Wounds

> “Stay still, Little Thorn… I want to taste you slowly.” His voice was velvet and ruin. His mouth, a weapon. And I—fool that I was—leaned closer. Before death wore a suit and called itself a lover, I used to believe in beauty. Before the blood. Before the runes. Before I painted the image that killed my parents—I believed my art could save me. Now I know better. I was just weeks from graduating when the painting came to me like a fever. I didn’t choose it. I didn’t plan it. My hands moved, possessed, dragging symbols I’d never seen and a face I’d never forgotten—his. Eyes red as wine. A crown pierced with thorns. And a girl in the center… me. Offering herself. I signed it with a mark I didn’t recognize. I sold it to a stranger. And days later, my parents were dead—no wounds, no reason, just... gone. The police said stress. I say fate. Now I’m being hunted by a world I didn’t know existed. Vampires with ancient courts and older grudges. Symbols that whisper in my blood. And Lucien D’Aragon—the vampire who says I summoned him with my brushstroke. That I belong to him. He says I’m his prophecy. His ruin. His Little Thorn. But I’m not just prey. Something is waking in me. Something hungry. Something I was never meant to survive. If I give in, I lose everything. If I fight, I might finally learn the truth. About my art. About my bloodline. About what really happened that night. And why he keeps whispering that I was painted for ruin... but made for him.

"You're here to play nurse, not to pretend you care," he snapped, his cold gaze locking onto hers. "And you are here to waste your life because it's easier than fighting for it," she shot back, her voice shaking but defiant. He wheeled closer, his jaw clenched. "Don't think for a second that you can fix what is so broken." I'm not here to fix you," she whispered, her eyes unrelenting. "I'm here because I believe there's more to you than this bitterness. He was the untouchable golden boy of his family, a magnetic presence destined to inherit a sprawling empire. His charm, his power, and his perfection made him unstoppable until a car crash shattered his life and left him confined to a wheelchair. His once-loyal followers turned their backs, leaving him drowning in the bitterness of betrayal. She was living proof of her family-a forgotten daughter whose dreams of becoming a doctor kept her sane amidst years of neglect. All she wanted in life was freedom, but fate had other plans. Forced into a contract marriage with the epitome of misery, she found herself engulfed in a battle she never asked for. Their worlds collide in a storm of resentment and vulnerability. Underneath his bitterness, though, lies the ruins of a man who had everything to lose-and the dim hope of someone who could help him find it again. As she works her way through his fury, and he pushes against her kindness, a bond forms-a bond neither expected. But with jealous rivals scheming in the shadows and old wounds threatening to tear them apart, their fight for love becomes a war for survival. Can two broken souls find strength in each other, or will the scars of their pasts destroy them both?

"Sarah… I know you don’t like that I’m a Van Driscoll,” he said. “But honestly… I don’t either.” He stepped even closer. “I love you.” Those words hit Sarah like a wave. Her knees almost gave out. “Give me a chance,” he continued gently, lifting her chin with his hand. She looked away. “Being a Van Driscoll won’t change anything between us. I promise.” He meant it. He would throw away that name if it meant being with her. “Let’s date,” he whispered. His thumb stroked her cheek. Sarah’s eyes slowly met his. Her chest felt tight. “Please,” he said, voice soft. “I promise to always make you happy.” After the death of billionaire tycoon Robert Van Driscoll, his final will leaves behind chaos. His three estranged sons—Leo, Jace, and Luca—must run the family company together for one year or lose everything. Leo feels betrayed after dedicating his life to the business. Jace wants nothing to do with the family. And Luca? He just wants to be free. They clash, resist, and nearly walk away. But when outside enemies begin to threaten the empire, the brothers have no choice but to unite. As they fight for control, each of them faces personal battles—old wounds, painful sacrifices, and unexpected love. Leo is haunted by a past relationship he never truly let go. Jace finds himself drawn to a woman who challenges everything he’s buried. And Luca? He falls for someone who refuses to be tamed. In the end, it’s not just about saving the company... it’s about healing, brotherhood, and risking everything for the kind of love that refuses to be bought. Written by: Terasomdi || Ogwu Kosiso

