Novel & Cerita Then We Held Hands

Anita," her angelic voice calls to me. Thunder rumbles in the distance. Her soft, delicate hands caressing my face, sparkling green eyes grounding me from the dark past I wish I could forget. "You're safe, it's okay." I bring my hand up, running my finger over the mound of scar tissue. The constant reminder of that night. The raised bump covers the bullet fragment embedded in my sternum. She takes my hands as more thunder rumbles and tears roll down my cheeks. "Breathe Anita," she says in a soothing whisper. My lungs were burning with the need for air and it was then that I realized I'd been holding it. I take in a gasping breath and recall the first time my eyes met her green eyes. My sister had been lifted off me and my eyes opening had startled her. The first time she touched me gave me strength to hold on. I held her hand tight, trying to tell her what happened, but couldn't get enough breath to form words. Sitting in the present going through the same as I had five years ago. "They were all found, Anita. They can't hurt you anymore. It's just a storm. All the doors and windows are locked, the alarm is set. It's just you and me." "Will you keep the light on tonight, please?"

My childhood sweetheart who promised to marry me the moment I graduated proposed to Camille Willow, my sister, during my graduation ceremony. At that moment, Dennis Malcolm, the most eligible and admired bachelor in Blington City's elite circle, stepped forward and confessed his love for me immediately after my childhood sweetheart's proposal was accepted. For five years after our marriage, Dennis showered me with devotion, treating me with such tenderness that it felt as though I were the center of his world. But everything shattered the day I overheard a conversation between him and his close friend. "Dennis, now that Camille's on top, are you really going to keep pretending with Tracy?" "It doesn't matter. I'll never have Camille. Besides, as long as I'm here, she'll never disrupt Camille's happiness," he answered. The paper notes he held dear, each one carefully preserved, revealed a harsh truth. Each one carried her name, accompanied by heartfelt wishes: "May Camille be released from her burdens. May she find peace within herself." "May Camille achieve all she dreams of, and may her heart love freely." "Camille, we were never meant to be together in this life. I can only hope that in another, we will walk side by side." … Five years of devotion shattered in a single moment of clarity. I crafted a false identity and planned an elaborate drowning to vanish without a trace. From this day forward, in this life and all others, we shall never cross paths again.

"I promise you if Trinity gives me the slip, then I am pinning her to a tree." Just thinking of her sends shivers up my spine and belief me that they are not the good shivering kind. I love a beautiful woman both in my bed and to look at. To be surrounded by ugly for almost a full day is seriously going to put a damper on my ego. But time to push that thought to the side, for our location has just come up on the right. We slowly cruise up the driveway… But as we step through the doorway… And we turn the corner… There is a tall brunette in what could possibly be the tightest dress I have ever seen. But what strikes me the most is her long slender legs that are held up by deep blood red stilettos. Her long locks of hair fall like waterfalls over her shoulders. Just looking at those plump lips is enough to send me raging. I don't know who she is... Colton Cruz is the best of the best, an ex-Marine, now bodyguard to the Mafia world’s elite. He is a man that lives for the rush and danger that his lifestyle brings. You might find yourself on his speed dial, but you will not be the one that will capture his heart. Trinity Stone is a spoilt brat that becomes Colton's next assignment. She is a pleasure on the eye but an absolute nightmare to be around. This lonely and misunderstood girl is the heir to the Stone Crime Family. And that is where the problem begins… Colton soon finds him desiring what he cannot have, the daughter of a Mafia Boss. How far will he go to get what he desires the most?

I'd spent an entire year preparing for my son Tristan Pascall's spot at a top international school. By the final admissions review, I had every single document ready. All that was missing was the original copy of Richard Pascall and my marriage certificate. Once we handed that in, it would be official. But when we got to the admissions office, Richard turned on me, accusing me of arranging this without telling him. Before I could clap back, the admin frowned and said, "Ma'am, according to the system, Mr. Pascall's spouse isn't you." My whole body went cold. And then Iris Poole—who had been standing behind Richard this whole time—stepped up and slid her marriage certificate across the counter. The staff checked it, nodded, and said, "Mr. Pascall, Ms. Poole, your registration date is June, four years ago. Everything looks fine. You may proceed." June, four years ago. That was the exact month Richard held my hand in front of all our friends and family at our engagement party and promised I was his one true love. He had lied to me about that for the past seven years.

“I promise you my dear mate, now that we've found you. We'll make sure you never leave our sight till you start to beg the Moon goddess you never met us.” He growled into my ears, his huge hands wrapping around my neck, while his brother nibbled and left bite marks on my skin, expecting me to shiver, from the heat building up between my legs. Instead, I let out a scoff, “Get your filthy hands off me, or I'll connect my elbows to your jaws like last time.” — Anastasia grew up knowing her family wasn't squeaky clean even after her mother remarried. Being on the legal side of the mafia business, they were totally unaware that their daughter had joined a secret organisation in charge of monitoring the syndicates. However, after a successful mission where she faces the Vasilev brothers and barely escapes with her life, she comes to discover the marriage contract she had agreed to was tied to a family that sat at the top of the mafia world. She walks into their world anxious but glad, knowing she’s there to give her parents peace. What she didn’t expect were the two men doubled as the Lycans brothers after her life. Despite this, she remains bold, oblivious of her connection to the brothers, their enemy and the werewolf world. How would a feisty human and two unshakable dangerous brothers ever live as couples?

