Next To Never

“Three wives. Three funerals. And now… I’m his fourth bride.” Everyone says Dominic Sterling is cursed. His first three wives died mysteriously, one after the other. I never planned to be his next bride, but with my family drowning in debt, I had no choice. Now I’m trapped in his mansion, surrounded by secrets I don’t understand. The halls feel haunted by the women who came before me, the staff watch me too closely, and Dominic himself… he’s a man I can’t figure out. Cold one moment, protective the next. And just when my heart starts betraying me, falling for him, I realize the past isn’t as buried as I thought. Someone is watching me. Someone wants me gone. If I don’t uncover the truth soon, I’ll become the next Sterling bride to meet her funeral.

Five years into my marriage to Dante Moretti, the Don of the Chicago Outfit, the entire underworld knew he loved me more than life itself. He’d had a violin—for me—tattooed right next to his family crest, a symbol of loyalty that could never be erased. Until I got the photo from his mistress. A cocktail waitress, sprawled naked in his arms, her skin marred by the dark bruises of rough sex. She had scrawled her name right next to the violin he’d gotten for me. And my husband had let her. "Dante says only being inside me makes him feel like a man anymore. You can’t even get him hard anymore, can you, sweet Alessia? Maybe it’s time to step aside." I didn't reply. I just made a single call. “I need a new identity. And a plane ticket out.”

Aricka Evangelista, a red-haired girl with a pair of pitch-black eyes, never knew that one day she'll be chased to death by something that kills and possesses the body of those who have seen a certain book, the Death of God. The book contains secrets of the light and the dark and according to the myth, everyone who touched and read it will be taken by an unknown force and their body will be used to also kill others who will next take possession of the book. The more she runs, the more people are affected, and the more they chase her, the more she discovers.

Emily Grey never expected her first day at the prestigious school to start like this. Waking up next to a stranger, she thought it was a mistake she could forget. But when she discovers who he really is, she realizes the whole world is now watching her every move. Julian Blackwell,handsome, untouchable, and impossibly rich has set his eyes on her. And Emily knows better than to fall for him. One look. One mistake. And suddenly, nothing will ever be the same.

Six years after marrying Rhiannon Westley, she takes a lover. He's like a puppy—timid and clingy. He flinches at the slightest raised voice, so Rhiannon never loses her temper in front of him. But when he acts up in front of me, Rhiannon snaps. She's furious, and she gives him a harsh scolding. The next day, he sends me a photo of his neck covered in red marks. "Zane, Ms. Westley is so fierce..."

Most don't believe in magic. witches, wizards, magical creatures and hidden worlds? The concept is insane. utterly insane. Raina firmly believed that to the point she doubted her own eyes, let alone that she herself could ever do such incredible things. but once she's swept into Davon's world, the mysterious and sensuous man opens her mind to things and feelings she'd never known. But are these feelings real? Or is she merely the next victim of him hidden agenda?

When the Werewolf King emerges from the shadows, Lisa’s ordinary world shatters. His presence, both magnetic and menacing, marks her descent into a realm she never knew existed. Now trapped in his kingdom where pack law reigns supreme, Lisa faces an impossible choice: become his bride and bear the next heir to his throne, or watch as everything she loves is destroyed. But as she uncovers the dark secrets of the pack, Lisa realizes there may be more to fear than the King himself.

Emily Watson is the next heiress to a multi-billionaire industry company. Instead of taking her fortune and next step as royalty, she let it all go for a man she fell in love with for 7 years. Little did she know that the 3 years of her marriage was going to be cold and distant. Her husband has never touched her since that night, her mother-in-law hates her. Her life was miserable. Yet, she linger on because she loves him. Even if she watched him from a distance, it was fine with her for he was her every breath. Until one day he divorce her to be with the woman he loves. What's this? The woman is pregnant. Heartbroken she left her husband and the home she had called for so many years. 6 months later she showed up at the biggest and grandest Watson's ball. There Emily stood, the next heiress to the multi trillionaire of the century. Her ex-husband, Joshua MacClare was shocked that the woman he have divorce have made him yearend for her. His heart was beating rapidly for her, his eyes followed her every movement, his breathing was unsteady as she was close to him. He gulped as he wanted her. Wanted her as his wife again. "We're divorced," said Emily. "No, we're not," said Joshua. "Huh?" questioned Emily. Joshua smiled at her and said, "On that night, a rainy night if you have forgotten, the documents were destroyed." "What?" asked Emily. "You see, you threw our divorce paper into the stormy rain. So, the rain have washed away our prints." Emily's breath quickened. "So, since there is no legible signatures on the divorce paper, we're never divorce." Emily backed away from him. Joshua walked over to her and said, "You're still my wife."

I never though that falling in love with Anthony Johnson would cause my heart this much pain. We’ve been chosen mates for the last five years! Today on my twenty first birthday at the pack party standing next to me I hear my chosen mate stand. His voice comes out strong. He pushes his chair back staring out into the crowd as a girl comes to view his wolf screams” MATE”. Her wolf replies “MATE” my world shatters and my legs shake and I fall down. My friends quickly rush to my side and my stomach twist and realization hits me. You can never choose in this life and this is my punishment thinking I can choose when I've never had a choice. Why me Moon Goodess what have I done to deserve this I cry out.

Summer’s RoadMy name is Ian Memmer, and I've been keeping something from my best friend Summer Quinn for years. I'm in love with her. She breaks my heart over and over, day after day, but I love her. We grew up next door to one another. She's kind and beautifully broken, and she has no idea how I feel. Because of her depression, and since she never showed any signs she felt the same, I've kept silent. Tormented. Wanting her. Becoming the playboy everyone views. I'm her rock. She needs me. I fear she's keeping secrets from me, too. Then a passionate moment between us changes everything, gives me hope. Yet the guy she's been dating wants to take their relationship to the next level.Winter’s PathMy name is Matt Holcomb, and I'm the good guy. The boy next door. I'm the safe bet and I always do the right thing. Then one night two years ago, I made a terrible mistake that caused irreparable damage, and the guilt is killing me. If I'm ever to make the leap and find love again, the woman would have to be perfect. She can't disrupt my carefully constructed control. I met my best friend Jenny Winter as a teenager and have loved her ever since. She's gorgeous and talented. Her voice could make angels weep. Yet she chose someone else and I swore I'd never fall for her again. Until something happens between us and passion ignites.Seasmoke Friends is created by Kelly Moran, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.