Mark Twain Library Long Beach Novels & Stories

Alpha Ryan is cursed with a dark hunger that no ritual can cure. For years, witches have kept the savage magic inside him under control until the impossible happens. Zara, the last surviving Eserai, is betrayed by her family and sold to the Alpha whose bloodline destroyed her kind. Her blood is the only thing powerful enough to keep Ryan sane, making her his most valuable possession. Zara vows to fight him every step of the way, but the cold and ruthless Alpha is not the monster she expected. As desire and obsession grow between them, Ryan becomes fiercely protective, while Zara struggles against the dangerous bond pulling her closer to the enemy she swore to hate. But in a world where her blood is priceless and betrayal lurks everywhere, falling for Alpha Ryan may cost Zara far more than her freedom.

Alessandro Mascherano is a strong, serious and very powerful man, he is the Boss of the Italian mafia, he is used to having everything he wants on a silver platter, including women, who are never indifferent to his beauty and attractiveness. Georgia Alcott is the opposite of Alessandro, she had a difficult life, she has grown up without her parents and has had to make her way as a waitress in a restaurant that she doesn't even like, but in which she stays to help her sick grandmother. The only thing Alessandro and Georgia have in common is their pride, and that's why, when their paths cross and they are forced to spend time together, each of their lives will become a hell, all because Alessandro becomes obsessed with that woman and Georgia is not willing to be just another one on Alessandro's long list of women.

The second Zoe reset her life and landed back at the Elite Match Gala, she swapped her token with her half-sister's. No hesitation. Because in her previous life, Connor had married Zoe, but she had died helpless and unloved. It was only on her deathbed that Zoe finally knowed the truth: Connor had loved her sister all along. Now, Connor grabbed the bouquet meant for Vicky, eyes lighting up."Vicky, you're it for me. My one and only." Then he turned to Zoe—and the warmth vanished. "Zoe, you've always been like a little sister to me. Don't even think about stepping into Vicky's place." That hit like a slap. Cold, sharp, humiliating. Everyone thought she was pathetic. But this time, Zoe wouldn’t beg for his love. She would bless them instead—marry the man her father had chosen for her, and never look back.

When Tina Wesley's son dies in a hospital corridor, she sits beside his empty bed. The truth about her son’s death is unraveled with a phone call that arrives and with it, the truth: the fund for the research that could have saved him was not lost. It was redirected deliberately to protect another woman's unborn child. The child her husband chose. Tina made a resolution to complete the work and to save other children suffering out there. She packs her suitcase, leaves divorce papers beside a coffee cup, and disappears. Three years later she is Dr. Tina, the pediatric specialist whose research has saved sixty thousand children. She has built a new life out of the ruins of the old one, stone by careful stone. Then her ex-husband walks through the doors of her hospital with his mistress and a sick child in their arms. And the child has the same disease as Sam. Would she forgive her ex-husband?

Astoria Winters lost everything on one mundane weekday. The man she loved for the last five years betrayed her and cast out of the only place she had come to call ‘home’. She finds herself with nowhere to go…until a mysterious man comes to take her to her estranged mother, who is apparently getting remarried. And just like that, she is thrust into a world that she never knew existed outside novels. Viktor Romero is the Alpha heir of the Black Moon Pack. Polite but detached, controlled but cunning, he has spent his life reining the beast inside him. Over the years, he has come to believe that there wasn’t anyone fated waiting for him. And he was okay with that. That is until Astoria walked into his life. She was human and forbidden because she was his step-sister by marriage. A story of fated mates, forbidden desire, and a love powerful enough to challenge the moon itself.

Daisy Truman's childhood crush, Corey Sager, threatened to jump off a building on our wedding day. She ignored him and went ahead with our wedding. Daisy started to panic when he leaped off the building. From then onward, Daisy moved into a church and became a pious person everyone knew of. She aborted our baby and made me kneel in confession to repent for this so-called sin. I tried to escape, but she ordered my legs to be broken and even used my family to threaten me. I lived a life of misery and torture. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to my wedding day. This time, I would push her into Corey's arms. As for me, it was my turn to become the love that she lost.

My husband was on a business trip when his plane crashed, leaving a final message. He said he didn’t want to hold me back and wanted me to terminate the pregnancy and start over. I couldn’t stop crying. That’s when I heard my son’s voice from inside me. “Mom, stop crying. Dad isn’t dead at all. “He’s just scum. Behind your back, he’s running off with his true love. They’ve eloped abroad for their honeymoon. “I know where his little stash is. While he’s not back yet, let’s grab the money and disappear. We’re set for life!”

Cecilia Jones kept a forgiveness notebook. Six months ago, on Cecilia's birthday, Jeff Lawrence abandoned her to meet Yvonne Smith. It was the 93rd time she’d forgiven him. Three months prior, when Yvonne mentioned she was allergic to cat dander, Jeff gave away the cat Cecilia had raised for years. Cecilia forgave him for the 94th time. One month ago, Jeff got drunk and woke up in the same bed as Yvonne. He insisted that nothing had happened and accused Cecilia of having a dirty mind. Cecilia forgave him for the 95th time.

*It was never supposed to be love… yet my heart chose you anyway.* Viren Rai doesn’t give his heart away. A powerful CEO and the only heir to Rai Bahadur’s empire, he is known for his cold decisions and untouchable charm. Love is a distraction he cannot afford—and a risk he refuses to take. Priya Sharma has never had the privilege of choice. Burdened by her father’s failing health and her family’s endless financial struggles, she is fighting a battle she cannot win alone. Strong yet vulnerable, she hides her pain behind quiet determination. Until Viren steps in with an offer that changes everything. **A contract marriage. One year. No emotions. No strings attached.** In return, he will take care of her problems. It was supposed to be simple. But somewhere between shared silences, unspoken care, and stolen glances, something shifts. The distance between them begins to fade… and hearts that were meant to stay guarded start to feel. He begins to protect her. She begins to trust him. And neither of them realizes when the contract turns into something real. But every deal has an ending. As their one year comes to a close, reality forces them apart. Pride, fear, and unspoken love stand between them. When the truth finally surfaces— will they walk away from each other… or admit what they’ve been denying all along? Because sometimes, even in a contract… **a heart doesn’t follow the rules.**

"I, Conrad Alaric, Alpha of the Shadow pack, break every bond that I share with you, and on this day reject you as my mate." Hearing his words caused my eyes to shut instantly, with the whimpering that went inside of me. My wolf was sad. But , it was that day I decided to take the change, the day I put an end to begging for his love. "And what makes you think that I will come back to you so easily?" "Because... Because I think I'm deeply in love with you now, Katherine."