Life has been cruel to Martin. Life deprived him his family, happiness, and home. But life, at the same time, gave him another chance. When everything in his life seemed to end, when his breath was at its last draw, the hurricane of fate blew an ounce of pity to his poor unfortunate life and gave him a string of hope that is hard to grasp and navigate. Did fate pity him, or was it just another ploy of a supreme being out there who can flick their hands and change the universe’s motion? Will Martin forget his dimly written past and begin anew and write his own story with his very own hands in a land forsaken by the galaxy and attain the peak he sought after? His new land will be his kingdom; his new people will be his loyal subjects; his new power will be his weapon. Will his new life be kind to him? Will his fate be changed for good? Will he finally attain happiness? Come, enjoy, and travel with me as we embark to a journey with Martin.

The night of our engagement party, I found my best friend playing a dangerous game with my fiancé. The casino on our family's private yacht was where I found them. Clara was sitting on the lap of my fiancé, Killian, the Falcone family heir. Killian held a sharp family dagger, its tip snagging the thin strap of her dress. The blade traced a path along her collarbone. The slightest pressure would snap the silk. It was a dangerous, intimate scene. I stepped forward with a frown, but Killian just scoffed. "It's just a little game to liven things up, Principessa. Don't be so tense." Clara's eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "We're just playing a traditional family game. The knife game. You don't mind, do you, sweetie?" I was about to speak, but Killian's expression hardened. "We just got engaged and you're already trying to control me?" So I said nothing. I just drew my custom pistol from its holster on my thigh. "So, it's a game," I said. "Then let's play for something real."

“When we return alive, I’ll make you Luna.” My mate Soren told me when we went into battle together. He was my rock, my strength. But when I woke up after the battle, something was wrong. Soren was cold and distant. And beside him, a beautiful young woman held his hand. My smile faltered, confusion replacing the joy I had felt moments ago. “This is Cerelia. She’s my second chance mate.” His words hit me like a physical blow. He told me that our mate bond was severed due to my injuries. During this year, he found Cerelia and is going to make her Luna tomorrow. My heart felt like it was being torn apart, and my head pounded with a fresh wave of pain. And deep down, I knew he was telling the truth. I couldn’t feel the mate bond between us anymore. The cold reality of his betrayal was sinking in, and I felt like I was trapped in a nightmare. Soren, my mate, my Alpha, my everything, stood beside another woman, promising her the life he once promised me. Where does this leave me?

Mom cleared her throat and said, “I have an idea.” I frowned. “What are you talking about, Mom?” “I’m talking about I have an idea.” She stood up and leaned on her desk, saying, “We will hold the Queen’s Guard Tournament.” “I still don’t understand, mom.” “I propose a tournament with several tests, games, balls, bullfights, interviews, dates and parades. I suggest we go wild with different activities that guarantee the election of the new alpha kings.” “Okay… I’ll take the bait. Who will participate?” “Anyone who is an alpha or some equivalent to that. We put their names inside the sky crate so that destiny can choose the 20 lucky ones who will compete for the love of the future sovereign. The three winners will be crowned the alpha kings of the south, east and west. Obviously, the north is occupied by Alonso.” “And what will happen to Sokaris? He’s mine too, mom!” “I wouldn’t worry about him, Maddie. In my dreams, I saw him putting on a great show.” “What will happen if my other fated mates show up?” “Destiny will take care of it, Maddie. Your mates will be selected. But to win, we must give our enemies a mirage of hope that makes them believe they can govern.” “And in the end, they will be exposed to everyone, without us having to intervene,” Mom nodded, with a triumphant smile. I sighed. “If this is our best option, then let’s use the ball that is already being planned as the tournament’s opening event.” Mom nodded. Dad slapped his hands together and said, “Well… we have a tournament to plan and a lot of announcements to make. Let’s get started!” ________________ Reverse harem / 4 fated mates / Magic / Royal Lycan Family / Vampires

This isn’t your typical medieval romance. My name is Penelope Ernaut, the first daughter of the Ernaut Dukedom. I once had it all—status, power, a future. Until one betrayal shattered everything. My pack fell. My bloodline crumbled. And I ran, dragging my sister with me, hoping we could escape it all. However, we didn’t. She left me. Just like everyone else. After dying in the hands of my sister who returned and my mate who saw me as a toy, I was giving another chance to live again and I came back to make them bleed... But I never expected the Lycan King. Dain Zevryn—His Majesty. To come into my life. He was cold, dangerous, and beautiful in all the ways that make you ache. To the world, we were nothing more than allies and business partners. But behind closed doors, I was his only sweet toy, stripped bare for his sinful duties. I thought this time I was taking control of my story. But the deeper I fell into his world, the more I realized—I didn’t escape the cage. I just stepped into a prettier one and would I ever escape it this time?