Scars And Stripes

I have been a keeper of many secrets since I was old enough to know what secrets were. No one knows the truth or the real me. No one knows about the abuse I suffer from my father behind closed doors. No one knows about the cuts and scars I hide from the world. To the outside world, I am your average teenager, but the truth is, I am a broken girl with no one to love her, to see the real sadness in my eyes. I keep it to myself because I want to. It is things I have hidden for years, and no one seems to notice. Until him, Ryland. The new boy in the town. The stranger who sees right through me from the second we meet. We are drawn to one another like a moth to the flame. The more I get to know him, the more I see I am not the only one fighting demons. To start with, he is a pain in my ass, but every day we grow closer, and we become what the other needs. A bond develops between us, one that becomes unbreakable. Neither of us realised that when two broken souls come together, it would be exactly what we needed to help one another heal. He shows me love, something I haven’t had since I lost my mother. I soon learn that just because you are broken doesn’t mean it needs to stay that way. Your past doesn’t need to define you. Possible Trigger Warnings: Physical abuse (It does happen, not often and not in too much detail). Rape, suicide, and self-harm are also mentioned. It doesn’t happen in the book, but it's discussed.

My name is Katia, and I am just trying to survive until my fated mate arrives. Which may be easier said than done. Rejectection is the last straw. Whispering my acceptance of his rejection. I run through the pack house, out across the manicured lawn into the forest. "I'm sorry, my sweet girl," I say to my wolf. I'm sorry you have been stuck with me and have had to suffer everything I have. She whispers, "it's not your fault, Katia. " We came to a cliff with a waterfall. The hurt keeps pounding at me. I need it to stop. My sweet girl, and I just want peace, I keep running and leap off the cliff. Spreading my arms wide, with tears streaming down my face, I fall, not making a sound... *** The Snow Moon pack is having their last barbecue of the summer next to the waterfall on their land. The adults are laughing and joking while watching the pups play. Someone yells, “Oh my goddess, someone just jumped over the waterfall!" Everyone is frozen as they watch what looks to be a child falling arms spread wide, no one makes a sound. The alpha, beta, and gamma, spring into action, swimming towards the area the person went under. The alpha is screaming his wolf is going crazy repeating, “Find her. Find her...find her!" They dive and the beta surfaces with a small person in his arms. Alpha takes the girl from his beta, laying her on the ground. The men are shocked by what they see. She is covered in scars and injuries. Her body is twisted and broken. The Beta asks, "Who could have done this to someone so defenseless?" Alpha drops to his knees, repeating, "MATE...MATE...MATE!"

Four years ago, I committed the ultimate sin. I almost killed my adoptive mother, and for that, I was sentenced to a living hell. My father caged my wolf, stripped my dignity, and bartered me off like livestock to a ruthless CEO to seal a blood alliance. I didn't fight. I didn't scream. I quietly accepted the chains and walked away from the fated mate bond I shared with my step-brother. Damon Enzo Vitale was my first heartbreak—the man I once loved, and the man who truly hated me. Now, I’m back in Vesper City, but the girl Damon once knew is gone. In her place stands a woman shattered by a monster’s touch, clutching a dying daughter to her chest. I have nowhere left to run except into the arms of the man I once sacrificed everything to leave. -- Ophelia Vitale is a harbinger of ruin and a shameless seductress. Four years ago, she brought our family to the brink of collapse and walked away from the fated mate bond we shared without a backward glance. I, Damon Enzo Vitale, have spent every night since fueling my hatred for her, trying to burn away the memories she left branded on my soul. But the woman who collapsed on that highway isn’t the girl I remember. She’s covered in scars I can’t explain and carrying a child with my family's eyes. As I look into the trauma she’s desperate to hide, the foundations of my world begin to crack. Was my hatred truly valid? Or had I been blinded by a web of lies designed to destroy us both?

Ruby Sinclair has spent eleven years as a servant in the Gallagher pack, hiding her true identity as the last survivor of a slaughtered Alpha bloodline. Orphaned at seven when rogues destroyed her pack, she's endured relentless torment from the Gallagher quintuplets—five Alpha heirs who've made her life a living hell. To survive, Ruby has suppressed both her wolf and her deadly secret: she's a seer, the very ability that painted a target on her family. On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Ruby's carefully controlled world shatters. Her first shift triggers early, and all five brothers simultaneously recognise her as their fated mate. But years of abuse have left deep scars, and Ruby wants nothing more than to escape the men who tormented her—mate bonds be damned. When Dr Reeves, the pack's trusted physician, attempts to drug and deliver her to the rogues who murdered her parents, Ruby's dormant powers explode. She kills him with a thought and teleports away, terrified of what she's becoming. As the quintuplets discover recordings proving they were systematically drugged for eleven years to hate their own mate, they must somehow earn back the trust of a woman who has every reason to reject them all. But a carved symbol on a dead rogue reveals the true threat: the Shadow Alpha, an ancient corrupted Guardian who has hunted Ruby's kind for millennia. A mystical wolf spirit reveals Ruby's destiny: she's a cosmic Guardian, and her five mates are meant to be her anchors. Now Ruby must decide whether to trust the men who destroyed her, or face an unstoppable evil alone.

