Christmas is the most magical time of the year, right? That may be true for most people but not Julia. Julia has never had an easy life, she has been homeless for as long as she can remember and now she is raising a three-year-old the same way. She wants more for them both but she has no way of changing things, besides she's soon going to have to leave the only place that she's ever called home to keep them both safe. If anyone finds out her secret her world will be blown apart and that's something that she can't allow to happen. Riley has had the best life imaginable. He has loving parents, grandparents and his best friend Joshua has been by his side since he was a young child. He also runs several successful businesses and has everything he wants in life except for one thing... love. He wants someone to love, to cherish but his past still has a tight grip on him and holds a secret that not even he knows about. What will happen when both worlds collide? Can Julia get the Christmas that she has always dreamed of for her and her little girl? Can Riley learn to forget his past so that he can move forward and when Juila's secret is revealed and blows both of their worlds apart, will it bring them together or tear them even further apart and destroy Julia's world, just like she has always feared it would?
Julia
The snow beneath my feet crunches with every step I take, and a cloud of smoke leaves my mouth as I take a breath while the cold night air wraps around me like a blanket, only there's no comfort from it, it only makes my fingers and nose burn even more with how cold they are.
I wrap my arms around my body as tightly as I can, but I only have on a tee shirt and hoody, so there's not much hope of me getting warm anytime soon. Any feeling in my fingers and toes stopped ages ago, and I'm pretty sure that if it was possible, my nose would fall off at any second. I swear it feels so numb that you'd think that it was frozen.
The holes in my shoes are not helping my situation, and neither is the fact that I'm wearing the thinnest pair of leggings that I have ever owned, but beggars can't be choosers and, unfortunately, for me, begging is part of my life.
As I walk across the front of a coffee shop, I stop in my tracks and take a moment to just enjoy the sight that's in front of me. The place is full of people just enjoying their day while Christmas music plays in the background. A waitress walks in my line of sight with a box overflowing with Christmas decorations and for the first time today, I smile.
Christmas is my favorite time of year and even if I haven't been able to celebrate it in a long time, I will never not love it. As the waitress starts decorating a tall tree in the corner of the coffee shop, I continue to look around. The place looks so cozy and warm that the sight alone makes my whole body ache. What I would give to just sit in that place, just to feel the warmth, even for just a few moments.
I've loved Christmas since I was a little girl, the magic and happiness that it brings and everything else, but more than anything I've always loved a white Christmas. Seeing the streets of New York City covered in a blanket of snow always makes this time of year just perfect.
Well, I used to love a white Christmas, but now a white Christmas makes my life even harder, and this year... well, this year we are having the worst snow that New York has seen in almost ten years, and I'm struggling... struggling to survive it. As I feel tears glaze my eyes, I turn and walk away from the coffee shop and down the dark dingy alleyway that runs along the side of the coffee shop. As I make it to the end, I turn and head for the five tall trash cans that are at the back entrance and I get stuck into my nightly routine. Looking for food.
I've been in pretty much every trash can in this city, but this place always gets rid of the best food. On a good day, I'm usually able to find some meals still in the containers and everything is always still in date and fresh. Hopefully, I can find enough food for the others too. They've been struggling to find food lately because it's so cold that it's freezing before we get to it, which is why I'm here now at this time. Usually, I only come here after the place closes to be careful, but right now I can't afford to wait too long, or we won't eat tonight and, more importantly, neither will Nina.
Within half an hour, I am walking out of the alley with a bag full of food and feeling insanely grateful for it. I have enough for everyone and I know that they will appreciate it. I take my time getting out of the alley without being noticed, then make quick work of heading back home. I come to a crossing and start walking across the road when a sudden loud screech makes me jump and almost drop my food right before a car comes to a sharp stop right beside me.
"What the fuck!" I give him the middle finger and carry on walking across the road eager to just get home to Nina and warm up. "Hey, Miss." I turn when I hear a deep voice calling out only to find a guy getting out of the back of the car that just almost hit me. "I'm so sorry about that. I distracted my driver." he steps closer to me with a sheepish look on his face and I feel the air leave my lungs and, for once, it isn't because of the cold.