Nora and Noah's story from contracted: Love in the Shadow. "Hey, Nora..." Noah tried calling her, she ignored him. He bit his lips in anger, as her hand touched the doorknob, he yelled, no, more like roared, "DANYON!" Nora immediately froze in place. She closed her eyes for a second, fighting back tears. that name--- Noah, seeing her wounded expression, took a deep breath, "Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to--" "Don't," she snarled, haughtily glaring at him. “Don’t you even think about it.” “Nora—" He began to say, but she turned her back on him and stormed out of his office, ignoring the many eyes that followed her. ** Nora Danyon wasn’t supposed to survive the crash that killed her husband and children. Stripped of everything—her family, her sanity, and her will to live—she’s forced to start over in a world that feels colder than ever. And just when the darkness threatens to swallow her whole, he shows up… Noah Bamford—her late husband’s best friend and the man she once secretly loved. But Noah isn’t the same boy from the past. He’s distant, guarded, and haunted by ghosts of his own. Still, his presence pulls her back to life—until one stolen kiss in an elevator changes everything. Now emotions are spiraling, old wounds are ripping open, and just when Nora starts to believe in love again… Noah betrays her in the most unforgivable way. Now Nora is forced to male a choice ------ In a world where nothing is promised, and love isn’t written in contracts, can two broken souls rewrite the rules—or will their story end in ruins? There is drama, there is hate, and there is love, and above all, do they deserve a second chance? Sit back and enjoy the ride.

Crescent, a gold mine of supernatural knowledge, ruled by werewolves, thrives by hiding this truth from the public. Debby, a fierce mother, and her 16-year-old son Jerry are entangled in a brutal rivalry between Alpha Damon, a power-hungry werewolf alpha, and Alpha Levin, who clings to peace. The story opens with Jerry's fear igniting a dormant werewolf curse after he stabs a cartel enforcer to death. This death makes Jerry the suspected thief of Alpha Damon's target treasure. Damon is convinced that Jerry killed his man to acquire the artifact for his father, Alpha Levin. The only man in Crescent City powerful enough to shelter Debby and Jerry in his home, knowing that Alpha Damon was after them, is Levin. Seeking solitude after Debby's departure with their baby, Levin makes his mansion a sanctuary for desperate people, a form of redemption for the guilt of his past actions. Debby lied to Jerry that Levin abandoned them meanwhile she fled Levin because she believed he killed her father. True, but he killed her father in self-defense, wolfsbane drove him mad. This fractures their bond, pushing Jerry toward Levin, leaving Debby feeling threatened. Lonely Jerry finds solace with Sasha, a reckless hunter who lures him into danger, clashing with Levin's training and slowing Jerry's growth as a werewolf. While Jerry and Sasha were in danger, Debby came to their rescue but ended up in coma. Jerry's true born alpha power became a threat to other alphas. After a fierce clash, Jerry kills Damon and claims his alpha power, which also unites and savages what's left of Damon's pack. Debby awakens from her coma and starts to take care of Levin. As he recovers, old wounds heal into reconciliation. One big happy family is united against any threat that may come their way.

Alpha Karl Baron 30 years old leaves his Pack with no trace after he was set to marry a woman whom his family had chosen from birth. They had both been betrothed but never met in real life although gifts were being sent to the female renowned family. Karl is considered one of the ruthless and arrogant Alphas after the reign of his father who passed on two years ago. Naya/Avery a 26-year-old woman betrothed to the Beowulf Alpha goes out to have a clear mind because she had to come to terms with the da t that she had to marry a man she had never met before. Instead of resting, she ends up in a mysterious part of the forest which leads her to have Amnesia as she couldn't remember when or how she got to this place. She couldn't remember her name. Karl also wakes up by her side and becomes smitten with her beautiful features he tends to her wounds and when she wakes she couldn't remember her name hence he begins to call her Avery for the time being. His Pack elders send out a search party and once he is found, he tells them if they didn't take Avery with him he wasn't going anywhere. Of course, he knew he was needed at the Pack hence they had no choice but to let him have his way and bring her back to the Pack until she regains her memory to return home to her people. Unfortunately when they return the betrothed girl couldn't be found so the next substitute was a female from another renowned family even after Karl lets the elders know he wanted Naya they couldn't accept because her background wasn't known and commoners could not be associated with the pack family.

James Wesley has hated me for a decade after his childhood sweetheart passed away. He requests to be transferred to the frontier the day after we get married. I write him countless letters in those ten years to win back his favor, but his response is always the same. "If you truly regret it, why don't you hurry up and die?" However, after I am abducted, James storms the bandit's hideout by himself and saves me. He suffers multiple bullet wounds, but before he succumbs to his injuries, he uses the last of his strength to slap my hands away. "The thing I regret the most… in this life… is marrying you. If we get a second chance at life… please… don't bother me anymore." His mother, Felicia Axford, sounds regretful during the funeral. "It's all my fault, James. I shouldn't have forced you to marry her…" His father, Jeremiah Wesley, stares at me, his eyes burning with contempt. "You forced Emily to take her own life, and now you also caused my son's death. You're nothing but trouble, so you should just die!" Even Xavier Bowen, our troop commander, who was responsible for facilitating our marriage in the first place, shakes his head and sighs. "I shouldn't have played matchmaker. I let you down, Mr. Wesley." Everyone feels sympathetic toward James, including me. On the night I am discharged from the troop, I swallow some pesticide and die in the middle of an abandoned field. When I open my eyes again, I realize I have returned to the day before my marriage. This time, I am determined to fulfill everyone's wishes.

