Pulling Myself Together

I was left at the altar, humiliated in front of the world. The man I loved walked away, and with him went my reputation and my father’s company’s last chance at survival. Then came Travis Walker. Ruthless. Untouchable. A billionaire who offered me a lifeline, but at a cost: marriage. Not for love, not even for appearances. I told myself it was revenge, maybe redemption. I told myself I wouldn’t fall. But the more I tried to guard my heart, the more his touch ignited something I couldn’t resist. Just when I thought I could believe in love again, the truth unraveled. Secrets that bound Travis to my ex-fiancé, to my best friend, even to my family. The very people I trusted most. Now I have to ask myself: can I risk giving my heart to a man who might shatter me all over again?

I'm lina, a young girl of 23 years old. My parent died when I was twelve years old in a plane crash, leaving me empty with nothing. After my parent's death, my anuty. My mum's younger sister took me in as she is the only person in my mum's family alive. She was more than an anuty to me. She was my only family. The day that was supposed to be my happiest day turned into pain as she left me leaving behind my nephew whom she gave birth to. I took it upon myself to take care of my handsome nephew but one thing is the problem. A secret, I'm yet to know. one was to find out who the father of my nephew was, and two were able to avoid them. Since some people seem to be looking for my nephew. Another one was to find out the person responsible for my parent's death but one thing that I promised myself was never to fall in love with any man after the last thing that happened to my anuty, left by her supposed boyfriend after he found out. She was pregnant which I believed was one of the reasons. She couldn't survive. To me, love was a scam but after one nightstand after I drank myself stupor in a club to calm myself. I realized. I had a one-night stand. I looked around the room and sighed in relief and picked up my clothes to leave but was shocked when I heard a magnetic voice behind me just before my hand touched the doorknob. " Where are you going lady?" I froze. What have I gotten myself into? I asked myself Since that day my once peaceful world was turned upside down and some mysteries and dark secrets were revealed.

We grew up in the same neighborhood, his parents are billionaires, while my parents worked for his parents, but they were too nice, to sponsor my education. I went to the same school he attended, he protected me from being bullied, while I help him with his assignments and to keep up his grade. He is a great dancer, and I dance very well too, we usually practice together, we read together, and he tells me everything about himself while I tell him almost everything about myself too. He was everything to me, he was that brother I never had, and I was the sister he never had, people see us more like siblings than just friends, because of our closeness, and because of his status and protectiveness, I also became popular. I watch him date hot beautiful girls, he asks me for advise him, on how best to treat them and I tell him, but I was dying inside, he even encouraged me to date one of his friends, and I did, just because he said it, but I could never love his friend, the way I love him. I really want to leave the friend's zone, but I am scared, telling him how I feel, might put a strain, on our friendship, and that is worse, than death itself, but how long can I keep hiding my feelings for him, I really need to leave the friend's zone.

"Sorry, it was a dare", that's what I utter after the passionate kiss. I can still feel the familiar taste of that familiar mouth. He still feels the same, he still kisses me like there's no end, he's still passionate and possessive when he holds me in his arms. But he still doesn't look the same. A devilish smirk appears across his fierce face, his eyes darkening at me, making my breath catch. I'm still obsessed with the way he looks at me. "No, Emily. Not again", I tell myself and turn back, escaping the man who knows each bit of my soul, heart and body. The tough palm wraps around my arm harshly, pulling me back against his hard chest as he possessively secures me in his arms. I knew it was going to go well. "Let me go", I whisper. "Not after you reminded how you taste, Em", his hoarse whisper lets his warm breath brush across my neck as I shiver in his grip, weakening to my knees. Amid all similarities, I can't find the old chirpy— vibrant man anymore, instead, I feel the familiar man turning into a demon who wants nothing but to consume me again. This time not in love, but . ~~~~ Kane Gabriel was a kind and vibrant man with excessively features and a heart of gold until his girlfriend Emily Benson betrayed him. Years later Emily herself walked into him only to complete a dare but she didn't know what she invited for herself— a wounded lion who now knew nothing but breaking. With a vow to taint her with pain, will Kane achieve his motives or end up losing his heart once again? Or will a new truth break him from the core?

