Grab A Bite

On Christmas people should be with their loved ones in the safety of their homes, but I don't have any loved ones, and I'm in the one place that I hate, where I swore never to come back, afraid that I'll get even more broken, and it seems that the more I try to get away, the more obstacles I encounter. "I know a shop not very far from here, and they have the best mechanics in town. If you want, I could come with you and give you directions, I'm heading that way anyway, and for your kindness, I'll make your biggest wish come true," Said the old crazy Santa that jumped in front of my car out of nowhere. "Can you teleport me from here? In another city, country, even on a deserted island? Anywhere but here?" I know that it wasn't nice of me to be sarcastic, but he's the reason why I have to prolong my say here. "No." His short answer was said in an amused tone of voice, but I don't find anything funny right now. "But that's just because that's not your biggest wish." He states it as a fact as if he's never been more sure of anything in his life. I bite my tongue and pray that I won't see the two people I used o love the most, and which now, I despise the most, the two people responsible for my nightmares and my broken being.

I've always yearned for a fairy tale love story with the perfect alpha partner, someone who would sweep me off my feet. However, in traditional fairy tales, the princess is meant to end up with a prince, not a swashbuckling pirate. Navigating the dynamics between alphas and omegas can be daunting, but deep down, I've always cherished the hope of discovering true love. Unfortunately, back in my hometown of Austin, it feels like nobody shares the same interest, and I spend every full moon in solitude. But everything changes now. I find myself once again in the clutches of my old, malevolent pack, determined to claim me as their own and keep me confined within their fortress at sea. The only obstacle preventing the pack's alpha from selecting a mate for me is the one person I never expected to come to my aid. Jack Heston, an uncompromising and mercenary soul. Jack insists that I am his destined mate, and he pays no heed to the rules imposed by the Dark Moon pack. To complicate matters further, he publicly declares his claim on me, marking me with his mating bite to track my whereabouts. I don't feel the familiar connection of a mating bond, but now Jack is in control, and he shows no intention of setting me free. However, it appears he harbours a secret, and just maybe, against all odds, he might be the key to helping me find my way back home

Kelly Goodman, a Private Investigator in Greenwood, returns home to find her Mum, Maggie dead in her car. Maggie, a famous reporter in Middleville was brutally murdered and had traces of mysterious bite marks no one could explain. Every attempt to solve the murder case led to a dead end, leaving Kelly determined to solve it for her late Mum. But little does she know that her investigation would take her down a dark and twisted path. Her Husband Jacob, a skilled craftsman and an experienced fighter, now stricken in age with a heart challenge, slums on seeing his dead wife and is rushed to the hospital, where shortly after being treated he is tragically confirmed dead. In the course of going through her Mum's belongings, Kelly finds her Mum's research book, with clues on a lead she had been chasing for 2 years, but couldn't see it through because of her untimily death. With no other option, Kelly takes on the mission to unravel her Mum's death and seek justice. But things take a turn for the worse when she is forced to work with a local PI who might be hiding something. Will Kelly find the truth behind her Mum's death? Will she be able to fight against the unknown forces that are trying to stop her? Or will she forever remain in the dark? Join Kelly on an epic journey of justice and discovery, as she hurdles through life trying to solve the mystery of her Mum's death.

Without warning, Ezra drags me over to his desk in the corner of the study room and shoves me towards it. There, he rips my dress and pulls my arms behind me, tying both my wrists with the torn cloth. It hurts. I shake my head and a strangled sob escapes my lips. “Part your legs, Alayna.” he growls I try to free my hands but this results in him tightening the cloth further. Ezra presses his himself against my back. “Spread. Your. Legs.” *** The black sheep. The unwanted one. The second choice. Those were the names I grew up with. But when my sister mysteriously vanished on her wedding day, I was forced to take on another name, the Luna. “I never loved you. You’re nothing to me but a substitute.” Ezra's words burn in my mind every night as I lay in his bed, letting him ravage and abuse my body. Tears spring to my eyes with every thrust, with every slap, with every bite of his wolf fangs. It was never meant to be like this, I was never meant to be his Luna, I was never meant to be his whore. He was meant to marry my sister, the beautiful, strong and brave she-wolf of our family. Instead, he ended up with a mute omega; me. My name is Alayna Morningstar. And this is my story.

I fell asleep in my fated mate Alpha Zane’s office. When I woke up, a magical seal was branded on my face. “Blackmoon Pack’s Slut.” And there was Dahlia, Zane’s new omega assistant. She held an Alpha’s seal, a taunting smirk on her face. “Why is a porcelain doll like you meddling in pack business?” she sneered. “You should just stay in your castle and be the pretty little trophy you are.” My wolf snarled, ready to crush her with my aura. But just as a vase flew at her head, Zane was suddenly there. He shielded her with his own body, his own Alpha power flaring to meet mine. He scowled at me, his voice tight with fury. “Dahlia was just playing a prank. Don’t be so dramatic.” But my eyes locked on the exposed skin of Dahlia's neck, where she was nestled in his arms. There it was. A fresh bite mark. And it reeked of him. Dahlia let out a contented purr, her voice dripping with sickly sweetness. “My Alpha knows I never attended the academy, and I was getting so bored. So to entertain me, he let me play with his Alpha’s sigil to practice creating magical marks.” She giggled. “I was just playing a little game with the princess. You’re not going to be a sore loser, are you?”

