In the shadows of San Diego, vampires lurk, and Vincent, the ruthless king of the underworld, reigns supreme. Feared by all, his gaze is a death sentence. Naomi Clinton, a shy but fierce college student, lives on the outskirts of town, near the woods where Vincent hides. When curiosity gets the better of her, Naomi enters the forbidden woods, attracting Vincent's attention. Her life is forever changed as she's dragged into a world of hell and slavery.
BRISTOL UNIVERSITY
Bristol University's large class hall was abuzz with the sound of scribbling pens and muted chatter.
The economics lecturer stood at the front, enthusiastically explaining complex concepts to a sea of students. While some were engrossed in the lesson, others secretly did as they pleased.
"Hey Naomi, get a haircut," Sasha whispered, sticking a piece of gum to Naomi's long, brown hair.
Naomi's ethereal beauty was undeniable. Her brown eyes sparkled like warm chocolate, framed by thick, curved brows that added to their allure.
Her hair cascaded down her back like a rich, oily waterfall, framing a face that was a masterpiece of elegance.
Her skin was a radiant canvas of creamy white, smooth and unblemished. Her small, cute lips remained still. The oval shape of her eyes added to their allure, giving her an otherworldly charm that was impossible to ignore.
Naomi's expression remained calm as she touched the gum stuck to her hair. She turned to Sasha, her eyes burning with rage, but her voice was laced with sarcasm.
"Thank you." She muttered.
"Sasha, leave her alone. Mr. Steve would freak out if he saw you disrupting the class." Arnold, Sasha's boyfriend, chuckled.
"He can't do anything. Besides, she needs a haircut. Her hair can't be longer than mine." Sasha scoffed.
Naomi's grip on her pencil tightened until it snapped. The students around her burst into laughter.
"O.M.G, little bitch is angry," someone said making the laughter to increase.
"Don't mind them, Naomi. They're just jealous." Alicia, Naomi's best friend, leaned over and whispered.
Alicia's hair was short and black. Her eyes are deep brown in color. Her skin is a light, melanin-toned complexion, with a warm, golden undertone.
Her features were delicate, with high cheekbones and a small nose. Her lips are small and full.
Unlike Naomi, Alicia came from a wealthy family, but she never let their different backgrounds come between them.
Naomi ignored the snickers and tried to focus on the lecturer's words, but it was clear that the incident had left her angry.
LATER ON
Naomi's lectures had finally come to an end, but as she stepped out of the classroom, she realized it was already evening.
The road back to her house was long and isolated, with hardly anyone passing by. Whenever she managed to hail a taxi, it would drop her off at the bus stop, which was still a significant distance from her home. As a result, she had to walk quickly, her senses on high alert.
For the past few days, Naomi had been feeling like someone was following her.
At first, she had dismissed it as mere paranoia, but the feeling persisted.
She couldn't shake off the sense of being watched, and it made her incredibly uneasy.
As she approached her house, Naomi slowed down her pace. The two-story cabin looked old, but it was home, and she felt a sense of comfort wash over her as she stepped inside.
"Mom, are you home?" she called out, but there was no response.
Her eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of her mother's presence.
She made her way to the kitchen, only to find the pot empty.
"Not again," she sighed, feeling frustrated.
Her mother often forgot to cook dinner, and Naomi was left to fend for herself.
Getting to her room, Naomi dropped her bag in a corner and hopped onto the bed.
She reached under her pillow and pulled out a book, hoping to get lost in its pages.
Her concentration was short lived as she felt someone's gaze on her, and her heart skipped a beat.
Naomi's eyes darted towards the window, and that's when she saw him.
A figure standing in the woods, watching her with glowing red eyes. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she grabbed her flashlight and a baseball bat.
Slowly, she made her way out of the house, her heart racing with anticipation.
"Who's there? Show yourself," Naomi said firmly, gripping the baseball bat tightly.
The figure began to emerge from the darkness, its glowing red eyes fixed on her. But suddenly, it vanished.
Naomi's mother, Mrs. Aris, appeared out of nowhere, her voice stern.
