Distant Relative

« Si nous étions tous les deux en danger, qui penses-tu que Jared sauverait en premier ? », demande-t-elle soudain. « Quoi ? » Je n’ai pas le temps de réfléchir à ses mots, car la minute suivante, je sens une poussée dans mon dos et je perds l’équilibre, glissant dans les escaliers jusqu’à atterrir au bas des marches. ***************** Arielle a tout pour être heureuse–une carrière florissante en tant que chef talentueuse et un mariage réussi avec un milliardaire. Bien que son mari soit d’un naturel distant, elle est convaincue qu’il tient profondément à elle. Elle est satisfaite de leur relation et apprécie ce qu’ils partagent. À un jour de leur troisième anniversaire de mariage, elle découvre qu’elle est enceinte. Remplie d’excitation et d’espoir, elle imagine déjà partager cette nouvelle avec son mari, certaine que cela apportera des changements positifs à leur famille et adoucira peut-être même son caractère réservé. Cependant, le destin en décide autrement. Avant qu’elle n’ait pu annoncer sa grossesse, une figure inattendue du passé de son mari réapparaît : sa « vieille amie ». Alors que cette nouvelle venue s’immisce dans leur vie, sans qu’Arielle ne s’en rende compte, cette arrivée bouleversera tout ce qu’elle pensait savoir sur son mariage, sur son mari et sur elle-même.

Lily, a vibrant 25-year-old woman, has spent years building a life with her charming but emotionally distant boyfriend, Mark. When Mark unexpectedly ends their relationship, revealing he has been seeing someone else, Lily is left heartbroken and betrayed. Reeling from the emotional devastation, Lily decides to focus on her career and personal growth, hoping to heal from the wounds of her past. In a twist of fate, Lily’s career path leads her to Richard, the powerful and charismatic CEO of the company where Mark works. Unlike Mark, Richard is everything Lily needs—intelligent, kind, and supportive. When Richard offers Lily a position to work closely with him, their professional relationship evolves into something much more personal. Drawn to his strength and empathy, Lily slowly begins to open her heart to the possibility of love again. But Mark, unable to let go of the woman he once controlled, becomes consumed by jealousy when he sees Lily with Richard. Determined to win her back, Mark’s obsession quickly turns dangerous. When Lily rejects his attempts to rekindle their toxic relationship, Mark's need for control spirals into violent rage. As his jealousy deepens, Mark’s once-charming demeanor morphs into something far darker—he becomes a villain determined to destroy everything Lily has built with Richard. As if Mark’s growing obsession weren’t enough, another threat arises from Richard’s past. Samantha, Richard’s vengeful ex-wife, resurfaces, determined to sabotage Richard’s happiness and reclaim the life she lost. Caught between the malevolent forces of both Mark and Samantha, Lily’s life becomes a battle for survival, love, and self-worth. With Mark’s dangerous obsession escalating and Samantha’s manipulative tactics threatening her career and reputation,

Delfina Poletti is a twenty-four-year-old woman raised by deeply religious but loving parents. Her faith and view of the world is shattered when her cousin tangles with the wrong crowd, putting their lives into danger. Trading her life for theirs, Delfina marries a mob underboss for the Matrone family, Ercole Muraro,more than fifty years older. When he suddenly dies, Ercole’s family comes out of the woodwork demanding answers Delfina cannot provide. Furio “The CEO” Matrone, is head of the Matrone family mafia. A billionaire in his own right he is tasked by his father to make sure Delfina never reveals the truth behind her marriage contract, even after her husband’s death. Furio twice her age, has been her secret crush since the day they met. While she suffered under Ercole, it was of his godson Furio, Delfina dreamed. Ruggero Rapallino, a billionaire who worked hard to keep his businesses distant from his grandfather’s dirty dealings, is desperate. From the day Ercole Muraro introduced him to Delfina, Ruggero wanted her, secretly lusting after his grandfather’s wife. Finding out the old man left nothing to her in his will he finds himself provided the opportunity to find out more and to insert himself into her life. He wants to be her savior and to right the wrongs he knows the dead man committed. Delfina finds herself torn between a nice guy and the wickedest man she’s ever met. One can give her peace and serenity while the other makes her want to watch the world burn. What’s a girl to do when she has two hot men pounding on her bedroom door? Try them all on for size, of course.

