Haunted

"I'm not the jealous type. But what's mine is mine. I could kill for what's mine. No one has the right to kiss you, touch you, or care for you. That's what I was born to do." His words echoed in the depths of my soul. "I'm leaving, and you can't stop me!" I tried to put up a fight, but it was all futile against his dominating form. "The only way you can leave me is through death. And even after you die, even the devil will make sure you serve me in hell because I am his master," A sinister smile spread across his face. That was the moment I knew I was doomed. *** Lance and Viella have been married for four years without conception. Enduring the persistent nagging from Lance's mother was becoming hell on earth for Viella, and the only way she could live a happy life was to get pregnant by any means possible to produce an heir for the Rollins family. The perfect plan was set in motion, and Viella brought in a surrogate to bear a child for them while she pretended to be pregnant. This was the biggest secret they were to guard with their lives. But what happens when this secret not only spills but Viella loses her husband to the surrogate? What happens when Viella finally finds a man who is ready to burn the world for her, only to be haunted by the demons of her past? Let's find out in this toe-curling romance story of love, betrayal, and lust.

Tia has always been labelled a spoiled brat, but this perception is misleading; it’s a carefully crafted act. As the youngest in the Alpha pair of the Cherry Ridge Pack, she feels overlooked while her brother, Simon, is groomed for leadership, and her sister, Hilary, is pampered and praised as their perfect daughter. Her loyal companion, Meadow, is her hidden blessed wolf, a gift she received after surviving a trafficking attempt. One morning, Tia discovers her family and pack brutally slaughtered. Realizing her only refuge lies with her arranged mate, Delta Allan Price, the cousin of the Alpha at Ravens' Peak Pack, she sets out on a dangerous journey. Miles Roberts, Beta of the Fisher Brooks Pack and twin brother to Alpha Tyson, is haunted by the death of his true mate, Hilary. Yet, he refuses to accept that Tia, the sister who has always owned his heart, is lost to him and begins searching for her. However, dark forces are at play, as a villain plots to reclaim their territory. With allies and enemies everywhere, will Miles find Tia in time to protect her? Will they confess their feelings for each other? And will the Goddess unleash her Dark Sister to punish those who have defied her laws? RECOMMENDED: THE ALPHA BEAST'S REBEL WOLF (Book#1 of the Dark Sister of Vengeance Series) as characters reappear. *NO S/A* The book contains the following warnings: Violence, Betrayal, Murder, Crude language and Sex. COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL!! ©2025/ T. MURPHY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED!!!

Isabella Martinez never expected to trade her dreams for a marriage contract, but when her conniving step-sister flees an arranged marriage, she's forced to take her place. The groom? Alexander Kane, Manhattan's most ruthless CEO, a man known for destroying companies and breaking spirits. The same man who nearly ruined her father's company years ago. At forty, Alexander Kane has everything money can buy, except revenge against the Martinez family. When his intended bride escapes, he finds an even better alternative in her younger sister Isabella – the one person his rival truly loves. It's the perfect opportunity to complete his vendetta. What starts as a cold business arrangement soon turns into a dangerous game of attraction. Behind closed doors, Alexander's icy facade melts away, revealing a man haunted by past betrayals and unexpected tenderness. Isabella discovers that living with her enemy awakens desires she never knew existed, even as she uncovers the dark secrets that drive him. As their fake marriage transforms into something real, Isabella must choose between her family's loyalty and her growing love for Alexander. Meanwhile, Alexander faces his own demons: can he trust in love again, or will his quest for revenge cost him the only woman who's ever touched his heart?

