Painted Scars Neva Altaj Novels & Stories

“I have some trash to take out.” Hailey’s faint smile didn’t reach her eyes as she turned towards her best friend.“Will you help me, Iris?” Iris pouts in confusion, she had no idea what Hailey meant. “ Trash?What are you talking about?” “You can help me take out my trash right?” Hailey remained persistent. “You’re my best friend Iris…you’ll help me, won't you?” What Iris didn’t know was that Hailey wasn’t talking about garbage, she was talking about betrayal! ******************************** Betrayed by the two people she least expected;her husband and her best friend. Trapped in a loveless marriage, poisoned in secret, and discarded like she was nothing. Hailey thought her story had ended in cold blood and regret. But death wasn't the end,it was only the beginning. Reborn with the knowledge and scars of her past life,she has only one mission; take back her life and destroy theirs. This time,she won't be the naive woman who lost everything…she'll be the mastermind pulling the strings.And when revenge comes, it won't just be sweet…it will be devastating! Yet, fate has its own cruel twists, and as Hailey reshapes her destiny, she finds herself caught in a battle of love, betrayal, and power that could cost her everything once more.

At seventeen, Seraphina Cole lost more than her innocence. A medical betrayal stole her future, her womb, and her belief in forever. Years later, she is successful, self-made, and emotionally guarded, determined never to let another man define her worth or control her destiny. Then she meets Aurelius Kingsley. A billionaire CEO with quiet power, iron discipline, and scars that mirror her own. Unlike every man before him, Aurelius doesn’t try to save Seraphina or break her defences. He respects her boundaries. He sees her strength. Instead of demanding her heart, he offers something rare, patience. As attraction deepens into devotion, Seraphina begins to believe that love doesn’t have to hurt to be real. But when her past resurfaces, a devastating secret, explodes into the public eye, and a pregnancy doctors said was impossible puts her life at risk, everything she’s rebuilt begins to unravel. Under ruthless media scrutiny, corporate enemies, and medical danger, Aurelius must prove that love isn’t possession, protection isn’t control, and commitment isn’t fear. Because this time, survival isn’t enough. The Heart That Wouldn’t Surrender is a powerful billionaire romance about trauma, healing, and a woman who learns that even after everything is taken from you, the heart can still choose forever.

A nurse, who has won a prestigious award for her career in the past, reveals a truth before passing away. "I don't have any regrets in this lifetime. The only thing I'm sorry about is the fact that I've helped switched babies for a woman ten years ago. "That woman came from a wealthy family, and yet she intended to show her child tough love. That's why she chose to swap her baby for the one belonging to a pair of beggars living in the slums. "I helped her conceal the entire incident. For that, I feel very sorry for that woman's biological child." At the moment, I'm sitting in a hut amid the rampant weeds. Scars criss-cross over every inch of my body. My gaze remains numb as I quietly apply medication to myself while listening to the news. Suddenly, someone knocks on the front door. When I open it, I see a wealthy-looking woman dressed in fancy clothes. "Ella, I'm here!" She pulls me into a hug, her eyes already red-rimmed. "From today onward, the tough-love parenting is over! Now, I'm going to take you home!" The old radio keeps emitting crackling noises as it repeats the nurse's final words. For a moment, I'm stunned. Then, I push the woman away and conceal my limping leg. My eyes are as hollow as the abyss. "You got the wrong person, ma'am."

