My name is Ava AddAway, if you looked at me, you'd think I was normal, just an average teenage girl. Red hair, green eyes. Your typical high-school teenager. But then you'd be wrong. I'd tried hard to go unnoticed, live under the radar of the supernatural world. But all that changed when I was required to attend Thornton High, a change in shifter law meant I had no choice in the matter. Soon I find out I am to train and take my place as Alpha or the new moon clan would die out. No big deal, right? I must attend Thornton High a school to train Alpha's. I don't fit in My father was branded the greatest evil the world had ever seen. Vampires and werewolves are enemies. Here I was both. I had to go and make things worse. Save the heir to the midnight throne. Now he's stuck to me like glue. Literally. By saving him I have caused a life dept. If I die, then so does the son of the king of all alphas. No problem, right? I just have to stay alive. That's hard to do when the vampires want me to take my place as their queen. My father was the king of vampires, now I've come of age, they want me to rule. In order to become their queen, I must die to trigger my vampire side. Not going to happen. The vampires won't stop. My life is in danger.
"You've got to be kidding me?" I pull on locks of my red hair in frustration, while yelling at the white owl. The owl ruffles its feathers and turns its back to me. Apparently, I've overstepped the mark. Owls are sensitive creatures. But it wasn't the Owl's fault. I knew that. He was just the messenger, of bad news. Still, he's an easy target to vent off my anger at the sudden news. Shooing him away I clutch the letter while dragging my feet to the old and threadbare sofa. Plopping down and kicking off my shoes I slam my eyes shut. It had been a long time since an owl had brought me a letter.
I'd done well living under the radar. Biting my bottom lip, I open my eyes and reread the dreaded mail. I have a good mind to call the Owl back, send him with a message saying, "Fuck off." I think better of that idea. A target would be put on my back and a reward for my head. I'd end up on the supernatural most wanted list. That would just be my luck.
"Dear Ava Addaway,
As the laws have now changed. You are expected to attend Thornton High. All shifters are required to attend a High School that cater to shifters. As you are the daughter of an Alpha you must attend the high school for Alpha's. If you fail to attend, then by shifter law you will be sentenced to death. We do not take kindly to those who turn their backs on the old ways and laws of shifters. As a shifter we expect you to adhere by the ancient laws.
We look forward to seeing you Monday morning at nine am sharp.
Mrs Holloway."
Screwing it up into a ball I throw the letter into the trash. If I ever set eyes on the idiot that changed the dam rules, I am going to rip out their throat. Taking deep breaths, I count to ten. I can feel Jaya stirring inside me, wanting to take over and deal with the threat. My hands begin to change into claws. Closing my eyes I take deep breaths in and slowly exhale. I want to scream and shout. That was something I couldn't do though. I was living in a hostel for homeless teens. That kind of behaviour would see me thrown out on my rear. Sleeping rough wasn't something I ever wanted to do again. I'd been here a year now. Well, who cares if I scream? My time in this town has come to an end. My father would have known what to do. He would have got me out of this situation. A pang of sorrow fills my heart. When I was fifteen my father died. My mother had died when I was ten. Now I had just turned sixteen and was expected to attend Thornton High. A school my mother once attended. My mother was a werewolf, the Alpha of the New Moon pack. Even though I loved and still love my mother dearly. I had no intention of joining a pack and playing by shifter law. My wolf Jaya wanted me to be part of a pack. She wanted to run with others of our kind. She wanted to be free.
That wasn't my plan. My plan was to finish High School and get out of this dead-beat town. I didn't have a plan of what I wanted to do after school. College wasn't an option. I'm an orphan and money well its non-existent at the moment.
My parttime job as a waitress doesn't pay much. But it's enough to get me by. I would attend the school. I would play their game for now. Until I can find a way out of the world of the supernatural's. I could feel Jaya's disappointment. But she didn't understand the danger we would be in. No one could ever know what we were and attending Thornton High would put us in danger. I had to keep us safe. My hands returned to normal and clench them into fists at my side as the last of the tension leaves me body.
Thornton High was a six-hour bus ride away, maybe even longer. Sighing I begin to collect the few belongings I have, stuffing them into a holdall that had seen better days with a huff. In the little kitchen I pull up the floorboard and pull out the little money I have saved. Anger wells inside me. That money was for my future. Now I'd have to spend it on a bus ticket, with little left over. For a split-second tears well in my eyes, quickly I brush them away. I am strong. I will get through this next chapter in my life. All I must do is keep myself to myself and blend in. Easy right?
Hoisting the holdall over my shoulder I catch my reflection in the dirty and streaked window. My bewitching ocean green eyes stare back at me. My father was the one that used to say my eyes were the same as my mothers. They bewitched him the moment he investigated them. My crimson red hair hangs loosely over my shoulders in waves. My skin as pale as snow, or perhaps a vampire. I've been told I am beautiful. I don't see it myself. My chin is too pointed and my nose too small. Sighing I move away.
