Thea Gibson lived a perfectly ordinary life. By day, she served drinks at the local bar, earning just enough to pay the rent and keep her bills from piling up. She wasn't one for extravagant spending, preferring quiet nights at home with her nose buried in the latest paranormal fantasy novel. It was easier to get lost in a world of mythical creatures and epic battles than face the real one, where she tried-and often failed-to suppress the awkwardness that followed her like a shadow. Most nights, she relished her solitude, but that didn't stop her best friend Shae from dragging her to parties. "You need to get out more!" Shae would say with that infectious energy that made it impossible to say no. Thea would end up surrounded by strangers, nursing a drink in a corner, wishing she could escape into the pages of her book instead of pretending to enjoy herself. The only bright spot? Detective Josh Cooper. He was always there, with his captivating smile and those deep eyes that seemed to see right through her. Thea had a secret crush on him. But that was all it was-a harmless fantasy. That all changed one fateful night. The bar was quieter than usual when a figure appeared in the doorway. The air seemed to crackle with electricity as Thea stared at him. He was tall, his presence undeniable, with a calm confidence that seemed at odds with the tension in the room. Before she could even process what was happening, a group of monstrous creatures-Titans, she later learned-charged toward her. Panic surged in her chest. But before they could reach her, the man was there, moving with blinding speed, his hand raised. A bolt of light shot from his fingers, and the Titans disintegrated into smoke. "I'm Hermes," he said, voice smooth as silk. "Messenger of the Gods. And you, Thea, are a reincarnated deity with a destiny you've yet to remember." The words felt surreal. Thea opened her mouth to protest, but the world around her seemed to shift, and suddenly she wasn't sure what was real anymore. "What are you talking about?" she demanded. Hermes smiled, the corner of his lips curling up with a mysterious knowing. "You're about to find out. The Titans are free. And it's up to you to send Cronos back to Tartarus." Thea shook her head in disbelief. "This is insane." "You're not the first to refuse the truth," Hermes said, his tone soft, but unwavering. "But you will be the one to stop him." Everything she'd known, every bit of normalcy she clung to, crumbled in that instant.
01
« And there's the kick! Goal! »
A cheer went up, and Thea smiled, cheering with them in her mind as the soccer ball entered the net. Tonight was the Quarterfinals of the World Cup, and the little pub of Saint Arlington was packed to the brim.
The energy in the air was electric, a kind of collective pulse that seemed to vibrate through the walls of the pub. It wasn't just the excitement of the game-it was the excitement of the community coming together, something that happened every time the national team played. The pub was a mix of local regulars, tourists who had wandered in, and some unexpected faces, all drawn together by the magnet of football.
On any other night, Thea would have been sitting by the bar, a drink in hand, cheering along with the rest of them, her laughter mixing with the shouts and clinks of glasses. But tonight, she wasn't just a patron; she was working. Matt, the pub's owner, had been desperate for a waitress and Thea couldn't say no to him. He'd helped her out too many times to count, and besides, he didn't like to ask for favors. So here she was, weaving her way through the crowded tables, dodging elbows and outstretched arms, collecting empty glasses and plates, before heading back to the bar.
Matt was working in overdrive, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced by the kind of urgency that came with a packed house. He flashed her a quick smile as he poured another round of drinks for a table in the back.
« How you going out there, Thea? » Matt asked, handing her a tray of drinks. He was a tall man with a rough-around-the-edges charm and an easy smile, one that had always made her feel welcome here, even on the hardest days.
« Not too bad. No one's copped a feel tonight, so I can't complain. » Thea stuffed her tips into the apron pocket, trying to ignore the occasional lecherous glances she got from some of the more inebriated patrons. It was part of the job-one of the unspoken parts, really-but it didn't make it any easier to endure.
Matt chuckled and gave her a knowing look. « They wouldn't want to either, » he said, his eyes flicking toward the largest table in the pub. « Half the department's here tonight; they wouldn't be game to. »
Thea followed his gaze. The table in question was surrounded by off-duty cops from the Saint Arlington Police Department. They'd become regulars on game nights, and honestly, it made Soccer Nights the safest nights she had ever worked. Every so often, someone would get a bit too rowdy, but the cops always kept things in check, without a second thought.
It also didn't hurt that Josh Cooper, the detective she'd been crushing on for the last two months, was off-duty tonight and sitting just in her line of sight. He was leaning back in his chair, a beer in hand, looking effortlessly handsome. His blond hair was styled back from his forehead, but a few stray strands kept falling into his eyes. Every time it happened, Thea's hands itched with the urge to brush them away, a simple, natural gesture that could turn into something much more if she let herself imagine it.