Right after I reunite with my rich biological family, Ruth Stark, the adopted daughter, eagerly helps me fit into her social circle. But those rich scions constantly mock me and force me to drink. They also make crude jokes at my expense. I am furious, while Ruth walks over gracefully and says with a face full of concern, "Don't tease my sister. She just came back from the countryside and is clueless about the way things are here. I will drink for her." Everyone praises her for being kind and magnanimous while further cementing my reputation as a country bumpkin. One day, Ruth plans to take me to another gathering with her friends. Just as I am about to snap, the butler of Mason Frost, suddenly arrives at our door. He says it is a generous gift personally sent by Mason's mother. My parents instantly beam with joy and grab Ruth's hand excitedly. They praise, "You have made us proud, Ruth. It seems the Frost family is very satisfied with you. This marriage alliance is practically settled." Ruth lowers her head shyly, casting a taunting glance at me. But when I see the tag on the gift box, I can't help but laugh. Every employee who joins Frost Group receives this exact welcome gift. If Mrs. Frost finds out someone has mistaken this for a wedding gift for marrying her son, she will probably be very annoyed.

When my mother falls gravely ill, my husband, who has asthenospermia, promises to help me think of something. So, I give him all my savings. Despite being pregnant, I get a part-time job doing DoorDash deliveries. However, I see my husband when I pass by a realtor's office. He's supposed to be hard at work like me, but he's buying a place for his childhood friend. He even has his arm around her. "That old hag thinks I only earn that little each month. Don't worry, Yvette. I only give her 10% of what I earn. The rest goes to you!" I hold back my tears and grab the hem of his shirt, wanting to borrow some money for my mother's treatment. However, he shoves me away irritably. "I give you 2000 dollars a month! Isn't that enough? Have you spent it all on useless things?" He leaves without another look back, ignoring my cries and pleas. He also kicks me, effectively murdering the child he's always dreamed of having. Later, he grovels at my feet and begs for forgiveness. It's too bad I've already given up on him. I don't want him anymore.

One night of passion with Carl Grey, her supposed uncle, led Renee Lacey down a path of eight years of misery. On the day she decided to end it all, holding her daughter's ashes, Carl was throwing a big party for his ex-girlfriend's son. Talk about adding insult to injury. But life had a surprise in store. Renee got a do-over, and this time, she's not pulling any punches. Carl's going to learn that karma's a real piece of work. Last time around, when Renee tried to explain things, Carl shut her down, accusing her of drugging him for a hookup. Well, not anymore. This time, she's cutting him loose in front of everyone. Remember when Carl's ex stole Renee's work and he called Renee a green-eyed monster? Now, Renee's going to leave them both in the dust and grab that award herself. And let's not forget how Carl always took his ex's side when Renee was blamed for stuff she didn't do. This time, Renee's giving as good as she gets. Poor Carl. He always thought Renee would stick around, no matter what. But when she finally walks out without so much as a "see ya," his world falls apart. Now look at Mr. High-and-Mighty, all teary-eyed and desperate: "Renee, don't go. Can't I come with you?"

I watched my family scrape and starve so I could save enough to come to Sicily for a tan, a fling, maybe my first proper kiss— maybe even lose my virginity to a hot stranger I’d never see again. I did not come to wrestle a kidnapped toddler out of a speedboat at gunpoint. One minute I was hiding from a flirty Italian on the beach. The next, I was running barefoot across the sand in a bikini with a terrified little boy in my arms… while men in black suits shot at me. Now the whole island thinks I’m the kidnapper. Especially the grey-eyed man with the gun who looks at me like I’m his next target. I don’t know his name. I don’t know who the boy really belongs to. I just know the man hunting me isn’t a hero and he’s not going to let me walk away. If I survive this holiday, I’m never leaving England again. If he stops looking at me like that… I might even miss the danger. Holy hell. I didn’t just grab any child. I snatched the heir to the Don of the most ruthless mafia outfit in Europe. And his best friend—the grey-eyed man with the gun—wants my head on a spike. I never imagined I’d die a virgin. But here I am.

The night before our wedding, my Alpha, Charlie, was attacked by rogue wolves on his way to pick up my wedding dress. He survived, but the doctor diagnosed him with severe PTSD and no memory of me. Any mention of our wedding made him collapse. Around the same time, I found out I was pregnant. "Perhaps the child’s arrival might awaken the part of him that truly loves you," the doctor said. I clung to that hope，until I overheard them at the pack training grounds. "Faking PTSD to dodge the wedding? Damn, Charlie, that’s next-level." One of his brothers laughed. "You really pulled it off, man. Playing the tragic Alpha just to shake off that boring little fiancée? Genius." "Shut up!" Charlie snapped, but there was no real anger in his tone. "I love Eve. I’m only lying to her this once. Let me have my fun at The Velvet Bite a little longer, and then I’ll marry her." "Especially her cousin, Lisa," another voice jeered. "Damn, Charlie—a brothel and the fiancée’s family? That’s low, even for you." Charlie chuckled. "You don’t get it. Those women… I can’t live without that feeling. It’s addictive." My hands shook as I tore the ultrasound report into pieces. Without a word, I turned and walked away. That night, at the pack hospital, I made an appointment for an abortion.