Hope Wallace was just a normal high school girl-until the Hawthorne brothers arrived. Desmond, the erratic and dangerous vampire, is as captivating as he is lethal, and Solomon, his calm, enigmatic twin, harbors secrets of his own. Drawn to Desmond, Hope soon finds herself entangled in a world of supernatural chaos: werewolves, witches, ancient family vendettas, and a love that transcends lifetimes. As forbidden passions ignite and enemies close in, Hope learns shocking truths about her lineage and the child she carries-a being with the power to reshape their world. With war looming and sacrifices mounting, the Hawthorne family and their allies must fight to protect the future, but salvation comes at a devastating cost. Love, blood, and destiny collide in this dark tale of immortality, sacrifice, and the kind of love that refuses to die.
WINEKOVE, 1020 AD.
Desmond
I could hear the sounds of my breath bounce off the walls of the cold and quiet cave. Mother had given me instructions not to leave until she had returned. She was gone for a long while, and all I could do to kill time was to listen to the sound of my breath on my knees.
I looked around the cave to gather knowledge from my surroundings. It was so dark, and all I could see was a tree at the far end on my left and a large puddle of water a few feet before me; it looked more like an oasis.
After what seemed like forever, I heard footsteps coming through the entrance. It was my mother with my twin brother, Solomon. She let him kneel beside me, and he gave a smug look. Only the spirits knew how I would love to slap that smile out of his face.
"Susana! I have brought them", I heard Mother shout. "Let us keep the end of our bargain."
Susana was the chief priestess of our village and also a very powerful witch; I did not know why Mother would strike a bargain with her.
Suddenly, everywhere became bright through the fire that caught the torches on the stands on the cave walls. Susana appeared in front of us in her usual attire; a red robe with a long stick on her right hand decorated with pomegranates and white beads.
"We shall, Philomena," she said calmly.
She looked down at me and then at my brother, smiling. She dropped her stick on a rock as she walked past us and returned to where she came from. After a few moments, she returned with a wooden bowl and a dagger. The dagger was somewhat covered with blood already.
She walked over to us, chanting some words. I still could not understand what was going on. The torches flickered, and a great wind blew into the cave. Fear gripped me, and I trembled while my brother laughed at me.
Susana stopped chanting, and the wind and the torches stopped dancing. She spread her hands, which held the bowl towards me. I collected it with trembling hands and looked into it.
It was blood!
I was terrified.
"Behold," I heard her say," The blood of the Quetet."
I looked at her, confused.
"Drink, boy, and be filled with the power of the impossible; speed, agility, strength, immortality, and hunger," she said.
"Drink it, Desmond," Mother, who knelt beside Solomon, ordered.
I grimaced and gulped the blood down my throat. I gave the bowl to Solomon, and he drank it too, same as Mother.
Susana picked up the dagger and raised it in the air, chanting once more. The wind returned, and torches began dancing again.
When she was done, she approached me and slammed the dagger into my chest. I felt the cold metal of the dagger pierce through my heart, and then she dragged the dagger out forcefully. I fell to the cold, stony floor, and everything went dark.
Kaiden Toliver's life is shattered when he is accused of involving the company in fraudulent activities. Vowing revenge, Kaiden returns five years later, wealthy and determined to destroy those who wronged him. He takes over Macaulay Industries, but his rise to power sparks the wrath of Caleb Montenegro, who seeks to reclaim the fortune Kaiden inherited. As alliances form and enemies close in, Kaiden must outmaneuver them all to stay on top. Will he emerge victorious, or will his quest for revenge consume him?
Annika Pleton moved to San Diego for a fresh start, but her new beginning takes a chaotic turn when she becomes the personal secretary to Ashton Maverick-a billionaire CEO with a reputation for charm, scandal, and getting what he wants. Ashton's relentless pursuit of her sparks a fiery battle of wits and wills, but Annika has no time for games. Especially not with her abusive ex-boyfriend back in town, determined to drag her into the nightmare she left behind. Caught between the seductive pull of her new boss, Ashton and the haunting shadows of her past, Annika must decide if she has the strength to fight for the life she's always dreamed of-or if the chaos surrounding her will tear it all apart. In a world of passion, danger, and high-stakes emotions, can Annika rise above it all, or will the weight of her secrets crush her?
Meghan Marcher escapes her stifling life when she discovers her father has orchestrated a wedding she can't bear. A one-night stand in Japan with the enigmatic Aaron Wilburn offers her a taste of freedom-but returning home brings a shocking twist: her younger sister Chloe is now engaged to the very man Meghan had just shared a passionate night with. With a secret baby on the line and emotions running wild, Meghan must navigate a tangled web of love and betrayal. Can she keep her past from crashing into her sister's future, or will the truth destroy everything she holds dear?
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"
"The bloodline is confirmed. The Universal God Token is activated. All the gods will obey..." ........................................... Everyone believed Ye Liuyun was trash, even himself. No money, no talent, and no one he could rely on. Bully, scorn and laughter, that's what he deserved. But Ye Liuyun never gave up working hard. One day things had changed. Ye Liuyun's inner power was suddenly awakened. He could cultivate a divine level spirit and became a supreme hero. Slaying demons and exterminating devils, his adventures just started... Money, beauty and power, he would grasp everything in his hands...
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"