"Naomi, I thought I warned you not to go near those woods. Get back into the house right now."
Naomi hesitated, pointing her flashlight towards the woods.
"But Mom, I saw someone. I'm not imagining things."
"Just stop it, Naomi. Get into the house. You're seeing things that aren't there." Her mother's expression turned firm.
Naomi reluctantly walked back to the house, her mind still racing.
"But Mom, I swear I saw someone. What's going on in those woods?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"I don't want you to know yet, but for your own good, stay away from those woods. Don't ever go in there."
Naomi nodded, though she didn't understand why her mother was being so secretive. She returned to her room, her eyes drawn to the window.
The moon cast a silver glow over the woods, making them seem mysterious and inviting.
As she lay in bed, Naomi couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.
"Maybe Mom is right," she muttered to herself.
"Maybe I should just stay away from those woods."
But as she closed her eyes, she couldn't help but wonder what secrets the woods held, and why her mother was being so secretive.
NEXT DAY
Naomi slept in until she felt content, knowing her lecture didn't start until 1 pm.
She woke up three hours before her lecture, feeling refreshed. She took a bath, put on baggy jeans with a white crop shirt and white sneakers, and parked her hair in a neat ponytail. She even took a few minutes to do some edging.
As she made her way to the kitchen, she was thrilled to find three hamburgers waiting for her.
She ate one and stored the rest in the fridge for later and grabbed her bag.
"Red eyes," she muttered to herself as she stepped out of the cabin.
She glanced at the woods and let out a sigh before proceeding towards the bus stop.
Aria Alessandro's life is turned upside down when she's taken by Valtor, Italy's most feared crime lord. Her only crime? Being a pawn in a debt she didn't know existed. With her innocence and beauty captivating this devil, Aria must survive his treacherous world of power and obsession. But Valtor, known as "Il Diavolo" (The Devil), is a man shrouded in mystery and feared by all. His cold calculation and merciless ambition have earned him the respect and terror of his enemies. Will she escape the clutches of Valtor ? What happens when she starts falling in love with this heartless monster ?
When Aurora's world collapses around her, she's forced to make a desperate choice. Her brother's life-threatening illness has left them drowning in medical bills, and her own future hangs in the balance. Not until she meets Xavier Williams. A ruthless billionaire mogul with a proposal that's both shocking and tempting. Become his contracted wife for six months, and he'll pay her brother's medical bills. As Aurora Maneuver the dark underbelly of Xavier's world, she uncovers secrets, lies, and a web of deceit that threatens to destroy everything. Will their twisted arrangement become a toxic trap, or can Aurora find a way to reclaim her life and forge a new future?
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.”
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
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."
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
Elisa watched as the most important people in her life showered the evil imposter-The fake heiress, with love. Elisa, the lost daughter of one of the most wealthiest family was found 18 years later and was brought back to her rightful home. However, someone had already taken her place. A fake heiress, the pampered little princess. Her coy acting and innocent façade made Elisa's real mother love her more than Elisa, her real daughter. That made Elisa, though, the true daughter end up as an adopted child. "Elisa, could you try not to appear in front of her too much as it could trigger her insecurities." Her parents had told her because of the fake heiress. "Elisa, You've taken everything away from her. Why can't you give her a little more?" Her fiancé had ordered her. Because of an unfortunate accident plotted by Isabelle-The fake heiress, Elisa was sent to prison and her family cut ties with her without a second thought. Four years, after much torture which led to her being crippled and blind on one eye, she was released, but got hit by a truck. While laying on the pool of her blood, she wanted to question, Why? Why had they all treated her so cruelly, while they love Isabelle unconditionally? She badly wanted to rip off Isabelle's mask of innocence, to reveal the fake, manipulative woman beneath. She was full of hatred. But after her death, she woke up back to when she was 18 years like all that happened were all nightmare. She was elated. She was reborn to re-live all that had happened in her last life, but now, her mission was to reveal mask beneath that woman and make everyone that made her suffer in her past life pay. It was her time for revenge! And definitely, she won't mess this up!