Magnolia Parks Series Novels & Stories

I could imagine Dianne beside him, tall and perfect, the same woman he defended back then with such fury, the woman who helped break my world apart. If I remembered right, Renz would be thirty-two now. A man in his prime. Likely a father. Certainly a husband. And me? I had nothing but memories, and a hollow ache in my chest. Two hours into the drive, I saw the sign. "Welcome to Magnolia Resort." The place had grown, larger, grander. The vines that once crept along the gate had been trimmed into perfection. The modern entrance gleamed beneath the light rain. I parked near the side, my heartbeat quickening as I stepped out.

I park the car near the park Giselle visits every day. Stepping out, I slowly walk toward the tall trees that border the path. Just as I’m about to emerge from behind them, a familiar scent reaches me—magnolia, peony, and amberwood—soft and unforgettable. It’s her. It’s Giselle.

* Alex Hamilton * The gates of Magnolia Manor loomed like something out of another world, black iron laced with gold trim, swinging open with cold mechanical precision as I approached. The drive up was lined with perfectly manicured hedges and pale white magnolia trees in full bloom, their petals like snow under the setting sun. I'd been here once before, years ago, as a child with my father, but back then it had felt like stepping into a dream. Now, it felt more like a trap.

"You. Hope. This house. This life. I'd burn everything down to protect what we've built." I smiled despite myself. "Let's maybe not burn anything down. Not yet." "Tomorrow. After the hearing." He kissed me again. "Then we burn it down." I laughed, and the sound pushed back the darkness in the room. Not all of it. But enough. ————————————————————————————— The Magnolia Lane Community Center was a squat building at the entrance to the neighborhood, the kind of place that hosted bingo nights and holiday parties and the occasional wedding reception. I'd driven past it a dozen times without really seeing it. Tonight, it felt like a courthouse.

I chuckle, "Don't worry about it, Amelia, I know that you don't mean anything maliciously. Our life is different than how we expected it, but it's still good. Just like the life you and Maven have built here at the Renegade Pack is good." She smiles as she nods, "Yes, thank you for understanding." I chuckle as she stands up and goes to her mate. She's always so scared about hurting others' feelings, or maybe it's just my feelings, I'm not sure. She just always seems so cautious with her words, like she's trying to make sure that they are perfect. Maggie, the head housekeeper at the Renegade Pack and the woman that Magnolia was named after, walks into the room with a smile on her face. All th

Rex announced after his conversation with Fafnir concluded, which only took seconds. “Well…spill it,” Marcia said a little over eagerly and loudly, even Markus’s seemed to perk up, he was sure he was about to witness another piece of unbelievable magic he had only begun to see when he joined the inner circle of the emperor, magics only being possible by the Magnus family. He was so sure nothing was able to be done now, Ulna was on the precipice of fully gone now and yet, even now, Rex claimed he may be able to save the skylark, he was doubtful even Rector would have tried something this far along.

“Magic always comes with a price.” “What price, Leif?” Julian asked, slowing his steps. Leif hesitated, then answered in a low voice. “I heard the Magnolia have been working toward fulfilling the prophecy of Argus Panoptes,” he said. “If they succeed… if they awaken that power… then we’ll have no choice but to destroy the Magnolia pack.” He exhaled heavily, the weight of it hanging in the forest air. “So stay away from trouble, brother. Stay away from her.”

At least, they should come to try and see for themselves. At the mention of the beautiful things a little girl like her would love, she already gave in. Now at least the big sister has agreed to follow them, at least on the outside. They left the restaurant and headed to the parking lot. A few minutes later, they were all in the car and Magnolia drove out of the premises. * * * 3 hours later, they drove into the woods along a man-made neat path. "Miss Maggie, your home is in the woods?" Beatrix couldn't help but ask.

- TWO WEEKS BEFORE - “Your Grace.” Magnolia jumped in surprise. The voice came from the shadows of the trees, it sounded quite close, but she could not see anyone. Killian had warned her not to walk in these woods alone, but she really needed some time away from everyone. She has not been able to be alone since they had met with the Phoenix. Magnolia’s flames ignited. “Who goes there?” “It’s me, Magnolia.” Laya walked from behind a tree into the beams of the afternoon sun that filtered through the branches.

Fanny was kept in the basement and someone would go fetch her after the luna ceremony and the merge. But what was the most important right now was the ceremony and Poppy's dads and brother and his two mates were coming and telling me that Magnolia was waiting for my mates at the forest line. She would open a portal that would take them here without walking in the forest, something about Poppy's dress. I don't get it, it's just a dress anyway..