As he comes to a stop right in front of me, I realize how tall he is. I would say he is at least 6ft 4/5 and, compared to my 5 ft 4 height, he looks like a Goddam giant. A Goddam Greek giant. His bright blue eyes feel like they pierce through my soul and, even with layers on, it's clear to see that he is insanely broad and muscular and that thought alone is enough to take my breath away.
"Miss, are you OK? Miss!" Shit, I was so completely distracted checking him out that I hadn't even realized that he was talking to me. "Huh, yeah I'm fine. Thank... thank you." I turn to leave, but he steps in my way and stops me by holding onto my arm. This guy reeks of money, designer labels, and expensive cologne while I'm here wearing second-hand clothes that I found in a dumpster four months ago and have been wearing every day since.
And as for perfume, hell, I haven't worn that in a very long time. These days, I'm lucky if I've managed to have a wash in the public toilets downtown and get to smell of their cheap hand soap for a few hours. Unfortunately, for me, I haven't had that luxury for several days. At first, we couldn't use the toilets due to them being closed for maintenance, then once we could finally get in there, there was only enough soap for one person and, of course, Nina came first.
"Miss, is everything OK?" Fuck, I got distracted again. Letting my mind run away with me has been a trade that I have had all of my life and is an absolute pain in the ass most of the time. "Yes, I'm OK. I'm sorry, I'm... I need to go." I pull my arm free from his gentle hold, smile at him, then get myself away from him as quickly as my short legs can move, then just before I head into my alley, I turn around to find the man still standing on the crossway staring my way.
Why hasn't he left yet? He may be the hottest guy that I have ever seen in my life, but this feels a little creepy. Not wanting him to see where I'm going, I walk past the entrance to the alley and head towards the small corner shop. As I get to the entrance, I look back and see his car drive past me. Thank God for that. As soon as he is out of sight, I turn back around and run for the alley eager to get back.
Once I finally get back to everyone, they are more than happy with the food that I have managed to get tonight, and it doesn't take long for us to all get seated around the fire that Scrapper has made, the heat quickly warming up my toes enough so that they no longer feel numb.
"Mommy!" a small pair of arms wrap around my neck as Nina jumps into my lap and hugs me tight. "Hi, baby girl." Nina is only three years old and the cutest little girl in the world. Her long brown hair falls down to her bum and her brown eyes are like chocolate and, despite our situation, she is the happiest little girl. "Where have you been, Momma?"
"To get this." her little face lights up when she sees how much food I've got and, as always, it breaks my heart just that little bit more. "Come on, let's get your tummy nice and full before bed. And that is how our night went, with full stomachs, warmth from the fire, and a smile on our faces, something that is pretty rare these days...
I'm going to miss this place and these people when we leave, but I have no choice. I have to get Nina out of here, and soon, there's no other way.
Book 2 in the Blue Lake series. Book 1 ~ My Omega Slave This book carries on from my 'My Omega Slave' if you haven't read ‘My Omega Slave’ yet I recommend you do before reading ‘An Omegas Hope’ After Emma's first mate died before she even got the chance to meet him she was blessed with a second chance mate only for him to reject her. Relationships with other werewolves have always led to them finding their mates and Emma being left heartbroken and alone. The moment she met Alex she felt an instant connection to him but after being mentally and physically abused by her last boyfriend Jay she loses all hope of ever being happy again. Will letting go of the pain and moving forward be as easy as Emma hopes or will the past always have a heavy hold on her heart? Alex has had his own fair share of heartache and his past is never far from his heart but his love for Emma keeps pushing him forward. He's wanted her from the moment he met her but she needs to heal from her painful past. Can Alex help Emma overcome her hurt and move forward with her or will both of their pasts come back to haunt them and destroy everything they have worked so hard for
Book 1 of the Blue Lake Series Savannah is the daughter of Alpha Jake, at 18 years old she's not in a rush to meet her mate, that is until she takes a trip with her family to the blood moon pack and finds her mate...getting beaten to death. As soon as an Alpha Jack of Blood Moon lays his eyes on Savannah he instantly decides she will be his chosen mate and he will do whatever it takes to get her. Will Savannah be able to save her mate in time or will he die before she gets a chance to know him and how will Savannah handle Alpha Jack and his plans to make her his Luna?
