Martha Speaks Alice

My husband's adopted sister invited me out to dinner, and while we were eating, disaster struck—a violent earthquake shook the ground beneath us. My husband, a firefighter, rushed to the scene as quickly as he could. But fate had a cruel plan for us. We were trapped beneath a massive boulder, unable to move, and the rescuers could only save one of us. He made his choice. He chose her—the adopted sister who had always been frail and sickly—over me, his wife, who was five months pregnant with his child. I begged him, pleaded with him to save me. But he turned his back on me. The boulder pressed harder, and I felt the sickening crack of my arm breaking. He didn't even flinch. "Alice has always been weak," he said coldly. "If I leave her here, she'll die." But when I died, he lost his mind.

At the sacred Moonfire Festival, Sera Vane suffers a betrayal that shatters her life and drives her from her pack in shame. In a moment of heartbreak and desperation, she disguises herself and takes part in a secret ritual meant for the Alpha and it changes her fate forever. No one speaks of what happens during the Moonfire Ritual. But five years later, the consequences have returned with sera as she returns to Crimson Hollow with a young son James whose striking resemblance to Alpha Aldric Thorne sparks whispers throughout the pack. Her unexpected reappearance threatens to disrupt the carefully guarded hierarchy, especially for those who once cast her out, and for the Alpha himself, who remains unaware of the truth behind that fateful night. Bound by duty Aldric agrees to Sera’s bold demand: a union that secures her son’s place… but keeps their hearts locked away. As political tensions rise and enemies close in, Sera must navigate a dangerous game of power, betrayal, and buried emotions. In a world where bloodlines determine destiny and love is both a weapon and a weakness, Sera must rise from the ashes of her past to protect her child, uncover the truth, and claim the strength she never knew she had.

“This wedding is going to destroy the lives of those involved, so why don’t you call it off before it is too late?” She finally speaks up looking me dead in the eyes after hesitating for a while “Call it off?” I scoff as I shake my head no one really understands how badly I want this to end, but I am just so helpless because a lot is at stake for me “You are in the best position to call this wedding off, because if Eden tries it, she has to risk getting disowned by her father so I really hope you can put her out of her misery because she doesn’t deserve any of this at all” she concludes and I scoff again “Well, it’s not like you can put your best friend out of her misery by substituting her as the bride, so stop building castles in the air by thinking you call of the marriage alliance that means so much to both the Kings and the Westons” I advice her “if you can’t do it…” she says clenching her fists “ …I assure you that I will” she says in a resolute voice before storming out of my presence

In my second year running the company, my high school class monitor suddenly started tagging me nonstop in the group chat. [Alice, Vivian was only joking with you back then. Why won't you come to her party? Are you trying to make her feel guilty?] I didn't understand what was going on. Only after reading the messages did I realize that our class beauty, Vivian Spencer, had recently found her biological parents—and today, she had thrown a party to announce it to the world. Me: [I'm busy.] I had no intention of attending a party hosted by someone who used to bully me. But my answer didn't shut them up. Instead, it stirred up even more absurd speculation. [Don't tell me you're doing some kind of labor job and can't take leave?] [We're all former classmates. If you show up, I'll give you sixty dollars. That should cover two days of your salary.] Vivian chimed in as well. [Alice, it was just a joke back then. And I'd already dropped out by then. Why can't you let it go?] I stared at her message for a long moment before typing: [Only trash would call bullying a joke.] The group exploded instantly. [Vivian's no trash! She's a wealthy heiress. She's not even in the same league as you. Poor people really love to nitpick.] Vivian, ever the hypocrite, tried to smooth things over. [No matter what, today marks a new beginning for me. I hope you'll come to witness it. [We're classmates, after all. I don't hold it against you for forcing me to drop out. If you're short on money, I can even ask my dad to arrange a job for you.] Then she sent a screenshot of her chat with her father. When I saw her father's profile picture, I froze. Wasn't that the same profile picture as my freeloading dad? But I look seventy percent like my mom—it's impossible for me to be a fake daughter. And Vivian was two months younger than me. I let out a laugh. "Alright, I'll definitely attend your recognition party."

On our fifth wedding anniversary, my husband cancels a 100-million-dollar business deal to take me on vacation. While we're together, breathless and intimate, I'm about to tell him the news that our IVF finally succeeded when he answers his phone. His Valerian flows, smooth and effortless. "Of course I'm coming to tomorrow's prenatal checkup. That's our baby." "But won't your barren wife get jealous?" The woman on the other end speaks with a sultry lilt. Ethan Shaw traces his tongue along my neck as he responds, "What she doesn't know won't hurt her." My mind went blank, like lightning striking too close. I stuff the pregnancy report back into my pocket without thinking. "Honey, who's that?" Ethan pulls me close by the waist. "Just a business partner in Valeria. Time difference, that's why they're calling now..." I can't process the rest of his words. Ethan doesn't know I understand Valerian. Since he's clearly not excited about our child, I'll make sure this baby grows up without him as a father.

