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Lyra's life seems perfect. She has stellar grades, a loving family, great friends, and the best boyfriend she could ever hope for. But when the dark, brooding Liam invades her seemingly idyllic world, he reveals a truth she's been blind to: her life is far from perfect. As Liam exposes the cracks in her flawless facade, Lyra is forced to confront hidden truths and uncomfortable realities. Yet, in the midst of the chaos, Liam offers her a chance to rebuild and redefine her life. Will LyraE embrace the shadows he brings, or will she cling to her crumbling perfection?
The best kind of music for school mornings played through my earbuds as I hummed along, arranging items on my reading table. Once everything was in place, I checked the room one last time to ensure I hadn't forgotten anything. Satisfied, I turned to the full-length mirror on my wall to inspect my outfit one more time. Perfect. I was rocking a soft, schoolgirl look today: plaid cardigan, short pleated skirt, and long socks. Liam loved this look, which was why he suggested it.
Liam was my boyfriend. He was friends with the popular crowd at school, making him one of them by default. His parents were wealthy and fancy, living on the upper-class side of town, and they were... nice to me. I felt incredibly lucky to have Liam as my boyfriend. He was always looking out for me and being so kind. Many girls would kill to be in my shoes, but he chose me.
Smiling at the thought, I hurried downstairs past my cat, Tilly. She meowed in protest when I didn't pet her, so I turned around. "Gosh, you're so demanding," I sighed playfully, reaching out to pet her. She nearly sliced my hand with her claws.
"Well, make up your mind!" I said, pulling my hand back. Then I noticed the Country Club pin on my sweater. Tilly hated it. Once I removed it, I could pet her to my heart's content-well, until my ringtone interrupted the music.
It was Liam, and my heart skipped a beat as I realized I was running late. "Hi, Liam!" I said, hurrying to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee.
"Babe, Lyra, tell me you're halfway here," Liam said. He was already at school with his friends.
"Sorry, I'm still making your coffee."
"Well, hurry up! I want to drink it before class begins," he snapped. I rolled my eyes. "Also, there's someone I want you to meet."
I frowned but didn't ask. "Okay, I'll see you in a few."
"Okay, love you."
I smiled, packed my things, and rushed out of the house. Dad was in the front yard, watering plants and talking to the neighbor over the low fence. "Running late?" he asked.
"Yeah, feed Tilly, please!" I replied, nearly sprinting past him. I dumped my stuff in the passenger seat and placed the coffee in the cup holder before getting into the driver's seat.
"Movie night?" Dad called after me.
"Sorry, Mom invited me to the estate. I'll be going there after school."
"She's back from Egypt? Cool, I want a souvenir!" he called. I smiled as I drove off.
I remembered Liam didn't have any first-period classes only when I got to the school parking lot. "Seriously?" I sighed, spotting him and his friends hanging around his big car. I parked next to them. Even though I was late, being Liam Frances's girlfriend had its perks.
"Finally, what took you so long?" Liam asked, taking my hand to help me out of the car.
"Traffic," I said, waving at his friends.
"Hey, Lyra!" they chorused with grins.
"I'll take that," Liam said, smirking as he took the cup from my hand. I folded my arms, frowning.
"What? What's with the funny face?" he asked.
"You made me hurry like you had a first-period class."
After a sip, he frowned and handed the cup back. "You didn't add enough cream. You know how I like my coffee."
"I was in a hurry because of you," I said. "Now you're not even going to drink it?"
Liam rolled his eyes. "It's just coffee, no need to be so sassy and uptight, Lyra. What's with the attitude?"
I blinked and calmed my expression. "It's not like I skipped breakfast or anything," I mumbled.
"Speak up. I hate when you do that," Liam said.
"It's nothing," I sighed, adjusting my bag. Liam was right; it was just coffee. I smiled at him, and his brown eyes brightened.
"If you're not having it, I will," one of the guys said, taking the cup before I could protest. I froze as I realized I didn't recognize him. Was he wearing eyeliner?
"Remember I said I wanted you to meet someone?" Liam said, patting the guy on the back. "This is my cousin, Owen, from New York. He'll be staying with us for the rest of the school year." Liam introduced him with a proud grin, and I waved at Owen, unable to find my voice. He was intimidating, staring at me while sipping my only hope for breakfast.
"Hello, Lyra. Liam talks a lot about you."
"All good things, I hope?" I muttered.
"I didn't catch that," Owen said.
"I have class!" I blurted, louder than intended, causing the other guys to pause their conversation.
"See you later, babe," Liam said, kissing my cheek. "Can you show my cousin to Mrs. Ellis's classroom on your way?"
I glanced at Owen and nodded. "Sure."
"Great, see you at lunch," Liam said, giving Owen a fist bump before letting him follow me.
The hallways were nearly empty since the warning bell had already rung. I kept glancing at the cup of coffee in Owen's hand, regretting not getting breakfast when he pulled out a bagel and took a big bite. The awkward silence was broken by my stomach growling loudly.
"Um... worms," I blurted the worst excuse ever, holding my stomach.
Owen, unfazed, handed me the coffee. "Take this, kiddo."
"Kiddo?" I shook my head. "No thanks, it's yours."
He deadpanned at me, and I gave in. "On second thought..." I took the cup and had a big gulp.
