Joy Natividad

As the youngest daughter of the Costellos, I had always lived in my sister’s shadow. That was until five years ago, when she betrayed the family and ran off with a street thug. I took her place and completed the wedding with Elio Ross. Over the years, he loved and indulged me, but we never got a marriage license. He always said family matters kept him busy, and that, with or without it, I was his wife in his and the family’s eyes. I believed him. Until today… I watched as Elio walked out of the church with my sister Alyssa, who had been missing for five years, both of them wearing the family rings that symbolized their union. At the church entrance, three black SUVs opened their doors simultaneously, and my three brothers stepped out in tailored suits. “The ceremony’s done? We’ve already booked Antonio’s to celebrate Alyssa’s return.” They climbed into the cars, expressing their joy, while no one noticed my pale, shattered face across the street. Later that night, under the guise of apology, my sister let a venomous spider bite me. “A substitute is always a substitute. Now that I’m back, it’s time for you to die.” I screamed for help. However, my husband and my three brothers only rushed to hold my sister, who had pretended she had fallen, without a glance at me, writhing from the poison. They called in every specialist from the hospital, only to tend to my sister’s scraped knee. That was the moment my heart truly broke. After being dragged back from death’s door by the doctors, I made my decision. I picked up the phone and called the International Private Island Exchange. “That isolated, uninhabited island… I’ll take it.”

The night before the wedding, I'm about to share the news of my pregnancy with Chester Miller when I see Giselle Thorne sitting in his lap intimately. I'm about to storm in and confront them when I notice a man standing beside them. That man looks exactly like Chester, my boyfriend. I freeze, holding my breath as their voices carry clearly through the room. "Chester, this is ruthless. You actually proposed to her. From what I know, Miranda poured so much effort into this wedding," Giselle says. Chester snorts. "Giselle, she ruins your work and costs you the chance to win. I can't wait to see her, all dressed in her wedding gown and beaming with joy, only to watch me walk down the aisle holding your hand. Just thinking about it gives me a thrill." My eyes widen. It's clearly Giselle who has threatened me to hand over my work, and when she fails, she tears up her own painting in fear of losing the competition. Before I can react, the man who looks like Chester suddenly speaks. "Chester, who's walking down the aisle with her—you or me?" Chester chuckles. "Of course I am. Felix, have you forgotten? Miranda belongs to you only at night." In that instant, I finally understand why Chester Miller is cold by day and passionate by night. It turns out they aren't the same person at all. He and Felix are twin brothers. I clutch the pregnancy report tightly, pressing it against the doorframe as I glare at the three of them through the crack. "I won't let any of you get what you want," I vow silently.

The bitter chill of rejection pierces my heart once again as Gray turns his back on me without a word. The mate the moon goddess has sent to me as my only source of joy doesn't even spare me a glance as he walks away, off to join the mate his council has chosen for him. Not me. Never me. My father, the Alpha, sees me as a waste. My packmates sneer and jeer, enjoying my pain. And my fated mate Gray, whose rejection cuts deeper than any wound. I thought I knew heartbreak when my mother died birthing me but this agony is so much worse. Every day I pray to the Moon Goddess for a family to call my own, for acceptance, for love. My prayers go unanswered. Each day, there are whispers that I am cursed, that my existence brings misfortune to the pack. If only they knew the turmoil steaming inside me. But I will endure. Even as assassins ambush me and Silver Fang soldiers see me as a threat. Even as I find myself mysteriously pregnant with no father in sight. Even as wolves come to me claiming friendship while concealing wicked motives. I have survived worse. I am stronger than they know. There are secrets about me, truths my so-called pack tries to bury. My identity. My power. My purpose - all hidden from me by lies. But I will uncover it all. The course of my life is changing, veering into unpredictable territory. But I am ready for whatever comes. My story has only just begun. I am Lyra, the Omega without a wolf but not without a purpose and I would fulfill it! I will shock my pack, I will shock my father, I will shock my mate. This is how I rise!

"Mmmh" She whimpered against the pillow as he went deeper into her. She grabbed the sheets tight and forced herself not to scream. she didn't want to. "Nooo! Please!!!", her voice cracked in the end. He pulled out of her and went right in again, multiplying her pain. His main intention was to hear her cry of pain as he enjoyed wailing sounds, it sounded like music to his ears and he loved it. He digged in again and didn't pull out this time. instead he started thrusting hard, moving roughly and Galene shook against the bed. "Stop it....please!" She whimpered, but that didn't have any effect on him as he continued with what he was doing. His monster was ruining her system. It went on for a while and finally, He let out a deep grunt. she felt something thick and hot pour inside of her. "Oh...!" She let out a faint whimper as she felt him melt inside her. He pulled out of her and left the bed, Shortly after, his cold and stern voice came. "Get out!". ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Damien; The Ruthless and Merciless Master of the Guthram clan, the biggest and the most powerful clan among the seven clans of the Carran community. Nothing gave him joy more than Wars, swords and blood spilling. Mercy was no where near his books. The villagers served and worshipped him as their god. Nobody dared to utter a word when he spoke. Galene, a 22 years old girl from one of the clans got sold to him by her drunk and gambler father in exchange of his debt. A life full of brightness suddenly became a shadow of grief. Waking up with so much happiness only to realize you've been sold as a sex slave to a man feared by all.