Molly's life was perfect. She was married to her high school sweetheart, surrounded by her friends and family and she was looking forward to the future. But that all ends one tragic night when her whole world is turned upside down. That fateful night leads to Molly and her best friend Tom holding a secret close to their hearts but keeping this secret could also mean destroying any chance of a new future for Molly When Tom's oldest brother Christian meets Molly his dislike for her is instant and he puts little effort into hiding it. The problem is he's attracted to her just as much as he dislikes her and staying away from her starts to become a battle, a battle that he's not sure he can win. When Molly's secret is revealed and she's forced to face the pain from her past can she find the strength to stay and work through the pain or will she run away from everything she knows including the one man who gives her hope for a happy future? Hope that she never thought she would feel again.
Book one of The little wolf series Ashley was the future Beta to the Red Ridge pack that's until his own mother turns the pack against him and leaves him no choice but to run for his life with his father by his side. All Ashley has ever wanted is to meet his mate and have a family but now he's faced with trying to simply survive. Can he and his father make it to somewhere safe or will more heartbreak stand in their way? Gamma Jack has a great life including friends that are more like family but the pain at the loss of his parents is never far away. With no other blood family he dreams of finding his mate and starting a new family but his mate is being hunted and only Jack can save him. Will Jack get to his mate in time or is he destined to forever be alone? The Little Wolf series recommended reading order Loved by the Gamma ~ Jack and Ashley's story His little wolf ~ Liam and Bethany's story
Book two ofThe little wolf series Bethany is 14 years old and a warrior's daughter at the moonshine pack, her life is perfect until that one night that turns her world upside down. Rogues attack her pack leaving her alone to look after herself and her 6-month-old niece Bella. She manages to get away from the pack safely but for how long? There's someone that wants Bethany as his mate and he is willing to go to extreme lengths to get her. As soon as Bethany thinks she is safe, she's proven wrong time and time again. How will she get away from the darkness that is lurking? Will she be forced to be someone's mate or is there anyone out there that can save her? The Little Wolf series recommended reading order Loved by the Gamma ~ Jack and Ashley's story His little wolf ~ Liam and Bethany's story
Rena, forced to flee to escape a marriage to a man as old as her father, made a spontaneous decision to marry Kellan, a stranger whose skills in homemaking were only matched by his financial acumen and his gentle demeanor. As their marriage unfolded, it took on a comforting predictability, with Kellan consistently showing himself to be reliable in every emergency. This sense of security crumbled when Rena uncovered Kellan’s true identity and the hidden motives behind their union. Enraged, she initiated a divorce and disappeared. Yet, it was not long before Kellan found her once again...
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
It took only a second for a person's world to come crashing down. This was what happened in Hannah's case. For four years, she gave her husband her all, but one day, he said emotionlessly, "Let's get divorced." Hannah's heart broke into a million pieces as she signed the divorce papers, marking the end of her role as a devoted wife. Within Hannah, a strong woman awakened, vowing never to be beholden to any man again. Embracing her new life, she embarked on a journey to find herself and command her own destiny. By the time she returned, she had experienced so much growth and was now completely different from the docile wife everyone once knew. "Is this your latest trick to get my attention?" Hannah's ever-so-arrogant husband asked. Before she could retort, a handsome and domineering CEO pulled her into his embrace. He smiled down at her and said boldly to her ex, "Just a little heads-up, mister. This is my beloved wife. Keep off!"
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
Sheila had her back against the wall when her family tried to force her to marry an awful old man. In a fit of rage, she hired a gigolo to act as her husband. She thought the gigolo needed money and did this for a living. Little did she know that he was nothing like that. One day, he pulled off his mask and revealed himself to be the world's top magnate. This marked the beginning of their love. He showered her with everything she could ever want. They were happy. However, unexpected circumstances soon posed a threat to their love. Would Sheila and her husband make it through the storm? Find out!
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?”