Liana Duval has a simple life: remain loyal to her clan, and never forget her father's sacrifice and the reason he died. Vampires. However, when hunters attack her clan and wipe off everyone, her only hope is Damien Vaughn, an ruthless vampire lord who seeks to possess her, even if it's against her will. As conflict arise and her loyalty to her people is tested, will she follow her heart or will she walk away before her forbidden love with a vampire risks everything she's ever known
"Get up!"
Liana jolted awake to the harsh voice echoing off cold stone walls. The ground beneath her was damp, her muscles stiff from lying on the unforgiving surface. A metallic clink echoed as she moved her hands-chains.
She blinked rapidly, her amber eyes adjusting to the dim light filtering through a barred window high above. Panic clawed at her chest as she scanned the room. Where am I?
"Up!" The voice came again, accompanied by a sharp tug at the chain attached to her wrist. A tall, burly figure stood in the doorway, his face obscured by shadows.
Liana struggled to her feet, her legs trembling. She tried to shift, to call forth her wolf, but an eerie emptiness greeted her. Her breath hitched. No. This couldn't be happening. She closed her eyes, concentrating harder, but the connection was severed. Her wolf was gone.
"What did you do to me?" she snarled, baring her teeth even in her weakened state.
The figure only chuckled, a dark, mocking sound. "You'll find out soon enough. Move."
She stumbled forward as he yanked her chain, her mind racing. The last thing she remembered was patrolling the forest near her clan's territory. A sharp pain, a flash of light-then darkness. Now, she was here, stripped of her wolf and her freedom.
The hallway beyond her cell was lined with others, all silent and foreboding. She caught glimpses of others like her-captives, their faces gaunt and eyes hollow. A heavy scent of fear lingered in the air, thick and suffocating.
As they moved, she began piecing things together. The rumors had been true. The hunters weren't just targeting werewolves anymore-they were selling them.
Her stomach twisted.
The corridor opened into a vast, dimly lit chamber, buzzing with activity. Rows of cages lined the walls, each containing someone-werewolves, vampires, witches. Creatures from all walks of the supernatural world.
Liana's handler dragged her onto a raised platform. The sudden brightness of the overhead lights blinded her momentarily. As her vision adjusted, she saw them-the audience. Humans, vampires, and even a few werewolves, their faces filled with greed and malice.
"A fine specimen," the announcer called out, his voice smooth and practiced. "A pureblood werewolf, strong and fiery. A perfect addition to any collection."
Liana's fists clenched. A collection? She wasn't some object to be owned.
The bidding began, each number like a dagger to her pride. She stood tall, refusing to let her fear show. But her resolve wavered when the announcer added, "And to ensure obedience, our dear lot has been dosed with the finest suppressants."
Suppressants. That's why she couldn't feel her wolf.
Her gaze swept over the crowd, searching for a weakness, a distraction-anything that could help her escape. Her eyes landed on a man sitting in the shadows of a private booth. His presence was commanding, even from a distance.
"Sold!" the announcer declared, breaking her focus.
Her heart sank as her chain was handed off to another man, a broad-shouldered figure with a predatory grin. He tugged her toward him, his gaze raking over her like she was prey.
"Let me go!" she snarled, struggling against his hold.
"Oh, we'll get to know each other very well," he sneered, dragging her down another hallway.
The walls closed in around her, the air growing heavier with each step. Her instincts screamed at her to fight, but her body felt weak and sluggish.
He shoved her into a small room, the door slamming shut behind her. She stumbled but caught herself, her mind racing.
This wasn't the end. It couldn't be.
The door creaked open again, and she tensed, ready to fight with whatever strength she had left. But the man who entered wasn't her buyer.
He was tall, with dark hair and piercing silver eyes that seemed to glow in the dim light. His presence was magnetic, drawing her gaze despite her fear.
"Leave," he ordered, his voice calm but laced with authority.
Her buyer hesitated, clearly uneasy. "But I paid-"
"Leave," the man repeated, this time with a low growl that sent shivers down Liana's spine.
The buyer muttered something under his breath but left, slamming the door behind him.
The stranger turned to her, his gaze scrutinizing. "What's your name?"
She glared at him, her defiance sparking. "Go to hell."
He smirked, unfazed. "Fiery. Good."
"Who are you?" she demanded, taking a cautious step back.
"My name is Damien Vaughn," he said, his voice like silk. "And as of now, you belong to me."
Her blood ran cold.
"I don't belong to anyone," she hissed.
His smirk widened, revealing the faintest hint of fangs. "We'll see about that."
Before she could retort, he stepped closer, his silver eyes locking onto hers. A strange sensation washed over her-a pull, deep and primal. She wanted to resist, to lash out, but her body betrayed her, frozen under his gaze.
"You're not like the others," he murmured, more to himself than to her.
"What did you do to me?" she whispered, her voice trembling despite her efforts to sound strong.
His expression softened, but only slightly. "Nothing yet. But I'm curious about you."
"I'm not some experiment," she spat.
"No," he agreed, "but you're mine now. And I take care of what's mine."
Before she could respond, he turned and left, the door locking behind him.
Liana sank to the floor, her heart pounding. She didn't trust him, but something about him felt different. Dangerous, yes, but not like the others.
She clenched her fists, her resolve hardening. Whoever he was, whatever he wanted, she wouldn't let him break her.
Not without a fight.
As Liana sat in the dark room, a faint hum filled the air. The suppressant's effect began to wear off, and for a brief moment, she felt her wolf stir-but it wasn't her wolf at all. It was something darker, something unfamiliar.
Detective Rachael's life seemed perfect-a loving partner, a beautiful child, and a fulfilling career in Chicago's toughest crime unit. But when a brutal serial killer known as The Veil begins targeting women who look just like her, Rachael's perfect life begins to unravel. Teaming up with Alex, a sharp investigator from her past, Rachael must confront buried secrets and dangerous emotions while hunting down the Veil. The closer she gets to the truth, the more she realizes that the greatest danger may not be the killer in the shadows-it may be the people she trusts the most. In a gripping tale of love, betrayal, and survival, Love in the Shadows follows Rachael as she races against time to uncover the Veil's identity before she becomes his next victim.
"Who is she?" I asked, feeling tears well up in my eyes. "He met her at the Alpha training camp," he said. "She is a perfect suitor for him. It snowed last night, indicating that his wolf is happy with his choice." My heart sank, and tears made their way down my cheeks. Alexander took my innocence last night, and now he is taking that thing in his office as his Luna. **** Emily never shifted on her 18th birthday and became the laughingstock of the pack. When her old crush, Alexander Black, returns from Alpha Training, she never expected him to be her mate. After a night of passionate love, Emily finds out that young Alpha Alexander has taken a chosen mate. Heartbroken and humiliated, Emily runs off and disappears from the pack. Now, five years later, Emily is a high-ranking warrior in King Alpha's army, specializing in sensitive matters. When her best friend invites her to a night of music and laughter, she never expects to run into her mate, Alexander. Will Alexander figure out it is Emily? Will he chase after her, and most of all, will Emily be able to keep her secrets safe?
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
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.
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.
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
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?