Silent Shadows

There are monsters in this world. And they used to be us. Now it's time to euthanize to survive in a hospice where Emily, a woman haunted by her past, only wants to do her job and be the best mother possible. Post-infection Chicago. Christmas. Inside The Hospice, Emily and her fellow nurses do their rounds. Here, men and women live out their final days in comfort, segregated from society, and are then humanely terminated before fate turns them into marrow-craving monsters known as ‘Smilers.’ Outside these imposing walls, rabid protesters swarm with signs, caught up in the heat of their hatred. Emily, a woman haunted by her past, only wants to do her job and be the best mother possible. But in a world where mortality means nothing, where guns are drawn in fear and nobody seems safe anymore – at what cost will this pursuit come? And through it all, the soon to be dead remain silent, ever smiling. Such is their curse. It won't be long before that snow-speckled ground will be salted by blood. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Rose is devastated by the death of her grandmother, the woman who raised her after the tragic death of her parents when she was only five years old. She knows her life will never be the same, but unbeknownst to her, her world is about to be turned upside down again. Phoenix has been looking out for Rose ever since he and his team of Alpha Wolves returned to home soil after fighting in some of the most war torn areas of the world. He has seen the worst of what the human world has to offer and he and the other four members of his team are ready to hang up their fatigues and live in the peace they fought so hard for. When phoenix discovered that the young girl's father had been a police officer, and he and her mother had been the victims of a mob hit, phoenix secretly went to her grandmother and offered to support the old woman and young girl until he could be sure they weren’t in danger.  In the meantime, phoenix and his team have spent the last few years fighting to end the threat that thrives in the shadows of their small town. When the danger is on their doorstep and Rose’s grandmother dies unexpectedly, phoenix has no choice but to put his reservations aside and finally claim the woman he recognised as his all those years ago. It’s the only way to keep her safe from the men who killed her parents. But who will keep her safe from him?

“You’re disgusting. Get out of my room,” I demand as I press up to my feet. He doesn’t protest and stands up, slicking his bright pink hair back. “Whatever ya say, Bunny. Get some sleep. You have an early day tomorrow,” he winks at me and makes his way out the door. - - - - Sapphire Stone is the third daughter of the late Alpha Bronson Stone. Despite losing both her parents to the Fated Plague when she was just a child, and being separated from her sisters, Saph maintained an optimistic attitude. She was always the sister who could look on the bright side. That is until she lost her chosen mate when he sacrificed his life for another. Once bright-eyed and caring Saph is now using any means to numb herself from the pain of her broken heart. Her reckless behavior has ultimately landed her in serious trouble with Alpha Asher of Red Mountain Pack. Coping with her loss and grief is hard enough. Now, Saph must face the man who cost her chosen mate his life, along with helping find a cure for what could be another plague. Alpha Asher is the light-hearted, and alternative, leader of the Red Mountain Pack. After uprooting his pack from Australia, Asher has vowed to always keep his pack members safe and free from worry. The full moon run reveals a bond that Asher cannot fight, but also cannot act on. With secrets from his past resurfacing, Asher will do anything to protect his new-found mate, even if it’s from herself. A former betrayal looms in the shadows, threatening to decimate what’s left of Asher’s pack. It will require him to trust his mate, and new allies, to help him save what matters most to him.

Sebastian Sanchez never wanted her, but that's not what led to their divorce. He cheated on her with her best friend and the pain in her heart was multiplied many times over. But, now Isabella Rossi has managed to escape the shadows of her past, building her own happiness after the bitter divorce from Sebastian. She had no time to dwell on all the things about the past that had hurt her. After all, she now had the center of the world that made her forget everything. However, her life is shaken up again when Sebastian reappears in her life, bringing an offer of much-needed financial help. Sebastian hasn't changed; he is still incredibly wealthy, strong, gorgeous, charming, and intoxicating as sin. With her business on the verge of bankruptcy, debts mounting, and daily needs Isabella is cornered between her immediate needs and her desire not to go back to her ex-husband. Isabella insists on keeping her distance from him, seeking other help and trying not to fall for his advances. The situation becomes more complicated for Isabella when Sebastian finds out the major secret she has been keeping. Stefano Archer Rossi; her son. The little blue-eyed one who bears a striking resemblance to Sebastian Sanchez. Sebastian was the most domineering man she despised. But how can she resist Sebastian's relentless pursuit? Using their child as the focal point, transform a traumatic history into a lovely one? There is a razor's edge between love and hatred, and Isabella sees it when they clash. Isabella risks dying if she gives in to this unusual desire and becomes entangled in a deadly game of love and hate.

In the gritty shadows of Chicago, Lucian “The Reaper” Moretti, the city’s most feared mafia kingpin, rules with a cold heart and a deadly hand—until Ethan Caldwell, a closeted FBI agent, shatters his world. For two years, Ethan lived a lie as “Evan,” Lucian’s trusted right hand man—battling the burn of forbidden lust while feeding the FBI the evidence to destroy him. But one reckless night, lust wins. In the heat of their only night together, bodies collide—just before the raid blows everything apart and Ethan’s betrayal is revealed. Now, after a year in prison, Lucian is free—and out for blood. Torn between vengeance and the ghost of Ethan’s touch, he begins the hunt. Meanwhile Ethan drowns in guilt, trapped in a fake engagement and a life built on lies. In a city where love is a death sentence, can two broken men survive each other, or will their blood-soaked bond tear them apart? A pulse-pounding MM mafia romance where betrayal cuts deep, obsession burns hotter than sin, and love may be the deadliest weapon of all.

