Lifeless Lucy

He leaned in, inhaling her sweet scent as his hands traveled from her back to her waist, and then down to her thigh. She felt her breath hitch as she let out a small gasp. "We shouldn't be doing this." She said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Then tell me to stop." His voice was low, daring, as his fingers traced slow circles on her skin. *** Lucy had always lived life on her own terms, until the night everything changed. One moment, she was free; the next, she was bound to Barry Cooper, a cold, dangerous man who ruled the underworld with an iron fist. She never expected to be trapped in a world of power struggles, deceit, and unspoken desires. But as the lines between captor and captive blur, Lucy realizes she’s caught in a deadly game, one where trust is a luxury and survival is not guaranteed. Will she escape the ruthless mobster who owns her… or will she become his greatest obsession?

The sour taste of not being able to shift and not being loved had driven Vera into marrying a ruthless Alpha. Vera's life wasn't easy before the marriage but she didn't expect to be married to the Alpha Phil of BlackDiamond Pack. Alpha Phil Hammerstock was rejected by his first mate and it had been two years since Phil took a glassful of rejection but he still had the bitter aftertaste of that night. Every night since that night, the words seemed to re-echo as he shifted. But Lucy’s words weren’t the only words that ached his physique every time he shifted. There were also the words of the Grand Pack Committee, an ultimatum to find a Luna for himself or risk forfeiting the title of Alpha to someone more capable. Alpha Phil had wooed Vera into marrying him but a few months after their marriage, Phil signed a non-disclosure agreement with his first mate to be his breeder because Vera was unable to give him an heir. Does Vera stand a chance to maintain the Luna title or forfeit it to Lucy, Phil's first mate?

"Loving you is the worst sin I've ever committed in my life, Tyron," Lizelle's bitter words seemed to burn her heart. The butterflies in her stomach died, the rain joined her lifeless heart, and above all, her self-loathing could not be erased as if it was a mark engraved on her entire being. What can we bestow for love? What can we waive? And what can we give up? People who were met at the wrong time and chance. How long can they forgive each other to forget the past?

After twenty-five years of trying to win over Gus Harding, I failed and died by his hand. But he didn't know that. He kept threatening, demanding I show myself immediately. The real heiress slapped him hard. "Genevieve is dead, and you didn't even care enough to see her one last time." Gus scoffed, claiming it was just another one of my tricks. Only when he saw my cold, lifeless body did he finally understand. I was gone for good. And this time, it drove him mad.

Even before marrying Wayne Cooper, I knew he had a fierce sister-in-law. He would always tell me to never get into a fight with her. After we marry, we spend Christmas Eve at his parents' house for the first time. I'm forced to bustle around in the kitchen as I prepare a feast for over a dozen people. Meanwhile, Wayne's family lounges in the living room. They chatter away while enjoying the fruits I've washed and sliced. As I place the last dish on the table, Wayne's brother and sister-in-law, Kyle Cooper and Lucy Wren, arrive. When I want to take my seat, I discover there isn't one for me. That's when Lucy snorts and says sarcastically, "I heard you're a good wife who's obedient and easygoing, Melanie. I have to say that your cooking is… mediocre, though." This infuriates me. I'm about to retort when she turns to my mother-in-law. She says, "I think you should do the cooking from now on, Gloria. Your food is delicious…"

Lucy's boyfriend betrayed her when he got his best friend pregnant and kicked her out of the house when she was pregnant with his child. He said the child wasn't his. Lucy has to go back to stay with her evil stepmother and her kids who made her life miserable. She had to stay and take care of her child and save money to move out, but nothing ever goes right for her. Lucy met Henry,who brightened her and her son's life with his warm smile, but their past came knocking on the door to ruin the small happiness they built together. **Excerpt from the book** When I got closer to them, I saw Daniel was looking at the man in front of him in awe as he had the cutest smile on his face. "Danny ,what's wrong?" I asked and he seemed to snap out of his thoughts and smiled as he pointed to the man in front of us. "Mommy, I want a Daddy in a tux." Daniel squealed while pointing his finger at the man and the man turned his attention to him. I was so embarrassed that I drew him to myself and put his hand away. "Danny don't say things like that." I scolded him softly, avoiding eye contact with the man and I wondered if I should apologize until I heard a hearty laugh. "Oh so you want a Daddy in a tux as well?" He asked Daniel, his velvety voice made me stare at him in awe as his face was plastered with an unwavering smile as I watched him as he squatted down to Daniel's level.

