Raven Alistar has been on her own for the last two years. Abandoned at sixteen, she found a job working as a waitress alongside her roommate Janice at a small diner. It wasn't much, but she was surviving, a feat her friends thought was worth celebrating. With an eighteenth birthday just around the corner, Raven's friends help her plan a celebration of her accomplishments. The party is shortlived and thrown into chaos when a gang of vicious strangers crashes it. They attack her guests and attempt to capture her when a beautiful stranger swoops in to save her life. Reluctantly she trusts him to save her and amid their travels, Raven learns the hard truth about her parents and her role in the world of darkness she never knew existed... until now.
Raven could feel the cold, wet breath of something breathing inches from her neck. A twinge of fear knotted in her belly. She wanted to scream but willed herself to do as her father asked and remain still and quiet.
" As the moon glows, the fire will rise below. The world will never know the faces that we show,"
Raven silently remembered the words of her mother's lullaby, as she closed her eyes. Suddenly, she hears a scream and the sound of beasts tearing at something. She jerked awake, covered in a pool of sweat. " Ugggggggh, " she groaned aloud. " another nightmare. I'm getting too old for this." The busy sounds of the morning let her know that everyone's day had already started. She quickly flipped out of bed, her hair a messy mass of curls around her head. The cold floor made her quickly regret ditching her socks in the middle of the night. " Who sleeps with socks on anyway," she grumbled to herself, making her way to her shared bathroom hoping her roommate was already awake and seeking breakfast. The loud beeps from her phone startled her as she started to daydream while brushing her teeth. Pretty sure that was not her first alarm, she hurried to find her uniform before she missed the last bus to work. "Marvin is going to be pissed, " she said, finally glancing at the tie before finally rushing out the door to catch the next bus. "Hey! Watch it! , " a customer yelled as Raven rushed through the doors of Betty's Diner, already busy with the late morning rush. She quickly apologized and rushed to the kitchen to grab her apron and clock in. Just as she was about to tie her last string, she felt a familiar feeling of dread. "Well, well, well, look who's finally here. Ms. Alistar, yet another tardy?" asked the pretty unamused voice of her boss, Marvin. To be expected, he was not happy. He began impatiently tapping a pen on the counter. The annoying sound caused Raven to roll her eyes before plastering on a fake smile and turning to face him. "Oh, I was meaning to tell you that I was planning on closing tonight to make up for my tardies. I worked it out with Wilma. I'm going to give her a much-deserved break tonight." she said smoothly, hoping her confidence would mask her lie. The pen tapping stopped, which was a great sign. She knew he was buying it from the look on his face. Unfortunately, for her, she was going to have to live up to her words. Marvin raised his eyebrows and smiled, " Well that's very nice of you. I understand that you live quite a distance from the diner so this could make up for your tardies. However, " His expression changed back to his normal, tight-lipped look, " don't make it a habit." Without another word, Marvin went into his office and loudly closed the door. Despite the extra work she just made for herself, Raven was filled with relief. " I'm just glad to still have my job," she grumbled to herself, she plastered on her fake smile and headed to the busy floor to start work and fill Wilma in on her shift switch. Unfortunately, she arrived in the middle of the rush. Before she could even think she was going table to table filling orders and taking requests. Before long she lost herself in the rhythm of work, careful not to make mistakes because she was sure that the only reason that she hadn't been fired, was because she was such a hard worker. "Thanks for coming, " she smiled to herself as she collected a few tips from her tables and cleared and cleaned them as quickly as she could. "Hello! Welcome to Betty's! " she greeted without looking as the jingling sounds of the door rang as customers entered. Loud laughter and loud voices began to take over the other sounds in the diner. "Rayyyyyyyyyy!" a familiar shrill voice yelled. Filled with excitement, Raven turned sharply, almost dropping the dishes she was carrying. It was her roommate Janice and a couple of her friends. She was holding several bags and boxes. " Shopping? I see," Raven asked, smiling genuinely. " Let me get you guys a table so my boss isn't a jerk." Seating her friends at the nearest booth, she quickly prepared to take their drink orders. "Girl, what are you doing, " Janice said giggling. "Do you even remember what I'm doing here?" All of their friends were smiling and looking at her so mischievously, Raven started to feel nervous. "Umm, I was hoping you brought me something to eat other than diner food," she said with a laugh. " I thought you were out getting breakfast this morning!" Janice and her friends all looked at each other and laugh. Confusion and excitement were growing in her but having her friends all laugh at her was a little uncomfortable. Noticing her that they were making her uncomfortable, Janice got them all to settle down. "Ray!! I really can't believe you forgot your birthday!" Suddenly Janice, their friends, and the entire Betty staff began to sing "The Happy Birthday Song". Covering her face with both hands, Raven began to blush viciously. She looked around and even, MARVIN was singing. "Okay! Okay, guys, back to work, " Marvin said with a laugh returning but always serious about productivity, going back into his office after seeing everyone returning to their duties. Waiting for the sound of