Stiff

Ean's face twisted with anger as he grabbed me by the arm, dragging me toward the old, rusted freezer in the corner of the warehouse. "You're going to feel what Helen felt," he spat. "Maybe that'll teach you not to mess with her." I struggled against him, panic rising in my chest. "Ean, this is insane! It was an accident! Let me explain—" He wasn’t listening. He shoved me inside the freezing metal box and slammed the door shut. The echo of the lock clicking into place made my heart pound in my ears. I banged on the door with my fists. "Ean, please! You can’t do this!" I screamed, but the sound of his footsteps grew fainter as he walked away. He left me with nothing but a single bowl of water, like I was some kind of prisoner. I slumped against the cold metal, shivering. The temperature plummeted almost instantly. The hum of the freezer kicked in, and I realized too late—it wasn’t broken like he thought. It was working, and I was trapped. My body shook uncontrollably as the cold seeped into my bones. I screamed for help until my throat was raw, clawing at the walls in desperation. My bloody handprints smeared across the icy surface, a silent plea for mercy that no one would hear. Seven days passed. When Ean finally returned, the look on his face was one of smug satisfaction. He had expected me to beg, to apologize. But when they pried open the freezer, all they found was my frozen body, stiff and silent, my suffering long over.

What if the Moon Goddess was a temperamental tyrant with her own motivations and desires? Gemma Hayes, human witch, struggles to find her place among the wolves. As a the living vessel for the Moon Goddess, every alpha wants to own her. To possess her. To make her his obsession. He cleared his throat. “Another thing.”  Yes?” I asked, wondering what else he could possibly demand from me. "End your fucking engagement with Kieran.” His stiff tone left little room for argument. Oh, that! I shook my head, turning away. “He just lost his damn sister! I cannot. Not right this moment.” “You can and will. Call him. Text him. I don’t give a fuck but you better end that shit.” Fuck! “I will. Soon.” Of course I couldn't string Kieran along. I trembled at the mere idea of dealing him another blow right after the death of his beloved sister. A tear trickled down my face. “Do you actually love him?” He asked, anger rippling with each word.  I rubbed my temples. The stress of this damn mate bond would eat me alive. “Of course not. But circumstances…” “Circumstances being you are my fucking mate! Mine to claim. Mine to own. Mine to cherish. Mine to love. Mine to fucking obsess over. You, Gems, have always been my only addiction. An addiction I have no desire to kick. Ever.” I stared at him, hopeless. I had no defenses left to fight his magnetic attraction. I allowed his gravity to grab me, suck me under, pull me into his consuming orbit. Again. Fuck!

“You can play Priest for as long as you like,” he spat, ignoring my protests, “but you will never find salvation.” His words struck like a curse, but that wasn’t the reason my chest heaved, goosebumps littered my skin, and definitely not the reason I felt hot despite the chilling dip from the lake. Ezreal’s eyes widened momentarily, noticing. I winced as his hand shifted, pressing against the stiff betrayal straining against my soaked robes. He stilled for only a second, then a wicked grin overtook his features. “Well, well,” Ezreal drawled, his voice taunting “Look who’s getting excited,” “Stop,” I gasped, squeezing my eyes shut as the humiliation dug deep. “Please….” He leaned forward, his breath hot as his lips ghosted over the shell of my ear. “I will taint you so bad,” he whispered, his hand tightening against my crotch. “So bad you won’t have the courage to stand on the altar you abandoned me for.” ****** At sixteen, Ezreal Vossell took the fall for a murder to protect the only boy he ever loved—Baron Lander, the timid son of the town’s high priest. A known delinquent, the bastard child of the mayor, but the only one who saw him for his true self was Baron. Ezreal made the ultimate sacrifice, and all he wanted in return was Baron’s support. But alas, on the day of the trial, Baron betrayed him, casting him aside to please his father. Ezreal was sentenced to life in prison, his heart shattered beyond repair. Fifteen years later, he was released, but gone was the naive sixteen-year-old. He’s returned as the ruthless leader of a mafia syndicate, and with all the power and wealth at his fingertips, he yearned for one thing alone. Revenge.

His mouth dropped to my neck, luscious lips skimming down until he licked the wound in my shoulder. His mark. I shivered out of raw desire. "The Alphas are outside this door. You're keeping them waiting." My voice sounded more like a moan. "They can wait." He stared at me through his long lashes, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, "You're liking this, aren't you?" He pulled my waist to him till I felt every ridge of his hard, strong body. His stiff rod dug into my back. "Feel that?" he pushed me closer, "Ever fucked a full-spirited Lycan on a full moon?" He mumbled into my ear and let out a chuckle that made my nipples tighten to pebbles against the soft fabric of my robe. "Right now, I will stretch you to your limits, trap my cum inside of you, while your sweet little cunt milks me again and again and again." "And you will forget everything except my name because you'll be screaming it loud enough to wake the dead." "By the time I slip out of you, you're going to be full with my seed, drenched in my scent, and want nothing more than for me to bend you over and fuck you till you can no longer walk." I turned to him, my clit throbbing, "Please." I whispered. *** Freya Spencer watched her mother die at the hands of both her father and a witch who pretended to be her mother's best friend. She was also the witch that cursed the Lycan king. Alpha Zane is the dark Lycan king of Adivaine who Freya was gambled off to. He needs to find his reborn mate to break his curse or lose his throne. What happens when he discovers that Freya is his mate?

My mate, Andrew Claude, is the Alpha of the Celestial Pack, the sworn rival of my father’s Venus Pack. For three years, we have hidden our bond, knowing that our union could either bring peace between the packs or ignite war. On Lunar Year's Eve, beneath the full moon’s silver glow, we stand on the castle terrace, whispering promises of our future. Tonight, we finally agree to perform our bonding ritual, sealing our fates before revealing our love to our parents. My wolf stirs in anticipation, her instincts urging me toward him. But then, Andrew leaps down into the grand fire-dance festival, his powerful wolf form shifting mid-air before landing in a flourish. The scent of burning pine and roasted venison fills the air, warriors howling in celebration. The pack’s bonfire crackles with enchanted flames, casting shadows of prowling wolves against the towering stone walls. I watch from above, heart pounding with joy—until my smile fades. In the heart of the revelry, Carol Sinclair, an Omega maid, clutches a bundle of enchanted fireworks. Andrew strides to her, a warm, easy grin on his face. With a flick of his fingers, golden flames dance from his palms, sparking the firework in her hands. "A little fire magic to help you, Carol," he chuckles. She gasps in admiration, giggling as the firework ignites—only for it to spiral out of control. It veers wildly, the enchanted embers lashing through the air. Searing pain blooms across my arm. The stench of burning flesh fills my nose. I barely react before Carol bursts into tears and flees into the crowd. Before I can speak, Andrew turns on me, his golden eyes flashing with rage. The onlookers fall silent, ears twitching to catch their Alpha’s words. “Did you bully her, Bella?” His growl rumbles deep in his chest. “Just because you’re an Alpha’s heir doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want!” The warriors glance at each other, their tails stiff with tension. I stagger back, stunned. He doesn’t even ask if I’m hurt.