Rare Layne Staley 2002 Novels & Stories

The nights in Vicente were a coexistence of order and gunfire. Tonight was the wedding, ten years overdue, between Anthony Oliver, the don of the Oliver mafia family, and Mabel Samson, the woman who had stood beside him through bloodshed, betrayals, and underworld wars. A top-tier luxury hotel had been cleared by the family's soldati. Below them glittered a sea of city lights; above them bloomed fireworks commissioned for the future Donna alone. The man known for his ruthlessness knelt on one knee with a rare diamond ring, his eyes filled with rare tenderness. "Mabel," he said, "you walked through hell at my side. Let me give you peace for the rest of your life." It seemed that all the sacrifices and patience had finally led somewhere. However, just as Mabel's fingers were about to touch the ring, a piercing scream came from above. "Don't! Anthony! Save me!" That single cry drew all of Anthony's attention away. The girl was not unfamiliar to Mabel. Two years earlier, Anthony's twin brother had been tortured to death by a rival mafia family while covering his retreat. His body was never recovered. And Cheryl Reyes was the fiancée he had protected with his life. Mabel watched as the man she loved abandoned everything without hesitation and ran toward another woman. She stepped forward and tried to stop him. "Don't go. The wedding isn't over." However, when their eyes met, the Don accused her coldly of being heartless and selfish. And in that moment, Mabel felt tired. Perhaps it was time, just once, to choose herself over the Family.

I was a human, but my husband Damien was one of the noblest vampires. When I was two months pregnant, I was kidnapped by a traitorous vampire whom Damien had banished, and tortured to death. But my husband Damien, was with his first love Vivienne, accompanying her for her Blood Withering treatment. This is an extremely rare vampire disease that requires human blood of a rare blood type for treatment. Three days ago, he demanded I give my blood to Vivienne. When I refused, telling him I was two months pregnant with our child, his eyes had turned cold. "Stop lying," he had snarled. "You're just being selfish, trying to let Vivienne die." He drove me to the edge of the territory and left me there — a human, alone in the wilds after dark. "Find your own way back since you're so heartless." I stood there in the darkness and was taken by Silas — a rogue vampire Damien had once condemned to punishment. He cut off my limbs. With cruel satisfaction, he called my husband. But Damien simply didn't believe it. His response was brief and cold: "Whatever it is, Vivienne's treatment is more important. She needs me right now." Silas let out a dark laugh. "Well, well... Seems like the great Enforcer values his ex over his own wife." When Damien arrived at the crime scene hours later, he was horrified by the brutality inflicted on the corpse. He raged at the killer for being so savage to a pregnant woman. But he didn't recognize that the mutilated body before him was his own wife — me.

Elara Moonfall, an abused omega of the Blackmere Pack, is revealed as the fated mate of Alpha Rowen Blackmere during a public ritual. Rowen rejects her, choosing power and pride over fate. After enduring intensified abuse, Elara flees the pack territory. Rowen tracks her down and brings her back, unable to resist the pull of their bond. As Elara’s wolf fully awakens, her rare healing abilities and strength begin to shift pack dynamics. Threats from rogues force her into the center of pack survival. Rowen struggles with guilt and obsession, while Elara resists emotional reconciliation. Through blood, battle, and betrayal, Elara claims her place as Luna, not through submission, but through undeniable power. The Blackmere Pack is transformed by the omega they tried to destroy.

Chief Kaave was a force to be reckoned with on the gritty streets of Dirty South. With rugged good looks, a fiery temperament, tireless work ethic and boundless wealth, he clawed his way to the top to establish an empire his daughter, Coco Kaave, would do anything to protect. When the taste of power and blood is seductive, and the cutthroat world of Dirty South takes it's toll, Coco finds herself caught up in a dangerous game of revenge and betrayal, where sex is used as a weapon and trust is a rare commodity. As the stakes gets higher and the risks become greater, Coco must navigate a treacherous landscape where every misstep could mean the end of her family's empire. Can she rise to the challenge and take her place as the new Queen of Dirty South?

"You're a blood wolf, aren't you??" He said, his voice low and dangerous. And I saw his wolf again, but this time around, they were two. The other one appeared more aggressive and his eyes were completely black and he looked roguish. ********** Darcy is the last of her kind - a rare breed of werewolf known as a blood wolf. After her entire pack got murdered in cold blood, she goes into hiding, as she hid herself deeply in the human world as she live like every ordinary human, making it impossible to be found. But what happens when she crosses paths with a deadly and roguish, hybrid alpha of the Night Howlers Pack??

Elara lived in fear as a forgotten omega. Her life shattered when Alpha Justin, her fated mate, formally rejected her and left her for dead in a lonely, boring world. But fortunately for Elara, betrayal only gave way for a rare, ancient power within her. Barely alive, Elara was found by Alpha Fenris Stone, the dark, powerful leader of the Shadowood Pack. Under his watchful eye, her wounds healed, and a threatening power tied to the Moon Goddess exploded. Elara is reborn, transforming into the prophesied Queen Luna.  Now, she must return to confront the Alpha who wronged her, reclaim her destiny, and embrace the fierce love of the warrior who saw her true strength.

We had been dating for ten years before my boyfriend, Shawn Jepson, agreed to marry me.  When the wedding photographer asked us to pose a few kissing shots, Shawn claimed he had germophobia and walked out on me.  I awkwardly apologized to the team.  Taxis were a rare commodity during blizzards, so I trudged through the snow to get home.  To my dismay, I stumbled upon Shawn tongue-deep into his crush’s throat in what was supposed to be our marital home.  “Just say the word, Casey, and I’ll leave Jessica.”  Later, word went around that Shawn searched the world for his ex-fiancee, begging her to return.

Rumors swirled that Emily Rockefeller had been Murray Gibson's cherished "canary" for three years. At nineteen, she became Murray's, groomed to be both obedient and tender. It was said that Murray only saw her as a stand-in, a substitute for his childhood crush, Stacey Zechariah. Rumors persisted that when Stacey returned, Emily's charm faded, and Murray heartlessly kicked her out of his car right on the street. However, rumors are just that. Later on, a gossip magazine captured a rare moment of vulnerability from the usually arrogant Gibson heir. He was found drowning his sorrows in a bar late at night, tearfully asking every passerby, "Why doesn't she want me?"

"On your eighteenth birthday, after your first shift, and after you meet your wolf and unlock your gifts, someone would come for you. Someone special that deserves my precious daughter, someone that will take care of you and make you happy will come for you, my sweet baby girl.” On her deathbed, mom handed the rare diamond necklace to me and told me I would be found by someone special. I endured the torture and ill treatment from my stepmother and stepsister because I looked forward to my eighteenth birthday. I couldn't wait for my eighteenth birthday so I can take over the company and take everything that belongs to me.The day finally came, and...

Lyra Shade has always been the underdog, the pack’s shame. She was an omega who was mocked, ignored and unwanted. When it was revealed that her fated mate was Aiden Claw, the Alpha of Howler pack, a bond was formed, only for a prophecy to tear it apart. However, terrified of the unknown, Alpha Aiden rejects her under the blood moon before casting her out into exile. As Lyra learns to survive among the rogues, she discovers a rare gift connected to the Moon Goddess herself. She must also learn to fight and rise against the fate that has been thrust upon her. As enemies also rise in the shadow, Lyra must decide: will she let the prophecy define her? Or will she forge her own destiny?