Stolen Moments Catharina Maura

The story you are about to read is inspired by a true story and refers to a time span of three years. During this time, various events take place. Love. Intrigue. Folly. Trips. Hopes. Vicissitudes. A love triangle will put a girl disputed between two important but profoundly different men at the center of attention. A princess. A commander. A sailor. A ship. Between one port to another, from one route to another, in an endless journey between sea and land , in different geographic locations around the world will happen à the unthinkable - in which the main protagonists of the story - it will help in moments of difficulty - but at the same time they will hate each other - struggling to re - establish their bonds and their role. At the seaside, life is different. You don't live by the hour but by the moment. We live by the currents, we adjust to the tides and follow the course of the sun. Cit. (Sandy Gingras) I want the sea to touch me, make me breathe the world and its whys, give me an eternal instant, which I will carry with me as an indelible memory. The sea is the mystery in which I immerse myself to rediscover my life. The sea. Cit. (Stephen Littleword) You can't be unhappy when you have this: the smell of the sea, the sand under your fingers, the air, the wind. Cit. (Irène Némirovsky) When love is true and sincere, it climbs over the mountains, the vastness of the sky and the sea. No human experience is greater than its strength. Cit.(Romano Battaglia)

Tilla is a witch, who enjoys the simplicity and seclusion that comes with life in a rural village. Little known about her background prior to her appearance in a small country province of Antheon, Tilla is all too content to pass her days caring for the minor needs and ailments of its occupants. Until, one day her peaceful life is stolen from her by the outbreak of war with the neighboring kingdom, Vinhalla. The fighting instigated by a powerful and callous sorceress from the rival kingdom, Tilla is left with little choice but to flee or risk being embroiled in a mystical war of epic proportions. Her life uprooted and destiny uncertain, Tilla enlists the aid of the gruff and handsome werewolf, Luther Bane. The two, discovering trust and even a spark of passion in one another as they struggle to evade the Hunters, monsters, and the likes of kin who seek to harm them. Will their alliance be enough to elude the secrets of their pasts? Or will they find themselves ensnared in a conflict much greater than themselves?

Tamara hinds, a free spirited and intelligent college student from a poor and average background, crosses paths with the cold, aloof and arrogant Professor Jesse Carter, a Billionaire prodigy, CEO of Carter Global Market and other businesses, Who is blessed with striking looks and boundless wealth through hard work and familial succession. He finds himself in the need of a fake girlfriend to escape relentless blind dates orchestrated by his family, he strikes a daring deal with Tamara: she pretends to be his girlfriend in exchange for a place to stay. As their charade unfolds, Jesse's walls come crashing down as he unexpectedly finds himself drawn to Tamara's infectious positivity. Despite having deep resentment towards women due to past trauma, Jesse slowly falls for her, struggling to hide his growing affection. However, their connection is threatened by dark forces lurking in the shadows. Will their bond survive the chaos? or will secrets tear them apart? Prepare for twists, romantic moments and an unforgettable journey of discovery.

Looking up I see a boy I had never seen before, a cocky smirk graced his features. "Here you go" he said handing me the pencil I just nodded my head confused as to where he came from since the hallway was dead silent just moments before. Looking over his shoulder I see six other guy's watching the situation. Looking them all up and down I can't deny that their all definitely attractive. Looking back at the guy infront of me I look into his brown eyes a light spark of pink shinning in them. I smiled slightly not being able to find my voice so I begin nodding my head a little in thanks. Turning to walk away I begin to exit the hallway "what no thank you?" a voice called out causing me to turn around. Looking back I see the guy that handed me my pencil his arms lightly spread out with shock across his features. "Right, thanks" I started staring at him before looking at the other six as they all stared at me expectantly, at this moment I guess I really had no idea why. "Oh, right" I started causing them all to perk up "welcome to our hell hole new kids" I continued with a smirk opening my arms up, just like the guy did when he called out to me.

Lexy, the daughter of a multi billionaire is abandoned by her husband on her wedding day. Wedding days are meant to be the best moments, this day marks the darkest and worst moments of Lexy's life. ************* Being the only child, daughter and heiress to the multi billionaire, Lexy could only inherit her father's wealth after marriage. Her parents took her to the best universities for her degree and PHD to have the knowledge it takes to run her father's companies and she gave it her best. Still, with the educational knowledge and skills from her internships, marriage was compulsory for Lexy to inherit her father's throne. Lexy was of the ripe age for marriage, however, her parents failed to over burden her with marriage plans; they believed in love and wanted the best, happiness for their only child. 18 months after Lexy's doctorate graduation, Lexy introduced her fiancee, Jerry to her parents. Together, they received blessings to push with the wedding. However, on their wedding day, Jerry takes another route to Lexy's home, unknowingly to Lexy. Lexy and her family head to the church for the wedding, only to be stopped when almost reaching the church's gate. It dawns on Lexy that her wedding is no more. What now? What next? How can she inherit her father's throne in the business world? Only a contract marriage unknown to her parents can rescue her.

"I'm wanted, Kimberly. Wanted by the Mafia..." Those were my father’s final words before he died in my arms. Moments later, I saw those legs step out of the shadows, marking the beginning of my nightmare. Leonardo Fiore, a cold Mafia Don,who is determined to use Kimberly as a tool in his game for power. His world is cruel and his words are like ice. "There's no love here, Kimberly,” he whispered. It's not part of the deal.” But Kimberly isn't one to accept whatever fate brings, without a fight. “If your love is not part of the deal, I'll make it mine to claim” she declared, feisty, crashing her lips onto his. As tension arises, Kimberly must decide : will she melt Leonardo's icy heart or lose herself trying to survive in his dangerous world?