Two sisters. Two unstoppable powers. One night that changes everything. Riya Valderama was once a princess of high society, but after her parents’ tragic deaths, she became a sacrificial lamb. To save her younger sister, Raya, she endured years of brutal abuse in a forced marriage to a monster. But on a rain-slicked midnight, the sisters finally break free, fleeing into a storm that nearly claims their lives. Their desperate escape is halted by a high-speed convoy of armored SUVs and gleaming Rolls Royces. Stepping out of the darkness are the Kim brothers: Leon, a cold-blooded CEO with a gaze of steel, and Jin, a high-ranking Military Commander haunted by a tragic past. Moved by the sight of Riya’s scars, Leon cancels a high-stakes raid, choosing instead to become their ultimate protector. Seeking sanctuary in the Kims' elite world, a desperate Raya visits Jin’s suite to offer the only thing she has left to repay their debt: her innocence. In a hypnotic night of raw, alcohol-fueled passion, a secret heir is conceived. But as Raya flees to hide her pregnancy, she discovers her long-term boyfriend has been a cheater all along. When he attempts to force her into a dark fate, the Kim dynasty rises to reclaim what is theirs. Between a jealous military rival, a vengeful ex-husband, and a blossoming double romance, the Valderama sisters must learn that the only thing more dangerous than their past is the possessive love of the men who rescued them.

“You’re just like a sister to me.” Those were the actual words that broke the camel’s back. Not after what just happened. Not after the hot, breathless, soul-shaking night we spent tangled in each other’s arms. I knew from the beginning that Tristan Hayes was a line I shouldn’t cross. He wasn’t just anyone, he was my brother’s best friend. The man I spent years secretly wanting. But that night… we were broken. We had just buried our parents. And the grief was too heavy, too real.... so I begged him to touch me. To make me forget. To fill the silence that death left behind. And he did. He held me like I was something fragile. Kissed me like I was the only thing he needed to breathe. Then left me bleeding with six words that burned deeper than rejection ever could. So, I ran. Away from everything that cost me pain. Now, five years later, I’m back. Fresh from rejecting the mate who abused me. Still carrying the scars of a pup I never got to hold. And the man waiting for me at the airport isn’t my brother. It’s Tristan. And he's not the guy I left behind. He's a biker. An Alpha. And when he looked at me, I knew there was no where else to run to.

Five years ago, Ava Sinclair gave her heart and her innocence to Ryder Kane, her brother’s best friend. The next morning, he shattered her world and walked away. Now she’s back, hunted by the powerful men she dared to expose. When her car crashes on a lonely highway, the last person she expects to save her is the man who once destroyed her.Ryder “Havoc” Kane built his billion-dollar empire on control and cold. But when Ava reappears all bloody, terrified, and still breathtaking, his iron walls start to crack. Protecting her means inviting chaos into his carefully built world. Loving her could burn it all down. Now, Havoc offers her protection in his private estate. The same man she swore to hate is the only one who can keep her alive. But there’s one problem:The man she exposed, Leon Vargas, is not only Havoc’s oldest rival but he’s the reason Havoc left his empire of steel and bikes behind and Vargas will burn the world to destroy them both. As danger closes in, old scars reopen, and Ava realizes that the man she thought was her enemy might be the only one who ever truly loved her.In a world where money and blood buy silence, love is the most dangerous secret of all. And Havoc’s empire might fall when he risks everything for his greatest weakness — his Red.The safest place for Ava… is in Havoc's bed

Let me introduce you to Elena Morgan, the smallest and weakest member of her wolf pack. In most packs, wolves like her are cared for and shielded from harm. However, Elena’s reality was the opposite. Her own pack loathed her, treating her with cruelty rather than kindness. She endured relentless abuse, her body marked with countless scars—reminders of the suffering she had to bear simply for existing. To add to her misery, her parents abandoned the pack and vanished without a trace, leaving her to fend for herself. Amidst her struggles, Elena stumbles upon a shocking revelation—her destined mate. And he is the last person she ever imagined. The Alpha Enter Asher Bennett, the ruthless leader of the Blood Moon pack. His name alone is enough to strike fear into the hearts of many. Known for his dominance, he has conquered and absorbed more packs into his own than any other alpha in the region. His territory is feared by all, a place where no outsider dares to set foot. Despite his brutal reputation, Asher follows one unbreakable principle: never mistreat a woman. It is a rule instilled in him by his mother, one he has honored without fail. But when fate binds him to Elena, he is faced with an earth-shattering discovery—his own pack has violated the very code he swore to uphold. What will Asher do when he realizes that the ones he leads have harmed the one person destined to be his?

