Stepping Stones Synonym

My mate, Ethan Rickman, is an Omega without a wolf. No official position is willing to hire him. That means we live in poverty, but I've always believed that our love can overcome anything. Seven years after our mating, hunger drives me and our son, Theo Rickman, to dig through trash bins late at night, looking for food. Theo moves quickly and quietly. He's become skilled at it. With a cheerful grin, he whispers to me, "Mom, this bin belongs to an award-winning restaurant! The food's fresh and tastes great. Let's bring some back for Dad!" The next day, I put on the cleanest clothes I own and head to that same restaurant, hoping to get hired as a janitor. If I get the job, maybe I can bring home leftovers before they're tossed out. But when I look up, I see Ethan stepping out of a luxury car worth millions. Behind him stands a woman and child, both dressed in designer clothes. I recognize her instantly. She's Mira Alstone, his childhood sweetheart. The restaurant owner gives me an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Ms. Everdeen. Alpha Ethan reserved the whole place for Mira today. I have to focus on serving them, so I don't have time for interviews. Maybe come back another day?" In that moment, Theo and I both freeze where we stand.

Amelia Carter never expected her life to collide with Dominic Blackwood — the grumpy billionaire, ruthless CEO, and her brother’s best friend. Once the carefree boy who teased her like a little sister, Dominic has become a man shrouded in power, secrets, and a dangerous edge she can’t ignore. Desperate for a fresh start, Amelia takes a job as Dominic’s executive assistant, stepping into a world of high stakes and cold luxury. But working for Dominic is a battle of wills—he’s as demanding as he is infuriating, pushing her to her limits with biting comments and piercing gazes that stir something deep within her. As days turn into nights and business bleeds into temptation, the line between professional and personal blurs. Beneath Dominic’s gruff exterior lies a storm of pain and passion, and Amelia soon discovers that the man she thought she knew is far more complex—and broken—than she ever imagined. Their connection ignites into a fierce, unrelenting fire, forcing Amelia to confront her own desires and the dark past Dominic hides. But loving Dominic Blackwood comes at a price, and surrendering to him could ruin them both. In a world of power, secrets, and shattered trust, can Amelia break through Dominic’s walls without losing herself? Or will their love destroy everything in its wake? Ruin Me, Blackwood is a dark, steamy modern romance of forbidden passion, emotional scars, and the fierce battle to find redemption in the arms of a man who refuses to be tamed.

It is recommended to read Bound by Blood and Wrath before embarking on this next journey of the Vittori family. Sent to Briarwood, Pennsylvania, to establish a new seat of power for the Vittori Crime Family, Saint Vittori is tasked by his father, Dominic, with stepping out of the shadows after two decades of quiet survival. To secure his position, Saint is expected to marry strategically—choosing a woman who can strengthen the family’s influence. Instead, he falls in love with someone who offers no power, no connections, and everything he was warned against. When her unknowing betrayal shatters his trust and she later reveals she is pregnant, Saint is bound by ironclad family law: no Vittori heir will be born a bastard, and no Vittori marriage will end in divorce. Forced into a union forged by duty rather than certainty, Saint tightens his grip on Briarwood just as old enemies resurface. An attack by the Han family—ghosts from Dominic’s violent past—forces Saint to act decisively or be seen as weak. Alongside his loyal best friend, Wilder, he wages a brutal campaign to cleanse Briarwood, expanding into legitimate enterprises while silencing threats both criminal and political. As Senator Bryce Winthorpe learns too late, Saint Vittori always moves with a plan. Through bloodshed, loss, and calculated violence, Saint carves his place among Pennsylvania’s elite—knowing that every inch of power comes at a cost, and the Vittori family always collects in blood.