On the night of her Moon Ceremony, the day she eagerly awaited, Aria Hemlock believed she was finally about to receive the life every she-wolf wanted, love, honor and bond to the Alpha's son. For years she trained non-stop to be the perfect Luna for him...soft-spoken and obedient. But fate had other plans. When Kael, the bloodthirsty and cold rogue alpha, storms into the sacred grounds and interrupts the ceremony, everything stops. Gasps of shock echo through the night as he steps into the moonlight and declares the unthinkable: "She is mine". Before Aria could protest, run or even breathe, she feels the strong unmistakable pull of the bond. Her wolf recognizes him, craves him, Submits to him. Before she could think, she's marked Kidnapped And claimed Thrown into the world of rogue who lives by his own rules Kael is feared across every pack, an exile who has a bloody past and a strong heart encased in ice. But the more time aria spends in his presence, the cracks begin to show. Beneath the scars of pain and fury is a man bound by duty, secrets, and something much deeper than hate. And he didn't just claim her out of his lust. He did it to protect her from a truth that could get her killed Because Aria isn't who she thinks she is, and her pack isn't what they claim to be. As forbidden attraction threatens to commit the both of them, and long-buried secrets start surfacing, Aria must make a choice...fight for her fate...or burn the world down to be with the one wolf she should have never loved. But some bonds can't be broken no matter what. Enemies will rise Loyalties will shatter And in the end, only one true bond will stand

Reina Carlo was forged by the Stingers, a shadowy organization that raised her to be a weapon. Her memories of a family—a mother’s face or a father’s embrace—were long lost, replaced by the harsh discipline and ruthless training of her surrogate family. To her, the Stingers were everything, until betrayal shattered the fragile foundation of her loyalty. Now, Reina walks the streets as the hunter, her mission deeply personal. A man who dared to strip away her last shred of innocence must face the consequences. Her scars are tools, her training a guide, and by sunrise, her vengeance will be complete. But each kill leaves a stain on her soul, no matter how she rationalizes it. She tells herself the trade is fair: she removes monsters, and the world lets her survive another day. Redemption and forgiveness don’t belong in her world—they are luxuries for those unbroken by life. Yet the nightmares persist, whispering of a stolen past and a family that might still exist. Did they abandon her, or did they think her lost? These thoughts claw at her resolve, forcing her to confront a truth she can’t bury: forgetting isn’t the same as letting go. Her pact with Marco Alessandro—a powerful, calculating man—only adds to her turmoil. Their marriage of convenience grants her the resources to find her family and avenge her past. But Marco’s unrelenting gaze and quiet intensity break through her defenses, challenging the walls she’s built. As vengeance, love, and identity collide, Reina faces a choice: cling to the darkness she knows or risk everything for a future she can’t predict. In this world of shadows and betrayal, Reina Carlo fights not just to survive—but to discover who she truly is.

"Strip!" "W..what?" Mary stuttered, not believing what she had just heard. Did this man just tell her to strip in the midst of everyone? Granted, there were only three in the room, but it was still outrageous. "I said strip Mary! I am a paying client, and I would like to see what I am paying for. You are to be my wife; it is only reasonable that I see all the goods." *** Notorious playboy Nicholas Harrington, known for his scandalous affairs, finds himself caught in yet another illicit escapade, causing concern for the future of his family's empire. Frustrated with his son's behavior, Nicholas's father forces him into an arranged marriage. Reluctantly, he marries Mary, an orphan raised in a convent, and their relationship begins with a rocky start. Nicholas, having no regard for his wife, continues with his indulgent lifestyle. It continued for some months until Nicholas became tired and threw Mary out on the street. But little did he know that Mary was already with child. With nowhere to go, Mary was forced to roam the streets until help came. Tragedy struck when Nicholas's father was diagnosed with an incurable disease and had a few months to go. But he was only going to hand over the company if Nicholas gave him a grandson. Now Nicholas must begin to look for his wife and try to convince her to give him a male child. And he would do everything he could to keep Mary with him. Their reunion sparks a turbulent journey of anger, passion, and hidden desires. Mary and Nicholas find themselves at a crossroads. Can they overcome the scars of their tumultuous history and embrace a future together, or are they destined for a bittersweet ending?

