Shadows Of Orange

The things we want are so very rarely the things we need. Clifton Heights, a modest Adirondack town, offers many unique attractions. Arcane Delights sells both paperbacks and hard-to-find limited editions. The Skylark Diner serves the best home-cooked meals around, with friendly service and a smile. Every August, Mr. Jingo’s County Fair visits, to the delight of children and adults. In essence, Clifton Heights is the quintessential small American town. Everyone knows everyone else, and everyone is treated like family. It is quiet, simple, and peaceful. But shadows linger here. Flitting in dark corners, from the corner of the eye. If you walk down Main Street after dark, the slight scrape of shoes on asphalt whispers you're not alone, but when you look over your shoulder, no one is there. The moon shines high and bright in the night sky, but instead of throwing light, it only seems to make the shadows lengthen. Children disappear. Teens run away. Hunters get lost in the woods with frightening regularity. Husbands go mad, and wives vanish in the dead of night. And still, when the sun rises in the morning, you are greeted by townspeople with warm waves and friendly smiles, and the shivers pass as everything seems fresh and new... Until night falls once more. Handy's Pawn and Thrift sits several blocks down from Arcane Delights. Like any thrift store, its wares range from the mundane to the bizarre. By daylight, it seems just another slice of small town Americana. But in its window hangs a sign which reads: We Have Things You Need. And when a lonely traveling salesman comes looking for something he desperately wants, after normal visiting hours, after night has fallen, he will face a harsh truth among the shelves of Handy’s Pawn and Thrift: the things we want are rarely the things we need. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Adrian Wells just wants to be left alone. Quiet nights, warm tea, and his sketchpad are all he needs to survive in a world that has taken too much from him already. Scarred by the fire that claimed his family and plagued by anxiety that keeps him from truly living, Adrian has grown used to solitude. But someone else has been watching—and waiting. When a black box appears at his doorstep, filled with unsettlingly personal gifts, Adrian brushes it off as a prank. But the messages grow bolder. The intrusions into his life become impossible to ignore. Someone knows him. Someone sees him. And that someone is Evan Thorn. Evan isn’t just a stalker—he’s a protector in his own twisted way. Rich, intelligent, and obsessive, he believes Adrian is his to love, to shield, to possess. From anonymous letters to watching from the shadows, Evan orchestrates a careful descent into Adrian’s world, eliminating anyone who gets too close. But he isn’t the only one watching. When a more violent rival stalker emerges, Adrian finds himself caught between two versions of danger: the chaos of the unknown and the devil he’s slowly come to understand. As the walls close in, Adrian is forced to rely on Evan—the very man who shattered his sense of safety. What begins as fear turns into something darker: a toxic intimacy that blurs the line between captor and comfort. As Adrian starts to feel seen for the first time in his life, he questions whether love can grow in the shadows—or if it’s just another kind of cage. In a story about obsession, trauma, what, If someone breaks you just to put you back together, is that still love? And when you finally escape them, do they ever really leave?

"Why do you always look at me like that?" she whispered. "Because you're unlike anyone I've ever known," Damien replied, his voice low and husky, sending shivers down her spine. "Your presence is like a thorn in my side." Eira scoffed. “You're nothing but trouble, Damien. A brooding vampire with an ego the size of a castle. But you need me. Without me, you’ll be dead.” “I hate that," he admitted. She smirked. "Hate that you need me? So, what is it, Damien? A weakness you'd rather keep in the shadows?" Damien leaned in, his face dangerously close to hers, his gaze dropping to her lips. Eira's breath caught, her shock palpable. "I might need you, Eira, but I don’t want you," he said, his eyes betraying a desire he refused to acknowledge. "Remember that." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, her thoughts in turmoil and her lips tingling with the ghost of an almost-kiss. *** The Silverstone Pack is out for blood, determined to avenge their alpha's brutal murder. All eyes are on Damien, the prime suspect, who now lives in the shadows, focused on survival. His only goal is to stay one step ahead and keep himself well-fed. But everything changes when he encounters a girl who is mysteriously immune to his powers. In her, he finds a glimmer of hope he thought long lost. Eira, heartbroken from a recent breakup, unexpectedly crosses paths with Damien. Her confrontation with him quickly turns into a nightmare when she is taken captive. Damien, desperate and cornered, offers her a chilling deal: help him save himself, or face unimaginable suffering. With little choice, Eira agrees, setting off a chain of events that will forever change the course of her life.