Cheated and humiliated by her husband, the heiress Dahlia’s life is turned upside down. In a burst of anger she vows to prove to the world she doesn’t need anyone. An unplanned kiss with Dane, a young upcoming businessman who has secrets of his own; opens the doors to new possibilities and makes them join hands. What will happen when the two realise they have far more in common then they ever thought? When lies are uncovered and secrets are spilt, will their budding love blossom? Or will this world of danger, desire and deceit tear them apart? ----- "Are you naturally clumsy, Ms El Nazari, or do you just need an excuse to fall into my arms?” I frowned pushing him away, trying not to pay attention to how firm and toned his body was. "You can carry on wishing Mr Altaire,” I said haughtily, stepping closer I patted his cheek. “I don't do younger men.” ----- I'll close my eyes, Mama. So you can kiss Uncle!” Aria's words made my eyes widen in shock. "We aren't kissing!" I said, quickly rushing off to find a bowl for the beans. I didn't miss Dane's smirk as Aria's eyes became shadowed. Her cheerful mood from moments earlier vanished as she looked down at her shoes. "But I want uncle to be my daddy.”

In the intricate dance of love and fate, Gauravi found herself entangled in a web of emotions. Mihir, the epitome of eligibility, had adored her since kindergarten. Despite being the heir to the country's diamond empire, he chose a life as a doctor just to be with her. As their wedding bells chimed on the horizon, Gauravi embarked on a tour, unknowingly stepping into the unexpected realm of someone from her past, who is a certified Casanova. Despite their childhood clashes, circumstances pushed them into a closeness that ignited a passionate connection, unraveling a love she hadn't anticipated. Gauravi's heart unwittingly surrenders to an enigmatic man – a walking contradiction of arrogance and charm. He embodies everything she despises, yet fate orchestrates an unexpected dance, and she finds herself entangled in the complexities of love. Little does she know, behind the façade of the MCP (Male Chauvinistic Pig) lies a labyrinth of secrets, veiling the true identity of the man who has captured her heart. As the impending wedding approached, Gauravi, pregnant with another man's child, faced an agonizing decision. She broke the engagement confessing her newfound love, only to be rejected by that Casanova in return. In a twist of fate, Gauravi, wounded and carrying the weight of unexpected responsibilities, agreed to marry his fiance again to salvage what remained of her shattered world. Will Gauravi find solace and happiness in a marriage of convenience? What prompted the Casanova, the object of her desires, to deny the love that had blossomed between them? Will destiny's gamble lead to a revelation that changes everything? Dive into this captivating tale where love confronts the unexpected, and hearts collide in the unpredictable rhythm of life.

She stared at him with nothing but emptiness holding in her beautiful grey eyes. "What are you doing here." She mumbled in a blank tone waiting for him to spit out the reason of him showing up. "Amy I-I am sorry I just." His throat contracted in a painful way as he couldn't find the right words to speak further. "It's Amelia. And I already forgave you. Didn't I then why are you here." He shook his head stepping forward which only caused her to step back from him. "Please Amy I want you back. I know what I did was wrong but it was a mistake and." His words cut short with a small laugh that escaped from her lips. An empty painful laugh. "Wrong. You call this wrong. A mistake. Destroying someone's life isn't a mistake Mr. Stone. It's a sin. An unforgivable sin. And a forgiveness to a sin is God's right not mine. This is the last time I am giving you a warning. Stay away from me or I will forced to contact my lawyer." A one wrong accusation turned their lives ups and down. One wrong step snatched everything from him. One wrong decision made the only person who loved him purely hate him the most. Here's the story of a Ex-Wife Amelia Kales. And the broken man Liam Stone. WARNING: IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A TYPICAL DRAMATIC EX WIFE STORY THEN KINDLY THIS STORY ISNT FOR YOU. LASTLY IF YOU WANT A PATHETIC FEMALE LEAD THEN PLEASE EXIT. THANK YOU.