“We’re sinners. If heaven exists, we’d never be allowed in. But you and I can rule hell together and I’d fuck you hard while we watch the world burn.” His cold lips left a hot trail of heat as it glided down her spine. “O- okay, Daddy.” She stuttered, gripping the sheets tightly and gasping for breath at the same time when fingers suddenly slid into her wet heat from behind. ~~~ She was betrothed to him since birth. Mya knew what was going to happen to her unfortunate life once she comes of age– she was going to be wedded to Angelo, a ruthless and dangerous Mafia Lord who makes the sky rain gore on a good day. And so on her wedding day, she eloped. That same day, she managed to turn into the most wanted criminal of the country. Mya went from running from Angelo, to being saved by him… but, not before paying a price. ———- Birthed by a monster and hardened by pain and violence, Angelo had turned into an emotionless psycho at the age of thirty-two. He had no intention of taking a bride from the onset, all he cared about was protecting his top spot in the country. In comes Mya– a supposed damsel in distress, only that this one has blood on her hands and scars maring her soul. Angelo was supposed to leave her to her wretched fate, but somehow, he found himself drawn to her. Perhaps, it was because there was something about her blue eyes that scratched at an instinct within him which he never knew existed. But she called him ‘Daddy’ once and nothing remained the same after that. Now he was going to protect her, fight her battles, and make her his queen.

Alina Lauraine Santiago is finally beginning a new chapter—college life in the city, away from the shadows of her painful past. But freedom doesn’t erase trauma, and the emotional scars of her father’s abuse and her family’s struggles still cling tightly. Determined to make it on her own, Alina juggles part-time jobs and photography gigs to support herself and help her siblings. Then she meets Harold—charming, kind, and seemingly perfect. But behind his smile lies a truth that leaves Alina shaken and betrayed. After a devastating encounter, she runs from everything. It’s only through the love of her best friends that she finds the strength to return to university and face the pieces of her broken life. That’s when Grayson enters the picture. They’ve crossed paths before, but never like this. A simple deal brings them together, and what starts as casual quickly turns into something more. But when Alina discovers she’s pregnant, fear and uncertainty force her to make an impossible decision: leave Grayson behind without telling him the truth. Years later, fate brings them back together—and Grayson still doesn’t know he’s a father. As they reconnect and old feelings resurface, Alina must confront the secret she’s kept for so long. When Grayson finally learns the truth, their fragile reunion is put to the ultimate test. Just as they begin to rebuild, a new threat rises from the past—one that could destroy everything they’ve fought to protect. Can love be made from pain and second chances? Or are some wounds too deep to ever truly heal?

Blurb. He was supposed to marry the eldest daughter of the Moretti but he fell for the younger daughter. Maximiliano Bianchi(ML).The heir to the most feared and dangerous mafia empire in New York agrees to an arranged marriage. His betrothed is everything the underworld wants.Sophisticated, beautiful. But on the day of their engagement,Max meets Aaliyah Moretti.Soft-spoken,hazel eyes and innocent but beneath all that,is a ruthless and defiant girl. Amidst everything,Max can't seem to stay away from her. As their forbidden connection goes on. Iris has some skeletons and when the truth is out,might love be enough to save them. Hearts will be broken, loyalty will be tested,ties cut off but only one sister will be able to wear the crown. Characterization. Aaliyah (FM)is a smart,strong-willed young lady who doesn't scare easily.She has hazel eyes,curvy and blonde shoulder length hair. She has her own scars and struggles.She challenges the mafia king any chance she gets. Aaliyah grew up not getting involved in their Mafia affairs. Aaliyah struggles between taking revenge and accepting her feelings for the man she hates. Maximiliano Branchi (Max)is a cold hearted, ruthless and dangerous mafia heir who is feared not only in the underworld but across New York.Physically,he is tall with broad shoulders and bone chicks as sharp as a blade.He has piecing blue eyes that is cold and calculating. He was betrothed to Iris but got eyes for her younger sister Aaliyah. Iris Moretti is a beautiful, sophisticated and well mannered young lady with long dark hair and the shape of a model. She was betrothed to the heir of the Bianchi mafia.She loved Max but loves power and money. She pretends when everyone is watching.