Dare County Library

On the day we were supposed to get our marriage license, Michael Robertson ghosted. I sat outside the County Clerk's Office for hours. Instead of him, I got a pic from his secretary, Kallie Clunt. She was in his lap, arms wrapped around him, making out like it was the hottest scene in a drama. [Sorry, Elsa. Michael said he had to comfort my broken heart. You don't mind, do you?] When I asked him about it, he just looked annoyed. "She gave me blood once. What's the big deal if I hang out with her? Can't you be a little more understanding?" My stomach dropped. I turned away and called his older brother. "Leon, do you still want to marry me?"

Would you love something that is broken or admire something that had fell into pieces? Would you hold it close to your heart and accept it, even if it means you'll get cuts? She was broken yet bravely collected herself together. She started a new life and decided to forget everything in the past by creating a fabricated image of herself. Would you dare look beyond the facade she made to get to know her more?" But getting closer means hurting her; digging for more from her past would destroy her. Would you gamble all the chance of helping her fix everything up, even though you’d break her more and make her feel worse? Or would you only admire her from afar and maintain your distance, to keep everything in place that she had built. Would you fight for her even if it means fighting against her?

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

For three years, we held a wedding in name only—my husband, Kit Rutgers, a pilot, canceled our marriage registration eighteen times. The first time, his female trainee, Katy Ferguson, had a test flight. I waited outside the county clerk’s office the whole day. The second time, he got a call from her mid-drive, made a sharp U-turn, and left me standing on the side of the road. After that, every time we planned to make it official, some crisis with Katy mysteriously arose. Eventually, I chose to walk away. But the moment I boarded a plane to Solara, he lost his mind—and chased me there.

‘‘Because I like you!! I didn't want you to leave! I didn't wanted us to end like that! But you…YOU JUST LEFT WITHOUT TELLING ME.’’ Aaron shouted and looked at Valencia. ‘‘YOU ALWAYS LEAVE ME BEHIND! YOU ALWAYS LEAVE WITHOUT TELLING ME!! YOU JUST DID THAT IN THE MORNING.’’ He shouted. ‘‘I know we had problems between us at that time but you could have just said it to me that you're leaving but you didn't!! You left me.’’ He said, but she was still sitting comfortably and looking at me. ‘‘I was attracted to you!! I liked you and I know that I unknowingly hurted you when I remind you of your mother. But I also said sorry about that to you and your mother.’’ He just let it out, he said everything. ********** “YOU BETRAY ME!!” Valencia shouted at Aaron.  “You dare to betray me while living under my roof!! How dare you do that?” She picked up the vase and threw it on the ground, in front of him.  “I…I didn't betray you!! I never wanted to do something like this?” Aaron stutters, his eyes moisten, as he sees the hatred in her eyes for him. “But you still did!? You choose to go against me!!” She said, feeling disgusted by looking at him. “Valencia! I swear I didn't— Please don't hate me!!” Aaron begged.  “Please don't chase me away from you!!” He fell on his knees, on the broken pieces of vase and bleeding on her floor. “I believed you. But you broke my trust!! Now leave my house and never show me your face.” She snapped, turned back and left from there. She left him bleeding in her house, with a broken trust and heart. The heart, she believes she doesn't have.

During a drinking session, Ibiza received a dare to cheat with Cydeo—who got a girlfriend that time. Ibiza Blessed Bartolome was a happy-go-lucky rebellious girl who longed for real love from someone who will see her worth. Cydeo Adams Izquierdo was the two-good-shoes popular guy in college who got a perfectly clean reputation. Ibiza and Cydeo's worlds seemed impossible to cross lines until Ibiza accepted the dare and guess what? Cydeo's response will shake her world.

"Like what you see?" he asked, his voice low and seductive. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're lying," he commented, his voice husky. "I can smell your desire, Gracie. You want me, just as much as I want you." ~~~~~ "You have no right to judge me or my actions! How dare you?!" He spat at her. Gracie swallowed hard, feeling a wave of fear wash over her, as he called out to his guards. "Strip her of all her clothings, and put her where she belongs!" he barked, pointing towards her. __________ In a far-away land, there lived a powerful Lycan King who was dreaded by all, for his cruelty and mercilessness was way beyond the imagination of all under his reign, and far away from him. Alpha Jerri was no match to anyone, and even his closest pals feared for their lives. All the young girls around went into hiding all because of his cruelty, yet, getting any of his choice to satisfy his lust, took him nothing to achieve. Gracie, a young girl who was at the mercy of her father, was frustrated with her life, but only a glimmer of hope kept her going… A story of pain, trauma, lust and insane satisfaction… leading to a cloudy world of the unknown.. Gracie must stay strong to hang on, or be at the mercy of her oppressors!

Kate Zainab Omar is a mixed raced young lady of Syrian and Belgian heritage. She was orphaned at 8 years, suffered PTSD and was moved from various foster care to another. She grew up into a beautiful woman, fall in love with a secret agent: Albert Connor-Mckinney, but it seems like fate has other arrangements for her as she navigates through life challenges of abuse, conviction, stigma and betrayal. Will Kate be able to overcome this to become a strong, unbiased and purpose? There are many people that came into her life to help in the process of self discovery and purpose they include: Emma, Kayla, Stanley, the Stewarts, agent Tom and others. She have to face the challenge of overcoming her previous plights and wounds, conquer her PTSD to help solve the most mysterious strings of murder in Winster county both nineteen years ago and the present day. In the process she will also discover Love, raise her child as a single woman and focus on her self-improvement as an average woman in the society.

What was it like to grow old? Graduate college? Have a career in life? Get married and have your own family with your own kids? I am Celene Monte and I dreamt of those once maybe somewhere in my other ninety-nine lifetimes. Once the hands of the clock struck at twelfth midnight on the 22nd of April again, the day I turned eighteen, I died all over again and reincarnated to another world. And now this will be my 100th new cycle of life to live before turning 18. But I didn't knew that in this lifetime, new things would begin again when I met a crazy but famous lead vocalist of Dare, the Interhigh Academy's most famous band. And a very stubborn girl who was determined to beat Dare and dream to become the best band in the world. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wordcount per chapter excluding the Prologue: 1200-2000 words A/N: Happy Reading to all!

“I have never felt this way about anyone," the hunk, pulling me flush against his chest. I could feel my cock twitch. I knew this was wrong. I had a girlfriend. But yet, the thought of the college King so close to me affected me in ways I couldn't dare admit. “Please," I breathed, feeling his beards tickle my chin as his lips closed over my neck, soft and possessive. He grabbed my head and his lips locked on mine. “Mate!" He growled and I felt his teeth sink into my flesh. Dante Kamen had just moved to a new town with her mother and enrolled into Dowell University. But little did he know his life would change forever. The college king, Asked Lowel, a ruthless rogue wolf with a dark past hates his guts. But underneath all that hate and rivalry is a secret chemistry and passion that even he can't fight. Dante’s life is in danger because of Asher’s bond with him. Mateo, the academy's enigmatic rich kid, has eyes on their affair and seeks to uncover Asher's supernatural nature. Never did Asher think he'll find his mate. But fate has different plans and Asher must choose a life of misery or go down a path of the unconventional. Two men. A dark past. And a future none of them ever imagined.