Dragging my feet I walk to the door, giving the little studio room one last look. My future and my plans are now on hold. But I'll get to where I want to be. In time. Life may have thrown me a curve ball, but that wasn't new. Dealing with unexpected changes I've become accustomed too. Nothing will stop me from my goal. I want to be normal. The supernatural world had brought me too much pain and heartache. It was a world I wanted nothing to do with.
Jaya's excitement radiates through me. Pushing her emotions to one side I leave the room that I have called home. Jaya laughs with glee while doubt sparks inside me. I've become good at separating Jaya's feelings from my own. It is necessary to keep us both out of harm's way, I can't let her feelings corrupt my own judgement. I just wish she understood the danger that we were both now in. No one can know what we are and what we can do. Our lives depend upon it.
Jenna Jenson finds herself in a deadly situation that results in a chemical accident. As she struggles to come to terms with the accident, secrets and lies start to reveal themselves. Jenna searches for answers and soon doesn’t know who she can trust. Her family or her new found friends? A legend in Dem’Say Woods is more than just a chilling tale and Jenna finds herself in the thick of it all.
This is a Collection of short horror stories which includes the bestselling short story House Of Horror and Find Me. House Of Horror- When Mathew Hansen first heard the disembodied voice of a woman through the wall of his new London flat, he thought he imagined it. Mind playing tricks, in a flat that settled and creaked like an old woman. Or maybe too much booze fuelling his nightmares. The voice couldn’t be real; just the wind, moving around the old Victorian house. Besides, his bangable neighbour Amanda couldn’t hear the strange chanting sounds. She was just messing with him when she said she did. A little payback for sleeping with her and never calling her back. It must be his imagination. Right? Find Me- With no one to believe her, Mia finds herself thrust from college and into her deceased Grandmother's decrepit home. Returning to the place she swore she'd never return, her haunting childhood comes back with a vengeance. Forced to stay in the deadly house, will she uncover the house's haunting past before it's too late? What bone chilling secrets does the house hide? Mirror Mirror- Skylar finds herself in a horrible accident, one that changes her life. She is forced to move and live with her aunt. Skylar's aunt thinks she is going crazy. As events unfold, Skylar must fight for her life. Will her aunt believe her? Skylar is sure that there is something in the attic. That something wants her dead. And more!!
Kayla Wilson has no memory of her childhood. Found alone and lost in the middle of the woods at the young age of eight. The Wilson’s take her in, treating her as their own. Nightmares plague Kayla every night as she sleeps. Shopping with her best friend, her nightmares become reality sending her life out of control. She is thrust into a new life where her nightmares become more real with each day that passes. She learns there is more to the world than she ever thought possible. Stories and legends all have some truths to them and unfortunately for Kayla she is a part of this new world whether she wants to be or not. She must adapt and fight for her life as a threat awaits her around every corner. Can Kayla handle her new life and survive the evil of the world? Can she uncover the secrets of her past?
After a passionate night, Verena left some money and wanted to leave, but was held by her companion. "Isn't it your turn to make me happy?" Verena, always disguising herself as ugly, slept with her fiance's uncle, Darren, in order to escape her engagement with her unfaithful fiance. Darren had respect and admiration. Word of his romantic escapades circulated, some saying they saw him kissing a lady against a wall and others calling it gossip. Who could ever tame Darren's heart? Then, shockingly, Darren was caught bending down to help Verena with her shoes, all to score a kiss from her!
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
“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?”
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
I received a pornographic video. "Do you like this?" The man speaking in the video is my husband, Mark, whom I haven't seen for several months. He is naked, his shirt and pants scattered on the ground, thrusting forcefully on a woman whose face I can't see, her plump and round breasts bouncing vigorously. I can clearly hear the slapping sounds in the video, mixed with lustful moans and grunts. "Yes, yes, fuck me hard, baby," the woman screams ecstatically in response. "You naughty girl!" Mark stands up and flips her over, slapping her buttocks as he speaks. "Stick your ass up!" The woman giggles, turns around, sways her buttocks, and kneels on the bed. I feel like someone has poured a bucket of ice water on my head. It's bad enough that my husband is having an affair, but what's worse is that the other woman is my own sister, Bella. ************************************************************************************************************************ “I want to get a divorce, Mark,” I repeated myself in case he didn't hear me the first time—even though I knew he'd heard me clearly. He stared at me with a frown before answering coldly, "It's not up to you! I'm very busy, don't waste my time with such boring topics, or try to attract my attention!" The last thing I was going to do was argue or bicker with him. "I will have the lawyer send you the divorce agreement," was all I said, as calmly as I could muster. He didn't even say another word after that and just went through the door he'd been standing in front of, slamming it harshly behind him. My eyes lingered on the knob of the door a bit absentmindedly before I pulled the wedding ring off my finger and placed it on the table. I grabbed my suitcase, which I'd already had my things packed in and headed out of the house.