Solid Objects

A month before the SATs, I, Jenny Reid, could see my score. Literally. It was just floating right above my head. But there was a catch. Every time I cracked open a prep book, my score would drop by ten points. But if I skipped a day of school? It jumped right back up by ten. So, I played the system. For a whole month, I barely lifted a finger. And on the day of the test, the number glowing over my head was a solid 1560. When the scores finally dropped online… I'd scored a 500. And the 1560? That was my little sister Patricia's score. My parents lost it. As punishment, they got me a grueling night-shift job at a local electronics factory. That first night, a bunch of guys I'd never seen before cornered me in the parking lot and beat me half to death. Fading in and out of consciousness, I heard my sister's voice right by my ear. "You just had to one-up me, didn't you? Thought you were so smart… but you never figured out I was the one controlling that number over your head." The truth hit me like a physical blow. The score had been her trick all along. I opened my eyes—and I was back. One month before the SATs. The number above my head read exactly 1300. "Hey," my sister said, all fake sweetness. "Want to study together tonight? We can go over the practice tests." I looked at the stack of papers in my own hands. Without a word, I pulled out my lighter and set them on fire right there in the driveway. "Exams are coming," I said, watching the flames. "I'm not studying." My score ticked up to 1310. My sister's face was this perfect mask of disappointment, but the second I turned away, I caught the sly smile she couldn't quite hide. She had no idea… the real performance, the one I'd been rehearsing just for her, was finally about to begin.

Heads up! This story includes mature themes, strong language, and steamy scenes. Readers discretion is advised. Warm lips pressed against the sensitive skin of my neck, just below my ear, sending waves of shock down my spine. “After promising me a hot fuck, you decided to ditch me, huh Clara?” a low, male voice murmured into my hair as his hands slid down, palms flattening against my stomach, pulling me flush against a hard, solid body. I wanted to push him away, probably punch him in the face also but I'm Clara. He thinks I'm her and I have to be her. I took a deep breath, a wide smile on my face as I turned in his arms, finally looking at him. To my surprise, he was handsome, dark hair, strong jawline and I could see the confidence in his eyes. He knew Clara...maybe intimately. "I thought she has Jeremy, does she just fuck around now", I thought. “I got held up, I'm sorry,” I managed, forcing Clara’s sly smile onto my face, praying it looked convincing. “Uh-huh,” he said, his voice a low rumble. He didn’t believe me, but he didn’t care. His hand came up, his thumb brushing my lower lip. “You owe me, Clara. Big time.” ****************************************** Jenna has always had the perfect life, Her mate, Damon...the Alpha of the pack who accepted her, a pack that wanted her as their Luna..... Until it was stripped off her on the coronation night. Just minutes to the coronation time, she wakes up in Clara's body (Her mate's sister) Now she's trapped...replaced and forgotten while someone takes her crown, her mate and her position as the Luna of the pack. She must solve that mystery while living Clara's messed up life.

Passei toda a minha vida vivendo à sombra da minha irmã, Juliana, a mulher que todos no círculo dos herdeiros da máfia adoravam e protegiam. Ela não fazia ideia de que eu havia renascido. Assim como na minha vida anterior, ela sorriu de forma doce e gentil, insistindo para que eu escolhesse meu noivo primeiro, fingindo ser atenciosa e generosa. Mas, desta vez, eu recusei. Na minha vida passada, acreditei ingenuamente que ela tinha boas intenções. Casei-me com o homem que ela recomendou, Chester Kane, um herdeiro que diziam estar paralisado após uma emboscada. Abandonei meu direito de herança para me tornar sua cuidadora, seu apoio e remédio contra a solidão. No entanto, não importava a quantidade de carinho que eu desse, o coração dele permanecia congelado. A verdade só veio à tona durante a celebração da gravidez da minha irmã. Quando um assassino de uma família rival apontou a arma para a barriga dela, o homem que não se levantava havia anos subitamente ficou de pé. Ele me empurrou direto para frente do cano. As sete balas atravessaram meu útero. Enquanto eu caía, vi-o puxar minha irmã para seus braços, protegendo-a com o próprio corpo e tomando o último tiro por ela. Só então entendi. Ele nunca esteve paralisado. Sua família nunca o havia abandonado. Ele fingiu estar doente porque o coração de Juliana pertencia a outro homem, e ele se recusava a ficar preso a mim. — Desculpe, Tania. — Ele disse. — Eu menti para você. Mas eu não podia deixar Juliana perder o herdeiro que ela carrega. Vou pagar o que te devo na próxima vida. Quando abri os olhos novamente, estava de volta ao dia em que meu pai pediu que escolhêssemos nossos parceiros de casamento. Desta vez, eu não escolhi ninguém. Mas, naquela época, eram eles que imploravam pelo meu amor.