Keeva, the shunned daughter of Alpha Julius, lives in despair believing she has no wolf. Her eighteenth birthday was supposed to be a day of joy but her world came crumbling down. The Moon Goddess has forsaken her. Her father can't bear to be in the same room as her. When he insisted that she takes his Beta as her chosen mate, plans to escape were snatched away, she had no choice but to follow the path laid before her. Working at the bar was the only freedom she knew, Canagan was the only man who could help her escape. After months of working with her friend Nikita and the wise woman from the forest, their well laid plans didn't come to fruition soon enough to save them both for Julius's tyranny. Channon was saved from certain death by something that could only be the lone wolf of legends. After witnessing his raw, untamed power Channon realized that White Claw could be more than just whispers and fantasy. After waking up in unknown lands and nursed back to health by a pack he didn't recognize Channon learned of his unknow lineage and the powers he is destined to wield. Over the course of the next fifteen years Channon hones his skills preparing to avenge the murder of his parents and take his place as Alpha, uniting the two packs of his ancestors. White Claw has moulded Channon into the man he needs to be. His campaign for revenge and unity hits a stumbling block in the form of his stepsister Keeva. Little Keeva was only two when Channon was almost killed and he often wondered what had happened to her. Had he not followed his Beta into the woods Channon would never have realized Keeva is his.

Find Him “Somebody has taken Eli.” … Olivia’s knees buckled. If not for Dean catching her, she would have hit the floor. Nothing was more torturous than the silence left behind by a missing child. Then the phone rang. Two weeks earlier… “Who is your mom?” Dean asked, wondering if he knew the woman. “Her name is Olivia Reed,” replied Eli. Dynamite just exploded in Dean’s head. The woman he once trusted, the woman who betrayed him, the woman he loved and the one he’d never been able to forget.  … Her betrayal had utterly broken him. *** Olivia - POV  She’d never believed until this moment that she could shoot and kill somebody, but she would have no hesitation if it meant saving her son’s life.  *** … he stood in her doorway, shafts of moonlight filling the room. His gaze found her sitting up in bed. “Olivia, what do you need?” he said softly. “Make love to me, just like you used to.” He’d been her only lover. She wanted to completely surrender to him and alleviate the pain and emptiness that threatened to drag her under. She needed… She wanted… Dean. She pulled her nightie over her head and tossed it across the room. In three long strides, he was next to her bed. Slipping between the sheets, leaving his boxers behind, he immediately drew her into his arms. She gasped at the fiery heat and exquisite joy of her naked skin against his. She nipped at his lips with her teeth. He groaned. Her hands explored and caressed the familiar contours of his muscled back. His sweet kisses kept coming. She murmured a low sound filled with desire, and he deepened the kiss, tasting her sweetness and passion as his tongue explored her mouth… ***

After the heated kiss, Sebastian's expression softened, his eyes still burning with desire. "I wasn't avoiding you," he whispered, his voice laced with sincerity. "I just want you to focus on your studies, not me all the time. You're a topper, baby," he said, a hint of pride in his tone. "And if you don't score well, I'll think it's because of me." His gaze locked onto hers, intense and serious. "In college, we should remain like professors and students—professional and detached. But outside..." His voice dropped to a husky whisper. "You can consider me your boyfriend, husband, friend... Daddy." **** "Adeline!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with emotion. But as he wrapped his arms around her, she distanced herself, her body language screaming rejection. "Sebastian, don't," Adeline warned. "Why didn't you answer my calls? I've been worried sick, imagining the worst, and feeling helpless. It's been three agonizing days since I last saw you, and I've been unable to focus on anything." Adeline remained silent, "What's wrong, Adeline? You're scaring me," he pleaded. "I'm pregnant," she stated. Sebastian's face lit up with joy, his eyes shining with excitement. "Oh, Adeline! We're going to be parents!" he exclaimed. But his happiness was short-lived, as Adeline's next words shattered his dreams. "I'm going to abort this child," Adeline declared. Sebastian's world crumbled around him, his heart shattering into a million pieces. "But before I do, I wanted to tell you," Adeline continued. "That's why I'm here—to end this chapter of our lives and move on." Adeline's voice dripped with finality. "Everything between us ends with this child," she declared.

