Lingering Shadow

I gasp, surprised and he leans towards me. I catch the scent of his cologne and the faint scent of the cigarette smoke, lingering around him. But underneath it, there’s the scent of earth and rain. I see his muscles flexing under the thin linen of the shirt. I also notice the outlines of a scar, running down his forearm. I imagine his hands on me, his lips on mine. What is happening… Why am I thinking this? “Oh, don’t worry, Lily. “ his smile is canine, the words that come out of his mouth are a snarl, “I won’t touch you. I don’t want to. “ When her mother got sick, Lily had no choice but to marry a man she never met. At that time she didn’t know Arthur Stark was not only beautiful but as cruel as the rumours said. Her husband is a cold billionaire involved with the mafia. He never touches anyone. Not even his own mate.

When her mother remarries, Elena is ready to embrace a new chapter of life—until she meets her new stepbrother, Elliot. The shock is immediate and painful: Elliot is no stranger. He’s the boy who tormented her relentlessly in high school, the source of her most haunting memories. Just as Elena steels herself for more heartache, she discovers an even bigger twist of fate—she’s been assigned as his secretary in her new job. Bracing for the worst, Elena is stunned by the man she now faces. Gone is the cruel bully who once made her life a nightmare. In his place is someone kind, protective, and determined to make amends. But forgiveness doesn’t come easily. Memories of the past clash with the undeniable chemistry sparking between them, and Elena struggles to reconcile her lingering pain with the man who now treats her like a treasure. Can people truly change? Or is Elliot simply playing another game?

Life has never been good to me. And just when I thought life couldn't get any worse, the Goddess mocked me one more time and gave me a stubborn and difficult Alpha as my fated mate - someone who wanted nothing to do with me. But what did I have to lose? To begin with, I had nothing. So leaving and forgetting all about him should be easy. Well it was, until it wasn't. ¤¤¤¤¤ The book is the second in the Black Shadow Pack Series Spin-off Novels. While the story stands alone, I recommend that you read the series and the spin-off novel Book 1, to gain a better understanding of the characters. BLACK SHADOW PACK SERIES: Book 1 - HE'S MY ALPHA (Completed) Book 2 - THE BETA IS MINE (Completed) Book 3 - LOVING THE GAMMA (Completed) Spin-off Novel Book 1 - IN THE ARMS OF MY ALPHA (Completed) Spin-off Novel Book 2 - THROUGH THE EYES OF MY ALPHA (Completed)

“We’re equals, remember? And you’re the king.” He pulled her onto his lap, his right hand gripping her thigh. Their faces were so close, Violet could see the flecks of gold lingering in his irises. “To me, you’re king, Violet Bellerose.” *** Violet Bellerose lives in a jealous, elven world where everyone from royals to bounty hunters are after her unique ability to amplify magic to incredible heights. When she saves the Storm King from an assassin, Violet earns a post at his side as bodyguard, unaware they have begun to unravel each other’s secrets. Forgotten lovers, turbulent powers, and a political marriage push and pull at king and bodyguard. Their bond must strengthen to withstand court rivalries and the enemies at their borders. With only each other to lean on, they face the Blood King together and labor through every obstacle to make it to their coronation. The Elf King and His Bodyguard is created by Hayden Marlowe, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Emilka Winchester is the envy of Seattle. To the outside world, she is Mrs. Perfect—the beautiful, devoted wife of a powerful man, living a life of marble counters, designer dresses, and carefully curated happiness. But behind closed doors, the silence is deafening. When her husband misses their fifth anniversary, a single crack begins to spread. A missed dinner becomes a trail of lies leading from the rain-soaked streets of Seattle to a hidden hotel room in Chicago. One receipt. One lingering scent of lilies. One scrap of red lace that doesn’t belong to her. The truth shatters everything. But Damian doesn’t ask for forgiveness. He offers a solution. An open marriage. After years of failed IVFs and the weight of a legacy that never came, he no longer wants a wife,just a woman to maintain the illusion while he lives his life elsewhere. Now Emilka must decide: remain the perfect wife in a beautiful lie… or destroy everything to reclaim the truth. Because in a world built on appearances, the truth is the most dangerous thing she can choose.

After taking over from her father, Brielle becomes the first female Alpha to exist. Better yet, the pack she takes over is the second largest in the country. To say she already had her work cut out for her would be an understatement. Since the day she was born, she’s planned for this very day and made sure she would be a force to be reckoned with. Despite being one of the most ruthless, strongest warriors to date, many Alpha’s believe the Shadow Pack need a man in charge. Brielle must assert her dominance and deter those coming to take her title. She was prepared to put up one hell of a fight and eliminate anyone coming to take what was her birthright. It was about time these men knew who was in charge, anyway. Knock a few egos back into place. How complicated could it be? Except, it was about to get more complicated than ever. In the mist of all the chaos, the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack decided to take a shot too. Now this was different from the attempt’s of other Alpha’s because the Blood Moon Pack was the only pack larger than the Shadow Pack and it turns out the Alpha is Brielle’s mate. Will realising Brielle is his mate change the Alpha’s plans to dominant eliminate her leadership? Or has the battle for the Alpha title of the Shadow Pack only just begun? If that’s then case, then as Brielle would say; “let the games begin.” And quite literally, might I add. Oh, damn it, I forgot one more thing. Did I say Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack? Sorry, I meant Alpha’s. More specifically, I meant Alpha River, Alpha Ryker and Alpha Reid.

Alpha Zayn was cursed at birth for his father’s sins. He is powerful but lonely, beautiful yet unloved. A dark shadow follows him everywhere. His inner beast is always hungry, demanding a blood sacrifice every full moon. For years, young women were sent to him, but none ever survived the night until Ariana Whitestone.

Eli lives by structure, routine, and emotional restraint. As a university student, he finds comfort in libraries, late-night study sessions, and the certainty of logic. Feelings, especially complicated ones, are easier to ignore. That is, until Noah quietly becomes part of his world. What begins as shared academic spaces and casual conversations slowly turns into something heavier. Lingering glances, accidental touches, and silences charged with meaning begin to unravel Eli’s sense of control. He doesn’t understand the pull toward Noah or why his body reacts before his mind can catch up. Confused and afraid, Eli retreats, creating distance through denial and miscommunication, even as his feelings deepen. Noah remains patient and steady, offering closeness without pressure. As the tension between them builds, Eli is forced to confront the truth he has spent so long avoiding. Set against the quiet intensity of academia, this slow-burn romance explores longing, identity, and the fear of wanting something that feels both forbidden and inevitable.

Amber Smith moves into a new city and just after she got a dreamy job, she was framed of theft over half a billion dollars but she was given the chance to redeem herself in front of the dangerous but sweet and loving CEO Liam Jamie D. ***** Amber's words end up futile and in other to save her future reputation, Amber accepts the insane deal of being a housemaid to the hot and flirtatious Mr. Liam Jamie D. Assuming it's her 'duty' to have sex and go on date with him as a debtor, little did she know she had fallen for her boss's charm but is the love genuine or just to save her debt accumulated life? Mr. Liam J. D on the other hand doesn't do romance, he believe in statistics and business deals. Liam needs an asset and not a liability. Will Amber's lingering feelings eat her up forever? What happens when her past collides with her before she could find her "happily ever after"?