"Nathan Cross is a shifter born to be an alpha. The loss of his family after an attack on his home of Sweetgrass Island has left him little more than a rogue. The last request of a dying man brings good fortune and Brooke Morgan into his life. While customs dictate that shifters are not to mix with humans, Nathan can't resist an urgent pull towards Brooke that is much more than fate. Working together, they begin to revitalize the island, discovering symbols and uncovering legends that begin to unlock the mysteries that intertwine their troubling pasts. However, a global organization, Omega Development, wants the island for themselves and will do whatever it takes to get it from them. As their bond grows stronger, the odds against them stack higher. When the only choices they have left mean life or death, can they risk it all to stay together? The Bitten Born is created by Rasheedah Prioleau, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author. "
Brooke got into bed alone for the fourth night in a row. Her fiancé, Wayne Davis, was working late as usual in order to finish his latest magazine issue. Normally it didn't bother Brooke, but the moon was full. Ever since she could remember, whenever the moon hung big and bright white in the sky, her nightmares returned.
"They can't hurt you. They're just dreams," she reminded herself before slipping beneath the sheets and letting the exhaustion of the day pull her into sleep. Though she knew that she would fight through a night of terror while she slept, it was always just the end of the dream she would remember. Swimming in a pool of darkness between sleep and wake, voices
'We have nothing to do with it,' a woman yells.
'Your girl was there,' a man hisses. 'She saw!'
'Well she won't see again!' the woman yells back.
Then everything becomes the sound of crunching metal, sprinkling of shattered glass, a flash of sharp fangs, and pools of thick blood.
Brooke woke up in a cold sweat just before dawn.
***
"You don't need therapy." Over the phone, Wayne's voice seemed half distracted and annoyed. Brooke had decided to try therapy in order to remember her past and end the nightmares. Wayne wasn't a fan of the idea.
"When you're ready to remember you will," he assured her.
"I don't think that's how it works, Wayne," Brooke smiled as she took a left turn towards her doctor's office. "Anyway, I'm almost there. I'll call you back when I'm on my way home."
"Alright," he said reluctantly before hanging up.
Ten minutes later she was on her therapist's couch.
"Understand that sometimes returning memories can feel scary, but I'm always here. If you want to stop just say so," Dr. Foster reminded her before they began.
"In my early childhood, I think we would visit with family in the south. During winter holidays."
"But you can't remember the names or the faces of the people around you?" Dr. Foster asked. "Not even your parents?"
"No, it's all a blur. Like looking at them through fog or frosted glass. I remember a woman, I think my mother saying that, 'Winters in the south are much milder than winters in New York'."
"And... How far back can you remember?" he asked while scratching out his notes.
"Being three, maybe... In the backyard of some relative at a barbecue get together with a bunch of cousins I think. I'm playing alone...
Brooke fell quiet as the memory took over.
She could feel her younger self commanding her legs to stand and move towards an escaping fur ball.
She could remember the excitement of toddling forward, still clutching her blue crayon, on fast and shaky legs maybe falling but always getting up to keep going. She kept the fur ball in her sights, delighted as it jumped and darted in front of her, leading her this way and that as giggles escaped her. In the thick of the woods, the furry creature halted to turn and face her.
The fur ball became a wolf pup with grey and white fur and crystal blue eyes. He licked his tiny fangs as his ears pricked up to the sound of the big people coming after her. He backed away, warily as she continued to toddle toward him. A big person halted her progress, scooping her up in loving arms to carry her away before she could get closer. Dropping her blue crayon in the process, she could see the fur ball with his ears set high, watching her as she was taken away.
"Bye bye, puppy!"
While remembering, Brooke knew that this wasn't the last time he'd come to taunt her in a game a chase. She saw herself growing taller and her legs became stronger as the puppy became lean and strong. She knew she was chasing a wolf, but she wasn't scared. It was just a game.
Suddenly, she was eight or nine years old, chasing after the young wolf into the woods. He lost her with ease. She stopped running when her legs became tired and her lungs became winded. She was ready to admit defeat and turned to go back home when she heard a loud whine followed by a painful howl.
She hurried towards the cry, ignoring the warning in her head that she should stop and go home.
As the young wolf came into view pawing a snare around his neck she hurried towards him. The closer she got, the more frantic he became pulling the snare tighter as she took note of the metal wire clinging to his neck and followed it to the other end latched to a small tree.
She tried to motion him to calm down, but he kept pulling until he passed out. She hurried in to loosen the snare from his neck and slipped it over his head but as she did, she noticed that the wolf's hair became thinner and his body began to shift. After a few blinks and gasps she had gone from looking into the face of a young wolf to looking at the face of a young boy.
His hair was short dark and wavy. His skin toasted pecan tan. His dark brows and lashes crinkled as he opened his eyes and she caught a glimpse of them shifting from crystal blue to deep hazel. She became light headed and the world began to spin around her as her knees grew weak and she blacked out beside him.