« Si nous étions tous les deux en danger, qui penses-tu que Jared sauverait en premier ? », demande-t-elle soudain. « Quoi ? » Je n’ai pas le temps de réfléchir à ses mots, car la minute suivante, je sens une poussée dans mon dos et je perds l’équilibre, glissant dans les escaliers jusqu’à atterrir au bas des marches. ***************** Arielle a tout pour être heureuse–une carrière florissante en tant que chef talentueuse et un mariage réussi avec un milliardaire. Bien que son mari soit d’un naturel distant, elle est convaincue qu’il tient profondément à elle. Elle est satisfaite de leur relation et apprécie ce qu’ils partagent. À un jour de leur troisième anniversaire de mariage, elle découvre qu’elle est enceinte. Remplie d’excitation et d’espoir, elle imagine déjà partager cette nouvelle avec son mari, certaine que cela apportera des changements positifs à leur famille et adoucira peut-être même son caractère réservé. Cependant, le destin en décide autrement. Avant qu’elle n’ait pu annoncer sa grossesse, une figure inattendue du passé de son mari réapparaît : sa « vieille amie ». Alors que cette nouvelle venue s’immisce dans leur vie, sans qu’Arielle ne s’en rende compte, cette arrivée bouleversera tout ce qu’elle pensait savoir sur son mariage, sur son mari et sur elle-même.

“Hm. Sounds like this little mouse wants to play. I can’t promise you more than tonight, Emerald, but let’s not deny we both want this,” his silky voice overwhelms me as he gently strokes my hair behind my shoulders. I do want this. I want him. Hell, even my wolf is jumping around in the back of my mind in excitement. What do I have to lose? After tonight, this would mean nothing to him. And I can say I did something for myself for once. This doesn’t have to be anything but one night. “What do you want, Sir?” I ask him softly. With no warning, he crashes his lips into mine. -------------- Emerald Patience Stone is the second eldest of the five Stone Sisters. Known for her strengths as a strategist, Emmy excels in thinking one step ahead of her opponents. As smart and strategic as she is, she couldn't foresee being used and turned down by men. Accepting her fate as always being second-choice, Emmy makes a plan to go out on her own and pursue her own dreams, rather than sacrificing her wants for her family, again. That plan is ruined when Emmy is, once again, asked to help her family forge an alliance with another pack, to help defend against a shared enemy. Alpha Vincenzo is the distant, but caring, Alpha of the Forza Pack. With a dark past, he has accepted that he is destined for a life alone- filling his evenings with meaningless one-night stands. After all, he is cursed, and won't risk hurting anyone else. Will Emmy and Vincenzo be able to defeat the enemy lurking in the shadows? Will they open themselves to the possibility of love once more? Book 2 of The Stone Sister Series: Book 1: Fearing Fate

"Alpha Richard, my Alpha's bride just escaped. Karen is gone." He announced, glaring down at my father like an evil Ogre.  "W-what, how is that possible?" My father stuttered, and for the first time in my life, I saw true fear in his eyes. Karen escaped, the bride to-be. "Guards!" The man continued, his dark, cold, uncanny black eyes flitting towards me.  "Seize the princess. If we can't find Karen, she'll be the replacement." *** On her eighteenth birthday, Princess Andrea's world is turned upside down when her sister, who was set to marry, escapes her impending nuptials. Her father, the pack's leader, makes a fateful decision: Andrea will take her sister's place at the altar. Yet, Andrea's heart already belongs to another, until she finds her lover in bed with another woman. Saddened and enraged Andrea accepts the arranged marriage and a husband she doesn't know with open arms.  As the new bride of Alpha Ronin, she discovers that he, too, is not what he seems. Cold, distant and wanting nothing do to with their marriage, he is not at all the husband Andrea envisioned beside her. Secrets and hidden desires begin to unravel as their journey takes a dangerous turn. As they navigate the treacherous path of deception, Andrea's heartache and Ronin's conflicted feelings bind them together in unexpected ways. Just as the pack's elders, powerful alliances, and envious lovers threaten to tear them apart.  Amidst the turmoil, Andrea faces the challenges of her new role as Luna, determined to break traditions and empower the she-wolves in her pack. Ronin, burdened by a dark history, wrestles with the truth about his past and the uncertain future that lies ahead. But will they be able to protect their newfound love? Or will forces beyond their control rip them apart forever?

