the spare by lori ameling

"You need money; I need a wife."    Peony Sinclair, a workaholic girl, crosses paths with Mattia Luigi D'Amato, a notorious mafia boss with a deadly secret. While Peony works hard to pay her dad's medical bills, Luigi lives a double life, doing dark things that no woman survives. He killed every woman who had sex with him.   Due to the rising bills in the hospital, Peony needs to find a job that will pay her a large amount of money. As desperation drives Peony to seek lucrative job opportunities, their worlds collide. She had ended up in the auction after being deceived by another woman who promised her a lucrative opportunity.   Will Peony's resilience and purity be the beacon of change for Luigi? Or will she face the same fate as his other victims?

We stood across from each other, with a bed in the middle. The bed was surrounded with golden pots of burning incense, the fragrance intoxicating. On one side of the bed stood a warrior wolf from my pack, and on the other side was a vampire from Diego's pride, both present to guard us. Chairs were set in both sides of the large room, with the werewolves occupying the right side and the vampires on the other side. Everyone stood when the head witches of the three covens arrived and took their seats adjacent to the two parties. " Creatures of the underworld, we have all gathered here to witness something spectacular, something unheard of, the mating of a vampire and a werewolf. These two from both sides have claimed to be mated to each other even though they are not of the same kind, so tonight, underneath the full moon, we shall witness them in bed to attest if the Moon Goddess truly destined them for each other. Let the drums roll!", one of the witches addressed everyone. The incense had aroused us . My were hard and erect, and I could clearly see the bulge in Diego's pants as he stood across. The drums signalled us to begin the mating process, and we got onto the bed. We gently , suppressing the urge to tear each other's clothes off. I felt a bit insecure and ashamed. I could literally feel my alpha's eyes on me and could only imagine the disdain that will be written on his face. Diego's father too was watching, together with their maester. Everyone we knew was there to watch us have and I just couldn't bring myself to feel comfortable. Most importantly, I couldn't help but wonder, what if we die mating?

In the small town of Shadowbrook, a dark secret lurks beneath the surface. Twenty-five-year-old librarian, Jenna, has just moved to the area and quickly discovers that the town isn’t what it seems. She soon comes face to face with a centuries-old werewolf, Logan, who is desperately trying to suppress his true identity and stay hidden from the world. In the midst of an ancient feud between the werewolves and humans that has been raging for centuries, Logan must protect Jenna from the dangers that await them both. As the two grow closer, Logan begins to open up about his past and his inner struggle to keep his identity a secret. He reveals to Jenna that he was cursed to be a werewolf centuries ago, and he must do whatever it takes to protect her. Together they discover a powerful love that has the potential to break the ancient feud and make them both whole again. But will they be able to overcome the obstacles that stand in their way and find true love?

It is against the law in the Gold River Pack to have a physical relationship outside of the mating bond. The morning after the Alpha Beta Ball, Hyacinth finds her life turned upside down when she wakes up in a stranger's bed. Forced from her pack she becomes a rogue. Little does she know, her ill-fated one-night-stand would lead to her being forever linked to the new young alpha--who is engaged to her step-sister Ashlynd. When a roadside rescue finds her returning to her pack after 6 years, she comes face to face the pack's new Luna, her sister Ash, and sees an opportunity to find out what really happened to her the night of the Alpha Beta Ball. With the help of her very special son, who has been gifted with powers beyond explanation, she looks for answers and justice. Who set her up that night? Why does her child have "superpowers'? And what is really happening in the small pack of Gold River?

Maya Davis, a 25-year-old returning from studying abroad, meets the captivating Zane Moretti, a 36-year-old CEO, at a high-society event. Their instant chemistry sparks a passionate one-night romance, which results in Maya's unexpected pregnancy. Maya, forced into an arranged marriage, battles with Zane's mystery past, family betrayal, and rising threats. As Maya struggles with her affections for Zane and the danger that surrounds them, she discovers family secrets, including Zane's hidden twin sister. With foes closing in, will Maya and Zane's turbulent relationship withstand the continual threats, or will evil powers destroy their love?

