Lisa, a driven doctor new to the bustling city of Pietermaritzburg, finds herself in the backseat of a taxi going nowhere near her destination. Enter Dali, a charming taxi driver and self-proclaimed hustler, who takes it upon himself to get her there. Worlds collide as their paths cross, sparking an undeniable connection despite their vastly different backgrounds. Together, they navigate the vibrant chaos of Pietermaritzburg, their lives intertwined by fate and a love that defies expectations.
Sisi, you are the only one in this cab and I've been driving for a while now, are you sure you know where you're going?"
My heart thumps loud enough to jump out of my chest as the cab driver finally asks the big question. Am I sure? I don't know. This is my first time here and I know he's going the extra mile for me and telling him that I have no idea of the place won't make anything easier. It's getting dark and with each beating, it's hard to breathe.
"I... I'm new here but, my aunt told me to get off at a garage, she'll be waiting for me there and I was told the route that the taxi takes, I'll see the garage..."
I fix my mask and look out the window feeling nervous as the cab goes. He looks at me briefly through the mirror and sets his eyes on the road again.
"I can see you are new here is wam and if I was another driver, I'd have long left you on the side of the street... What's your name?"
I look down and play with my fingers. He's slowed down the cab speed and is lighting his cigarette.
"Monalisa," I answer and look at him through the same mirror.
"Lisa... You don't mind me smoking?"
I shake my head no and he nods. The smell of the cheap cigarette takes over the Quantum invading my nose and moving me from a non-smoker to a passive smoker.
"Can you call your Aunt... Lisa," he puffs out the smoke as I shakely dial the number again. Truth is, there's no aunt only an owner but you never say such to strangers, especially Men in a new city.
The phone rings and an excited worried voice comes to the speaker.
"Sisi, you should've been here by now and I'm starting to worry it's getting late, how far are you?"
My cell phone sound is too loud. The driver lets a chuckle before he asks for me to hand over the phone to him.
I'll give the driver the phone ma, he'll tell how far I am," "Alright Sisi," I hand the driver the phone and I look outside at the city lights I am filled with wonder and tired from driving at night and day. They converse in IsiXhosa and I have little understanding of the accent. I do understand enough to express the basics without sounding too coconut, but growing up in Washington with white parents I had no other choice but to hold competence in English.
My parents are white and no, they're not my real parents, mine were killed in a car accident and I was only 3 months then. Susan the nurse and her husband were always trying to get a child and wanted one badly, so when I was stranded with only my name written on the clothing label, they officially adopted me. Me... a Black Child with thick curly hair and zero white genes in me... At least with what I know.
They chose to keep my name Monalisa but I grew up being called "Joy" which is my second name and one that I don't want to use now that I'm in the new city.
You know, you are quite slow for a doctor... Lisa," I'm brought back from reality by the cab driver giving me my cell phone back.
"Pardon?" I take the phone looking at him confused.
"They said you must take a taxi that'll drive you to Algoa Park and drop you off by spar but because this isn't a taxi to Algoa, you're at Njoli Sisi Monalisa," I don't even know how far I am from the place I was meant to go but I feel too stupid to even call myself a doctor. Years in medical school yet I can't even know when I'm taking the wrong car... So much for wanting to adapt to the culture of my people. "Oh! good wonderful... How do I get there? Where can I get cabs that go in the area? Please excuse my dumbass..."
I breathe and bite off the sides of my fingers.
"Don't worry about it, I know where your aunt is and I'll drop you off at the gate..."
I feel a sense of relief fills me and I sit back and relax.
"Thanks, and how much will it all cost? And please don't tell me that it's nothing..."
"Haa don't worry about it, Lisa... Just paying it forward. I was also helped by a cab driver when I first came here knowing no one."
Well, bless your heart... And this may be going off but I didn't get your name..."
My jitters seem to calm a bit. I thought I'd have to ask the driver to take me to the nearest B&B and the extra costs would've emptied my pocket before I even started working.
