Practically Thesaurus

Knox advanced slowly toward her as she pressed herself against the wall. He seized her hair, and yánked it forcefully which caused her head to snap back. At the same time, he snaked his hand underneath her skirt, and palmed her mound possessively through her panties. “This is mine…ours,” he said, staring at Killian, his twin brother who gave a curt nod. Zena glared at him and her eyes welled up with angry tèars. However, she remained silent. "I can practically see the anger burning inside you," Knox smirked, unfazed. His grip tightened páinfully, causing her to whîmper…as tears streamed down her cheeks. "That's it, Zena, let your tears flow. Let the ráge consume you, knowing that the man you despîse is about to take control of your body, and there's nothing you can do to stop it," he táunted. Zena felt a powerful urge to spit at the ruthléss Alpha who had taken everything from her. But, it took every ounce of her self-control she had to resist. “I hate you so much," she hissed, her words drippîng with vènom. Knox leaned closer, his cheeks touching hers, “I know,” he whispered, "Don’t ever stop." . . . The Skull Rogues have never relented when it came to attacking The Blue Moon Kingdom—and they were not going to stop until they had successful killed alpha Knox and alpha Kylian, the twin alpha princes. However, things take a drastic shift when Zena, the leader of the Rogues, is captured and delivered into the hands of her enemies. And the twin alpha princes were hell–bent on exacting their revenge upon her in a hundred–fold. But fate had other plans in store for them.

His face was inches from mine. His breath ghosted over my lips—warm, whiskey-scented from dinner and my body remembered him instantly: the way he’d pinned my wrists, the slow grind of his hips, the filthy things he’d growled in my ear while I came apart beneath him. He leaned in. I felt the pull—like gravity, like hunger. My lips parted on instinct. Just one more inch and we’d be kissing again, messy and desperate, right here in his car like teenagers who couldn’t wait. But reality crashed in. I jerked back, pressing myself against the door. “We can’t.” His jaw ticked. “Why not?” "Because I practically raised you.” My voice shook. “Because your mom is my best friend and I'm way older than you..." "I don't care" he bit out, shocking me even further. "I’ve wanted you since I was old enough to know what wanting meant. And don’t pretend like you don't feel something too." Sophie helped raise him. She was there for homework, school runs, and the lonely years when his parents were too busy. To her, he was just her best friend’s son. Years later, she catches her husband cheating on their anniversary and loses her unborn child due to the shock, Sophie spends the night with a stranger that she never expects to see again. But the stranger is Antonio — the boy she once helped raise. Now he’s all grown up. Powerful. Successful. And off limits. She manages to escape from him — so she thinks — until days later, she gets hired in a fashion company where Antonio is the CEO.

They say fated mates are sacred, practically unbreakable. But Aiden wasn’t mine, and I wasn’t his. That didn’t stop me from loving him like he was the last man left in this cursed world. He swore he didn’t need a bond to love me. Said it was pure. Said he’d love me unconditionally. Said he’d choose me—always. But now he’s in our bed, moaning another woman’s name like a prayer. Wearing a forbidden pendant laced in black magic—magic strong enough to block the mate bond so I wouldn’t feel the betrayal. Too late, Aiden. I felt it. Like a dagger slicing straight through my soul. And just as I hit rock bottom, he shows up. A young, enigmatic Alpha—feared, powerful, far too young for me. Alpha Damon. He’s asking questions about illegal mate bond magic. Magic my husband used to cheat without consequences. Magic that ties back to a dark conspiracy. Turns out, my perfect little marriage is just the rotten tip of a magic-smuggling empire. Damon wants my help. Needs me close. Says I’m the only one who knows enough to crack this wide open. But every time he says my name, something in me stirs, something I swore was long dead. I shouldn’t want him. I couldn't him. He’s too young. Too dangerous. Too…everything. But goddess help me—he’s the first man who’s ever looked at me like I wasn’t something broken. Like I wasn’t disposable. Like I was worth fighting for.

