Eighty Eight

"The story of wedding proposals and unexpected rejections from each other influenced by their family members", is the one line narration of Persuasion, a romantic novel by Jane Austen. Frederick Wentworth, a Naval officer proposed to wed Annie, when she was 19 years old. Anne's family members felt that Frederick is not the right match for her as Frederick is poor and does not have a family back round. Influenced by her family members including father, sister and brother-in-law, Anne later decided not to marry Frederick. Russel, acting in place of her mother, breaks the engagement. Eight years later Frederick becomes wealthy and he is now a captain. Anne still unmarried now and meets Frederick who has not forgiven Anne's rejection. Being an eligible bachelor now, he publicly declares he would accept proposal from any one except Anne.

A cabin by a lake for the summer with barely a soul in sight sounds like the perfect place to disappear to for eight weeks. Just me and my laptop, writing my next bestseller. Away from the city and the drama. My plans soon change on my first day here, all because of a handsome stranger who turns out not to be as much as a stranger as I thought. Sound's complicated, right? I didn't come here to get involved with anyone, the opposite really, but Kyson has a way to get to me easily, one which isn't so easy to fight especially when he is next door for the entire summer. I could resist, I should resist, but it is hard to fight chemistry, lust and connection, all things we seemed to share. I didn't think when I came here my summer would change everything and not all for the best.

Sara is used to being hated, ever since birth. Being the illegitimate step-daughter of the alpha of her pack, her life was the most mierable. She dreams of escaping the abusive household, however that becomes impossible when she is thrusted into a forced marriage barely eight months away from finding her true mate. But life as a wife of an alpha took an unexpected turn, especially when her husband turns out to be a loving one. Unexpected emotions bloom between them and they find solace in each other, healing each other's shattered pieces and deepest wounds. But just as she starts to believe in the possibility of finding long lasting happiness, fate throws an unexpected reality in her face that might shatter everything she's built. Will Sara choose to follow her heart and choose a love that mended the broken pieces of her life or succumb to what fate has chosen for her?

My boyfriend of eight years didn’t just leave me. He left me for my sister. And then suddenly, they were getting married. I hate being seen as the weakling, the ugly one. So I did what I could. I made an offer to Liam Carter —my Highschool Bully when we met in Tuscany. The last person I ever wanted to owe anything to. We pretend to date for the summer, to make everyone believe I’ve moved on and in return I help with his PR stunt. It was supposed to be fake. No feelings. No strings. Just a deal between enemies with something to prove. But the more we pretend, the more the lines blur—and suddenly, the boy who once made my life miserable might be the only one who truly sees me. And the worst part? I think I’m starting to fall for him.

When Diana sacrificed everything to save the Silver Moon Pack, she never imagined that her mate, Alexander, would spend eight years punishing her for it. After losing their unborn child to a vicious attack from Alexander's lover, Diana begs for freedom from her loveless union. But dark secrets lie beneath the surface—secrets that could shatter both packs. The birth moon approaches, and Diana must decide whether to keep her promise of silence or finally break free from the Alpha who never wanted her. A tale of betrayal, sacrifice, and the thin line between love and hate. At the Silver Moon Pack's annual full moon ceremony, I was viciously shoved to the ground by Alexander's female companion, Selena. Wearing silver-tipped boots, she stepped directly onto my swollen belly. In an instant, bright red blood stained my white ceremonial dress. Alexander glanced at me with a slight frown. "Pregnant but not staying in the den to take care of yourself? Out here challenging pack hierarchy again? Trying to frame Selena, aren't you? The sacred ground is stained with your blood—so unlucky! What a disgrace to a Luna!" After saying this, he turned away without hesitation, wrapping his arm around Selena's waist as they left. Even the urgent howls of the pack healer didn't make him look back at me once. The bitter wolfsbane medicine churned inside my body, and in the end, the pup couldn't be saved. Clutching my now-empty belly, I had just come out of the healer's den when I saw Alexander on the pack's communication crystal, passionately marking Selena with his scent. A sharp pain shot through my abdomen, piercing straight into my heart. Wiping the cold sweat from my forehead, I looked at my mother-in-law standing by the healing bed. "Elder Mardanna, it's been eight moons. The Silver Moon Pack's crisis was resolved long ago. I really want to break the mate bond. Please, let me go..."

