Where Are We Now

I don't expect to be reunited with Reyn Aldric, the heir of Frostfang Clan, at a banquet to celebrate his ascendance. I also don't expect him to throw me out heartlessly. As I walk along a deserted street, my mind replays Reyn's mocking words. "You abandoned me for money and status, Ms. Valtara. Do you regret your actions now that I've become an heir? Throw this materialistic gold digger out! I don't want to see her anywhere near me!" And so, I'm thrown out of the banquet hall just like that. I fall to the floor. It's been five years. I didn't think he would still hate me so. Then again, it makes sense. Who wouldn't hate someone who left them when they were on the brink of death? But my dear Reyn isn't dead. He's alive and well; he can even get mad at me without worrying about it affecting his health. I'm about to die, though. I don't even deserve to be emotional. Why? Because my Heart of the Wolfkin beats in Reyn's body.

On the day Zachary Lake stands at the pinnacle of global technology, accepting his award, I'm lying in a hospital bed, abandoned by doctors because I can't afford treatment for kidney failure. On TV, the host asks him to call the person he's most grateful for. Without hesitation, he dials my number. "Shannon, do you regret leaving me?" he asks. I clutch the astronomical medical bill in my hand, the paper crumpling beneath my fingers. Forcing a light tone, I reply, "Can you take me on as your kept woman now that you're a big deal?" On screen, his face remains expressionless as he hangs up without a word. Then, his cold voice pierces through the broadcast. "Now, I have nothing to feel grateful for." But what he doesn't know is that when he was on the brink of death years ago, I was the one who gave him my kidney.

There are monsters in this world. And they used to be us. Now it's time to euthanize to survive in a hospice where Emily, a woman haunted by her past, only wants to do her job and be the best mother possible. Post-infection Chicago. Christmas. Inside The Hospice, Emily and her fellow nurses do their rounds. Here, men and women live out their final days in comfort, segregated from society, and are then humanely terminated before fate turns them into marrow-craving monsters known as ‘Smilers.’ Outside these imposing walls, rabid protesters swarm with signs, caught up in the heat of their hatred. Emily, a woman haunted by her past, only wants to do her job and be the best mother possible. But in a world where mortality means nothing, where guns are drawn in fear and nobody seems safe anymore – at what cost will this pursuit come? And through it all, the soon to be dead remain silent, ever smiling. Such is their curse. It won't be long before that snow-speckled ground will be salted by blood. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Her world collapsed when she received a divorce text on her wedding anniversary and then her husband went ahead to pretend he didn't know her. Miguel Valente, heir to one of Spain’s most ruthless conglomerates ended their secret marriage with a single text. The same night, she lost everything… including the child she thought he wanted. Two years later, Inés wakes in a foreign alleyway, broken and alone until a stranger saves her. Emilio Cortez, the charming Italian heir with a gentle touch, nurses her back to life. With him, she rebuilds her life into a woman the world would never again break. But fate isn’t done with her. At a glittering gala, her past and present collide when Miguel colder, darker, and untouchably powerful stands before her again. He claims he never betrayed her. Emilio vows he will protect her from him. And Inés? She’s caught between two men, one fire one that burned her alive, and one that promises to consume her whole. As lies unravel and hidden truths surface, love turns into war. But Inés is done been chosen, she will now do the choosing. And in the end, only one heart will survive the fire.

It has been 8 years but Hailey Greene was still haunted by her past. The past that she dreaded the most. It wasn't her intention to hurt Nick Smith, the love of her life but due to her family's debt she has no choice but to sacrifice everything even the love she had for him. Moving on, Hailey left without a word, bringing only good memories of them together. And who would've thought that leaving Nick will eventually lead her to a life that she never knew existed. A life of motherhood. And to that, she felt reborn. And years passed, she met an old friend, Mikan Grey, Nick's best friend. Mikan learned everything about her, even Annie as Nick's daughter. They would meet every now and then. Mikan always had this thing with Hailey but he knew that he couldn't replace Nick in her heart. He wanted to give Hailey and Annie a good life which led to a marriage proposal. Hailey would always shrug off the thought of Mikan's proposal but Mikan would always say that he just wanted Annie to have a good life and that its been three years since Hailey and Nick saw each other. And that's why here they are getting married not because she had moved on but because this is what's best for Annie. There's no better man than Mikan, she thought. But the idea of seeing Nick again after three years, gives her shivers. Will everything change if they meet again?

