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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
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?
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
Rose looked at the reports in her hand and was in shock... The reports said that she was one month pregnant, however, how can she get pregnant when she didn't have any man in her life... "Was it because of that dream? Could I get pregnant because I have sex in my dream?" She thought... She didn't have any mental problems, however, except for this she can't able to think about anything... However, she still didn't get out of her surprise when she met the man in her dream... Kevin Davis looked at the reports in her hand and asked, "Is this child mine?" However, Rose didn't answer but asked... "Was that night not a dream?" Kevin was angry because it was his first time and she thinks it was a dream... Kevin forced her to marry him however, Rose didn't want it... She wanted to abort the child but he didn't let her... In the end... Rose agreed to marry him... She looked at Kevin's blue eyes and said, "I will marry you, however, I had two conditions..." "First, after marriage, you can't control my freedom, I still had the right to do whatever I want. Don't worry I won't harm the child." "Second, if I ever found out that you had cheated behind my back then I will leave with my child and you can't stop me..." Both of them got married... However, after she falls in love with him... She found there are hidden secrets in his past...
Maria took her sister’s place and was engaged to Anthony, a disabled man who had lost his status as the family heir. At first, they were just a nominal couple. However, things changed when things about Maria were gradually exposed. It turned out she was a professional hacker, a mysterious composer, and the sole successor to an international jade sculpting master… The more that was revealed about her, the less Anthony could rest easy. A famous singer, an award-winning actor, an heir of a rich family—so many excellent men were chasing after his fiancee, Maria. What should Anthony do?
"Mr. Evans, please maintain some dignity. Don't forget I'm your brother's wife!" Having caught her husband and best friend together in the bed, Elena wanted nothing more than to exact revenge on the people she once called family. She refused to be a pitiful divorcee and vowed to make everyone who had once looked down on her beg for forgiveness. And to start with her newfound freedom, Elena indulges in a one-night stand with a stranger. However, what was meant to be a fleeting escape turns into a nightmare when she learns that the stranger is none other than her husband's older brother! Would Elena be free from the shackles of her marriage? Or would the mysterious stranger make her life a living hell since he seemed to have a personal vendetta against his family? [The story is 18+ and involves mature content.]
"I stood at the edge of my heart and watched him choose her. In the end, I was not the one he needed. I was simply the one he settled for." - Noelle ~~~~~~~ I thought I was the one he loved. But a few days before our wedding, I saw him in a way I never had before. His eyes softened as he spoke to her. His first love, and the very woman who had left him in pieces. Heartbreak was something I knew too well. And as I watched the love he still held for her in his eyes, I realized what I had to do. I couldn't marry a man who wasn't truly mine. With no means to cancel the wedding and lacking the courage to confront him, I made a desperate choice to leave. I painfully gave his first love my treasured engagement ring thinking it was for the best and the only way to free myself. But when he saw that ring on her finger, the fragile world I had tried to escape began to shatter. His obsession to find me and bring me back ignited a dangerous game of cat and mouse.