April Robinson has just come of age: the time when most werewolves discover their fated mates. But instead of joy, she finds heartbreak. The moment she meets her destined mate, he rejects her. Worse, he imprisons her, tortures her, and strips away everything—and everyone—she holds dear. Shattered but not broken, April escapes, determined to uncover the truth about her lineage. But her journey awakens an ancient enemy that had long lain dormant—one with ties to her bloodline and a thirst for vengeance. Enter Alpha Cassius. Hardened, powerful, and not looking for love, Cassius never expected to fall for April. She’s not his mate, but that doesn’t stop him from choosing her—protecting her, cherishing her, loving her. Just when April starts to believe she’s found peace, fate throws her another curveball: her second chance mate, Jason Parker. Jason, Beta of his pack, has all but given up on love. Betrayed by someone who used him for status, he’s nursing wounds of his own when April stumbles into his territory. The instant connection is undeniable—but with April’s past still haunting her and Jason’s own scars fresh, the path forward is anything but simple. Can two hearts broken by betrayal learn to trust again? Will April choose the bond of fate or the love she’s built from choice? And with enemies closing in from all sides—old and new—will love be enough to survive the coming storm? In a battle between destiny and desire, who will win: the heart or the mate bond?

Seren had always been told she was weak. An Omega, discarded and alone in a world that only saw her as a lesser wolf. After being betrayed by her pack and rejected by the one person she thought she could trust, she escaped into the wilderness, determined to survive on her own. But survival wasn’t enough. Now, with nothing but her wits and broken spirit, Seren has to rebuild her life from the ground up. For years, she’s lived as a lone wolf, trying to forget the scars of her past. But everything changes when she’s forced to confront the truth of her birthright—and the Alpha who’s never stopped searching for her. Kairos, a fierce and powerful leader with a dark past, is determined to claim what’s his. But Seren has a secret—one that could destroy them both if the truth ever comes to light. Kairos’s eyes burn with something more than desire when he sees her again, and though Seren’s heart fights against him, her body betrays her. He’s everything she swore she’d never need. Yet when the threat of war looms and the forces that destroyed her life are closing in, Seren must make a choice—remain alone and lose everything she’s ever fought for, or surrender to a bond that could either heal or destroy her. Her fate lies in the hands of the very man who betrayed her once, and now, he’s her only hope. But can she trust him again? One thing’s certain—Seren will never be the same.

"I told you once, Obi... power is the only truth. Your father taught me that while I bled in his gutters. Now, I’m the one with the power, and you’re the one on your knees." In the cold, ruthless world of the Shadowfang Syndicate, the weak are nothing but collateral. Obi Ashford was born the "runt" of the most powerful mafia dynasty in the country—the Black Eagle. Deaf, sickly, and discarded by his own father, Duke Gideon Ashford, Obi lived as a ghost in a gilded cage, bearing the literal scars of his family's cruelty on his back. But when the empire falls, the ghosts come back to haunt the living. Cassius Okoye has returned. Once a high-born heir himself, he spent ten years as a branded slave in the Ashford household after the Duke razed his family to the ground. Now, he is the Sire of the Syndicate, the man who conquered the Ashfang Dominion in a single night of fire and blood. He came for vengeance. He came to destroy every last Ashford. When Cassius finds Obi trembling in the Hollow Pit, he expects to find a monster's son. Instead, he finds a broken boy who can’t even hear the threats whispered in his ear. Cassius promised to give the Ashford heir hell. He intended to use Obi to break the Duke's legacy, claiming him as a slave, a toy, and a debt to be paid in the bedroom. But as he peels back the layers of Obi’s past, he discovers a horrifying truth: the boy he wants to destroy was never the enemy—he was the first victim.