She was in a familiar world of darkness but she could hear raised voices.
It begins with a woman, clearly upset
'These aren't the old days. This is not a game. Someone could get hurt and it could start another war!'
'All of this is our land. If they step on it and get hurt then it's their fault,' a man replied.
'No, it's not that simple and you know it! The packs work an eye for an eye! And more... We have nothing to do with it!' the woman yelled.
'Your girl was there,' a man hissed. 'She saw!'
'Well, she won't see again!' the woman yelled back.
Then everything became the sound of crunching metal, sprinkling of shattered glass, a flash of sharp fangs, and pools of thick blood.
***
"There is a lot to unpack," Dr. Foster said as Brooke opened her eyes and came back to the present.
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
Marrying her best friend was a dream come true for Kelly, but everything truly has a limitation. Pierce is Kelly’s first love, but as his best friend, she knew well there was always another woman deep in his heart. Lexi Gilbert. The woman Pierce could never forget even if he had already been arranged to marry Kelly. *** Kelly finally realized their happy marriage of the last three years was just a beautiful dream when Pierce asked for a divorce just because Lexi returned. She could only be his best friend even if she was carrying his baby. *** Since their friendship had become a cage, Kelly chose to set him free, as well as the miserable herself. But why then, it was Pierce who became the one who refused to move on? To make matters worse, her devil stepbrother also domineeringly stepped in at the same time, asking her to be his. *** Her Prince Charming vs. Her Devil Stepbrother? How could Kelly save her heart in this battle of love and hate?
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
Everyone thought Lorenzo truly loved Gracie, until the day of their daughter’s heart surgery. To Gracie’s utter shock, Lorenzo gave the precious organ needed by their child to another woman. Devastated, Gracie opted for a divorce. Fueled by her need for revenge, Gracie joined hands with Lorenzo’s uncle, Waylon, and orchestrated Lorenzo’s downfall. In the end, Lorenzo was left with nothing and consumed by remorse. He pleaded for a reconciliation. Gracie thought she was free to move on with her life, but Waylon held her back in a death grip. “Did you think you can just walk out on me?”
On her wedding night, Natalie's stepmother set her up to marry Jarvis, a disfigured and disabled man. Fortunately, she managed to escape, but little did she know that later she would fall for the man she was betrothed to.Jarvis pretended to be a poor man, but he didn't think that he'd fall head over heels for this woman.Their life went on until one day, Natalie found out her boyfriend's little secret."Huh? How could you have billions of dollars' worth of assets?" she asked in disbelief.Jarvis didn’t know how to respond.Being met with silence, she gritted her teeth angrily. "They said that you couldn't walk, but as far as I can see, you're strong enough to run a marathon."Still, he remained silent.Natalie continued, "They even said that you only have a few years to live. What about now?"Finally, Jarvis opened his mouth to explain. "Honey, this is all just a misunderstanding. Please calm down. Think about the baby.""Jarvis Braxton!"The man knelt down immediately.
"I will work for you till I pay back the amount in full.. I want to be a maid.. Please… I don't want to be a breeder" I started to plead once everyone left the ward.. He saw her begging but his stone cold heart didn't melt. "I never tasted a weak duckling Alpha.." He smirked and walked toward me.. I walked back with fear till I hit the wall. "I am not weak." I said in a low tone and tried to push him away.. But his solid body didn't move an inch.. I could not breathe properly because of his aura.. "I will make you beg me for pleasure…" His words disgusted me. I didn't talk back as his Alpha tone was overbearing.. I felt weak wherever he was touching me.. "You will be my toy till you get pregnant.." I turned my head away with disgust but he touched my cheek roughly and caught my chin. He made me look into his eyes.. His hand covered my neck and gripped it hard.. "I will come to you every night to f**k you.." His eyes became devilish as if he was looking at his prey.. Suddenly I felt scared of him more.. and my breathing became suffocating.. He is pressing my windpipe to make me suffer… My eyes become red while I shake my head slowly... "No… no.." I murmured and I forgot to breathe in his presence.. He was scaring hell out of me.. "Girl.. You will be lucky if you get pregnancy soon otherwise I will have my ways to f**k you.." I dropped my eyes not able to hear such f***y words.. Tears rolled down my cheeks when he loosened his grip.. I don't want to believe that my father sold me as a breeder.. I can't accept it.. "If you agree or not.. it doesn't matter.. spread your legs when I come to you.." He pushed me back again and the tip of his nose touched my cheek while I looked at him scarily.. He nibbled on the crook of my neck and kissed my sensitive places… "Remember I am your Alpha from now on and don't you dare to say no…" he said huskily and pushed me back fiercely.. His cruel and harsh words made me fall back on the ground..