In the summer of 2039, as World War III rages on, young lovers Mary Ellen and Don find themselves torn apart by the draft. Just before Don is sent overseas, they marry in a heartfelt backyard ceremony, determined to cling to their love amidst the chaos. Left behind, Mary Ellen struggles to make ends meet, cleaning houses while anxiously awaiting news from the front lines. With the support of her sister Eloise, who has her own heartbreak to bear, Mary Ellen holds onto hope through letters and dreams of reunion. "Through the Flames of War" is a poignant tale of enduring love, resilience, and the strength found in family during the darkest times.
It was the summer of 2039, and the world was embroiled in the chaos of World War III. The air was thick with uncertainty and fear, and the draft was in full swing, pulling young men from their homes and thrusting them into the front lines. For Mary Ellen and Don, high school sweethearts from the small town of Harpersville, this summer marked the end of their carefree days and the beginning of a journey neither of them had anticipated.
Mary Ellen, with her long blonde hair and big brown eyes, had always been the spirited one, full of dreams and laughter. Don, with his dirty blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, was her anchor, steady and dependable. They had spent their high school years planning their future together, but now those plans were being torn apart by the draft notice that had arrived in the mail.
They sat together on the porch swing at Mary Ellen's house, the letter between them, as if acknowledging it would make it less real. Don held her hand tightly, his thumb gently caressing her knuckles. "I don't want to leave you," he whispered, his voice breaking.
Mary Ellen blinked back tears. "I don't want you to go either, but we have to be strong. We'll get through this, Don. We have to."
As the reality of their situation sank in, they made a desperate plea to their parents: to let them get married before Don had to leave. There were practical benefits to being married, especially during the war. Mary Ellen would be provided housing and other benefits, and in the worst-case scenario, she would be better protected if Don didn't return. After much discussion and heartfelt persuasion, their parents agreed, with the condition that Mary Ellen would house her older sister, Eloise, as well.
The next two weeks passed in a blur of preparations and goodbyes. They decided on a simple wedding in Don's parents' backyard. Mary Ellen wore her mother's wedding dress, its delicate lace and ivory fabric complementing her natural beauty. She wove light purple flowers into her wavy hair, matching the bouquet she held. As she walked down the makeshift aisle, her heart pounded with a mix of love and fear. Don stood at the altar in a gray suit with a black bow tie, his eyes never leaving hers, his expression one of awe and adoration.
Their best friends, Alice and Cody, stood by their sides as maid of honor and best man. The ceremony was short but filled with heartfelt vows and promises. When the officiant pronounced them husband and wife, Don kissed her with a tenderness that brought tears to everyone's eyes.
The reception was a modest affair, filled with laughter, tears, and the bittersweet knowledge that this was both a beginning and an ending. They danced under the stars, holding each other close, trying to memorize the feel of each other's embrace.
Two days later, Don left for basic training. Mary Ellen stood at the train station, watching as the train pulled away, taking her heart with it. She clutched the locket he had given her, a small picture of them together inside, and whispered a silent prayer for his safety.
Back home, Mary Ellen threw herself into her work, cleaning five different homes a week to make ends meet. It was exhausting, but it kept her mind occupied. Eloise, who had lost her fiancé early in the war, moved in and provided much-needed support. The sisters leaned on each other, finding solace in their shared grief and determination to survive.
Every day, Mary Ellen checked the mailbox, hoping for a letter from Don. The days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, with only a few letters making it through. Each one was a lifeline, filled with his love and reassurance.
One crisp autumn morning, a knock came at the door. Mary Ellen's heart leapt as she rushed to answer it, hoping against hope it was news from Don. A young soldier stood there, holding a sealed envelope. Her hands trembled as she took it, the world narrowing down to the piece of paper in her hands.
She opened it and saw Don's familiar handwriting. He told her he was safe and missed her more than words could express. He asked her to stay strong and promised he would come back to her. Tears streamed down her face as she read the letter, a mixture of relief and longing filling her heart.
She looked up at the soldier, her voice breaking as she said, "Thank you."
The soldier nodded and left. Mary Ellen stood in the doorway, clutching the letter to her chest. For the first time in weeks, she felt a glimmer of hope. Don was alive, and as long as he was, she would keep fighting. She would make it through this war, one day at a time, until they could be together again.
I'm a Luna. After three years of marriage to Alpha Nathaniel Blackwood, I'm finally pregnant with his pup. But he's unclaimed me for his first love. I'm leaving the pack with this secret, praying he never finds out. Nathaniel Blackwood is a handsome, powerful Alpha. In a world where humans and werewolves coexist, he has it all: a billion-dollar empire, untold power, a massive pack, and, most importantly, the perfect Luna. But the return of his first love shattered our marriage. When he finds out the secret I've been hiding, will he regret rejecting me? Will I ever be able to forgive him? Dive into this gripping serialized novel to find out more-Enjoy the ride!
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." She stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You are not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked in a quivering voice. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She looked at me in the mirror. "You can't even look at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of looking at that face?" Heather Bailey had a surprise from her husband that night: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. But she was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman because that person was closest to her. Shortly after she put her signature on their divorce papers, shock waves caught her up. Her flower shop was severely burnt, beyond repair. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers who came from influential families, she started her action against Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted. But that was just the beginning.
⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ This Book Contains Matured Contents, reader's discretion is advised. *** "Do you have any idea how much I want to be inside you right now?" he asked as he stood to his feet. "Then why aren't you?" I responded, loving the feel of him pressed so close, my back to the mirror, my front to him. But even still, in some far corner of my lust-fogged mind, I realized that we were still in a bathroom. Anyone could walk in and see us. The thought of getting discovered was scary and erotic at the same time. "Oh, we're not done. Spread your legs a bit for me, Kitten." He commanded. When I did as he instructed, he settled between my legs again. "Now close your eyes. And try not to move." Dominic Rutherford murmured. I drew in a sharp breath as his fingers slipped into me with a silky, wet ease. First one. Then another. A feverish tide rose inside me, and I groaned. I jerked in response, causing me to unconsciously move my hips towards his teasing, clever hand, seeking more. "Ohh-" My body trembled under his touch. "Please..." *** Ruby escapes a stifling marriage filled with betrayal, eager to reclaim her freedom. At a masquerade ball, she meets Dominic, a mysterious older man always wearing a mask and has a complex past. Their intense attraction ignites a passionate and dangerous affair. Dominic, who was tasked by Ruby's unknown brother to find her, is captivated by her defiant spirit. As Ruby gets entangled in Dominic's dark world and faces threats from her vengeful former husband and an enemy within, she struggles with her fear of love. Will Ruby and Dominic overcome their pasts and the secrets that threaten to tear them apart? Can Ruby submit to love even after the truth is revealed?
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."