Furrowed Brow

Book 2 of The Shadow Alpha Series *** Bulky arms encircled my waist, successfully cutting off any movement from my upper body. “Why are you following me?” The husky whisper send my body into a second frenzy and it was only when the fog cleared from my brain that I registered that my back was up against a tree. Every nerve ending in my body was on fire as I stared into the cobalt blue eyes of my captor. Jasper Queen stared down at me with stern expectation and though his hand was no longer covering my mouth, I couldn't speak. “Speak up!” He spat making me flinch and swallow the ball in my . “I- I wasn't following you…” I croaked hoping he believed me despite the unconvincing tone. “So you were just conveniently wandering the forest in the same direction I was walking?” His question was obviously rhetorical but my eyebrows furrowed and I nodded slowly, looking at my surroundings, something about it seemed familiar. Jasper's hand slamming against the tree beside me made me jump and our eyes met suddenly, but what I saw staring back at me was a picture come to life, from the curves to the creases at the corners of his eyes, the pencil sketch that laid in my book at home both captured every detail and did no justice. “Don't lie to me!” his pressing against mine vibrated with each word and it was all I could do not to shiver with pleasure. “I'm not, I swear.” I could feel the tears gathering in my eyes, “I would never lie to my mate.” and just like that, any softness in his eyes evaporated. “I'm not your mate.” *** Join Sophia and Jasper as they battle age-old demons, secrets and their innermost fears

"My husband walks about freely, lavishing my fortune, with his mistress by his side, while I am condemned to spend the rest of my life in an island prison for his death. If this is my fate, I will fight it until my last breath."~~~ MARIANNE Betrayed by the ones she trusted most, Marianne finds herself convicted for a crime she did not commit. In a desperate attempt to change her new reality, she ends up at the brink of death but gets a second chance in Troy; An unusually sexy billionaire willing to place the world at her feet. Marianne swears she is done with men and love, and her life's goal is revenge against those who wronged her. But why does her heart race uncontrollably at the sound of his voice? ***His hands reached out, framing my face, his fingers tracing the outline of my lips as if committing them to memory. His touch moved lower, his thumbs grazing the sensitive peaks of my nipples. The sensation sent a wave of pleasure rippling through me, making it impossible to think. I closed my eyes as his lips found the crook of my neck, kissing and biting lightly, leaving me breathless and trembling. "Troy," I panted, my eyes flying open as I took a step back, trying to create distance between us. But he followed me, closing the gap I had made. His voice was low, a whisper that seemed to reach into my soul. "Do I scare you?" I nodded, my eyes unable to meet his, looking anywhere but at him. His brows furrowed as he gently lifted my chin, forcing me to face him. "Why, Anne?" I swallowed hard, trying to find the words. "Because... you make me feel things I've never felt before."***

At my engagement dinner with Greg Willis, the Rossi mafia family’s underboss, his assistant, Sydney Carlson, casually tossed a half-eaten cookie on his plate in front of everyone. Greg didn’t react. In full view of the guests, he calmly picked it up and ate it. That night, after we returned, I told him I wanted to call off the engagement. He rubbed his brow with his fingertips, his voice steady in that familiar, composed way of his, yet there was distance beneath it. “All this,” he said, “over a cookie?” “She already took a bite,” I corrected him. He fell silent for a moment before replying in a low voice, “Zoe, you’ve always been sensible. Why get hung up on something so small?” “I’m not hung up,” I said evenly. “I just don’t want to settle.” When he saw that I wouldn’t back down, something complicated flickered in his eyes. Then, his tone hardened, almost like a warning. “Think it through carefully. Don’t you regret it.” He was certain I couldn’t leave him. After all, he was a mafia underboss. There were countless people eager to take the position of Mrs. Willis, and I was nothing more than a minor employee at his company. What he didn’t know was that I had never coveted the title of his wife. All I ever had for him was love. But now, that love was gone, and once I turned away, I would never look back again.