Damon said nothing, but his eyes were hooded and heavy. “Just one kiss, Wendy. Just one. I have to kiss you. It’s all I’ll demand for now, and then he put his arms around her. She stood frozen in the circle of them as his heavy dark gaze followed the line of her throat Without waiting her consent, he swept his mouth over hers. Finally. Her sweetness exploded onto his tongue the moment he licked over her lips. . It was everything she’d dreamt about, their kiss. The taste, the feel, the joy at the sheer fineness of Damon Paige, in all his tall, beautifully built splendor, thrilled her and filled her with exquisite sensations. And for that moment, all the complications of getting involved with Damon melted away as if they’d never existed…. When he raised his head abruptly, she thought it was so he could say something personal and intimate. He didn’t. He stared down at her, and she could see his tortured expression before he closed his eyes briefly and then put her away from him. The look in his eyes was brooding and somber. “I should never have done that.” he said. ---------------------- Wendy Morgan relocates to New York and reunites with Deborah Paige, her best friend from high school, despite the fact that her father disagrees with her decision. But Wendy is tired of letting her father dictate every aspect of her life, especially now that he has arranged for her to marry Jordan Baker, so she is convinced that she has made the right decision by leaving. Soon, Wendy finds herself in the same situation with Damon Paige.... Will she walk away this time? She only has to pretend to be Damon's fiance for a while though.... She could do that. What could possibly go wrong?

Caitlin Paine wakes to discover herself back in time. There, she learns of her destiny and her mission: to find her father and the ancient vampire Shield needed to save mankind.

But Caitlin’s heart still pines for her lost love: Caleb. She desperately needs to know if he has survived their trip back in time. She learns that her mission requires her to go to Florence, but if she wants to pursue matters of the heart, she must go to Venice. She chooses Venice.

Caitlin is overwhelmed at what she finds. Venice of the eighteenth century is a surreal place, men and women dressed in elaborate costumes and masks, celebrating an endless, lavish party. She is thrilled to discover and reunite with some of her close friends, and to be welcomed back into their coven. And she is excited to join them in Venice’s Grand Ball, the most important costume dance of the year, where she hopes, once again, to find Caleb.

But Caitlin is not the only one who can travel back in time: Kyle soon arrives, too, and is determined to hunt her down and kill her once and for all. Sam, too, arrives, determined to save his sister before it is too late.

At the Ball, Caitlin searches everywhere, and finds no sign of Caleb. That is, until the very last dance. She dances with a masked man who takes her heart away, and she feels certain that it is him. But as the partners change, she loses him again. Or does she?

Caitlin soon finds herself torn between the two loves of her life, and discovers that she has to be careful what she wishes for. Her joy at finding what she wants might just come mixed with tragedy and heartbreak.

In a climactic, action-packed ending, Caitlin finds herself up against true evil, Rome’s ancient vampire coven, and the most powerful vampire coven that ever existed. Surviving will demand all her skills, as she finds herself battling for her very life. She will have to sacrifice more than ever, if she is to save the one she loves….

At the Mating Ceremony, my mate Alexander rejected our mate bond in front of the entire pack, then turned around and marked Sarah instead. While I endured the excruciating pain of rejection and the pack's vicious gossip, Alexander's brother Ethan walked into our ceremonial grounds. He presented me with nine hundred and ninety-nine Moonflowers, confessing he had secretly loved me for years. His wolf had recognized me as his mate, and he'd dreamed of making me his. I was shocked to discover he was my second chance mate, and touched that he saved me from humiliation. I immediately nodded in agreement. Five years into our marriage, I had miscarried five times, and had finally managed to conceive again. Ethan held me carefully, spinning me around with joy, promising to take good care of me and the baby, even if it cost him his life. Four months into my pregnancy, I overheard him talking with the pack healer: "Alpha Ethan, just like the previous five times, the miscarriage drugs have been added to your wife's pregnancy supplements." "I don't understand. Sarah was able to bear your child, so why not your wife?" Ethan laughed bitterly: "Only those who produce an heir can inherit the Alpha position. Alexander is infertile, and I want Sarah to fulfill her wish of becoming the pack's Alpha Female." Alexander and Ethan were the children of our pack's Alpha. The Alpha had declared that whoever produced an heir first would become the next Alpha of the pack. All those passionate vows and promises were nothing but lies. The brothers, Alexander and Ethan, both loved Sarah. If that was how things stood, I would leave. I returned to our bedroom and secretly took out my phone, dialing a number I thought I would never contact again: "I agree to return and inherit the Shadow Pack. But I need you to do me a favor."