Josh had that smile-wide, genuine, and somehow both innocent and wicked at the same time-that made her weak in the knees. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he laughed made her heart do this little flip. She had caught him staring at her more than once, but she was too shy to do anything about it. The thought of him looking at her like that made her cheeks burn.
Matt pushed a few more drinks toward her, pulling her out of her thoughts. « Here, take these. » He was trying to be efficient, but it seemed like he was going out of his way to make sure Thea didn't have any chance to let her mind wander back to Josh.
« Hey! » Thea protested, crossing her arms. « I can carry my own drinks. »
« It's okay, I got this, » Shae, the other waitress working tonight, said, stepping in to help. She winked at Thea as she grabbed the tray. « Cutie detective has been sneaking glances at you all night, so you should take their drinks. »
« Really? » Thea raised an eyebrow, her heart rate quickening a little. She tried to turn around casually, but Shae hissed a warning.
« Don't look! » Shae warned in a whisper, pulling Thea's attention back to her. « He'll know we're talking about him! »
Thea rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips. « You're impossible. »
Shae shrugged, clearly amused. « Besides, » she added with a sly grin, « he's not the only one who's been giving you the eye. »
Thea frowned, confused. « What? Who else is staring at me? »
Shae gave a small nod over her shoulder, her voice lowering as though it was a secret. « Check out the hottie in the corner. The one with the black hair and the smouldering gaze. He's been watching you all night. »
Thea's heart skipped a beat. She glanced casually in the direction Shae had indicated, trying not to seem too obvious. At a corner table, near the front of the pub, was a man with dark, tousled hair and sharp features. His eyes were dark and intense, as though he was studying her every movement, every shift of her body, like a predator sizing up its prey. There was something in the way he looked at her-calculated, almost-something that made her spine tingle.
Her eyes quickly flicked away, but not before she felt the weight of his gaze settle on her. He wasn't smiling, but there was something magnetic about his expression.
« Seriously? » Thea breathed, feeling slightly flustered. « I've never seen him before. »
« Oh, trust me, he's new. He's been here a few times in the past couple of weeks, but he usually keeps to himself. Quiet type. But tonight? Tonight, he's definitely been paying attention to you. »
Thea swallowed, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. She wasn't used to this kind of attention, especially not from someone who looked like him. The man had an aura of danger about him, but at the same time, something about the way he watched her felt strangely... familiar.
« Maybe he's just staring because I look like a deer caught in headlights, » Thea joked, but even she didn't believe the words as soon as they left her mouth.
Shae laughed. « Yeah, sure. But don't let that fool you. He's not the only one who's noticed you. Josh has been looking at you like he wants to take you home for the past hour. I'd say he's definitely trying to get your attention. »
Thea's stomach did another flip. The idea of Josh noticing her was one thing, but the thought of this mysterious man doing the same thing was another level entirely. Was it her imagination, or was there an underlying challenge in the way he looked at her? It made her feel exposed, like he could see things about her that no one else could.
« Whatever, » she muttered, trying to brush it off. « I'm just here to work, remember? »
Shae just smirked knowingly as she adjusted the drinks on the tray. « Sure, sure. You keep telling yourself that. But when Josh finally grows a pair and asks you out, don't say I didn't warn you. »
Thea shot her a playful glare before heading back to the tables. The night wore on, and despite the swirling chaos of the game and the constant stream of orders, her mind kept drifting back to the corner where the stranger sat, his eyes locked on her like she was the only person in the room.
Every so often, she'd glance in his direction, trying to gauge his intentions, but each time she did, he was already looking at her. Every time their eyes met, she couldn't tell whether he was intrigued or just waiting for something. Was he planning to approach her? Or was he content to just observe from a distance?
One thing was certain-he was definitely not like anyone else in the pub. And that made her want to know more.
Emma had always thought of herself as untouchable. With her sharp tongue, enviable beauty, and spoiled rotten demeanor, she had managed to stay several steps ahead of anyone who dared to challenge her. But somehow, Will Knight-cocky, impatient, and slightly dimwitted-had managed to kidnap her and her best friend not once, but twice. How? She was still trying to wrap her head around it. The first time had been a chaotic mess. Will had bungled the plan, getting caught halfway through, and yet, somehow, he still managed to pull it off. The second time was almost laughable. Emma had expected a more elaborate scheme, but instead, Will had used his brute force and complete disregard for any semblance of intelligence. It was absurd, really. He had no finesse, no strategy, and yet here they were, locked in his uncomfortably shabby hideout for the second time. "Seriously?" Emma muttered, pacing the room, hands on her hips. "How does someone this clueless get away with kidnapping?" Will shrugged with that stupid grin of his. "Dunno, guess I'm just lucky." Emma shot him a withering look. Maybe luck had something to do with it, but she had a feeling there was more to Will than met the eye. Perhaps he wasn't as dimwitted as she'd thought. That idea made her stomach twist in an unsettling way.
