Wooden Crosses

“Are you crying?" She shook her head and wiped at her face as more tears were falling. “I’m so stupid.” she groaned. "Now I am truly and utterly alone. If I had just said yes to marrying him, none of this would’ve happened. I wouldn’t have dragged you into this mess.” Without warning, I turned sharp to the side, putting the car to a sudden stop close to the curb. “Don’t ever say that again. You think marrying a man you don’t love, a man who doesn’t care if he hurts you, just to please your family is the right thing to do?” I turned to her slowly. “That would’ve ruined you.” “But I would’ve had a home to go to, I would’ve been taken care of. Now I have nothing,” she looked away. I reached over and gently took her bruised hand in mine. “You did the hardest thing anyone in your position could have done. You saved yourself. That takes more guts than standing there and pretending to be happy.” I tucked a hair behind her ear. “You think you are alone? You’re not… you have me.” ___ Alina Etienne has always lived a life dictated by her parents. She is groomed to be an obedient daughter, a perfect public image, and now, a bride to a man she doesn’t know or love. On her wedding day, crushed by the weight of expectations, Alina does the unthinkable... she says “I don’t” and flees the altar. On the run and scared with nowhere to go, she crosses paths with Mikhail Antonov. A cold, guarded man with a past he doesn’t talk about. What began as a reluctant act of kindness turned into something neither of them expected.

Note: This is the second book in the "Are You Our Daddy?" series but can also be read as a standalone.   “Please don’t do this. You know I have nowhere to go, don’t you? Please, I still love you. All you’re being told is false. Listen, I am going to tell you the whole truth now. I was actually the one who... who...”   “Look, Salindra,” James cuts in quickly.   “No, James.” Isabella continues. “Please let me speak, you’re going to want to hear this. My name is not even…”   “Salindra!” James shouts.   “I get you. I know you must be all spiked up and all. But it is you who really need to listen to me. Look, I... I never loved you,” he blurts out, swallowing hard.   ~~~   Isabella Harrington, under her father's command, pretends to be poor to test her husband's genuine love. After falling in love at first sight with James Collins, she marries him, hiding her true identity as a billionaire heiress. On their second anniversary, eager to reveal her family background, she instead discovers his infidelity, and she’s confronted with a divorce letter, forced by James’ family to sign.   Homeless and heartbroken, she returns to her family, where they welcome her with open arms.   Michael Howard, who had secretly admired Isabella from afar even before her marriage, is forced into an arranged marriage by his family, just when Isabella got divorced. James, the ex-husband, crosses paths with Isabella again, not as a nobody, but as the chairman of the hospital where he works and also as the renowned phantom medic. Can Isabella reclaim her life and find true happiness with Michael, or will the shadows of her past continue to haunt her?  

"It won’t fit," I whispered, my breath hitching as he leaned closer, his lips grazing my ear. His voice was dark, commanding, and impossibly seductive. "You have no idea what your body is capable of. Relax and let me teach you." Alessia never believed in fairy tales. Life had taught her that happy endings were a cruel illusion. Struggling to care for her sick mother, she’s spent years working dead-end jobs, her sharp tongue and stubborn nature ensuring she never stayed anywhere for long. Now, she’s a bartender in a shady Sicilian bar, juggling rowdy customers and a boss who thinks a raise is only for women willing to strip. Then he walked in. Luca Romano is a man of few words but commands a room with his presence. The whispers about him are conflicting—billionaire, recluse, criminal mastermind. Women throw themselves at his feet, but his cold, detached demeanor makes one thing clear: he doesn’t care about anyone. Yet when Alessia crosses his path, everything changes. What begins as a business arrangement—a desperate woman agreeing to play the role of his date for one night—quickly spirals into something much darker. Luca’s possessiveness knows no bounds, and Alessia finds herself drawn into a world of power, danger, and unrelenting desire. But Luca has secrets as deep as his scars, and his love is anything but gentle. He’s a man consumed by vengeance, his methods ruthless, his emotions raw. Alessia thought she could handle his intensity, but the closer she gets, the more she realizes there’s no escaping him. He doesn’t just want her. He owns her. And as their twisted romance unfolds.

