Winter Soldiers

What makes a hero? They say a hero is someone that has given his life to something bigger than himself. I say a hero is no braver than an ordinary man, he is just braver for five minutes longer. All soldiers are brave, it's what they do with their bravery that makes them heroes. Am I a hero? Clayton Jackson dedicated his life to serving his country. Enlisting in the Marine Corps at the young age of eighteen, he never imagined following any other path. However, fate had other plans for him as a life-altering accident during his last deployment left him disabled and forces him to return home. Hiding in the small town he grew up in, Clayton tries to keep his secret from his loved ones at all costs. One day while seeking refuge from his troubled mind, his path crosses with Isabella Jones. Their connection is instantaneous as if the universe conspired to bring them together. Isabella, a mysterious and enigmatic woman, is haunted by the demons from her own past. As their relationship quickly blossoms, the unspoken truths between them threaten to tear them apart. When Clayton is presented with the opportunity to rejoin the Marine Corps, Isabella is faced with a decision: whether to accompany him or remain behind. Caught in this web of secrets and lies, they try to navigate their love through the murky waters, desperately hoping to find solace in each other's arms. But will love be enough to conquer the shadows that lingered in their hearts? Or would the truth ultimately be their undoing?

Amber Lim was famous for her luxurious style and beauty. But, she was also notorious as a man snatcher. Regretting her bad attitude, Amber was determined to start a new life. Despite the extreme winter, she headed north to learn from Adam Smith, the mysterious world's finest jewelry designer. Unfortunately, Amber was robbed and left in a deserted forest. There was only a small hut that could save her from freezing, and there was only one person who could help her survive—Mister Cold. No one knew the man's real name. He deliberately lived a solitary life and hated disturbance. Nearby villagers even called him the Cannibal because of the lack of humanity. While in fact, Mister Cold was just a widower who hated women, especially those who ruined people's relationship. What would happen to Amber? Could she conquer Mister Cold and go home safely? Or instead, could it be she ended up being the widower's delicacy?

The Moonstone pack's Luna - Audrey Winter was dealt a devastating blow on the third anniversary of her marriage. It turned out that the coveted moonstone necklace was not prepared by her partner Arthur for her. The owner of that necklace was Victoria, Arthur's stepsister, who was also his first love. Audrey's world collapsed. For three years, she had been playing the role of the perfect Luna, believing that their partnership might bear fruit. It was also on that day that she discovered she was carrying Arthur's child, a secret that could either bind them together or tear them apart forever. "If she's so important to you, why did you mark me?" Audrey questioned Arthur after being betrayed again. His silence said it all, but his grandfather Elder William's shocking revelations about Arthur's past changed everything. The truth about his mother's cause of death and his stepmother's intentional sacrifice could potentially overturn the entire Moonstone pack. The arrival of Nathan Snowfang, a fellow student at Audrey Lycanthrope Academy, has reawakened Arthur's possessive instinct, even as he continues to prioritize Victoria's needs over his own partnership. Audrey would she sacrifice her self-esteem for love, or would she sever the relationship and choose freedom? More importantly, what will happen when Arthur discovers her secret pregnancy?

In the depths of winter, Christmas calls to weary travelers and leads lonely hearts home.Jocelyn Taylor is no stranger to a weary heart. Having fallen in love much too young with her sister’s old high school boyfriend has left her with mixed emotions about the possibility of true love. Now successful and the manager of a jewelry shop, Jocelyn spends her days dreaming of the perfect man and the perfect ring to match.Caden Scott is less than thrilled at the thought of spending the holidays back home where memories of his youth still haunt him. Not interested in the kitschy feel of a town known for Christmas, Caden still dwells on the thought of seeing his old high school love again. His time abroad serving his country has changed him in many ways, but could it have altered his heart as well?In the magic of the holiday season, can two hearts let go of the past? Or will true love pass them by?Christmas Cove is created by Theresa Oliver, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Eighteen-year-old and naive, Winter admires her parents' relationship and wishes to have a sweet love story of her own, but of all people, she is in love with her future brother-in-law, Hans. On the night after her sister's engagement with Hans, Winter spends the night with him, believing they would go on their respective paths the next day. However, one thing leads to another, and Winter devises a plan to elope with her now brother-in-law. But what happens when Winter's plans go awry and she is sent into the future by accident? Will Winter ever find her true love?

Angel couldn't believe that she had just fallen in love at first sight. She is just a girl who owns a flower shop while the guy she likes is the owner of a famous company, Dave. However, to Angel, Dave was such a loving person and so gentle, so understanding... until that moment came. At the restaurant Dave proposed to her and she agreed with tears of joy in her eyes. They got married after previously dating for only a few months, so short. Angel thought marriage was such an amazingly happy thing... but, the opposite happened. Winter suddenly came among the mortal warmth. Everything changed and Angel became a woman who could never be happy again.