My name is Freya, I'm 16 but will be turning 17 in a few weeks, I'm a Junior at Belleview High, I'm part of the art club along with the photography club, I have straight A's which has always made my dad proud of me. I am finally out of that awkward teenage stage where my head was to big for my body, plus I'm no longer built like a little boy. Andrew is 17, 6 foot at least, with dark chocolate brown hair, the most piercing blue eyes i have ever seen in my life, with a strong jaw and the most perfect tan pink lush lips that I would love to crash my own against, he's built like a God and just his eyes can send a shiver down my spine. Everything about him makes my insides tense. He pushes me against a wall, pinning me to it while holding my hands above my head, his deep voice vibrating through my chest as he speaks with our closeness. Does he want me the way I want him? Can we hide what happens between us from our parent? I will risk it all for him. Will he do the same for me?

The day before Henry Baker and I are supposed to marry, my mother sedates me. She makes my twin sister marry Henry instead. A few years later, the company Henry established turns into a thriving empire. My sister, Diana Halliwell, flourishes with him. While I was at the lowest point in my life, my childhood friend, Jorge Ward, proposed. It's only after marriage that I realize he's worthless. Diana and Henry attend various parties. They enjoy delicious food and wear expensive clothes. Meanwhile, I end up exhausted after having to cook and clean for my family. One night, Mom speaks softly to Jorge when she thinks I've fallen asleep. "I was worried she would find out the truth about what happened back then, but it seems she's too dumb to notice anything." Jorge laughs. "You're a genius, Erica. You laced Laura's water with sleeping pills so Diana could marry Henry on her behalf. I'm glad to see how happy Diana is now." Mom sighs. "I just feel bad for you. You've always liked Diana, yet you're forced to live with a wash-out like Laura…"

His dark eyes roved her body from head to toe as he sized her up. The intent in them speaks volumes of her ruination. "Strip!" She stiffened and blinked in a haze of raw fear as he prowled towards her. Involuntarily she took a step back then another and another all the while keeping her fear-filled eyes fixed on him before her back touched the wall. She flinched and the very next second he was looming over her like a crazed beast. He rested his arm on the wall above her head and leaned down peering at her big hazel hues with that evil smirk dancing on his sinful lips. "Are you afraid, human?" His deep raspy voice and his aura were ominously dark and dominant that her knees buckled. Her chin jutted out in a fearful tact as she tried not to cry in front of her tormentor. His smoldering eyes fell on his favorite items, her trembling plump lips, and quivering chin. "Strip for me Ava or else," He edged closer as his hot raspy breath caressed the shell of her ear like the whisper of death as he continued. "I will not hesitate to tear your clothes!" He growled, animalistically.

During a turf war, I took a bullet for Daniel Wilson. When I woke up in the family hospital after three years in a coma, I discovered that Eva, the showgirl I'd saved from a black market auction, had usurped my place in the Wilson family. My husband Daniel, the family's Underboss, saw that I was awake, and his first words to me were: "The entire underworld recognizes Eva as the woman by my side now. Why did you have to wake up at a time like this?" "Alice and I both love her. She's the one who's been by our side these past three years. And you? You've just been a body in a hospital bed, absent from our lives." "We're through, Sarah." Watching the man I once loved so deeply speak such heartless words, I didn't put up a fight. I simply nodded and gave him what he wanted. But he had no idea the Wilson family was about to burn to the ground.

Xavier Starkborns, the most dangerous and the most powerful creature all over the globe. He can do anything, he can have anything. He doesn't show mercy to anyone, he is rude and arrogant and unimaginably hot. But what happens when an ordinary human girl, who doesn't like to be controlled, crosses his path? Tiny excerpt:-"You think I'm a monster, you're right actually." He speaks as he immediately leaves one arm of mine and his hand travels straight to my face, to keep it from moving.Panic is on its way to crash on me as I'm trying my best to distance myself from him, but he is not moving even slightest.I reflexively tried to push him away by the trembling arm of mine but he, in a split second, pushed his body to mine, killing every distance we had. My breathing starts to become heavier as I struggle even harder to get out of his grip."I should really show you what monsters do." He says while he starts to kiss on my neck and harshly sucking at a particular area.Well, did I mention that Xavier Starkborns is the Vampire King?And is that human girl really ordinary?