"Why do you always look at me like that?" she whispered. "Because you're unlike anyone I've ever known," Damien replied, his voice low and husky, sending shivers down her spine. "Your presence is like a thorn in my side." Eira scoffed. “You're nothing but trouble, Damien. A brooding vampire with an ego the size of a castle. But you need me. Without me, you’ll be dead.” “I hate that," he admitted. She smirked. "Hate that you need me? So, what is it, Damien? A weakness you'd rather keep in the shadows?" Damien leaned in, his face dangerously close to hers, his gaze dropping to her lips. Eira's breath caught, her shock palpable. "I might need you, Eira, but I don’t want you," he said, his eyes betraying a desire he refused to acknowledge. "Remember that." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, her thoughts in turmoil and her lips tingling with the ghost of an almost-kiss. *** The Silverstone Pack is out for blood, determined to avenge their alpha's brutal murder. All eyes are on Damien, the prime suspect, who now lives in the shadows, focused on survival. His only goal is to stay one step ahead and keep himself well-fed. But everything changes when he encounters a girl who is mysteriously immune to his powers. In her, he finds a glimmer of hope he thought long lost. Eira, heartbroken from a recent breakup, unexpectedly crosses paths with Damien. Her confrontation with him quickly turns into a nightmare when she is taken captive. Damien, desperate and cornered, offers her a chilling deal: help him save himself, or face unimaginable suffering. With little choice, Eira agrees, setting off a chain of events that will forever change the course of her life.

“Let me go!” He laughed, crimson bleeding into his irises and his fangs glinting with delight. Wrapping her legs around himself he cupped her behind that peeked from under the shorts she had on, licking at her ear, purring. “Did you like my presents?” Nyx scowled, pushing hard at his chest, hating the way her breath hitched in her throat from his touch, hating the little gasps that left her lips from the tingles she felt when his hands continued to graze her skin. “The flimsy clothes or the fact that you just turned me a feeder?” “Both. I thought you'd appreciate my gifts.” “Give me the antidote,” Draven cocked a brow, almost laughing at her pinced expression. Slowly bringing his face closer to hers, their lips merely inches apart he spoke, “Beg for it,” “You promised! You said you would give it to me!” “I didn't say when, did I? Maybe if you try to be a good little girl, I might as well be generous and offer you the cure you so desperately seek.” ††★★†† On the verge of the 21th century with vampires seizing power from humans, domineering them and plunging them back into the medieval times, Nyx a human hunter struggling to adapt to having the undead around becomes a vampire killer herself. Until she crosses path with the ever-so-deadly King of vampires, Draven. Claiming her under the ruse of a mate bond and condemning her to a life of slavery, he makes her the empire's whore. But as the pair grows close, Nyx slowly begins to pry off his bravado and shatter his world, opening the cold hearted vampire to a new kind of emotion. When the court demands a pure blooded queen, he knows he has more to protect than just the empire.

"Aasif," I whispered, my voice shaky with desire. He didn't reply. He only held me tighter, his strong arms a band around my waist. His kisses grew more intense, all I wanted was him, His touch, his scent, him inside me. I was teetering on the edge, yet he held back. He held us back. He pulled away; his breathing as erratic as mine. His voice was rough, filled with an intense battle of restraint and desire   "This is just for curiosity's sake, right?" His voice was deep, husky, a sensual murmur against my skin that made my pulse race even faster. Gabriela a young nurse from a small Mexican town, shoulders the world as she strives to provide for her ailing mother and little sister, Maria. An unexpected opportunity emerges when she's offered a job at a prestigious hospital in Al-Qamar. Thrust into the vibrant but unfamiliar world of the Arabian desert, Gabby grapples with her new reality. But Gabby's life takes a dramatic twist when she crosses paths with a charismatic yet arrogant billionaire Sheikh. Their worlds collide in a whirlwind of opulence and high-stakes power dynamics, their association marked by the Sheikh's emotionally barren, benefit-based approach towards relationships. A tragic accident abruptly turns the tables when the Sheikh suffers memory loss, casting a shadow of uncertainty over Gabby's future. The once arrogant billionaire stands before her, a man without a past, unraveled and vulnerable. As Gabby is pulled into a vortex of caring for the man who once saw her as a mere commodity, she grapples with the strange affectionate ties that emerge. With a newfound bond budding and the Sheikh's memory threatening to return at any moment, Gabby is walking on a tightrope of emotions, what happens when the Sheikh's memory returns?

“Fuck,” he groaned, his body tightening as he released his load inside me, spurting, filling my cunt. I remained still, trembling from the aftershocks, he pulled away, leaving me cold and exposed. I watched as he stood, reaching for his clothes with a casual indifference that felt like a slap. “Where are you going?” “Don’t overthink it. It’s just sex, nothing more.” “But… you didn’t mark me.” “Mark you? Why would I do that?” “Dominic… we’re married,” I tried to remind him desperately. He laughed coldly, mocking. “Marriage is just a contract, Samantha. You’re nothing more than a Luna with no wolf, an obligation I’m bound to.” ~~~ Samantha married Alpha Dominic, the man she’d been hopelessly inlove with, but he couldn’t love her back. He was waiting for his fated mate, not knowing that it was her all along becasue the bond remained hidden, unable to reveal itself due to her wolfless state. And Samantha paid the price—suffering the pain of her husband’s affair with another woman. Broken and betrayed, she ran away from the Silver Crescent Pack, carrying a secret that would change everything: she was pregnant. Six years later, she’s returned, not as the fragile woman she once was but as a fierce mother and the powerful right-hand to Alpha Killian. Her secret? Two five-year-old twins—and a wolf that finally emerged the moment she gave birth. When she unexpectedly crosses paths with Dominic, the Alpha she once loved, her carefully built walls begin to crumble. He’s everything she remembers and more: handsome, dangerous, and shockingly more attractively than she ever thought, drawing her in an inexplicable pull. But Dominic was oblivious to the truth she’s been hiding—the secret of their children...