“This is impossible,” I muttered staring at myself in the mirror. I had sex with the man who tried to kill me and helped my ex take over my family's company…what was I thinking?This man is not just the cause of my problems, he is a murderer and a drug lord… we are completely different… yet I could not stay away from him, I found myself always yearning for his touch…can I survive this temptation and finally take revenge on all of them?

At 22, as the Santoro heiress, I'm choosing a husband out of the three Guerra brothers to honor the marriage pact between our families. I pass on Aurelio Guerra and choose the eldest brother, Cesare Guerra, the one with the burn scar on his face, leaving everyone in the Mafia reeling. Everyone knows I put aside my pride as a perfumer for Aurelio and shrank myself until I barely exist. For him, I even leaned on the Santoros' muscle to build his power base. In my last life, I married him, just like I'd always wanted. With the Santoros behind him, he became the youngest Don in the Mafia. After he was established, he hooked up with my stepsister, Maeve Santoro. Together, they stole the new perfume I created, "Reverie", locked me in the lab, and set the place ablaze, reducing me to ash. Now that I've been reborn, I decide to drag those two cheaters to hell myself. But then Aurelio comes back too, carrying the memories of our last life.

I glue my back to the door hoping it would swallow me up as a whole. “Is my feisty kitten scared now?” his 6’2 tall figure towering over me. Pulling up his right hand from his pocket, he grips onto my nape, bringing my face infront of his, mingling our breaths. I attach my hands to his chest in an attempt to put some distance between us. My efforts turn futile when he won’t budge but instead shoves his face into the crook of my neck inhaling my scent. “There is no point in running away now, kitten. You are already trapped” he speaks against my skin. Sparks erupt through my body, travelling down my spine and settling between my legs. Another hand going around my waist pulling me closer to dig his face deeper into my neck. “No wonder you always had men swarming around you all the time!” his deep growls affecting me in a way it shouldn’t.

Today is the Full Moon Ceremony, all members of the Wigner pack, along with the elders, have come to our mansion to celebrate together. But I wasn’t invited, even as Leon’s Luna. I was in the storage room with a report from the midwife in my hand. I was pregnant with three pups. This was supposed to be a surprise for Leon, until I heard Leon talking with his friend Demon just now. Demon asked, “Are you sure you won’t let your Luna join this party?” “My Luna is just a party bomber, she’ll only ruin tonight’s atmosphere.” “I heard Lisa is back. What do you think she’ll do when she finds out you married her twin sister? But I wonder, between the twins, which one do you prefer?” Demon laughed. “Carla is just a substitute for Lisa, you know. She will even die for me. But she’s useless, I’ll leave her soon.” Even the money for his party came out of my pocket. I brought in over $20 million in profits each year with my wolfsbane antidote formula. I was the one kept this company running, and still, I wasn’t even invited to his party. He was thinking about how to get rid of me. I covered my mouth to stop myself from sobbing. I pulled myself together five minutes later and left this party. I could feel that three strong heartbeats in my belly. “My pups, mommy is sorry. I have to leave your father-wolf…” My Luna’s Coronation Ceremony was only 5 days away. By that time, I would have already taken my triplets away and leave him forever.

After an accusation that leads to separation, Desdemona meets with her ex boss; Ettiene,after five years. But this time things are different as she is the boss. She wants revenge. He wants her forgiveness. Things take a turn when feelings stir and old secrets are uncovered. Could this be their second chance at love or will scandal, blackmail and secrets play a role in pulling them apart for good?

Scott and Lisa Matthew's construction business is getting hit hard in the recession and this might be their last chance. Scott and Lisa decide it is time to start including werewolves as clients. But things change when it's the wolves pulling them in and not the money to save their business.--------------------------------BOOK 1&2 THE ALPHA'S TOUGH GIRL, BOOK 3- THE TRACKER'S SOULMATE, BOOK 4- THE ALPHA'S IMMORTAL TWINS.