Anna Langford loved him once. She died for that love—betrayed and broken, watching Jackson Blackwell turn his back on her. But fate gives her a second chance, rewinding time to the moment before it all began. This time, Anna isn’t the same naive girl. She’s determined to protect her heart and take down the man who destroyed her. But as she steps back into Jackson’s world, the cracks in her memory grow wider… and the truth doesn’t seem so clear. When his rival, the dangerously charming Harris Liam, offers her safety—and something dangerously close to love—Anna must choose between the man she once trusted and the one who tempts her to start over. In a world built on lies, can she risk her heart again… or will love be her downfall?

Ronan Vale’s life changed in one night. He was a normal college student, until he was kidnapped and sold in a secret auction. He swore he would escape but unfortunately for him, fate had other plans. He was bought by Maddox Volkov, a man as rich as he was ruthless, powerful, dangerous, and untouchable. Maddox claims Ronan means nothing to him, that he only bought him for his brother. Yet he refuses to let him go. He keeps him close, protects him, and watches him like he’s something he can’t afford to lose. Ronan wants freedom and Maddox wants control of his life but neither of them expected the one thing more dangerous than captivity, feelings. When enemies come for Ronan, Maddox must make a brutal choice, to either set him free… or destroy anyone who dares to take him.

Kitty experienced a career change from office worker to a housewife in three years. She and her husband Ken were preparing to start a family until Kitty got tangled in a heap of trouble.-befriending her blackmailer, Leah, triggers a chain of events forcing Kitty to turn into the person she hates.

An anonymous girl is seen running away from men who are behind her like wolves, amidst the darkness of the valley and the gleaming moon. Panting, gasping for breath she reached for her shield huffing. As she saw his silhouette she felt relieved and started to run to him to find warmth in his embrace. As she stepped closer to him, the men stopped. Suddenly she heard his voice which made her steps stall and her heart crack. "Stop! Don't come near me" She felt her bleeding heart slashed by his stern words. She expected his comfort to surround her and his love to transcend her plight, but neither happened. Eventually, her demons overcame her as her feet began to give way. Her bruised body started to feel twice the pain as before. "You don't trust me" she muttered and let the darkness lull her to sleep. It's difficult to say what led her to give up: the same distrust from her loved ones twice, or the fact that she was the favorite victim of all the bad luck. ****** Hailey is a nerd, anti-social and awkward. Her striking orbs were hidden behind rimmed spectacles and her curvy figure was hidden behind her oversized hoodies. During high school, she was the most famous person in college. What changed? Enter Mark Anderson, the hottest guy in college. Girls swoon over him and boys envy him but does he give a damn? Naa! He isn't a playboy or a bookworm. He is just the man of dreams. His plan is simple. He is saving himself for the queen of his heart. His parents were his role models. Their love was the ideal example for him and he wanted something like that. Magical. What happens when they meet? ******

The wedding had reached the part where we were supposed to exchange rings, but my fiance wouldn’t say those two simple words: "I do." It was because his past love had just announced her breakup an hour ago. The post on social media included a picture of a plane ticket, the landing time just one hour away. My brother suddenly stepped forward and announced to everyone that the wedding would be delayed. Without a word, they both left me standing there, turning me into a laughingstock. I calmly dealt with everything, glancing at the new social media post from his past love. In the photo, my brother and fiance were standing around her, offering her the best of everything. I laughed bitterly and dialed my parents' number. "Dad, Mom, I'm willing to come home and marry into the Sanford family."