In the sprawling city of Texas, where power and danger collide, Isabella Demarco finds herself entangled in a treacherous game of organized crime. Bound to Bruno Athonio, a billionaire mafia lord, she becomes a pawn in a world ruled by wealth and influence. But when love unexpectedly enters her life, Isabella's path takes an unforeseen turn. As secrets whisper in the shadows and alliances shift, Isabella's loyalty and love are put to the ultimate test. Each passing day brings her closer to a pivotal choice. What will Isabella do now?

The day my adopted sister Xina was diagnosed with a rare blood disease, I was captured by rival pack hunters and taken across pack territories. In a hidden den beneath the mountains, I was chained like an omega during the day and subjected to endless humiliation. At night, they locked me in a moonless chamber and extracted my blood and bone marrow while I was conscious. By the time my pack found me, my body was broken beyond recognition, covered in bite marks, and infected with numerous diseases that even our supernatural healing couldn't combat. My mother, Alpha Serena, looked at me barely clinging to life, and howled so painfully she collapsed several times. My brother Ivan even traveled beyond our ancestral lands to find healers who could treat me. But in my half-conscious state, I accidentally overheard their conversation: "Mother, we captured Lisa just to save Xina, and let her be violated by so many rogues. Now we're taking one of her kidneys too—isn't that going to kill her?" Mother was silent for a long time, then choked up and said: "For Xina, I had no choice." "Besides, Lisa challenged Xina's rank all these years, made her severely depressed. This is just me atoning to Xina on her behalf." "It doesn't matter if she's been tainted. From now on, we'll keep her in the packhouse and take care of her. That'll count as compensation." As the silver blade sliced into my body, tears streamed uncontrollably from my eyes. A den with four wolves... was simply too crowded.

Yasmin has survived five years of Cole Martinez’s cruelty—his icy contempt, his mother’s vicious words, and the humiliation of watching him parade his mistress around town. She’s learned to stay quiet, stay small, and never fight back. But two pink lines on a pregnancy test change everything. Cole made it clear he never wants children. If he finds out about the baby, Yasmin knows exactly what he’ll demand. Yet for the first time in years, she feels something stirring inside her that’s stronger than fear—a fierce, desperate love for the tiny life growing within her. Now she faces an impossible choice: stay silent and risk everything when her secret shows, or find the courage to run from the only life she’s known. In Cole’s world, defiance comes with a price. But some things are worth fighting for, even if it means losing everything else. Can Yasmin break free before it’s too late, or will her secret become the final chain that binds her forever?

For as long as Chloe can remember, she has been nothing more than a money making machine for Alpha Nathaniel Thorn of the Blue Mountain pack. To be fair, every female is consider no more than an object and a slave. Anyone who can’t serve the Alpha in the way he wants doesn't survive for very long. Dance, strip, sleep, repeat; Chloe doesn’t know any other way of life. But that all changes the night that Lucas Wolfe turns up. Lucas Wolfe has one mission and that’s to bring Alpha Nathaniel Thorn to justice following a months long investigation into the corrupt Alpha. Using his family connections and with the backing of the International Committee for Supernaturals, Lucas is able to infiltrate the Blue Mountain pack. He finds exactly what he needs to bring the Alpha down but what he didn’t count on was finding his mate; Chloe. But something much more sinister is looming over the pack. Girls are turning up dead which initially has nothing to do with the pack or the committee until a supernatural being is found dead for humans to find, opening a can of worms no one is prepared to handle. Meanwhile, someone or something is watching Chloe from the shadows, waiting until the moment is right…

"You know, don't you?" I took a deep breath. His gaze was still on me. "What do you mean—" "Don't play dumb," he cut me off, and I swallowed. "I..." I paused and stared at the ground. "I don't know much... I don't know yet." "Do you know who I am?" I shook my head. "I know you're not normal." I looked up. "But I don't know why." His eyes flashed silver as I tried to read his expression, but came up empty. "I know your eyes change color because of your emotions. But I don't know what it means." As the room fell silent, he averted his gaze. ******* On her first day on campus, Rayline Hale, an average girl just starting college, never thought her world would change. That's when she meets Cole Spencer, a handsome young man who seems to be every girl's walking nightmare. With his cold stare and mysterious aura, Cole is a young man unlike any other. But behind his frightening appearance, Cole hides a secret that Rayline cannot understand. He is no ordinary man. This is the beginning of an adventure that will change Rayline's entire life. He opens the door to a world far beyond her imagination, where supernatural creatures roam and ancient secrets shroud human reality. The deeper Rayline digs for clues, the clearer the hidden truth becomes. But the closer she gets to Cole, the stronger her feelings for him become. The love that grows between them seems magical, though Rayline is terrified. How can she love someone who is not human?