When a young girl named **Emilia** moves to an isolated, fog-drenched city in search of a fresh start, she quickly discovers that something is terribly wrong. The streets echo with silence, residents vanish without a trace, and time itself begins to twist and collapse. As doors appear in places they shouldn’t, and her own reflection begins acting on its own, Emilia realizes she’s trapped in a place that is not just haunted — it’s alive. Each chapter peels back a new layer of horror: shadowy watchers, eerie apparitions, underground tunnels, and ghostly echoes of past inhabitants. But the real terror lies within — the city seems to feed on fear, loneliness, and the feeling of failure. It reflects Emilia’s own anxieties back at her, warping her reality into a trial of the soul. As she searches for meaning, and later for escape, Emilia uncovers the city’s sinister purpose: it traps those most vulnerable and forces them to confront their darkest selves. With the help of other survivors — some real, some echoes — she must navigate psychological mazes and make impossible choices to survive. But survival isn't enough. Emilia must transform — not by escaping her fear, but by embracing it. In doing so, she becomes something more than a victim of the city. She becomes a guide, a witness, and eventually, a keeper of the door. *Trapped in the Hollow City* is a suspenseful, haunting exploration of inner demons, resilience, and the eerie beauty of choosing to become — even when the world seems built to break you.

"I don't care what it takes. Find her!" With those words, William, the youngest and most good looking billionaire in Shanghai urged his security team to double their efforts, to leave no stone unturned in their search for the woman who had captured his heart in a way he had never imagined possible. His eyes fell upon the deep crimson marks on the sheet. A sense of pride and happiness welled up inside him as he realized that he was Sarah's first, and he had been the one to introduce her to the world of physical intimacy. He cherished the thought that no one else had shared that special moment with her, and the idea of anyone else touching her filled him with a possessive anger that simmered just beneath the surface. However, Sarah a young beautiful orphan heiress to a vast multi-billion dollar empire, had vanished into thin air after giving her innocence to William Xu, the most sought-after young bachelor billionaire. The burning question that gnaws at his soul was whether he would ever succeed in locating her. The bitter truth was that she had expertly veiled her true identity, leaving him with nothing but a mystery. What had driven her to willingly surrender herself, only to vanish from his life in the blink of an eye? The elusive motive behind her actions remained locked away, a puzzle that haunted his thoughts day and night. The reason of Sarah's departure is a riddle he was determined to solve.

**BOOK RE-EDIT ON ALL CHAPTERS** Welcome to Rockshore Bay, a charming coastal city nestled between rugged cliffs and the vast, untamed ocean. The salty tang of the sea hangs heavy in the air, mingling with the faint aroma of freshly baked bread wafting from the local bakery. But beneath this idyllic facade lies a world veiled in shadows—a world where ancient powers stir and the supernatural thrives. Here, danger lurks behind every corner, hidden in the flicker of streetlights and the whispers of the waves. It is in this city, where the mundane and the extraordinary collide, that the fates of two fractured souls are set to intertwine. Beneath the serene surface lies a world protected by ancient powers, where caramel-skinned Hugo Griffin, a black-haired, sea-green-eyed werewolf, navigates the complexities of his dual life. Unlike traditional Alphas born into leadership, Hugo is a bitten werewolf who fought his way to become the formidable leader of the Ocean Crest Pack—the most powerful on the East Coast. But even as he commands respect, Hugo battles the darkness within himself, a shadow that threatens to consume him entirely. Inland, Sarai Carter—a feisty, raven-haired young woman with sapphire-blue eyes—is rediscovering her strength after escaping the clutches of a toxic relationship. Longing for love but haunted by the fear of a curse that condemns her to loneliness, Sarai faces a crossroads. As Hugo’s burdens grow heavier and Sarai tries to heal, their paths collide in a whirlwind of passion and pain. Both are fighting their inner demons, but when they come together, will they find redemption or ruin?

Isabella Dean was uprooted from her life north of Atlanta at the beginning of her senior year of high school after a tragic accident that killed her father. Her mother took her to live with her aunt, Linda, in Asheville, NC where she was welcomed immediately by the school bully. This encounter got Isabella immediately recognized by a group of girls who befriended her and took her in as one of their friends. As she adjusted to her new life, she continued to have to protect herself from the bully, Lucy Upshaw, and recover from a hidden brain injury sustained in the accident. While in the hospital, she died and returned changed and with gifts she had to learn to live with. She discovered along with her new friend, Amber Collins, that her house was haunted by a mysterious girl. She and Amber also rescued a group of girls from sex traffickers and helped the victims flee. She and her friends helped get them adopted by local families, but they also had to deal with the bigotry of some people who didn’t like that some of the girls were transgender and genetically modified by their assailants. Isabella, meanwhile, had to deal with her own problems with her mother and recover from her surgery while still being attacked by Lucy. This is just the beginning for these girls who learn how to fight ghosts and demons with the help of their Native American friend, Winona. They learn to use their talents to help others deal with things that go bump in night.