After my sister died, I ran to the human world to chase my own dreams. I was determined to live out my days as a lone wolf. Then I met him: Alpha Blake, in the city on pack business. He was gentle and strong. He hated territory wars, just like me. All he wanted was a peaceful life for his pack. We weren't fated mates, but the pull between us was undeniable. He promised me I would be his one and only Luna. Then came the Moon Festival. He invited me to his pack. He wanted to perform the bonding ceremony, he said. A declaration of our love to the entire werewolf world. I thought I had finally found my salvation, the one who could heal my broken heart. I was so happy to go home with him. I never expected him to drug me that night with a cup of poisoned wine. Only then did I learn the truth. He was selling me to the Alpha King, Roric, to pay off his pack's debt. He'd approached me in the first place because I looked just like Roric's dead mate. He tied me up and delivered me to Roric’s estate, a sick smile twisting his face. "Consider it an honor. One night as the Alpha King's plaything, and our pack's debt is cleared. Worth three years of pretending, wasn't it?" The silver poison paralyzed me, but I couldn't help but laugh. He had no idea. Roric's dead mate? That was my sister. And Roric? He was the man who grew up with me, practically my own brother. He'd personally delivered the lost princess of the Silver Peak Pack right to her own doorstep.

“Nice to meet you, Raine,” I said with a forced smile. As soon as she turned her back, I muttered under my breath, “Bitch.” I wasn’t lying—she was practically spilling out of that dress. Seriously? That’s Aiden’s type now? I turned to Arden and whispered, “Babe, I need to use the restroom.” He nodded, and I made my way across the hallway. Unfortunately, the restroom was just past the entertainment room—where Aiden and Raine were glued to each other. Ugh, just my luck. I didn’t even look their way, but from the corner of my eye, I could see them. Aiden had his arm around her, and—what the hell?—his hand was inside her dress. Inside. What a maniac! Doesn’t he care that our parents could walk in? And Raine… really? Already letting him feel her up like that? Where’s her shame? I rushed to the restroom and splashed cold water on my face, trying to wash the frustration off. But the moment I looked up, I froze. Aiden was in the doorway. I turned to leave, but he blocked me and pushed me back inside. “What now?” I snapped, slapping his chest. “Can’t you just leave me alone?” My voice trembled, barely above a whisper. Someone could hear us. “Move! I said I’m leaving!” But Aiden didn’t budge. Instead, he grabbed my wrists and spun me around. My back hit the door with a soft thud, and suddenly, his body was pressed against mine. “Aiden, stop it! What are you doing?” I hissed, but he didn’t answer. He just smirked, lowered his head, and crushed his lips against mine. Damn it… not again.

PLEASE DON'T READ (Under major editing*) He stepped closer if that was even possible at this point. "I want you, Melanie." He rasped beneath his breath, his gaze falling to mouth. I hated the way I shivered visibly at his words. "So much." He ran his thumb along the inside of my elbow, closing his lips over mine again. One minute we were trying to kiss slowly. The next he was parting my lips and we were back to devouring each other. Our lips stayed locked even as he moved his fingers higher and higher. **** Melanie Steele and Damon Trent were practically the two opposite poles of a magnet. They had almost nothing in common. She liked her solitude, he liked being in the spotlight. She loved living for herself and being comfortable. He was in a constant competition with nobody. She hated attention, he craved it like the oxygen he breathed. They could never work... Or could they? When Damon finds out that he had to be married to get possession of his late father's properties, he let his friends talk him into putting up an ad in the News Paper and making a public spectacle to look for his future wife. What he didn't see coming was Melanie signing up for the competition. Somehow along the way, lines are not just crossed they're being completely erased. He's broken all his rules with her and she's thrown way her sanity when it comes to him. They find themselves battling an attraction that was slowly becoming something more. What happens when Damon's secret gets out? Would Melanie be able to forgive him? Or will their story end before it even has a chance to begin?

My husband, Chandler Goodwin, claims that he doesn't understand what the phrases "silent treatment" or "giving the cold shoulder" mean. Yet, in the three years we have been married, he has never once spoken to me sweetly. The first time we have a falling out, I remain proud and dignified. We end up ignoring each other for seven days straight. The seventh time we have a cold standoff, I start to panic a little. However, despite trying all sorts of methods, he doesn't back down. The 11th time it happens, I have already learned to work through my emotions myself. Chandler doesn't even need to say anything before I take the initiative to apologize first. I simply think that he's just a naturally indifferent person, that nobody can warm his stone-cold heart. Then, on the third year of our marriage, I accidentally ruin his dress shirt while ironing it. Chandler doesn't say a word, but that very night, he packs his things and moves into a hotel. On the third day of being blocked, I head to his company with a handwritten apology. While passing by his office, I spot him leaning over to shoot his angry assistant a doting smile. "I'm sorry for raising my voice at you just now and upsetting you. It's been 57 minutes since you started ignoring me. Please stop giving me the cold shoulder, alright?" I freeze on the spot, the apology letter in my hand practically burning my fingers. As it turns out, it's not that he doesn't know what the silent treatment means—it's just that I've never been the person he wants to coax.

