Gas Strands

Jada prayed and asked God to provide a miracle that would be a solution to her family’s problems. They had always been poor, but this was the worst situation they had ever been in. Her father had to be taken to the hospital two weeks ago, and she had become the sole provider for their home. Marilou had given them what money she had that she could to help, but she wasn’t exactly rolling in money herself. The young girl had a huge responsibility placed upon her shoulders, but she was determined not to lose their home or have the children sent to foster care. She had been waiting tables and using her tips to buy gas and groceries, but it was barely enough most days. Her paycheck had not been enough to pay all the bills since her father had let them get so far behind. Mrs. DeRoya cleared her throat, signaling that she would answer the girl. “Miss Pence, I only had one child, my son Brayden here. My husband was also an only child. So, unless Brayden produces an heir, our bloodline here in the United States is lost. What we need is a surrogate to carry the child. If you sign the contract, when the child is born you will receive one million dollars to take your siblings and go have a good life,” she said, staring at her without emotion.

“Why do I feel like we've met before?” I stared at the young man standing before me, his eyes locked on mine. He tucked some loose strands of my hair behind my ears, his lips stretching into a cocky smirk, “where? In your wet dreams?” ~~~~ Selena has had the same dreams for a very long time—a young man thrusting a silver sword into her chest in a moment of weakness. She'd called it a dream, but after meeting this strange man in her college on an unfaithful day, her whole life takes the other direction. Dominic Lakes, a hot transfer student who's extremely good at playing hockey. He fights to suppress his Alpha aura with the humans around him, but with a particular girl—Selena—it felt like she could see through him with a single glance. What if they'd really met before? Not just in this lifetime but the one before? Would they uncover the truth before it's too late?

Mate. I froze mid-step, Venom has never said that word before. I've suddenly forgotten the Rogues I was chasing, my whole attention now on the emotions I was feeling. My vision sharpened, focusing on the faint sound of labored breathing just ahead. My heart hammered in my chest as I walked closer, the bond pulling me forward with an urgency I hadn’t felt in decades. The first thing I saw was her hair, a messy dark bun with strands of white, unusual yet unique. She sat curled up against the base of an old tree, arms wrapped tightly around her knees, shoulders trembling. Her thin, tattered sweater barely shielding her from the cold air. She looked... fragile, a word I never thought I’d associate with my mate. Ariel’s life has been anything but easy. Orphaned as a child and left in the care of a cruel stepfather and stepbrother, she’s endured years of emotional and physical abuse. Despite her circumstances, she’s always felt something stirring beneath the surface—an unexplained restlessness, vivid dreams of running under the moonlight, and a deep connection to the forest around her. Zayn, the alpha of the Shadowcrest pack, has spent years searching for his fated mate, the one who would complete him and stand by his side to no avail…he had finally given up on ever finding her. His pack thrives under his leadership, but his heart has grown weary, doubting the Moon Goddess’s promise of a mate. When a chance encounter leads him to Ariel, he’s stunned to discover that the fragile, broken girl is his destined partner—and more than that, she’s a wolf completely unaware of her true nature.

SOLD TO THE ALPHA FOR A ONE NIGHT STAND When he stepped into view, all my breath left me in one sharp gasp. His presence filled the room, an overwhelming force that took my breath away. He stood tall and confident, his black hair styled back, a few stray strands falling over his forehead, giving him a wild edge. His jaw was strong, a neatly trimmed beard only accentuating his chiseled features. He was devastatingly handsome, but it wasn’t just his looks that affected me, it was the aura around him, the power that radiated from every inch of his body. His eyes locked with mine, and an overwhelming sense of power washed over me. My heart pounded in my chest, racing like I had no control over it. This man wasn’t just anyone. There was something primal in his gaze, something dangerous and alluring. Something...otherworldly.

"I saved you, and now you have to repay me." He bent down, stroking my cheek in slow motion, his face mere inches from mine. It was so damn close that I could feel his warm breath brushing against my flesh. "Repay you? H-how?" I managed to breathe out. "Marry me," Luxian's hand gently brushed her chin. His eyes locked into mine with a softness I didn't expect as he pushed back a few strands behind my ear. "And take this damned curse away from me...." he said firmly. *** Things can't seem to get any worse for Summer, branded as a lunatic, barren, and stabbed in the back by her husband, Rhys Glomarian, and stepsister, Virginia Paraguz. She loses it all in one day. *** It was Rhys' birthday, and he announced to everyone that Virginia was his fated mate and was expecting Rhys' pups. Three years of a nightmare marriage was enough for her. Summer decided to rescue herself from that hellhole, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. None of the guests that night were moved to save her despite her disheveled and scarred condition. They even looked at her with disgust and mockery. But just when she was beginning to lose hope, an unexpected savior appeared – a cursed Alpha, dreaded by all for his ruthlessness. Still, he is the wealthiest and the most powerful of all, Alpha Luxian Alderon. That night, he arrived to rescue Summer from Rhys' grasp and claim her as his fate mate. But her joy in escaping Rhys is cut short when she learns that Luxian comes with a deadly curse for anyone who becomes his mate.