After the death of Peter McKinley, the fate of the McKinley Inns was left in the hands of Peter's firstborn son, Alexander. Thrust into leadership, Alexander was determined to protect the legacy his father built from the ground up. But when he uncovered the company's seemingly unending debts and mounting pressure from creditors, he found himself drowning in financial ruin. Desperation clawed at him as he scrambled for a solution to save the family's name and keep the company afloat. Then came an unexpected offer-one that both intrigued and infuriated him. George Garrison, a young billionaire and hotel magnate, approached him with a proposal: he would buy McKinley Inns, settle its debts, and keep Alexander on as the face of the brand. But there was a condition-George wanted to marry Alexander's younger sister. The deal sounded like a lifeline, but to Alexander, it felt like a betrayal. His sister was in love with someone else, and the thought of trading her happiness for a business deal sickened him. Refusing to give up so easily, Alexander sought out other options, determined to find another way. Meanwhile, George Garrison, under pressure from his late grandfather's will, was required to marry in order to claim full control of his inheritance. The catch? He was gay-and had no desire for a wife or a marriage of convenience. He saw Peter McKinley's daughter as a solution, a name to satisfy the will. But when Alexander stormed into his office, angry and desperate, George found himself considering a far more intriguing arrangement-one that just might change everything.
Keagan is the definition of bad boy. College man with a body that could make even God moan and an attitude to put the devil to shame. He walked campus halls like he owned them-tattoos inked across golden skin, smirk cocked like a loaded gun, and eyes that dared anyone to look away first. Between classes and drinking parties, sex and boys, Keagan had it all. He didn't chase love-he devoured it in the dark, left it breathless, and moved on before morning. Until Jamison. Small, skinny, anti-social. With glasses too big for his face and sweaters that hung off his shoulders like afterthoughts, Jamison barely existed in Keagan's world. Quiet, forgettable... or so everyone thought. But there was something in the way Jamison looked at Keagan-like he saw straight through the leather and lust. Like he wasn't afraid. Keagan should've ignored him. Should've kept walking. But something about that awkward little ghost of a boy stopped him cold. Curiosity, maybe. Hunger, definitely. Because suddenly, Keagan wanted more than a body to ruin-he wanted to see if someone like Jamison could handle the heat. The question wasn't if Keagan would break him. The question was... would Jamison beg for it?
Young aspiring writer Norah Jacobs needs to escape. In just two weeks, her life has been turned upside down. Her brother, a brilliant but deeply corrupt lawyer, is incarcerated for murder. His name, once synonymous with success, is now dragged through the mud by the media. And as if that weren't enough, his former partner-a man as dangerous as he is relentless-now lurks around her home, throwing half-threats her way, making it clear that her silence comes at a price... The peace she had been desperately trying to hold onto crumbles. So, Norah makes a radical decision: she packs her car, abandons her apartment, shuts off her phone, and disappears. Her destination is Bellvale, a small coastal town, far removed from the chaos she left behind. But in Bellvale, calm is only an illusion. Soon, Norah realizes that this secluded corner of the world harbors its own darkness. Strange whispers in the woods, too many piercing gazes, and an unsettling feeling of being watched... She finds herself drawn into an ancient power struggle, one between creatures she thought were only found in fairy tales. And she quickly learns an undeniable truth: no matter how hard you try to run from your problems... they always find a way to catch up.
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
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?
Veronica is an eighteen-year-old omega who falls into an emotional breakdown when her Mate, who was soon to be the Alpha of the Sun crest pack, turns against her, hurls hurtful words at her, and rejects her on the night of the full moon festival because he and everyone in the pack, including her, thinks she is an omega. As if the pain of rejection, helplessness, and worthlessness wasn't enough, she lost her best and only friend to the cold hands of death when rogue wolves attacked their pack. Right in the presence of her mate, she was tagged as someone who always attracted problems and calamities anywhere she went and he turned a blind eye and watched as she was banished from the pack. With hatred for her life, she runs deep into the woods that were off-limits and jumps off to end her life, but in a turn of events, something else happens. What would her mate do when he finds out that Veronica is not who he thinks she is? Will she be able to forgive him? What fate lies ahead for them?
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
Anabel found out she was pregnant and dialed her husband's number to share the good news to him. They have been married for two years without a child. Desmond's mother had been accusing her of being barren and unproductive. When the call was picked, she was flabbergasted and broken. She was hearing a loud moan of feminine voice. "Ohh! Yeah! Don't stop fucking me! Fuck me harder baby!" accompanied with sound of skins slapping against the other. She went home to confront her husband and end up receiving a divorce paper. Desmond divorced him for a lady his mother was rooting. Few months later when he found out that his ex-wife is a billionaire heiress and she is pregnant with twins, he went crazy!