Ever heard of a “wife for hire”? Absurd, right? Well, it was a brand-new concept to me too. As I stared at the billionaire sitting across from me, one thought rang loud and clear in my mind.“This man has lost it.“ How did I go from interviewing for a cleaner’s position to this? An offer to “marry” a billionaire? The words had barely left his lips before I scoffed, unable to help myself. “Is this some kind of joke?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him, skepticism dripping from every word. He tilted his head to the side, his expression oddly calm. His brows lifted slightly as his sharp gaze locked onto mine. “Is something wrong?” he asked, his voice steady yet tinged with what seemed like guilt—or maybe embarrassment. “Did I offend you? If I have…” “I mean, no offense, but… look at you. You’re tall, handsome, rich,” I continued, gesturing toward him as if to underline my point. “Any woman out there would swarm around you, dying for the chance to be with you. So, why me? Unless there’s more to it. Unless there’s… a motive.” … After being handed divorce papers at the hospital—mere moments after losing her baby,Amber refuses to fall apart. She is not weak. She is not pathetic. She won’t waste tears on the heavens or wait for Karma to settle the score. Instead, she vows to become Karma herself. However, fate leads her to an encounter with him, a wealthy, enigmatic billionaire with a haunting past and a son who longs for a mother. Drawn to her striking resemblance to someone from his past, he makes her an audacious offer. One that could change both of their lives forever.

Once, as a girl of seventeen, beautiful, headstrong Portia Cabot saved the cursed life of the dashing vampire Julian Kane—who marked her forever, then left to go in search of his soul. He returns five years later to find the enchanting young girl he left behind grown into a bewitching woman with a woman's heart . . . and a woman's desires. Portia quickly discovers that Julian's seductive and forbidden kiss can still make her crave the night . . . and his touch. But the Julian who has returned to London is not the vampire she remembers. His fruitless pursuit of his stolen mortality has reduced him to drunken debauchery. And a recent spate of murders makes Portia fear that the man she has always adored may truly be a monster. Julian knows he must drive Portia away—but his passion and hunger for her grow more irresistible every time they touch. For years he has fought the temptation to embrace his dark gifts, never realizing that Portia's love may give him the most dangerous gift of all . . . a reason to live.

"Sherman...Sherman Colton," I managed to mutter, my voice quivering from a combination of exhaustion and worry. The name surfaced from the depths of my consciousness, unexpected yet purposeful. As I felt my awareness fade, a lingering feeling of unease settled within me. I didn't just say that name in response to a question; it was more like a desperate plea, a fragment of worry for the man whose image and reputation I was afraid I had ruined in the chaotic events that had taken place. As I surrendered to the embrace of unconsciousness, a deep uncertainty gripped my soul, unsure if I would ever wake up to the light of another day. I whispered, "Mr.Colton, I didn't break your trust." ........................................................................... Within the luxurious Elite Oaks Resort, Zara Tahel, the unassuming housekeeper, found herself thrust into a passionate whirlwind of destiny. Her heartache led her to cancel her wedding when she uncovered her lover's affair with his superior. Little did she know, her life was about to take a captivating turn. In her bridal gown's elegance, Zara collided with Sherman Colton, the charismatic CEO of the resort. Their encounter was electric, sparking a photograph that set the world buzzing with intrigue. But their chemistry was undeniable, a passionate connection that smoldered. Sherman offered an arrangement, one fraught with desire and hidden longing. As their worlds intertwined, the question hung in the air: Was their deal just a façade to protect his reputation, or had a deep, secret attraction ignited since that unforgettable moment? Amidst moonlit nights and stolen moments at Elite Oaks Resort, Zara and Sherman embarked on a passionate journey, testing the limits of love and desire. Their hearts danced to a melody of fervent ardor, setting their worlds ablaze with irresistible chemistry.

In our pack, every werewolf can create one moon stone in their lifetime. These stones can enhance our wolf's power and are crucial for becoming Alpha. In my past life, I worked tirelessly to craft my moon stone. I wanted to become our pack's Alpha more than anything. But on the day of the Alpha selection, something went terribly wrong. After absorbing my moon stone's power, I couldn't control my wolf. Instead, my wolf submitted to Katherine, my mate's stepsister. Katherine hadn't always been part of our pack. When she was alone and vulnerable, my mate, Beta Ethan, had convinced me to accept and care for her. The pack erupted in cheers as Katherine became the new Alpha. Ethan, who had always claimed to love me deeply, proposed to Katherine in front of everyone. They sealed it with a passionate kiss. Suddenly, I was public enemy number one. Everyone accused me of stealing Katherine's moon stone, saying that's why I couldn't control its power. Even Ethan, my mate, looked at me with disgust. "Thief," he spat, severing our mate bond on the spot. The pack turned on me. They chased me down, their teeth tearing into my flesh. As I lay dying, my body broken and bleeding, I saw Ethan and Katherine together. They nuzzled each other, whispering sweet nothings while my life ebbed away. In my final moments, I realized a cruel truth. While Ethan's wolf was my fated mate, his human heart belonged to Katherine. But even as death claimed me, I couldn't understand. How could the moon stone I crafted serve Katherine instead? Then, darkness. And light again. I opened my eyes to find myself back in time, one week before the Alpha selection. This time, I made a different choice. Instead of crafting a moon stone, I left the pack to train alone in the volcano. Ethan's voice filled my head through our mind link. He demanded to know why I'd left the pack at such a crucial time. I cut the connection without a word. Shifting into my wolf form, I jumped into the lava.