He exhales and becomes quiet for a good minute.
"You, you call me Dali..."
I take it in and digest it. He turns over his shoulder and gives me a short smile of comfort more so for him than me.
I finally get a clear line of his face. Full of scars by the neck... the days of struggle drawn on the map of scars filling his dark skin, he also needs a good bath. I'm not judging or anything because he's a hard worker but I must add that his hygiene is iffy... Has he even eaten anything good the past hours he's been on the road? Oh god, why am I even worried about someone who makes three times my monthly pay in a matter of days? Taxi drivers are the real rich people if you ask me.
"Susan was right. You are really beautiful Joy,"
"Thank you very much, Ma."
The owner smiles as she welcomes me inside the house, I look around at what's to be my new home and smile briefly at her. Dali pushes the luggage in and they chat about something in IsiXhosa that I can't understand.
They laugh in between as I'm still looking around the cozy home. The kitchen is small and opens to the eating and TV area. Two bedrooms and a small hallway that goes to the bathroom and the backdoor. The walls are bright white with a touch of beach blue and silver tools. It fits a young single doctor like myself.
Crimson Island. Home of heinous chaos. There was blood and tears. And evil plans. A crossbreed. A no-go. A wolf who hasn't found a mate. My family is not interested in me. My alpha rejected me. And my friend turned me down. So I recently received a new pack assignment. The island of Crimson. The worst of the wolf type calls this place home. Vicious. Beasts are cruel. Wicked actions. I'm not among them. But I'm also not a Midnight Wolf. I'm something completely different; an Omega stuck in the body of an Alpha. All the guys turn their heads as I go one step closer to my doom. I'm raw flesh. Property that must be claimed. Hide and seek has evolved into a game of life and death. With fangs and claws. As well as malice and grief. Only the most powerful will survive. Enter at your own risk. In a world where packs define power, Garnet Hazel, a strong-willed she-wolf of the Midnight Pack, is destined to unite with the son of the rival Shadow Alpha. As the mating ceremony unfolds, a shocking revelation shakes the foundations of her existence, leading to a perilous journey of self-discovery and forbidden love. Crimson Island is a tale of identity, betrayal, and redemption, where love transcends pack loyalties and challenges the boundaries of fate.
Isabella, a fierce she-wolf, has always known she will one day be Alpha. However, when the Crimson Moon rises, her partner rejects her, destroying her world. Now, a renegade wolf with a terrible past demands vengeance, and Isabella must choose between embracing her wounded heart and rewriting her fate.
Rejected by her mate, who had been her long-time crush, Jasmine felt utterly humiliated. Seeking solace, she headed to a party to drown her sorrows. But things took a turn for the worse when her friends issued a cruel dare: kiss a stranger or beg her mate for forgiveness. With no other choice, Jasmine approached a stranger and kissed him, thinking that would be the end of it. However, the stranger unexpectedly wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, "You're mine!" He growled, his words sending shivers down her spine. And then, he offered her a solution that would change everything...
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!
RIEKA She was a naive, chubby, wolfless werewolf, maltreated by her mate to the point where she loses her sanity and womb, her crime was being chubby and less attractive than her peers. GABRIEL He was a handsome, strong willed womanizer, who happens to a hybrid ALPHA prince, the person he loves the most is his kid brother RALPH. He has searched high and low for a mate he could never find. What will happen when he finds out that his beloved brother's ex wife, happens to be his long awaited mate, who was maltreated and is currently mentally unstable? Will he forgive his brother for hurting his mate? or will blood flow?
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
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!"
Five years ago, he upped and left his wife without informing her. He had always felt unworthy. As a result, he decided to go and become a better man. It took him five whole years of daily hard work. When he was satisfied, he returned as a powerful and honorable man. He intended to start a family with his wife. But he got back to meet the greatest shocker of his life. He actually had a daughter!