I pushed the door open and saw Giovanna standing there in my silk robe—my gift from Enzo—and wearing my heirloom pendant. She lifted a brow and mocked me, “The robe fits, the pendant’s mine, and you—get out.” I grabbed Enzo, demanding an explanation, but he shoved a fake contract in my face, saying, “You signed it.” “I did not. Stop lying!” I snapped. He snapped at me, “This is family business. You know nothing.” It seemed three years together was nothing but an act. That very night, I ran away to Milan. I had nowhere to go and no one to turn to until Mark showed up out of nowhere. “Don’t be scared,” he said. “I’ve got you. As long as I’m around, no one touches you.” He protected me, and for a moment, I really thought I’d finally found someone I could rely on. However, when we were practicing at the shooting range later, I stared at him. “Why are you helping me?” I asked. “And don’t tell me it’s because of that mess I left behind.” His eyes flickered for a second before he answered, “Just trust me. That’s all you need to do.” Something about the way he said it made my stomach twist. This whole disaster was all one giant setup. And now here I am, gripping a gun, fighting for justice, but am I really avenging myself? Or was I already someone else’s pawn from the very beginning?

“Little wolf,” he said, voice low mixed with amusement. “You remember, don’t you?”I couldn’t deny it with the way he looked at me.I nodded before I could stop myself. “Words, Katherine.” The command was soft, but it slid under my skin. My throat went dry, the rag in my hand twisted as my fingers tightened around it. “Ye… yes,” I stammered, the word barely making it past my lips. He stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him. “You remember you owe me, don’t you?” “I… I already paid,” I blurted, the memory flooding back. My cheeks flushed. One dark brow lifted. “Did you now?” His mouth curved faintly, dangerous in its almost smile. “I never told you if you paid. You left hurriedly before I could.” I took a step back, but the edge of the desk stopped me. “I had to return to the pack,” I breathed, trying to sound steadier than I felt. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ He was never supposed to be more than a stranger. Omega Katherine Hart after been rejected by her mate of two years Sneaks out to the city to drown her heartbreak and ends up in the bed of a red eyed stranger. The Lycan ruler of the New Haven pack, unknown to her. Reign Salvatore. But when pack politics turn deadly and a dangerous attraction ignites. Katherine finds out the truth that she is not just an ordinary omega. But a key to the impossible. Reign would never let her go.

"With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife." A tear slid down my cheek on hearing the pronunciation, my life was getting ruined in front of me and there was absolutely nothing that I could do to stop it. "You would regret what you are doing to me, you heartless beast." My eyesight was blurry with the tears that threatened to fall. He cocked his brow to the left, a scoff escaped his lips "Who do you think would regret it the more? Me or you?" I sniffled in the tears, wiping off the tears with the back of my palm. "I would make you experience hell for ruining my life, you monster." All of a sudden, he took me by the chin, jerking my head upright to face him as we both glared at each other "You want to make me experience hell? But you don't even know you are in hell already." "Dear wife, welcome to hell." ******************* In a world where humans and werewolves are enemies, the moon goddess unites two products of vows together. She mates Iris to the remaining white wolf, Dylan. Iris and Dylan develops immense hatred towards each other after they are forced to get married to each other. To the moon goddess, Iris was a sacrifice and she was Dylan's punishment. She was the atonement for his sins, she was his pain and his antidote. What would happen when Dylan finds out that Iris was more than he thought she was? What would happen when Iris holds the cure to his cold-heartedness? What would happen when their hatred develops into love?

"I have a proposal for you," Levi said, as he relaxed into his chair. "One that would be beneficial to the child, and my company." I leaned forward with raised brows, my interest piqued. "What is it?" "We have to get married." Despite the seriousness of the situation, I laughed. I expected him to say that he had been joking. Rather, he gazed at me with furrowed brows. "Did I say something funny, miss Hailey?" Hailey's world shattered when she caught her boyfriend cheating with her best friend. Seeking solace, she had a one-night stand with a stranger, unaware that it would lead to something she hadn't bargained for. Pregnancy. When she tracked down the man she slept with that night, she was stunned to discover he was her ex's boss, Levi King. Expecting rejection after confronting him, she was surprised by his proposal: a contract marriage. What starts out as a pretense begins to feel like something real, and the line between love and pretense is blurred. They begin to explore the feelings that come with wanting something real—but lies don't stay hidden forever. And when jealous exes also refuse to accept their new reality, Hailey and Levi must face the challenges that come with it, and fight for a future together. One that isn't bound by a contract. "Why don't we make him pay?" Levi proposed, a smirk playing on his lips. I stared at him in shock. Even after I got cheated on, the thought of revenge never crossed my mind. Only one thought rang in my head at that moment. 'This man must be sick.'