Isabella Garcia has no time for love—not when her world revolves around caring for her sick son, Ethan and staying away from her ex husband and his petty choices. One impulsive night out, she meets a man who sweeps her off her feet. Enzo Moretti is dangerous, powerful and persuasive. As the notorious mafia leader in New York, his life is a network of secrets and shadows. But when he meets Isabella, she becomes his only weakness—a woman who knows nothing of his empire of dark deeds. But secrets can only stay uncovered for a while and when the life she's been drawn into threatens the safety of her son, she’s willing to run and risk it all. But Will Enzo let her?

He came into her life on a one-night stand, forever changing her fate. Kara was an ordinary girl, ostracized from the rest of society just because she was an Omega. The Northern Capital Pack was a cruel place for such. She was mistreated until a night of despair when she got entangled with the most powerful and cold-hearted Lycan king ever known, ruling over the Western Bridge Pack. She thought it was supposed to be a one-time thing, and so she left the following morning. However, the Lycan King of the Western Bridge Pack isn't the type to walk away from. When he found and captured her, she was already pregnant for him, which she hid, but for how long? Now, her destiny must change. She thought it was all about being the Lycan king's Luna, as she was his mate, but there's more mystery: the truth about the Lycan king's cold heart and the future of her own life when new dangers arrive, threatening her babies.

Flora was an orphan and the adopted daughter of the head Alpha of the East Howl Pack. Her life was shattered when her fiancé, Zack, returned with the Alpha's real daughter. After that, everything changed. She was heartbroken and betrayed. Her father also turned his back on her. But fate had other plans for Flora. She came across the mighty Alpha king, Aron Elton. People were scared to approach him. He was the most ruthless man every Alphas had ever met. Unexpectedly, every time Flora ran into him, a spark ignited inside her. Little did she know that their paths were destined to cross.

"Katie, come to the hospital now! Your mom had an accident on her way to the grocery store. She's in a critical condition." Katie's plans of getting her mother out of this hellhole they lived in, Red Moon Pack, was shattered by that single phone call. Being the illegitimate daughter of the Councilor of Red Moon Pack, Katie as well as her mother had lived a life of pure misery. Arriving at the hospital Katie discovered that something was not adding up about her mother's death. The fact that her mother had the best healing abilities in the entire region was questionable, what made her more suspicious about her mother's death was the fact that her mother's wolf was missing. In an attempt to find out what really happened to her mother, her life took a really drastic turn, as she discovered a series of well kept secrets that changed everything she thought she knew about HERSELF, HER FAMILY and HER PACK in general. With each new revelation, Katie realizes that some secrets are best left buried, and that the real cost of finding out the TRUTH may be higher than she ever dared imagine.

In that moment, our lips were only a breath's distance apart. Antonio's eyes held an unspeakable yearning. His gaze dropped to my lips, his intentions evident. My own desire mirrored his, creating a powerful magnetism. Just as he closed the distance, I placed my free hand on his chest, stopping him in his tracks. "Antonio," I murmured, my voice trembling, "We can't..." He froze in place, his warm breath caressing my lips. His eyes held my reflection in them, fluttered shut for a moment as he absorbed my words. I saw a flicker of pain, quickly masked by a stoic calm. He nodded slightly. "I understand," he replied, quietly. His voice was steady, betraying none of the emotions I knew must have been roiling beneath his suave facade. "You aren't going to ask me why?" I asked him, my voice barely a whisper. Antonio smiled, a sad, understanding smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm not," he said slowly, "because I understand that you have a valid reason for your actions." "Antonio," I swallowed hard, my voice unsteady, "I...I am getting married tomorrow, to Alpha Boris." His eyes widened slightly, the shock of my revelation clear. "You are the future Luna…" he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. His fingers clenched into fists at his sides. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wilhelmina Growler is a force to be reckoned with, a fierce and dominant female werewolf. Her unyielding determination to become the alpha of her pack, the Gravemaw Hounds. However, her aspirations are cut short when shortly after becoming the Beta, Alpha Boris Gravemaw demotes her and forces her as his Luna. The night of the highly anticipated Moon Goddess' Ball, Wilhelmina's world is turned upside down when she discovers that Antonio Lothian, the Lycan Prince, is her destined mate.