Painful Soul

Welcome back to Clifton Heights. Sheriff Chris Baker and Father Ward meet for a Saturday morning breakfast at The Skylark Diner to once again commiserate over the weird and terrifying secrets surrounding their town. Sheriff Baker shares with Father Ward the story of a journal discovered in the ruins of what was once an elaborate koi pond and flower garden, which regales a tale of regret, buried pain, and unfulfilled debt: “Sophan” – Jake Burns has always been a bit...off. Rude, awkward, sometimes brutish, he's tolerated by Nate Slocum and his friends because he hits a mean line drive, and because they all know but don't discuss the abuse he faces at the hands of his troubled father, a Vietnam veteran consumed by his demons. But Jake is suffering something far worse than domestic abuse, and when Nate discovers what, he faces an impossible choice: help Jake and put himself in the path of evil, or abandon him, only to damn himself in the process. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

"Is my Seraphina afraid of me? " She pressed her shivering naked body more against the wall to prevent getting touched by the bare skin of the owner of that raspily husky voice . "So you don't want me to touch you? But you had no problem getting touched by him, Seraphina? " Her eyes filled with tears hearing his words because her mind immediately recalled the face of her friend and how brutally he had killed him. "Then why are you afraid of getting touched by me, Princess?" She unlatched her lashes and immediately tried to free herself from him but her body turned into ice when he pinned her wrists against the wall and pressed his drenched body against her. "Hadn't I fucking warned you to stay away from him? But no, my little princess wanted to defy me? And look, her defiance made me to take another life, " A soul quivering smirk crept on his lips by watching the terror emerging into her alluring azure eyes . "So ,I guess now we have to make her obey me and for that, I have a very precious way to teach her, " His hand roamed over her naked skin. "A forbidden way which will hurt my princess a lot, " He squeezed her soft bosoms, making her whimper. "But the more pain she will feel, the more pleasure she is going to get through that way, " He chuckled when he found her struggling, like a kitten. "The more you will fight it, the more it's going to hurt, Princess," His hand went down to her lower abdomen And her blood drenched from her body, feeling his knuckles grazing against her lower region tenderly. "You're mine," His hand went down more to taint her purity. "You belong to Arzal Darius Grayson, Sera." *DARK ROMANCE*

Their naked bodies were shipping against each other. Her sapphire glossy orbs were staring at his brown eyes. "I love you, Cia. I love you to the extent that I will end and taint that life which would even think about taking you away from me," The firmness of his words were evident in his darkened eyes. "Even if it's your life," he rasped against her mouth. They both knew his love was irrational, an obsession for her. They loved each other enough, especially for her to let his love taint her existence. "I love you, Zale," And her words were enough to make him lose everything in her. She beautifully moaned his name as soon his warmth engulfed her deepest depth which made both of them close their eyes in pleasure, but they had never in their worst ever thought that their eyes would have to witness that thing which their future had stored for them. His deep brown orbs were staring at her who was clad in a beautiful white gown. Her sapphire orbs were downcast as she was standing at the altar but the irony was she was not his bride but his brother's. "Do you, Mr Blake Alcazar, take Miss Celia Reyes as your lawfully wedded wife?" The priest's voice echoed, causing him to fist his palm and her heart to turn numb. "I do," A tear slipped from her eyes, hearing that person's answer who was standing in front of her and feeling those brown eyes penetrating her soul. "Do you, Miss Celia Reyes, take Mr Blake Alcazar as your lawfully wedded husband?" Those deep brown eyes turned predacious and her answer turned them voraciously vicious. "I do," she answered. An answer which sealed two destinies, which shattered two hearts and TAINTED two souls.

Katniss Redwood was an 18-year-old rogue shewolf who was unaware of her true origin. She was petite and fragile, with long black hair that made her large emerald-green eyes stand out. Alexander was the 23-year-old Alpha of the Black Stone Pack. He was strong, athletic and tall, with blond hair and eyes as blue as a summer sky. Michael was the Black Stone Pack Beta. Unlike the Alpha, his best friend, he had dark brown hair and hazel eyes, but he was tall and athletic like his alpha. He was 22 years old. Katniss enters the Black Stone Pack when fleeing from rogues who were chasing her with bad intentions. She didn\'t imagine that her whole life would change. Alexander is her mate, and she ends up becoming the Luna of the pack. Michael was in love with Alexander from a young age, but never revealed his feelings to his friend. Can the love of the three survive the strange circumstance that keeps them together?