On the Northwind Trail, just before sunrise, my flashlight cut across the inside of the SUV and landed on five lifeless bodies. My hands shook as I dialed 911. "Hello? I'm on Route 296, the Northwind Trail. Everyone in my car… is dead." The operator's voice was calm but quick. "Please confirm your location. Officers are on their way." My words dropped heavy and flat, like stones hitting the ground. "I'm on Route 296, about three miles east of the mountain pass. The plate number is NA318X. Five people inside the car are dead… and I'm the only one alive."

What do you do when you're so utterly and brutally betrayed by the two people you love most in life? Life hasn't been kind to Lucy, right from a few minutes after she was born until now that she's a happily married adult. In the blink of an eye, everything she knows is proven to be a lie, and she is thrown into despair. In a surprising twist of fate, though, right at this trying time, luck finally decides to shine on her in a really big way. Her greatest heart's desire is suddenly granted, along with unimaginable success. Now, it's time for revenge ... time to show those who looked down on her and betrayed her that she's a force to be reckoned with. However, it seems that the universe isn't done dealing her a bad hand, because terrible secrets from the far, dark past suddenly begin to rear up their ugly heads, and seemingly unknown enemies begin to spring up out of nowhere to cause her problems. Will Lucy be able to conquer these problems? Will her new-found love with Nathan survive these sudden twists in their formerly perfect life?

Lucy Carrigan has run away from her hometown to live a secluded life in Sedona, Arizona. Unbeknownst to her, Gabriel Herman, the banished stray Alpha of the Moonlight Pack, has discovered she is his beloved mate. An undeniable connection brings the two broken mates together, and Gabriel must find a way to tell Lucy what he is. Will she be able to heal from her previous trauma and begin a romantic relationship with Gabriel? Would a human and a hybrid wolf shifter being mates be as taboo as his uncle, current Alpha of the Moonlight Pack, wants everyone to believe? Will they learn how to work together to weather the storms cast their way? *** "Gabriel," she whispered. "Yeah?" he asked, spinning his head toward her, making direct eye contact as the light faded. "Can I kiss you?" she asked, biting her lip. "You have my consent, Freckles." He winked. The Stray Alpha is created by Laura Dickey-Couch, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

A year ago, when Bailey Knight's side girl, Lucy Day, showed up in front of me, causing a scene, he had his people beat her until she lost the baby and tossed her out. Then he groveled before me for three straight hours, begging me to forgive him. Looking at the man I'd loved for ten years, looking so pitiful and broken, I eventually caved. Later, I caught Lucy sneaking around Bailey's villa in the suburbs, so I had her thrown out again. Three days before our wedding, Bailey grabbed me by the neck and shoved me up against the railing on the second-floor balcony, yelling so hard that his voice broke. "We already took Lucy's baby once! She can't handle it happening again. She's fragile. You're a woman—how can you not understand that? "I've given you the title of Mrs. Knight. I'd give you my life. Isn't that enough? Why can't you just accept her?" The next second, his secretary ran up to say they'd found Lucy. He shoved me down the stairs. The pain when my arm snapped made me feel like my whole body was being torn apart. But he didn't even look back. Staring at the cold, heartless man in front of me, I felt something inside me go completely dead. I picked up my phone and called Arnold Greenwood. "I don't wanna marry him anymore. Come get me."