My mother’s a doctor and with one beer and some stolen sleeping pills that she knew nothing about, they were knocked out like little babies. I ran to my mother’s room who was working on some paperwork when I grabbed her arm urgently. “We need to leave. We need to leave right now.” I demanded. “What are you talking about?” “Let’s go.” I yelled, yanking her off the bed. We ran down the stairs and out the front door when my mother stopped momentarily when she saw the guards on the ground. She looked at me and knew that I did something but I kept yanking on her arm towards the car. They were ready for us at the border and I could see my mother hesitating as she saw the line of wolves blocking the road. So I reached my leg over and I pushed it on hers so that we would accelerate faster. “Savannah. What the hell are you doing?” My mother screamed. “If he catches us now, what the hell do you think he’s going to do to us?” I asked. “I can’t believe you just did that.” My mother said, practically out of breath. “If I had told you that I was going to do it then you would have stopped me.” I said. “Because Alpha Calvin is not going to stop looking for us. He is going to come after us and it will be even worse when he finds us. We don’t even know where we’re going.” Mom said. “Louisiana.” I said. “What?” She asked, looking at me confused. “We’re going to Louisiana. Alpha Kane at the Hidden Moon Pack.” I said.

"What is going on with you?" she practically yelled. I looked at her and shrugged. "Seriously, Wolf. You're so damn confusing. One minute you act like you hate me the next you are defending me and acting like you love me. You make no sense" she ranted. She glared at me and I chuckled. "I didn't know what I wanted before. I do now" I said casually. "Really? And what is that?" She fumed. "You, baby." I smirked. Ruby, Scarlett, Sam and Wolf were all childhood best friends. As close as they could be. Ruby moved away years ago when her parents divorced. Her mother wanted a fresh start in New York. Everyone promised to keep in touch but, of course, they didn't. Only her cousin. Scarlett stuck by Ruby. Ruby survived though. She made new friends and her mother remarried making her new best friend Cassy her sister. Wolf was broken when Ruby left. Losing her changed him. As the years wore on, he became darker and cruel. He joined his Dad and ran the local MC and truly loved the lifestyle. Sam felt hollow since Ruby left. He distracted himself with football and girls and had earned himself quite a reputation. Ruby and Cassy became best friends while their mothers dated. They both embraced the New York party lifestyle. Ruby changed from a sweet, quiet girl to a bit of a wild child but kept her heart of gold. That is, until Ruby and Cassy have to move back to Rose Hills with their mothers. Wolf and Sam are shocked to see Ruby again. One of them view her as a challenge, the other as prey. Ruby has other ideas though. She's not the same girl that left and she's not about to let anyone hurt her again.

The entire ward could hear the thoughts of the beautiful intern nurse, Sonya Row. When a patient kept vomiting nonstop, and I suggested increasing the pain medication, she stood nearby, sighing. [What should I do? Should I tell the family this painkiller can be addictive and really bad for the body? If they just wait a few more minutes, he'll recover on his own. There's no need to spend money at all.] The room fell silent in an instant. Everyone's gaze shifted toward me, and the family quietly refused my treatment plan. After that, I became the joke of the entire department. Every patient specifically asked not to be assigned to me. Later, while comforting a terminal stomach cancer patient, I followed her family's wishes and lied, saying it was just gastritis. Sonya complained about it in her thoughts. [The patient's practically dying already, but she's still saying she can be cured. It's obviously just to trick this old woman into draining her life savings on treatment.] That night, the old lady jumped off the building so she wouldn't burden her family. Her family thought I had revealed the truth and driven her to her death. They reported me directly to the hospital director, and I was stripped of my position as department head. Then, on a holiday weekend, the hospital admitted a pregnant woman with a suspected amniotic fluid embolism. To save her life, I had no choice but to remove her uterus. At that moment, Sonya's thoughts rang out again. [She doesn't have an amniotic fluid embolism at all. She was on her phone during surgery, which caused this. Now look what happened. This baby's a girl. This family wanted a son, and now they'll never get one.] The family attacked me on the spot, recorded it, and posted the video online to harass me. The desperate husband, obsessed with having a son, stabbed me to death to vent his rage. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Sonya first revealed her thoughts. This time, I could hear her thoughts, too.