”What are you doing here, Ashton?” Megan asked angrily, and she hated herself because even if she was angry with him she can't deny he has still the same effect on her. ”To win back your heart, and claim what is rightfully mine.” He replied, and his intense gaze is driving her crazy. "You have nothing to claim because you lose your chance eight years ago." She answered coldly. Megan was shocked to find the man she hated the most, standing on her doorstep, who became more attractive and still wears the same smile that always melts her heart. Her first love, Ashton, can she kept her promise never to forgive him? Can Ashton convince Megan to give him another chance, and make her believe that he is now a different man and he regretted everything he had done to her?

The wedding had barely started when the lights went out. Then came the moans—from the giant screen behind the altar. Hailey froze. Her skin went ghost-pale. Her whole body shook. A beat later, the doors slammed open. Leading the charge? Nolan. Cold eyes, sharp suit, and bodyguards in tow. He stormed the stage. The groom tried to stop him. Big mistake. Nolan's guys dropped him in seconds. Nolan grabbed a fistful of the groom's hair and yanked his head back. "Heh. I've slept with Hailey hundreds—maybe thousands—of times. Used condoms alone could fill your house. Wanna see the HD vids?" Hailey's eyes locked on Nolan, pure hate. She'd been his kept woman for eight years. He loathed her family. He loathed her. Swore she'd never know peace. Then she disappeared—and he lost his mind.

I've been married for eight years, but my husband won't let our daughter call him "Dad" because his childhood sweetheart's son struggles with severe depression. After he missed our daughter's parent-teacher meeting again because he was with Susan Lawson and her son, I decided to leave. I prepare the divorce papers and decide to leave with my daughter. I go to her school and find her homeroom teacher, Laura Anderson. "Ms. Anderson, I'd like to apply for a school transfer." She looks surprised. "Why the sudden decision to transfer?" I reply calmly, "Her dad has been working out of town, but he's finally settled down and wants us to move there." Laura sighs. "Well, that's not bad. I always thought you were a single mom." I smile. I'm not, for now. But I'll be one very soon.

Powerless in a family of Necromancers, Ezra has struggled to fit in his whole life. Going off to a normal college life seemed like the perfect place to escape the harsh realities of home. But when the girl he's had a crush on since they were eight is forced into an arranged marriage with another, darker, Necromancer family, Ezra returns and does the only thing he can to save her - he volunteers to take the test that will name him a full Necromancer, and her betrothed - if he survives. During the test, Ezra learns he isn't as powerless as he thought. Secrets and hidden truths are revealed that are all connected to the Reinhardt family, all of whom were thought to have been killed by the Necromancer's worse enemy, the Witches. Witches that are hell-bent on ridding the world of the 'black arts' With the help of an unlikely ally and a raven familiar, Ezra has the power to save the girl he loves and his kind, too, if he can master it in time.

Emily Whitaker finds herself in a tough situation. She was betrothed to her childhood crush, Ethan, to save her pack from debts and form alliances with Ethan's pack. The wedding was to be when she was celebrating her 18th birthday, but everything fell apart when Ethan betrayed her. Angry and hurt, Emily vows to get back at him. Then she meets Lucien, a strong and confident Alpha. What started as a plan to get back at Ethan turns into something unexpected—a passionate connection. But Emily runs away, leaving behind a night she wishes she could forget. Fast forward eight years, Emily is now a single mom to twins, keeping a big secret about their identities. When danger threatens her kids, she seeks help. Will Lucien protect her and her children, or will he turn his back on them? As secrets come out and loyalties shift, find out who has the power in the end in this enthralling tale of love and survival.