, to look but never touch? To have but never truly be yours?

Run, Run, RUN. Don’t stop. The night was falling and like the creatures of the day, I needed to hide. My heart is thundering in my chest, echoing the sounds of the war that rage from the fields of my once loved home. That was before the coven came. Surprising us and taking my home and pack. The attack happened so quickly that no one was ready. We had no warning and after hours of waiting I was found. I had to run. Don't stop running. “CRACK” the current of magic shoots by and hits the tree to my left, my bare feet crunching the earth hard and fast. My small heart fluttering faster than a hummingbird's wings, my once sparkling beautiful dress is no more. It’s tattered, dirty, and torn. The edges burnt to a crisp and coated in blood from bodies of the battlefield that I raced away from. “Come here little wolfie,” a harsh raspy voice calls out cutting through the trees I hide quickly behind a tree to take cover to breathe, “I just want a little chat!” He calls singsong like, taunting me. He wants to find me to kill me. Ducking further behind my tree I hold my breath, my young body shaking with so much force my bones ache. Holding my breath and closing my eyes hoping for safety that surely won’t come. At only 11 years of age, I can’t fight this grown warlock... he will surely kill me like he did my parents... “Wolfie princess, where are you?” He mimics the rhythm of a child’s tune, as if I’d listen. Closing my eyes tighter I don’t want to die. I’m too young. My mind is racing, and my hearts bound t....

"What do you want lecturer? Others might see us!" She snapped out consciously, looking around the sport field to check for any intruder. "What do you think Adrian? I'm doing what I've always wanted." He replied her hotly and smashed his lips on hers, cutting her unaware. He pulled ger closer to himself, blocking off all her resistance and all her senses was wiped off with the promising kiss and at that moment, she forgot all her worries..... Adrian had wanted a normal life is the university, but not until her wicked lecturer was changed and so did her dream.

Ferngrove must pay for their crimes of stealing an ancient jewel from a Fae High Lord, Valen, and harnessing the power within it. So every century, a daughter of the chief must be taken to Lyria, the realm of the High lord and there she will spend her remaining life paying for her ancestors crimes. After another century, Valen descends on the village once more, taking the beautiful daughter of the chief of Ferngrove, Maerwynn. And he imprisons her in his Court subjecting her to a cruel fate. As the days pass, Valen finds himself inexplicably drawn to Maerwynn, her unwavering strength and beauty stirring something long dormant within his dark heart and when Maerwynn, finds out she's more than a mere human and her destiny is tied to Valen, she gathers enemies like bees to honey. Determined to protect her from the dangers lurking within his own realm and beyond, Valen finds himself making sacrifices he never thought possible, defying the very nature of his being but nothing can stop the war coming. But nothing can stop the war coming, for it will consume completely. ************************* He fixes me with a steely gaze, his voice taking on a darker edge. "You have no business with my Court or any other Court in Lyria, to be precise. You're here to atone for the sins of your ancestors, and you will do so while knowing your place," he declares, his words cutting through the air like a knife. I swallow hard, feeling a heavy weight settle in my chest at his harsh tone and the gravity of his words. "And what is my place?" I inquire, my voice barely above a whisper. His gaze hardens, and his words send a chill down my spine. "My prisoner."

Evelyn tried to open the door and pulled it hard but all her efforts were in vain. "Tsk... Tsk.. Looks like this bird didn't like her cage." Sebastian said while putting both his hands around her. Defeated, Evelyn turned her face and started looking at him, but finding him so close to her, she pressed her forehead against the door. "Pl-please let... me go." She said suppressing her hiccups. The teeth started grinding with fear. "Please...." "Hmmm....Why don't we make this time useful?" He whispered while he was close to her ear. Feeling his breath on her earlobe, she shivered again. Evelyn pushed him with all her strength, which caused Sebastian to take a few steps away from her and started laughing like a madman. "You... you... are you crazy?" He started laughing more on this and then he became silent at once and started looking at her with his cold eyes which were devoid of any emotion. "No my dear. I am not crazy. My reality is just different from yours." Saying this, he smiled sarcastically and then moved towards her. Evelyn immediately ran to the left. There must be another way in such a big house. "You can't escape from me. Not until I want to." He was enjoying this game now. Evelyn's fear had begun to provide him with a different kind of tranquility. He slowly put his hands in his pockets while whistling and started walking in the direction where Evelyn had run.

On the day my husband married my younger sister, I once again heard the divine message from the Astral Sanctuary: if I sever all ties to the mortal world within three days, I can reclaim the astral power I relinquished and return to the Astral Sanctuary. On the first day, I publicly cut my hair to symbolize the severing of love and signed the separation letter, ending my three-year marriage to the man I once loved. Holding my sister in his arms, he looked at me with disdain. His words dripped with mockery as he called me petty and jealous, claiming that sparing me the title of an equal wife had been his greatest act of kindness. On the second day, I drove a blade into myself six times, severing my bond with my cherished elder brother. He stood by, cold and unfeeling, sneering that I was nothing more than a desperate fool, resorting to theatrics to compete for his affection—a devotion he reserved entirely for my sister. On the third day, I clenched my teeth and carved through my own flesh and bone, severing my connection to the parents who had given me life. Enraged, they called me ungrateful and declared I was unworthy—not just of being their daughter, but even of being compared to my perfect sister. In the end, I succumbed to exhaustion and blood loss. My spirit ascended to the Astral Sanctuary, where I reclaimed my true identity as an Astral Maiden. When my family discovered my lifeless body left behind in the mortal realm, they all descended into madness.

 “Take me, please?” I shuddered as sweet relief flooded through me and ached for more.  “If you want me, you can have me, all of me, but you might not like what I ask in return.” He gritted teeth as if he was tested by his own self-control.  I could feel his struggle, judging by the tightening of his hard muscles pressed against my back.  He was rough tonight, as if he was here to punish me for being a very naughty girl. *** Outcast and wolfless Amelia Hayes has been bullied her whole life. Before turning eighteen, she survives the fire, and her handsome alpha, Ryden Braxton rejects and banishes her. Two years later, she returns beautiful and strong, but she also brings threats to the pack. While Ryden wants to claim her, she’s also mystified by her constant sensual dreams of a stranger.  With werewolves dying in mysterious deaths, she has to entrust her secret with her mate— the power of fire within her that can cause more destruction than salvation. When her past which she has no memory of, pulls forward to her present, she becomes so drawn to a dangerous Alpha King Lucius with a primal instinct to claim her— the very same man in her dreams. After too many betrayals in his pack, Ryden has to work with his ruthless rival to protect his mate against their formidable foe.  Lucius has waited too long to reunite with Amelia but has to put his anger aside to get his revenge against the being who killed his wife and his entire pack twenty years ago. With Amelia still bound to her past and present, will she choose between the two alphas who equally love her, or choose the one that sacrifices a lot for her to live?