‘Callie,’ he began, his voice husky, ‘crying over your ex-boyfriend won’t solve anything.’ Confusion etched across her face, Callie furrowed her brows. ‘Then what will? ’ she demanded, her voice tinged with frustration. Elias leaned closer, his warm breath caressing her cheek. ‘You need to show him what he’s lost. Find a man who’s more handsome, more powerful, and richer than him. Then, make a grand entrance into his life with your new partner.’ Callie scoffed, her eyes rolling in disbelief. ‘Where am I supposed to find someone like that? ’ Elias’s fingers gently lifted her chin, locking their gazes together. ‘I can be that man,’ he said. ‘If you agree to be with me, I’ll protect you from any harm, including your ex-boyfriend.’ ********************************************** Elias Westwood, billionaire heir turned professional solider, a commanding presence on the battlefield, conceals a tender heart that beats for only one woman——Callie Hawthorne, a fearless surgical resident, possesses an innocent charm and wields her skills like a warrior in the operating theatre. Their first encounter thrusts them into a dangerous game of deception. Elias uses Callie as a pawn, their lips locked in a passionate kiss, fooling his pursuers. In that moment, Callie feels the allure of the enigmatic soldier, and a strange connection sparks between them. An impulsive decision seals their fate—a hasty marriage to escape an arranged union and prove Callie’s readiness to move on from a past love. Little did they know, this act would propel them onto an unforeseen path. Will Elias and Callie emerge unscathed from the shadows, or will their sacrifices shatter their dreams forever? Discover their fight for a future filled with hope, trust, and the promise of a happy ending.

On the day my mate's dying first love went into labor, his parents posted ten warriors at my door. They did it only to stop me from storming the delivery room and ruining the birth of Alpha Kaelen's heir. However, I never showed up, not even after the cries of a newborn filled the air. His mother, the former Luna, held the other she-wolf's hand with a sigh of relief. "Liana, with us here, that barren Elara will never harm you or the pup!" Kaelen dabbed the sweat from Liana's brow, his eyes filled with adoration. "Don't worry, my father has men guarding the pack borders. If Elara dares to cause trouble, we will exile her forever!" He finally relaxed when he was sure I wasn't coming. He couldn't understand. All he wanted was to give his dying first love a child, a legacy. Why couldn't I be more understanding? Looking at the sleeping pup, a satisfied smile crossed his face. He thought that if I would just show up and apologize to Liana, he would forgive all our previous fights. He'd even be willing to comfort me after the birth, maybe even let me be the pup's mother in name, so I could keep my title as Luna. But he didn't know. I had just submitted my application to the High Council. In one week, I would relinquish my pack status, leave with the babies in my belly, and never see him again.

“Marco?" she called, her voice barely above a whisper. Marco remained silent, he only arched his brow, his expression unreadable. Slowly, everything began to sink in. "Why?" Her voice trembled as she finally broke the silence that had settled between them. "Why didn't you speak up when you knew the truth, Marco? You could have saved me." Marco scoffed. "What did you expect me to do?" "DEFEND ME? PROTECT ME!" She yelled. "That's what you do for someone you love." Marco’s jaw tightened, and he leaned against the cold, steel bars of the cell. His icy blue eyes bore into hers, but there was no warmth, no love, only a distant glimmer of irritation. "Ivy," he began, his voice low and filled with everything but love, "I can't tell if you're just naive or plain daft." "You know I couldn't back you up in front of everyone. I couldn't risk them finding out that I'm mated to an Omega." ~~~~~ Ivy thought she had hit rock when she was falsely accused, added to her mate’s betrayal and then auctioned according to tradition for all female criminals. But when a handsome and mysterious Alpha walked in at the dying moment, wanting her for himself, she must decide whether to leave with him as his personal slave or remain in the pack to go through the last phase of her punishment; which could end up being her last day on earth.