I raised my eyebrow, a soft “hmmm” of skepticism escaping my lips. I slowly turned away to leave, but he grabbed my hand, his fingers wrapping around mine. I tried to pull away, but he held fast, his eyes pleading me to stay. The warmth of his hand enveloped mine, a comforting sensation that gave me pause. As his fingers intertwined mine, a gentle pressure seemed to anchor me. The softness of his palm contrasted with the firmness of his grip, sending a shiver down my spine. Camilla shifted her gaze and locked it onto our intertwined fingers, her lips pursed, a gentle frown tugging at the corners of her mouth. Liam locked his eyes onto Camilla, “why do you want to leave me behind”, he said as he shifted his gaze towards me, he stared right into my eyes and said, “You should never leave your man with another woman”. A faint smile played on my lips, “I trust my man”, I whispered gently. He smiled back and replied, “But you should never trust these women”. Despite the loving beginning, Harrison's behavior towards Emily changes right after their marriage and situations became worse after they had their daughter Mia. Her biggest fear being losing her marriage, Emily faces the greatest challenge of her life when her husband Harrison divorces her. Luck befalls her as she crosses paths with Liam Grant a divorced billionaire looking for a nanny for her daughter, Emily is offered the job. Emily and Liam's relationship later develops into romance, However, her ex-husband comes back into her life claiming to be a changed man and wants to mend their broken family, Emily is caught between starting her new life with Liam and giving Harrison a second chance for the sake of her daughter.

What happens when the heir to the strongest Alpha bloodline, who has his future arranged and his Luna chosen, crosses paths with destiny? What happens when that destiny takes the form of a mate… the same transfer student who’s just been assigned to share his Alpha Suite? What happens when his mate isn’t the perfect Luna the council promised him— but a man. What happens when loyalty to his pack collides with a bond he never asked for? What happens when the walls of the locker room helps him to hide secrets he cannot deny? what happens when students begin to vanish inside Silverfang University? Three months until his wedding. One bond he can’t break everything he had laboured for. ***** “Alpha,” Sky said calmly and almost playful. “You’re too stiff. You can’t play like that.” I swung my stick to take the puck, but he turned fast again. And his back brushed against my chest. My whole body practically jumped. My body reacted in a way it shouldn't have. “Relax, baby…” he said, still moving with the puck. “It’s only a drill, my princess. Besides, we have audience.” he whispered. BLURB: Riven, the perfect Alpha. Born to lead. Soon to be married to the Luna everyone has been preparing for him. But then Sky walks into his life. A new transfer student with a scent Riven can’t ignore. One word flashes his mind the moment they lock eyes: Mate. It’s wrong. It’s dangerous. And it’s messing everything up—his focus, his team, his future. Everything goes worse when Riven is forced to share his private dorm with Sky. Riven can’t stay away. He craves Sky. His scent drives Riven crazy. He is addicted to Sky. But does sky want him?

Dark intentions. Scandalous affair. Carnal desire.Her life is nothing but perdition.Sahara Smith. Model by day, singer by night.Desired by men, envied by many.Her beauty is a blessing, her charm is a curse.She sings like an angel, she moves like a tease...She meets men with different desires and with each or them, she falls. Hard. She is admired, used, manipulated, hunted, betrayed. But her name is synonymous to grit. She's willing to do anything to get what she wants - even if it means using her body to seduce men and destroy them.If there's one man Sahara worships and desires, it's Max. But he's a schmuck so she chooses Baste instead - the only man who puts her in the pedestal. There's one problem with him though - Baste is dirt-poor, something she really can't put up with.Her life is going according to plan when she crosses paths with Arnold Del Mundo. Again. He's a respected professor and a decent family man - but he's also obsessed with her, dangerously.She then meets Ace, who's smitten the very first time he sees her. He is Sahara's depiction of a prince charming - gorgeous, well-off. He's her lifesaver but also her damnation.As Baste discovers her dirty secrets, Ace suddenly disappears. She's left without a choice but accept Ricardo Aguas in her life - a fine gentleman who promises her the world in exchange for being his mistress. But the lavish life he promises has a price - her freedom.Then comes Armando Tantoco. Known for his cold attitude, he saves Sahara from her nightmare. He proposes marriage and guarantees protection. As Sahara gets everything she ever wanted, she's confronted with the men from her chaotic past...Max. Baste. Arnold. Ace. Ricardo. Armando.Who's willing to keep Sahara's dirty little secrets?