Marvin's office door closing, Raven finished cleaning up her tables with a smile. "You guyyyyys! You know how I am about surprises! " Raven said to her friends, unable to hide how happy she really was. "It was just a teeeeeeeeny tiny one, " Janice laughed. "Sooo.. about this party, Ms. Finally 18." Raven had only been to one party in her whole life and had never thought much about having one of her own. The whole idea was kind of exciting. " Me? Have a party? Really? " Raven scoffed, but the excitement was ever present in her expression. "Yep! It's happening TONIGHT! I honestly just wanted to see how you felt about it because I've been planning this for weeks!" "JANICE!" Raven was shocked. She had never had anyone celebrate her before. Raven only had nightmares of her real family and had always been from foster home to home. Overwhelmed with emotion, she could feel tears building up. Sensing her friend's feelings, Janice stood and hugged Raven. " I want to make this a birthday to remember! You deserve it, love." Janice said with a reassuring smile. Their friends cheered on in excitement, making her even more excited. "You're right this is going to be great!" She exclaimed. Awwwww Shit. The excitement Raven felt was somewhat dampened. She remembers her little shift switch from earlier. She was closing the diner tonight. " You guyyyyys, " she groaned. " I forgot I agreed to close tonight." "What! On your birthday? Why would you do that?!" Janice said with a frown. " I forgot it was my birthday –remember?" Raven said sarcastically. She leaned on the table, grumpy that she took on a double shift on her birthday. She huffed angrily because closing meant getting home at 11:30 at the earliest. "When would I even have time to get dressed?" She thought. Seeing the sadness on her friend's face, Janice was determined to figure out something. Filled with determination, " The party will go on!" She said loudly, causing a few other guests to look their way. " Girl keep it down before Marvin comes out here." Raven giggled at her friend who was now standing up with so much determination it was comical. "No, I'm serious. We will party no matter what time you get off. We'll make it work. I have to make some arrangements but we can do it!" Janice took the last sip of her drink and dug frantically into her purse. She threw some money on the table and grabbed the hand of her friend seated next to her. "Come on you guys! We have some work to do to keep this party going all night." They hurried quickly from the restaurant, causing a slight commotion. Raven stood there blinking and a bit flustered. She began to mechanically clear the table of her friends and began to think about the excitement of having her first-ever birthday party. Growing up in foster homes, she had never met anyone who cared about anything other than the financial gain they would receive from taking care of her. She had many memories of kicking other kids' asses, especially the boys who always wanted to touch her without her permission. She remembers her happiest birthday was when she turned 15, got a job, and filed for emancipation. She met Janice when she was 16, an 18-year-old shopaholic who wanted a little freedom from her parents. To gain some real-life experience as a young adult, Jancie looked for a roommate for her cozy apartment. After interviewing several applicants, Janice fell in love with Raven's laid-back demeanor and immediately felt the urge to be a big sister to her. She smiled to herself as she continued to clear tables. She knew that no matter what, her "sis" would make tonight a night to remember matter how late into the night they would have to travel.
After a devastating heartbreak, Felicia reinvents herself into her idealized version of herself. She is secretly obsessed with revenge after being humiliated at a mixer last year. Unaware of the growing friction between friends and colleagues around her, Felicia begins to navigate her everyday life as a sophomore college student whose world is all about her. As new flames spark with an old love begins to drag more and more of her loved ones into her dangerous plot. With her loyal and lustful roommate, by her side, what happens when everything around them becomes a web of secrets and lust?
The curse sweeping Elysia worsens, creating a world filled with mystery and wonder. In Yunina Diolass' life, the only goal is to survive as she spends her time scraping together just enough charms to make it through the day. When separated from her companion, Yunina finds herself in trouble. She escapes with her life, but along the way, she encounters an old mage who holds a mysterious secret. With twists and turns at every path, Yunina quickly realizes that her life will never be the same.
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
Sawyer, the world's top arms dealer, stunned everyone by falling for Maren—the worthless girl no one respected. People scoffed. Why chase a useless pretty face? But when powerful elites began gathering around her, jaws dropped. "She's not even married to him yet—already cashing in on his power?" they assumed. Curious eyes dug into Maren's past... only to find she was a scientific genius, a world-renowned medical expert, and heiress to a mafia empire. Later, Sawyer posted online. "My wife treats me like the enemy. Any advice?"
Desperate to handle her grandmother's towering medical bills, Gianna agreed to a contract marriage with Tristan, the enigmatic man she'd once shared a one-night stand with. She assumed they'd fulfill each other's needs and dissolve the arrangement once the terms expired. Unbeknownst to Gianna, this marriage was a dream Tristan had clung to for ten relentless years. Certain she was just filling someone else's role, Gianna prepared to leave when that other woman returned. But Tristan, his eyes burning with unspoken emotion, seized her trembling hand and declared, "You’re mine. Now and always."