"I...don't... I don't... remember anything...." I stammered as I gripped my head, the throbbing pain in my head was already getting worse. "I don't even remember my name." Tears slid down my dirt stained face, the pain from the headache and the fear of my situation only made it more difficult to stop crying. "Hey!" His soft, yet hard eyes locked with mine as he touched my shoulder gently. "I am here for you." His words was oddly reassuringly, even if I don't know who he is, I felt comfortable in his presence. An ambitious werewolf gathers an army of forbidden soldiers, werewolves and vampires together in one force against the human race, he wishes to dominate politically and socially, annihilating the weaker race (Humans). Now one step is left for him, he must mate with the last surviving Lycan, the only surviving daughter of the most influential family known as Golden Corporation, the political and economical gods on the earth. The incident on one fateful night results in Natasha loosing her memories. Faced with an opportunity of controlling the last possible Lycan alive, he fabricate lies on who killed her parents and convinced her to join his course. Groomed into a merciless killer by the man that killed her parents and brainwashed into agreeing to become his mate for what he calls the "greater good.", Natasha Nightshade becomes a shadow of herself, lost in a labyrinth of self discovery, tormented by nightmares that seemed to be memories of her past, and now the Luna of a powerful and ruthless Werewolf kingdom, she stumbles upon a prisoner, brought in to be executed, a man that looked like the light at the end of her dark tunnel and somehow seems oddly familiar.

That winter, our whole family went skiing in Aespen, Amestia. It was a popular spot for werewolf nobles and the wealthy. Then, the avalanche struck. My father's first instinct was to scoop up Summer—his sleeping adopted daughter—and flee. My mother, panicked, still made sure to grab the stray puppy Summer had found. They returned to the Moonshadow Pack that same night, posting a flood of photos online and rejoicing over their miraculous escape. Not one of them remembered me. Their biological daughter was still buried beneath the snow, waiting for rescue. When I was finally rescued, I did not look back. I took my mentor's offer to study abroad and left the pack behind. I moved to Cascade City to study medicine. No more pleading, no more shrinking myself in hopes of earning back my family's love. Yet they only seemed more disgruntled. "Rose, why aren't you competing with Summer for our attention anymore?"

That winter, the Silver Moon Pack holds its annual ski hunt. An avalanche strikes without warning, and the three of us are trapped in a lift pod. There's only one thermal suit left. My mate, Ryan Mercer, gives the thermal suit to me. I survive, but his childhood sweetheart, Eve Hurst, is buried forever beneath the endless white of the mountain. No body is ever found. However, he gazes at me with devotion and says, "Celine Bartlett, you are the love of my life." I soak in those words, believing them. But I have no idea this is the beginning of my nightmare. For the next five years, he speaks to me only with cruelty. "You killed Eve. You're a murderer!" He locks me in the basement and whips me with lashes soaked in wolfsbane. Then, he pretends to show pity and feeds me with a silver fork. When I refuse, he stabs me with silver nails across my legs, carving deep red lines into my skin. "This is what you owe her, and you will repay it!" When I ask for a reject, he stabs a silver dagger into my chest, dragging me into death with him. When I open my eyes, I find myself back on the day of the avalanche. This time, I hand the survival gear to Eve without hesitation. This time, I owe her nothing. And now, I want to see whether they will get their happy ending without me around.

"He is the only true heir to my throne. I must take him back." That day, the Alpha King descended upon our remote little pack with his royal soldiers. He pointed at Jasper—the man I had saved a year ago in the wilderness, my fated mate—and with those words, he shattered my entire world. I remember feeling this tight knot in my chest, because I'd always known Jasper was different. When I'd saved him from falling off that cliff last winter, I could feel something about him. I guessed it was his Alpha blood, but I wasn't totally sure back then. Now, his secret was out in the open. And me? I was still scrubbing dishes in the corner, because that was an Omega's duty, while everyone else cheered and celebrated. But Jasper… he stayed calm. He looked the Alpha King dead in the eyes and said, “I’m taking my pup Liam and Amelia back to the Shadowfang pack.” Yes. Amelia. Not me. In my last life, only their favorite she-wolf, Amelia, also the Beta's daughter, got to leave with them. When I broke down and asked Jasper why, his answer was cold and simple: “Her status suits me better than yours.” And just like that, my mate and my pup abandoned me. But this time—when Jasper spoke those same words again—under the mocking stares around me, I took a deep breath, forced a smile, and whispered my blessing: “Oh, well. I wish you both a happy future. I still have work to do.” I had already made up my mind. I was gonna work hard, save enough money, and get out of here, start a fresh life somewhere else. But tell me this, if I was so unworthy, then why, after I finally walked away, did he come begging me to return as his Luna?