"Hey, don't finish it. It's still mine," Owen said, looking slightly offended.
"Sorry," I giggled, wiping my upper lip.
When he split his bagel and offered me the bigger half, I gratefully accepted. "Thanks," I said with my mouth full.
"So, girlfriend to Liam," Owen said lazily, "what's a girl like you doing with a guy like him?"
"What do you mean?" I frowned, remembering my long-time crush on Liam. He was the guy of my dreams.
"Clueless little thing, aren't you?" Owen hummed, offering no further explanation.
"Mrs. Ellis's class," I said, stopping at a classroom door. "Thanks for sharing."
His grey eyes fixed on me as he stepped closer, almost making me step back into a trashcan. "I don't like sharing my food. So for the love of God, kid, make sure you get your own breakfast every day. Clear?"
I nodded quickly, watching as he brushed golden locks from his face with his ring-covered hand. "All I said was thank you," I murmured.
He rolled his eyes. "You really need to speak up, Squeaky." Then he pushed the door open and stepped into the class.
"Squeaky?!" I exclaimed before spinning around and marching to my own class.
Diana Hartley, an ambitious and independent architect, has built her life with precision and focus. When she lands a dream contract to design a landmark for the McAlister Corporation-a global powerhouse owned by reclusive billionaire Colton McAlister-she's sure this is the project that will launch her into a new league of success. But working alongside Colton proves to be as challenging as it is exhilarating. Colton, known as a ruthless titan in business, is fiercely private and haunted by secrets he keeps buried. Driven by a painful past, he has little time or trust to spare, especially for someone outside his ironclad circle. But Diana's passion and vision intrigue him, sparking feelings he thought he'd buried long ago. As they clash and connect over late nights and city skylines, they find themselves tangled in more than blueprints and business. But when old rivals resurface and a corporate scandal threatens the empire Colton has fought to build, Diana is faced with a choice: protect her career, or risk it all for the enigmatic man who's captured her heart. Can love survive in a world where loyalty has a price and trust is the rarest currency of all?
After a near-death experience, 25-year-old Harper Riley awakens with an inexplicable connection to the moon and an unsettling hunger for the hunt. As the full moon rises, Harper discovers she's been reborn as a werewolf. Enter Maverick Jackson, a mysterious and captivating alpha who claims Harper's transformation is a sign of an ancient prophecy. Will Harper accept her new identity and Maverick's love, or will the dangers of the werewolf world tear them apart?
In 16th century Europe, where humans believe wolves are mere folklore, shape-shifters live secretly among them. Ryker Flynn, last surviving member of the Emberclaw Pack, seeks vengeance against the Shadowmoon Pack for massacring his family. But as war rages between wolves and vampires, Ryker must unite the fractured packs and confront the darkness within himself. Can he overcome his thirst for revenge and lead the wolves to victory, or will the shadows consume them all?
In a world where werewolves are hunted, 17-year-old Luna Reyes discovers she's the last living heir of the ancient Lunar bloodline. Forced to flee her home, Luna joins a secretive pack of rebels fighting against the oppressive government. As the full moon rises, Luna's transformation begins, and she must confront her destiny. Can she reclaim her family's legacy and lead the werewolves to freedom, or will the hunters silence her forever?
When ex-CIA operative Kalliope "Kae" Wilder uncovers the truth about Echelon, a mysterious surveillance program, she's drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse. Joining forces with enigmatic whistleblower Beckett "Beck" Vaughn and rogue hacker Sage Riley, Kae must confront her past and stop Echelon's mastermind, Magnus "The Archon" Blackwood, before global catastrophe strikes.
"Oh" Sicily grinned sheepishly. I could tell she seemed a bit disappointed that he had found out so I figured she was trying to stay away from him. At her petition, Drew let Sicily down and we helped her to her feet. "Are you OK sweetie?" I asked her "I'm fine" Sicily said, nodding profusely at Drew, hoping he'd get the hint and go back to the agency. "Alright, be careful Sicily" Drew said He leaned in to kiss her but she moved back, clearly annoyed, and ducked behind me. Drew threw up his hands in defense, "Alright I get it, I'm leaving". He sighed and sprinted off into the night Beep bop
Eliana was framed by her best friend and her fiance into sleeping with a boy toy in the club and getting impregnated by him. Five years after she had given birth to twins, she returned home and worked under the Moran Group, where she met the CEO-- Maurice. Maurice was a brilliant businessman who did his job well. But in order to stay under the radar, he lived a double life. One as Maurice, and one as Preston. Fate brought the two together again, roping them in on an exciting love story. It all became more complicated when Eliana faced Preston, the man she had slept with before, once again. Now that she was being pursued by two men, how could she ever choose? When would Eliana uncover the secret of Maurice's identity? When was Maurice going to know that he already had two children of his own? How would Eliana face this man when the truth came to light one day? Come and find out.
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
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.
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
"I heard you're going to marry Marcelo. Is this perhaps your revenge against me? It's very laughable, Renee. That man can barely function." Her foster family, her cheating ex, everyone thought Renee was going to live in pure hell after getting married to a disabled and cruel man. She didn't know if anything good would ever come out of it after all, she had always thought it would be hard for anyone to love her but this cruel man with dark secrets is never going to grant her a divorce because she makes him forget how to breathe.
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.