Aujourd’hui, c’est notre troisième anniversaire de mariage. Le dîner est prêt… mais il n’est jamais rentré. Notre union n’a jamais été faite d’amour, juste d’un malentendu. Trois ans sans enfant, une belle-mère qui ne m’a jamais acceptée, un mari distant, et pourtant… je l’aime encore. Il y a trois jours, j’ai appris que j’étais enceinte. Ce soir, j’espérais lui annoncer la nouvelle. Mais une notification a tout brisé : une photo de lui, en train d’embrasser ma sœur. J’ai reconnu le lieu. J’ai pris mes clés. Je suis rentrée seule. J’ai passé la nuit à pleurer. Dans la chambre d’à côté, ils ont fait l’amour. Et moi, recroquevillée sur un canapé, j’ai touché le fond. Le matin, c’est sa mère qui m’a réveillée avec un seau d’eau glacée. Elle m’a hurlé que je n’étais plus sa belle-fille, que je n’avais plus rien à faire ici. Alors je suis partie , trempée, humiliée, brisée. Mais dans ma poche, il y a ce papier froissé. Le prénom d’un inconnu. Un regard posé sur moi, hier soir. Le seul qui m’ait vraiment vue. Peut-être que c’est là que tout commence.

Sebastian comes back from Alpha Academy with a darkness his parents can't ignore. It's not just typical teen troubles, it's something connected to Dietus, an ancient god from their past. He's overwhelmed, holding onto secrets that could disgrace his family and make him question who he really is. His best friend Ruby has always been different, with powers and striking purple eyes that scare people. She tries to live up to the high expectations of her royal werewolf family, but often falls short. Her life revolved around one close friend, a boy who always protected her. But when he returns from Alpha Academy, distant and troubled, she feels more alone than ever. Things shift when they meet two new people; Gabe, an Alpha with a mysterious past, and Hailey, a sweet girl who draws them into a deeper mystery. Together, they dig into the dark secrets of their parents' pasts, unleashing sinful betrayals and deceitful lust. Preview: "At first," he said, stepping closer, grabbing my underwear and tearing it away. "I thought you were some innocent child, just a prude and angry girl. Mmm, but now I see you." He lifted my leg around his arm, bending his knees to align himself right at my core, his intentions clear. "Yeah? And what am I?" I as his tip teased me. "A ," he chuckled, thrusting into me with a force. My jaw dropped, and I cried out, overwhelmed by the raw sensation. "You're tight for a little ." He growled, pulling out and ramming hard back inside me. He pounded into me, taking me dirty against the brick wall. His eyes watched me, black as night and filled with anger. "! Don't stop!" I screamed, my nails digging into his shoulders. He felt so amazing.

After giving birth, I lost my beauty when I started adding weight in all the wrong places. Stretch marks. A soft stomach. Tired eyes. The same body that carried our child became the body my husband couldn’t stand to look at. “I can’t take you anywhere like this.” That was what Marcus Hawthorne my powerful, untouchable CEO husband said the night he stopped bringing me to events. The whispers followed after that. She let herself go. He deserves better. How embarrassing for a man like him. I heard them all. And Marcus? He never defended me. Instead, he grew colder, crueler and distant everyday. The same man I sacrificed my everything for made me feel like I was no longer worth loving. And when tragedy struck and I lost the only thing keeping me togheter —our child. I realized the bitter truth not only was I meant to grieve a failed marriage alone but a dead child too because Marcus didn't hesitate to replace us with his new family. And that was my breaking point. Determined to start all over I fled the country for my sanity. Worked on the body that once made me hate my reflection. Rebuilt the career I had abandoned for love. Became the successful woman I was always meant to be. Now, seven years later, I’m back. And guess who can’t take his eyes off me? Marcus. Only, he isn't the man I left behind. Haunted by a serious problem that only I can help him with he’s willing to do anything to get me back. But here’s the problem. The woman who would have forgiven him no longer exists. And the woman standing here now? Isn’t sure she wants anything to do with him ever again.

I’m trained to do one thing: kill. I was put into a school where the concepts of love and forgiveness were treated as weaknesses. When I graduated, they told me I’d be lucky to survive; now I’m the best of the best and the person who gets the job done no matter what. I’ve assassinated Presidents, housewives, Navy SEALS and more shifters than I can count. I have more kills than anyone in my business, so when a new order comes in to kill Alpha Gideon, I take it without a second thought. ​He’s a job like any other, but during my scouting, I see something I’ve never seen before. Alpha Gideon isn’t a tyrant or a bully; he’s kind to his Pack. I start asking questions, which is when everything goes to shit. My signal is found, and for the first time in my life, my target has me in his sights. I expect pain and maybe even death, but Alpha Gideon treats me like a welcomed guest; his warmth and kindness open up something inside of me that I didn’t know I had. I should kill him before he changes me completely. I tell him I’m cold and heartless, and he laughs. Loving a mark has never been done, but no matter what I do, every touch sets me on fire and with each longing glance, my past becomes a distant memory. I’m ready to put everything I was aside to stay with Alpha Gideon when the call comes in; my fellow assassins have been called. The bounty on Alpha Gideon has been doubled. I have two choices: protect the man who has opened up my heart or kill the target and get the job done.