Alyanna Savi Romero is a beautiful young woman who lives with her dad and loves him dearly, but he has a dirty little secret he's been keeping to himself that he's afraid Yanna will discover. Yanna believes in love and aspires to be able to find it in the future. What happens if she meets Mark Thaddeus Hernandez, a husband material and a CEO? What is going to happen with their lives as they change from strangers to husband and wife in a glimpse of an eye? But what if after everything settled she faces a tragedy that she didn't see coming? Will she be able to make it?
Friday. 7 o'clock. Advanced Calculus. This is where I am right now. I haven't been paying attention in class. I know how to do this, so when I draw in my smallish sketchbook, I let my mind wander.
I began to think about the summer. I would backpack around Europe during that summer. I would meet new people, make new friends, and maybe even fall in love. I also began to think about what I'd do at school.
My dad said that my inheritance is a small business that I can do whatever I want with. I got it when I am 21. I'm 17 and almost 18 now. Ha, funny! I talked about The Sound of Music. Anyway, I'll be 18 in less than two weeks, which is about how much time I have left in my senior year of high school. Yes, you're right. My birthday is also my graduation.
"Ms. Romero, Ms. Romero. Ms. Romero!" Mr. Martian says to me, and he shouts the last part.
I look up at him and quickly close my sketchbook. "Yes?" I'm not sure, but I'm going to ask.
"Did you learn anything?" Please. I heard him talk about our plans for the week on Monday. Also, he never changes the homework, so I think I'm safe.
"Yes. It's on pages 10–12 of our workbook, plus problems 5 and 6." You can see that I remember everything. When I was 5, my mom was packing up everything she owned while wearing a navy blue sweater. I remember that she called Miss Kay from down the street and asked her to come watch me until my dad got home. I remember starting up her car and seeing it leave the driveway. I still remember the tears she made me cry when she left. I remember that when she left, she made my dad cry. I'll never forget the last time she put me to bed. I don't forget, but sometimes I wish I could.
"Oh. So, that's that." He made his way back to the front of the classroom. "Class dismissed. "Yes, at last. Freedom.
I ran out of the classroom, to my locker, and then out the door to my big maroon truck. When I get home, I take off my stuffy uniform and put on some comfy sweats.
I get started on my homework. When I'm done with math, which is easier to say than calculus, I move on to English. I finish the outline for a research paper, but since the paper wasn't due until Wednesday, I stop working on it. My best friend Charlie called me. I say no and switch to FaceTime.
"Hey! What's happening?" I ask. Charlie lives in a state other than his own. When he was 15, he moved. We stayed friends and talked every day at the same time. This wasn't on time.
"Nothing," he says, pausing and turning his back on the camera. I feel like he's sad or something. "Accept the fact that I'll be staying with you for a week!"
My eyes get big. "How dare you! I swear you must be kidding!" He is not at all sad.
"I'm not joking. Honest." He raises his hands so I can see them and puts one hand over his heart.
"When are you going to leave?" I ask
"About 1 minute later. be there by 12 o'clock." Oh no, 5 hours.
"Ok. Well let you go. I'm so excited to see you!" My grin is very big.
"So are you, Yanna." We get off the phone, and I go to the kitchen to find something to do until dinner.
As I walk to the kitchen, my dad sends me a text message.
Dad: I'll be late getting home. Make sure you give Charlie a good time.
Yanna: Ok dad. What do you have in mind? Staying up late?
Dad: I'm going to play cards with the boys.
Yanna: Don't do anything stupid dad.
Dad: I won't. Love you Yanna!
Yanna: You too dad
Since I won't be eating dinner with my dad, I got some chicken and Mac and cheese ready after our short text conversation. I made the choice to eat it early. When Charlie gets here, I might have something else. I'm not sure yet.
When everything is ready, I take it all to the living room and put on my favorite movie, Spider-Man Homecoming. After the movie and dinner, I start watching Captain America. I go to sleep, and then I hear my phone ring. I looked at it, and it says Charlie.
"Hello?" I'm still a little sleepy and don't know much right now.
"Did you fall asleep?" He asks.
"What. No. Where do you live?" I change the subject and rub my eyes and ask.
"I'm at the front door." I startle awake and run to the door. When I open the door, I scream and run into Charlie's arms. "Hi to you as well." He says hugging me back.
"I'm really glad to see you!" I put my face right into the bend of his neck.
"I agree, Yanna. Now can we get some sleep? I had to go a long way "He puts me down, then we go inside and go to bed.
I got up late the next morning. I didn't think I would wake up early, but I didn't think I would wake up at noon, either. I woke up a long time after my dad left, so I didn't see him. I woke up and started making breakfast even though Charlie was still sleeping next to me. Well, lunch is a better word.
