In the wake of her missing mom, Viradessa Spire, a hybrid, half-werewolf, and half-witch, finds herself lost in the mystical realm of MAAC (Mystical Academy for All Creatures) Academy for Special Beings. As a hybrid, she grapples with her dual nature while navigating the challenges of a magical school designed to hone her abilities and finding answers about her mom's disappearance. But her journey is far from ordinary. Dark forces lurk in the shadows, seeking to capture her and harness her unique powers for their own nefarious purposes. An unique power she has yet to discover. As she battles her foes, Viradessa must also navigate her friendships, budding romances, jealous she-wolves, and the demands of her studies. In a race against time, Viradessa must become powerful enough to stop the dark forces against her and save her mom from a fate worse than death. But as the line between lover and foe blurs, Viradessa must tread carefully, for everyone is not who they seem, and danger lurks around every corner. Will she emerge victorious against the forces of darkness, or will she succumb to the shadows that threaten to consume her?
"Move your ass, Grey!"
The sound of a horn shook me out of my thoughts as I watched a floating horn disappear out the door. I was still sitting on my bed in the room of the Grey House that has been mine since I was twelve. The air was thick with the scent of nostalgia and anticipation as I stared at the sea of cardboard boxes. Each was filled with cherished mementos, stacked and labeled as 'Giveaways.' I knew leaving would be bittersweet, but I also felt a mix of excitement.
I moved to the window. "Alright, Grace! Mystical Academy is not going anywhere!"
I yelled at my cousin, Grace, who proceeded to lay on the horn in her car. I shook my head and finished packing the last of my things. I couldn't help but reminisce about my time here. The room, once filled with the lively chatter of sleepovers and the laughter of teenage dreams, now echoed with the quiet hum of packing tape and the rustle of papers. At least, these were the memories I could still recall.
I don't remember much before coming here. I lost all my memories in a car accident when I was twelve. When I woke up from my coma six months later, the only thing I knew was the face of my mom. Everything else was gone, and it almost felt like being born again. According to the doctors, it was a miracle that I survived the crash with a few cuts and bruises. They wanted to keep me for observation, but my mom quickly got me out the moment I was mobile. She brought me here to the Grey House to recover, and it has been my home ever since.
I stared at the dragon and werewolf plushie my mom gifted me when I first moved into this house. It was the second present she gave me when we moved here. I picked up the plushies and hugged them to my chest. The scent of her perfume filled my lungs, and it made it seem she was right next to me.
'So you will never feel alone when I'm away.'
She would say this every time she left on one of her "missions." I never knew what her missions were, but I knew that she always came back to me no matter what. Except a few years ago, she didn't come back, and I was stuck, trying to keep moving on.
"You should take them with you."
I turned towards the voice of my Aunt Cassie, who was leaning against the doorframe. Aunt Cassie was shorter than my mom, standing under my 5 feet 6 inches stature. Her dark auburn hair was pulled into a messy bun with sticks and twigs poking out in different areas. She had soft features with a face that said, 'I just pulled a fresh batch of cookies out of the oven. Have your fill.' However, right now, a hint of sadness lingered in her eyes as she watched me finish packing the last of my things.
"I'm not a kid anymore, Aunt Cassie. I don't need plushies to comfort me."
Aunt Cassie laughed. "Maybe you're right, but sometimes taking a bit of home with you is good."
Aunt Cassie placed the plushies next to my suitcase before sitting on my bed. She looked around the room, and I saw the mist over her eyes.
"Don't start," I warned her.
"I can't help it," Aunt Cassie admitted, her voice tinged with both pride and sorrow. "It's just so hard to believe you're all grown up and heading off to my alma mater."
I smiled, a mixture of understanding and empathy. "I know, Aunt Cassie. It's surreal for me, too. But this is what I've been preparing for, right?" Aunt Cassie nervously wrung the hem of her skirt as she looked away. "You don't have to worry, Aunt Cassie. I'll be safe, and I have Grace, too."
Aunt Cassie scoffed. "That doesn't soothe me at all. That girl has been a constant thorn in my side since I had her. Nothing is ever good enough for her. She gets that from her father's side, you know. Never trust a pixie whose conversation leads to drinking pixie dust all night."
We both laughed. "Well, I'll keep my eye on her, then."
Aunt Cassie moved over to a photo on my desk. She picked up an old photo album, flipping through pages that unfolded stories of our epic adventures, high school dances, and lazy Sunday afternoons spent learning about potions.
"Do you remember this?" Aunt Cassie asked, holding up a faded picture of my mom and me making mint julep in the kitchen.
"How could I forget? I confused Mint with Salvia."
"The craziest trip I, well, we ever had," Aunt Cassie reminisced with a smile.
I traced the outline of the picture. "Mom was so mad and couldn't help but laugh about the situation."