Velia Argento has lived a sheltered life, fiercely protected by her older brother, Hardin. But when she unknowingly saves the life of Xavier De Santos—Venom, the Alpha and head of the notorious MC The Reapers—her quiet world shatters. Ruthless, powerful, and driven by vengeance, Venom warns her: "You should have let me die." Now, he won’t stop until he owns her, body and soul. Venom is a shifter forged in blood and betrayal, haunted by the brutal murder of his family. He has spent years hunting those responsible, and Dr. Antonio Argento is the key to unlocking his past. When he discovers Velia’s connection to the doctor, she becomes more than a distraction—she becomes his obsession. Trapped in his dangerous world, Velia is forced into servitude, her every move dictated by his unyielding commands. But as she fights to escape his grasp, Venom finds himself drawn to her innocence, her defiance, and the fire in her eyes. He wants to break her—but what happens when the fragile kitten begins to claw back? With enemies closing in, secrets unraveling, and a war brewing among the most powerful mafia clans, Velia and Venom are caught in a deadly game of power, control, and undeniable attraction. She was supposed to be his prisoner. Now, she might be his only salvation. 🔥 **Possessive Anti-Hero** 💀 **Dark Mafia Romance** 🔥 **Obsession & Revenge** 💀 **Spicy & Emotional**

Blanche Lucille Emerson, a relentless and calculating Captain haunted by the loss of her wife, Venus, in a mysterious accident. Now driven by a thirst for vengeance, Blanche navigates a world of secrets, betrayal, and political machinations as she digs into the layers of deceit that surround her family's powerful pharmaceutical empire. Alongside her, Yama Laine, a trusted ally, and Cessair, her estranged sister, reveal their own hidden agendas. Blanche uncovers a vast conspiracy linked to General Grey and an underground organization known as the Black Spectre, which her father, Silas Grey, once controlled. The deeper she digs, the more she realizes that not only her wife’s death but also her parents' and countless others' were orchestrated to protect a dark secret connected to her family. As Blanche takes calculated risks and enlists Yama’s help, her plan teeters between survival and self-destruction. Along the way, her encounters with spies like Aracelli and the revelation of her sister Cessair’s resentment deepen the conflict. Old alliances crumble, as personal motivations clash, and long-buried truths about her family and its ties to the Black Market come to light. All the while, Blanche's mind is torn between her mission and her lingering love for Venus. With a final showdown on the horizon, the question remains: Can Blanche take down the enemy and clear her family’s name, or will the weight of the past bury her alive? Catch-22: To Die is To Live Hard is a story of revenge, loyalty, and the heavy price of uncovering the truth.

**Dez** Dezmond woke in a cold sweat. The ache in his heart was worse than ever before. It had been growing more intense over the past few weeks. He got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash his face. He didn't bother looking in the mirror, he knew what he would see. His face would be white and his eyes haunted with the need to find answers. Dezmond needed to know why he was being tormented in his dreams. He was never supposed to dream again. "I can't take this anymore." said Dezmond gloomily. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ **Ruby** Ruby couldn't focus in class, another night of tossing and turning. Seeing the flames consume her house. Hearing the screams as her family slowly died, knowing there was nothing she could do. It had been almost three years since the incident. The day she lost her family in the fire. She was the only one who wasn't in the house. And she relived that horror every night in her dreams. Though recently her nightmares felt different. More like a warning rather than a memory. "Rough night?" whispered Haven. Haven had been friends with Ruby since they were little kids. "Yeah, they started happening again." Ruby whispered back. They never really stopped. "Have you talked to anyone about it? Ruby, you can't keep it a secret forever." This is the same discussion they had just after the incident.