Mary Preston and her family fled to another country, leaving everything behind. Suddenly, she found herself surrounded by unfamiliar faces, in a foreign land, speaking a language she didn’t understand. A few years later, at the tender age of 19, she ended up married to Maximus Palmer, the grandson of the powerful Catherine Palmer. Mary loved him with all her heart, but he never felt the same. He married her out of obligation, not out of love. One misunderstanding after another pushed their marriage into a downward spiral, filled with infidelity, abuse, and endless disillusionment. For years, Mary lived under the shadow of another woman, enduring the pain until she finally found the courage to ask for a divorce. Her decision took Maximus by surprise, and he refused to let her go. But fate had other plans, and a tragic event forced the divorce to happen sooner than anyone expected. Afterward, Mary tried to rebuild her life, hoping to find love again and happiness that would last. But the scars from her past made it hard for her to trust or believe in love again. She faced many moments of anguish, sadness, and loneliness. Yet, through it all, she slowly began to find herself and step back into the light. Perhaps this time, she wouldn’t have to face everything alone. Maybe someone new would come into her life, someone who could be her rock and her reason to live. Although she learned that the past was never truly left behind, she also discovered that with a strong foundation, even the most broken things could still stand tall. Life had taught her about the three kinds of love: the one that teaches you how to love, the one you wished was yours but wasn’t meant to be, and the one you never saw coming that heals your wounds and brings true happiness.

“Bro, it’s not a big deal. I’m just fucking her.” My heart stopped. Kendall’s voice replied, “But man, what would people think if you made her your girl? That’d be crazy work.” “I’m not stupid,” Jalen said flatly. “I’d never make her mine. It’s only sex, nothing more. And honestly? It’s not that good anymore. I was gonna let her down easy before break.” ...... Aria, a plus-size beauty, thought her scholarship and condo arrangements were a dream until she met her roommate, Talia. Rich, spoiled, and instantly cruel, Talia made Aria's life miserable. Talia’s new boyfriend, Jalen, was the campus golden boy. When Aria and Jalen were paired for a project, they clicked in ways neither expected from late night talks to shared secrets and undeniable sexual chemistry. On Halloween night, during an all campus party, Aria sees Talia cheating on Jalen. One emotional night led to an affair that changed everything… until Jalen says some really damaging words to his roommate that were unforgivable and also heard by a once happy but now upset Aria. Disappointed, fed up, and heartbroken, Aria leaves campus and never looks back. TEN YEARS LATER Aria returns for the ten year reunion, confident, stunning, and a self-made CEO. Jalen is still gorgeous… but stuck in a miserable marriage with Talia. She ignores him. Talia tries to humiliate her. Aria wins the room. As she leaves, Jalen kisses her. She lets herself feel it, then slaps him and walks away. THE BUSINESS MERGER Jalen’s cruise line needs Aria’s brand to revamp their image. She agrees, reluctantly. Now they’re forced to work side by side, trapped between old wounds and new sparks. Some love stories never die. But some can burn you twice.

“Give me one reason, Liv.” He stalked toward me, cornering me against the edge of the desk. “One good reason why I shouldn’t bend you over this desk and fuck you senseless.” My breath caught. “This is wrong, Damon. So wrong.” I pressed my palms flat against his chest, trying to create space. “You’re my brother-in-law…” “Not yet, love,” he whispered, fingers curling around my waist possessively. “You’re still engaged to him, but the man you’ll be getting married to…” Two fingers slipped into my heat, making me gasp. “…is me.” I should’ve walked away. I should’ve resisted. But I couldn't forget what it felt like to be his. * Olivia have the perfect life. The perfect fiancé. Marcus is everything she thought she wanted—sweet, charming, dependable. Safe. She thought she have it all figured out... Until the night of her engagement party, when she comes face-to-face with Damon—her ex. The man who had broken, damaged and left her for ruin, three years ago. The man she’s about to call brother-in-law. Now, old wounds rip open. Feelings she thought she buried, clawed their way back to the surface. And the man she once loved? He isn’t asking this time. Damon wants her back. And he’ll burn every bridge, including the one with his own brother—to make her his again. NOTE TO READERS: This is a dark, emotional, and scorching hot love story. It features a possessive anti-hero, messy family drama, emotional trauma, and morally gray decisions. If you’re looking for a soft romance with flowers and sunshine, this might not be it. But if you crave forbidden passion, flawed characters, and a love story that burns through betrayal and pains… Welcome to Olivia and Damon’s world.