Aunt Cassie placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. Her smile faded as she looked down at my acceptance letter to MAAC. It was unexpected for all of us since my cousin was the only one who applied. I was actually ecstatic. MAAC, Mystical Academy for All Creatures, had all the fantasy creatures and the best magic users in the world. I was a hybrid witch, so the prospect of learning magic from the best was a dream come true.
However, my mom was against it. She felt she could teach me all I needed to know right here in Grey House. Though, I knew it was because she wanted me to be safe. The older I got, the more I realized that the car crash was no accident, and I'm very aware that she never talked about my dad. I figured he was the one trying to kill us. At least, that's my theory. So, I never applied. I tried to forget about it, but it kept calling to me. Still, I wasn't the one who applied, and since the school year just started, they decided to let me enroll.
Aunt Cassie sighed before placing the photo album down. "Are you...sure about this, Dessa? There's a reason your mother didn't want you to go and-"
"It doesn't matter now, does it," I cut her off. "She's not here anymore. Maybe whatever we were running from got to her. I have to prepare if that time comes for me too. I won't go down with a fight, Aunt Cassie."
Aunt Cassie grabbed my hands. "I know, dear girl. You're going to do amazing things there, and I'm just going to miss having you around."
Another horn blasted through the windows as Aunt Cassie made her way over to the window. "Cool your jets, Gracie Ann! The whole town is going to know how much you want to leave here."
I picked up my bags and headed down the stairs, with Aunt Cassie following behind. I took inventory of all the things I was going to miss about this place. The vibrant color walls were adorned with memories captured in photographs, tables covered with trinkets and weird-looking herbs, the smell of patchouli misted in the air, and bubbling from the cauldron with mystery liquids inside. I was going to miss this place. My eyes misted with emotions when I felt my aunt's hand on my shoulder.
"Hey, you know you always have a place here, right?"
I took a deep breath and nodded. "I know."
As I started to wake up, my head felt like it was going to burst. My eyes could barely open as I tried to focus on my surroundings. Wait, this isn't my room. And this guy isn't our mate, my wolf Nina growled. I noticed there was someone's weight on top of me. Oh s**t! How the hell did I miss that? That's when I felt something twitch inside me, and instantly, pain traveled through my body. My mouth was so dry that my whimpers were inaudible. He groaned, grinding his hips against me, making my body tighten its grip. Zira, focus and get this guy off of us. We have to leave now, Nina yelled, snapping me out of it. So, with the help of my wolf, we lifted the man off us and right onto the floor with a loud thud. I turned to face him, and my eyes widened. I was looking at a completely naked Alpha. ****************************************** Zira plans to leave her pack and travel the world. However, that becomes difficult when a relationship blossoms with Alpha Isaiah after their one-night stand. Unexpectedly, he meets his mate not long after. With nothing keeping her, she plans to leave until a secret comes out and ruins everything. Will she find a way to escape without it getting out? Alpha Isaiah is more excited to be Alpha than to find his mate. That all changed when his sister's supposed marriage proposal led him to find his mate. Unbeknownst to him, other events will challenge him as an Alpha and a mate. Will he be able to choose between his duties as an Alpha or his duties as a mate? Does he have the power to protect those he loves? With a troubled past, powerless half-witch/half-werewolf Alaia finally finds solace with Alpha Isaiah. Still, it seems his old lover threatens their relationship. To keep what is hers, Alaia dabbles with power beyond her capabilities. How far is she willing to go to keep what is hers? Content Warnings: This book explores themes around sex, violence, depression, miscarriage, heartbreak, and abortion. Reader discretion is advised.
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
Desperate to handle her grandmother's towering medical bills, Gianna agreed to a contract marriage with Tristan, the enigmatic man she'd once shared a one-night stand with. She assumed they'd fulfill each other's needs and dissolve the arrangement once the terms expired. Unbeknownst to Gianna, this marriage was a dream Tristan had clung to for ten relentless years. Certain she was just filling someone else's role, Gianna prepared to leave when that other woman returned. But Tristan, his eyes burning with unspoken emotion, seized her trembling hand and declared, "You’re mine. Now and always."
Three years ago, Cecilia was left battered and alone by the man she loved most, Alston, yet she bravely completed the wedding ceremony while pregnant. Three years later, although they were married, they grew apart over time. Cecilia focused on her career, no longer foolishly believing in love. But her transformation instantly threw Alston into a panic... And what is the secret from 11 years ago that Cecilia has always been reluctant to reveal? *** "She went to a law firm, met with a lawyer..." A lawyer? Is Cecilia suing someone? Who? Is there any recent litigation against the company? Alston suddenly chuckled coldly, "Who could she sue? I'm the CEO of this company. How come such a matter doesn't come to me first?" The assistant swallowed nervously, speaking softly, "Sir, there's no litigation against the company. She met with... a divorce lawyer."
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
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?