Under the Devil’s Eyes In a city ruled by shadows, 22-year-old Nora Faez fights to protect her reckless brother, Elias. But when he steals from the ruthless billionaire and mafia don, Mikhail Romanov, their fragile world shatters. To save Elias, Nora strikes a dangerous deal—her freedom for his life. What begins as punishment spirals into a fiery, forbidden obsession neither can escape. As betrayal seeps through Mikhail’s empire and enemies close in, Nora must choose between her brother’s safety and a love born from power, danger, and desire. Because under the devil’s eyes, every passion has a price—and hers may cost everything.

“Men are scum, the most useless of all creatures. It would have being better if God didn’t create them, they’re just fillers of the world, all men are the same.” . She grew up with a hatred for men after having watched her father constantly assault her mother and then kill her and she vows to never fall in love of get married. She stays away from men until she meets Daniel Norman, a cold CEO who risks his life to save hers and even though it is love at first sight for this CEO, it is not for her. Slowly, he melts her hardened heart and they fall in love. What happens when secrets from their past start to lurk in the shadows?

When Nova Greenwood returns to her pack after five years, she's not the same omega who was rejected by her mate, Sean. Now a powerful witch and renowned healer, she's determined to care for her ailing father and move on from her past. But fate has other plans. Nova discovers she's the second-chance mate of the Alpha, Colton Black, Sean's cousin. As they navigate their forbidden love, they must confront the secrets and lies that have torn their pack apart. With a war brewing and the past refusing to stay buried, Nova and Colton must fight for their love and their pack's future. Will they find happiness together, or will the shadows of their past tear them apart once more?”

Description: Kyrian Volkov is not your typical Omega. Standing at 6'4", with the face of a god and the attitude of a king, the world sees him as a dominant Alpha model. But behind the glamour, he hides a fragile secret-a sensitive body and a craving to be taken care of. Lorenzo Moretti is a man of lethal precision. To the world, he is a ruthless Casino Mogul and the Don of the Italian Mafia. In the shadows, he is a brilliant Surgeon who decides who lives and who dies. He is an Enigma-rare, dangerous, and obsessed with control. What happens when the chaotic, sassy model crashes into the life of the disciplined, cold-hearted Doctor? Kyrian is used to breaking rules, but Lorenzo is the one who makes them. "He was the storm looking for a shelter. He was the silence looking for a heartbeat."

Cassie Baker, an ordinary girl, and dedicated nurse, Life takes an unexpected turn when destiny leads her to William, an intelligent and charming historian working at a nearby museum. Their newfound love blossoms, filling the void in Cassie's heart. Tragedy strikes when a home invasion claims William's life, leaving Cassie shattered. However, fate has other plans. Aided by her close-knit circle of friends and family, along with a ground-breaking secret government experiment, Cassie embarks on an extraordinary journey to bring her true love back. But as shadows creep closer, lurking threats seek to tear them apart once more. Will their love withstand the test of time? Only fate will tell in this gripping tale of romance and mystery.

WARNING: Contains Hardcore BDSM, forced proximity, gruesome sex scenes, forbidden romance and uncensored vocabulary. “To the public, you are my Luna, but while in this Packhouse, you will be reminded that this union was just one of convenience. You shall abide by my rules with obedience and respect, for our bond is one of necessity, not passion. I want you to keep this in mind till you die. I will never love you, Jennita.” *** Finding solace and unexpected love in Jamal, the Alpha of the Rogue wolves, after a heartbreaking betrayal, Jennita must confront her past when her Ex-husband and Alpha returns, reigniting a dangerous game of desire, loyalty, and the haunting shadows of the moonlit night. *** Update Schedule: 1-2 Chapter(s) daily *** Book 1 Of The Hybrid Legacy Series

The romance between Avril and Sean starts with youth and innocence. They navigate the ups and downs of their relationship, sharing dreams and building a future together. However, when unforeseen family problems cast a stormy shadow over their lives, the young couple is forced to part ways. As years pass, Avril and Sean lead separate lives, each haunted by the memories of a lost love. But fate has an enigmatic way of doing its magic. They cross paths once more, but this time they are altered individuals who have been scarred by life's hardships. Avril and Sean need to face the demons of their past and work through the challenges of their current existence in order to make everything right. Can they rekindle the flames of their once-indestructible love, or will the shadows of the past prove too formidable to overcome?