"Of all people, why you?" His words were like daggers, piercing through the depths of my soul, shredding my heart into pieces. He ran his fingers through his messy, sexy-looking hair, cursing under his breath a couple of times. Disappointment, anger, and disbelief radiated from his aura. "But why, Adrian?" I asked, my voice breaking. Was I too ugly or undesirable for him to show this level of contempt for having me as his mate? "Isn't it obvious? I don't want you. I need a strong Luna by my side, and your sister, being a shifter, is an obvious choice. I can't love a weak, regular-looking she-wolf like you. Don't you understand? This mateship is a mistake. I can't be mated with you. It's shameful. You will only embarrass me." ******************* Aria Williams was devastated when her mate, Adrian Patterson, rejected her in favor of her sister, Cassie. Heartbroken, she decided to live as a rogue. For two years, she had learned to put everything behind her and move on with her life. But one night changed everything, prompting her to look back and confront the one person she had been running away from. Is she ready to confront the ghosts of her past? More so, is she ready to claim the destiny that the Moon Goddess has bestowed upon her?

As usual... Same answer to the same question asked. Cold, hard, dull and dry and cracked just like arid lands... How are you, however, is a normal question. The answer given in return is usually "I'm fine" and it is a clear answer that will follow. After that, the conversation would go away, but the young man's voice froze both the time and the atmosphere with his answer. The conversation was limited to a few short words, and that was what he wanted anyway...

Life is unpredictable. The people whom we deem to be closer to us may not be one. The people whom we think love us may not love us. Laya, who is twenty-two years old, has high ambitions. But they were shattered when she heard that she was going to get married. No one asked her opinion or cared about it. Shattered. She wondered if her parents were alive. But sadly, there were no if’s and maybe in life. But she felt blessed when she got married to Rahul Ravi Raj, a billionaire. He is sinfully handsome, whenever he was close to her, butterflies fluttered all over her body. And he never left a chance to tease her sexually. When she thought her married life would be glad for him, fate had its last laugh. He left her for business for three months, with his mother. And his mother who was pressuring Laya to get pregnant got to know they didn’t consummate their marriage. Taking her son's absence as the chance, she tortured her. Laya almost died because of her physical abuse. By the time, Rahul returned she was in the hospital. Seeing her in that state, he realized whatever positive and budding feelings she had for him were dead. Now, all she had for him were hate and fear. But little did Laya not know was her marriage wasn’t a flash marriage or an arranged marriage. Rahul married her for his reasons. And one of the biggest reasons for marrying her was to save her from dangers. Can he win back her love for him? Can he save her if she goes away from him? What were his reasons for him to marry her?

Evelyn had been the Luna of the Red Stone Pack for the past two years. An arranged marriage of power to protect her father’s pack, she didn’t for one moment expect to develop feelings for the cold Alpha King. But in the two years ruling by his side, she sees a warmth to Reuben that he keeps hidden. After a night of passion that Reuben makes clear to Evelyn was a mistake, she finds out she is pregnant with the longed future for the ruling pack. However Evelyn’s happiness at the news is short lived when the love of Reuben’s life returns only just surviving the murder of her own pack. Evelyn soon realises that Vicky isn’t as innocent as she makes out and doesn’t take long for her to get her claws into Reuben. After confronting his ex, Evelyn is a victim of a deliberate attempt to harm her child. She must make a decision to protect the pack’s future from Vicky and the baby’s own father. But will the cold ruthless Alpha King refuse to let her go so easily? Will he be responsible for the brutal attack on her family pack, leaving Evelyn’s soul broken? Has Evelyn finally seen Reuben for what he is, beyond salvation…

Cassandra Keller lived in a small pack and ran a small clinic with her friend. When the hunting festival came, she had nothing to expect. Because she didn't have a wolf soul. She lost her wolf five years ago in the calamity. That morning, she was called by the Alpha for an emergency. She went there in no time only to find the patient to be the son of their Alpha King. Not only was he the Alpha King, but also her mate. And her nightmare.

Sadie: Unrequited love is a b*tch, isn't it? I have been in love with Alec for as long as I can remember, but he never felt the same way. To him, I was just his sister's annoying best friend. I was sure he'd be my mate, but the moon goddess played a cruel joke on me because Alec found his mate, and it wasn't me. I thought nothing could be worse than seeing the man you're in love with happy with someone else. I was wrong. It took just one night for my life to change. Everyone turned against me. I was shamed, shunned, and tortured for a crime I didn't commit. As if that wasn't enough, Alec banished me, a fate that was worse than death. With a broken heart and soul, I left, vowing never to cross paths with him again. Alec: With a curse hanging over my pack and time running out, I had my hands full. I thought nothing could be more difficult than trying to lift a f*cking curse but I was wrong. It wasn't as hard as trying to convince a woman you hurt deeply to forgive you. Sadie despises me and wants nothing to do with me or my pack. Not after the sh*t we put her through. I want a chance at redemption, but will she ever forgive me? Will she ever let go of the pain I put her through? Turns out the woman I cruelly mistreated is not only my second chance mate but also the key to breaking the curse.