I found a note from my dad when I got down the stairs. It said "Yanna, I'm coming home early. We have people coming over. Tonight, I'll have Marlee cook. There will be a business partner and his son. I think you should be good. Love you, see you later. -Dad"
I said out loud, "Great."
"What's the big deal?" I jumped when I heard Charlie come into the kitchen and say something. I gave the note to him. He gives it a quick glance and says, "Oh, come on, maybe it's not so bad. He might be someone you like."
"Oh I bet." I say this in jest. The child of a wealthy man. Who gets everything he wants. I'm sure that's also what he's thinking about me."
"He might be different," you know. He gives a shrug.
I don't care about what he says and keep making eggs and bacon.
I looked at the time a little while after we watched Captain America from the beginning again. "Shoot. I should start preparing. You too should. Keep track of everything?"
"Yep. See you at 10 o'clock." He talked back.
"More like 20 for me. This is very hard to do." I show where my face is. We both laugh, and then we both head for the showers. Just so you know, there are separate showers.
I guess it takes me more like 30 minutes to get ready. Dad just came home, and he seems to be upset. "You ok dad?" As he comes back into the living room wearing jeans and a nice polo, I ask him.
I'm so glad this isn't one of those dinners where I have to wear a dress. Not because I don't like dresses, though. I just don't like them. Most of the time, they're uncomfortable, itchy, and not very useful. Still, there are times when I like them.
"Yes I'm fine. Soon, they should be here." The doorbell rang in less than a second.
"I'll get it." I said as I went to the door. When I open the door, I see a man about the same age as my dad and a younger man who looks to be around 21 or 22. "Hi. Welcome. I'm Yanna, come on in." My words make it seem like I'm a robot.
I just can't stop looking at the boy. He looks great. When he looks at me, his icy blue eyes look right into my soul, which makes me catch my breath. I shouldn't feel that way about him. That's not possible.
My dad and Charlie are in the living room, so I bring the guests there. "It's great to see you again, John. We're glad you came." My dad stands up to shake hands with his sons and himself. Can I buy you something to drink before dinner?"
"I'll have a single malt. If you'd like. Mark anything?" John answers. Mark. like that name.
"No, thanks. I'm fine." He says. His voice is deep and strong. Just like his body. He has strong arms and a good jaw.
I sit down in the chair next to where Mark is sitting on the couch. "So, Mark, how are you liking college?" My dad asks. I can tell that he's still worried about something.
"I'm glad I only have one more test to take before I graduate." He says this as he looks at my dad and then at me. He smiles and turns around. Even the small act of kindness makes me blush. Why is this guy bothering me?
"So, you're in your last year of college?" I ask. My guess was pretty close to the truth. He had to be 21 or 22.
"Yes. Monday is my last test." He says.
"Lucky. I have two more weeks to go before I graduate."
"I know." Mark looks over to me and winks. My question is, "Why?" I can see my dad tensing up and getting that nervous look back out of the corner of my eye. Marlee comes into the living room just in time to tell us that dinner is ready.
Mark and I both get ahead. John and my dad went back to talk about something else. Even though I can't hear it very well, I can tell it's angry.
The rest of the dinner goes as planned. Small talk about my plans for the future. It's fun for Charlie to talk to Mark. Dad and John mostly talk to each other, so I'm mostly left alone.
I'm dying for a reason to get out of here. "I'm going to wash the dishes." I say. I really enjoy doing the dishes.
"Honey, you don't have to." Dad says as he looks at me. Ok, so he wants to talk to me right when I want to leave.
"It's ok. I'd like to. You've met me." John just smiles - more like smirks - and Mark just looks a little confused. Charlie knows too much about me to do anything. I go to the kitchen and start washing dishes.
Mark comes in after about 20 minutes, when I'm drying the last plate. He says, "Hey."
I'm facing him now. "Hi. How did the food taste?" I ask. I try to chat with people. He's just standing there making me feel scared. But I don't let it show.
"It went well. This is one of my favorite meals." More small talk with simple answers for small talk.
"Good." I turn around and walk toward the cabinet. I can feel something behind me. I don't jump or jerk, I just act normally. I'm good at not reacting and not showing how scared I am.
Mark grabs me around the waist as I reach up to put away a plate. Before I do, he says to me, "So you're the lucky girl I'm going to marry." What! I drop my plate out of shock and confusion.
"What!" I yell. "What the hell makes you think I'll marry you?" "You didn't hear about the bet, did you?" He asks. His eyes are kind of big. "No. What gamble?" I ask, ruffling my hair with my fingers.
"Wow, your dad didn't tell you." He doesn't give an answer. Dad, Charlie, and John walk into the kitchen.
"Dad, what bet does he mean?" I ask. I'm mad, upset, and confused.
"Honey, come on. Let's go to the living room and talk."
I asked myself, "About what?" No matter what it is, this can't be good.
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."