He wanted a housekeeper not a tainted virgin.What Damien found was purity begging to be tainted. Now, he’ll ruin her, softly, cruelly, completely. Barely nineteen and untouched, Elara never thought her first job would place her inside the fortress of a man like him. Damien kael doesn’t request. He commands. And the innocent little maid is about to learn what obedience costs, one breathless gasp, one sinful punishment, one wicked whisper at a time. Dark. Seductive. Obsessive. She thought she was hired to clean his home. She didn’t realize she was stepping into his lair. Elara is broke and desperate, so when a maid position opens in a billionaire’s estate, she takes it, unaware that Damien kael is a man who doesn’t believe in boundaries. He’s older, merciless, and dangerously magnetic. She tries to leave, but he isn’t letting go. He doesn’t want love. He wants loyalty. And she’s about to learn what it means to kneel. As their twisted bond deepens, pleasure collides with punishment, fear tangles with desire, and innocence becomes his obsession. But Damien’s darkness runs deeper than she imagined and claiming his virgin maid isn’t about breaking her body… It’s about owning her soul. Mature Content Warning: This book features explicit sexual content, dark dominant/submissive dynamics, psychological tension, and a dangerously obsessive hero. For readers 18+ who crave power, seduction, and raw intensity.

He dropped his hands to the side, stepping away, and he voiced. “I’m not sure about having you fucking countless men, Marianne, unless you have chosen to become a whore who is more than willing to please another man’s dick instead of just pleasing one.” He smiled, pushing his hair from his face. I made the conscious decision not to let his words bother me, as it wasn't worth the stress. I said, which got him annoyed further. “I rather please a thousand dicks than yours. So do what you want to me, but I will never marry you.” He suddenly brought out a gun, playfully staring at it and he hint “Not even in a death and life situation.” He aimed the gun directly at me and I took a bold step by moving to him and I pressed my head against the gun. “Then kill me. It has always been my dream to escape from this nightmare.” I was playing with fire, but I won’t back off until we both get burnt. “Pull the trigger.” I breathe. He breath. Both our eyes locked. ****** Kidnapped and sold to a psychopath, a man who finds solace in seeing her in pain while she grips on her remaining hopes of escaping. Marianne finds herself trapped in this endless nightmare with a man who claims to love her by bringing her pain. ***** Trigger warning; This story is not for light-hearted people. Involves very disturbing sex content.

Blurb: Nicolas Pov: I’ve built my life on control, power, and ruthless decisions. I never wanted to rely on anyone—especially not her. Isabella is young, full of hope, and entirely too naive for this world. I didn’t expect her to become someone I couldn’t ignore. But here she is, stepping into my life, challenging everything I’ve worked for. She doesn’t belong in my world, yet she makes it harder to push her away. I’ve lived in shadows long enough to know better, but something about her light makes me question everything. Still, the world I live in is too dangerous, and trust is a luxury I can’t afford. Isabella Pov: I never imagined this life. Married to a man who is more scarred than I could have ever known, his world of darkness and danger closing in every day. I didn’t sign up for this, yet here I am, holding my ground. Nicolas might think I’m naive, but I see the man behind the mask. He doesn’t know how to love, but I refuse to let that stop me. I won’t run, even if I’m constantly surrounded by threats and lies. This world doesn’t scare me, but what Nicolas won’t let me see—his pain, his demons—that’s what I’m fighting to understand. I didn’t come into this to save him, but maybe it’s time he lets me in.

"Am I dead?" She asked stepping back from her mother. "No, dear. Not yet! It is not yet your time. I know how much you've been suffering and how much you've been strong for other people's safety. Now it is time for you to be strong for yourself. Your path is not an easy one and it will take you to waters never traveled before. Trust Edwin, he is the only one who can save you and you are the only one who can save him. Without any of you, the werewolves and the vampire will face assured destruction and extinction if by their own hands or by the hands of others we don't know." "I don't understand! " Said Alexa with sadness in her voice. "You will understand when your fate is upon you. And keep in mind that there is no such thing as impossible! I'll be watching over you my warrior princess, me and your father and we couldn't be more proud of you!" Said Alexa's mother beginning to disappear. "No mom, don't go! I still need you!" "You never needed me I love you Alexa and I'm sorry!" When enemies from two different possessive species are united with a common goal can only mean destruction or love. Will Alexa choose Edwin to be with her forever even if that means that they will go against everyone else's opinion and traditions... A werewolf and a vampire can't be together without spilling blood from each other or will they teach the world another way of life?