My name is Ava AddAway, if you looked at me, you'd think I was normal, just an average teenage girl. Red hair, green eyes. Your typical high-school teenager. But then you'd be wrong. I'd tried hard to go unnoticed, live under the radar of the supernatural world. But all that changed when I was required to attend Thornton High, a change in shifter law meant I had no choice in the matter. Soon I find out I am to train and take my place as Alpha or the new moon clan would die out. No big deal, right? I must attend Thornton High a school to train Alpha's. I don't fit in My father was branded the greatest evil the world had ever seen. Vampires and werewolves are enemies. Here I was both. I had to go and make things worse. Save the heir to the midnight throne. Now he's stuck to me like glue. Literally. By saving him I have caused a life dept. If I die, then so does the son of the king of all alphas. No problem, right? I just have to stay alive. That's hard to do when the vampires want me to take my place as their queen. My father was the king of vampires, now I've come of age, they want me to rule. In order to become their queen, I must die to trigger my vampire side. Not going to happen. The vampires won't stop. My life is in danger.
"You've got to be kidding me?" I pull on locks of my red hair in frustration, while yelling at the white owl. The owl ruffles its feathers and turns its back to me. Apparently, I've overstepped the mark. Owls are sensitive creatures. But it wasn't the Owl's fault. I knew that. He was just the messenger, of bad news. Still, he's an easy target to vent off my anger at the sudden news. Shooing him away I clutch the letter while dragging my feet to the old and threadbare sofa. Plopping down and kicking off my shoes I slam my eyes shut. It had been a long time since an owl had brought me a letter.
I'd done well living under the radar. Biting my bottom lip, I open my eyes and reread the dreaded mail. I have a good mind to call the Owl back, send him with a message saying, "Fuck off." I think better of that idea. A target would be put on my back and a reward for my head. I'd end up on the supernatural most wanted list. That would just be my luck.
"Dear Ava Addaway,
As the laws have now changed. You are expected to attend Thornton High. All shifters are required to attend a High School that cater to shifters. As you are the daughter of an Alpha you must attend the high school for Alpha's. If you fail to attend, then by shifter law you will be sentenced to death. We do not take kindly to those who turn their backs on the old ways and laws of shifters. As a shifter we expect you to adhere by the ancient laws.
We look forward to seeing you Monday morning at nine am sharp.
Mrs Holloway."
Screwing it up into a ball I throw the letter into the trash. If I ever set eyes on the idiot that changed the dam rules, I am going to rip out their throat. Taking deep breaths, I count to ten. I can feel Jaya stirring inside me, wanting to take over and deal with the threat. My hands begin to change into claws. Closing my eyes I take deep breaths in and slowly exhale. I want to scream and shout. That was something I couldn't do though. I was living in a hostel for homeless teens. That kind of behaviour would see me thrown out on my rear. Sleeping rough wasn't something I ever wanted to do again. I'd been here a year now. Well, who cares if I scream? My time in this town has come to an end. My father would have known what to do. He would have got me out of this situation. A pang of sorrow fills my heart. When I was fifteen my father died. My mother had died when I was ten. Now I had just turned sixteen and was expected to attend Thornton High. A school my mother once attended. My mother was a werewolf, the Alpha of the New Moon pack. Even though I loved and still love my mother dearly. I had no intention of joining a pack and playing by shifter law. My wolf Jaya wanted me to be part of a pack. She wanted to run with others of our kind. She wanted to be free.
That wasn't my plan. My plan was to finish High School and get out of this dead-beat town. I didn't have a plan of what I wanted to do after school. College wasn't an option. I'm an orphan and money well its non-existent at the moment.
My parttime job as a waitress doesn't pay much. But it's enough to get me by. I would attend the school. I would play their game for now. Until I can find a way out of the world of the supernatural's. I could feel Jaya's disappointment. But she didn't understand the danger we would be in. No one could ever know what we were and attending Thornton High would put us in danger. I had to keep us safe. My hands returned to normal and clench them into fists at my side as the last of the tension leaves me body.
Thornton High was a six-hour bus ride away, maybe even longer. Sighing I begin to collect the few belongings I have, stuffing them into a holdall that had seen better days with a huff. In the little kitchen I pull up the floorboard and pull out the little money I have saved. Anger wells inside me. That money was for my future. Now I'd have to spend it on a bus ticket, with little left over. For a split-second tears well in my eyes, quickly I brush them away. I am strong. I will get through this next chapter in my life. All I must do is keep myself to myself and blend in. Easy right?
Hoisting the holdall over my shoulder I catch my reflection in the dirty and streaked window. My bewitching ocean green eyes stare back at me. My father was the one that used to say my eyes were the same as my mothers. They bewitched him the moment he investigated them. My crimson red hair hangs loosely over my shoulders in waves. My skin as pale as snow, or perhaps a vampire. I've been told I am beautiful. I don't see it myself. My chin is too pointed and my nose too small. Sighing I move away.
Dragging my feet I walk to the door, giving the little studio room one last look. My future and my plans are now on hold. But I'll get to where I want to be. In time. Life may have thrown me a curve ball, but that wasn't new. Dealing with unexpected changes I've become accustomed too. Nothing will stop me from my goal. I want to be normal. The supernatural world had brought me too much pain and heartache. It was a world I wanted nothing to do with.
Jaya's excitement radiates through me. Pushing her emotions to one side I leave the room that I have called home. Jaya laughs with glee while doubt sparks inside me. I've become good at separating Jaya's feelings from my own. It is necessary to keep us both out of harm's way, I can't let her feelings corrupt my own judgement. I just wish she understood the danger that we were both now in. No one can know what we are and what we can do. Our lives depend upon it.
Jenna Jenson finds herself in a deadly situation that results in a chemical accident. As she struggles to come to terms with the accident, secrets and lies start to reveal themselves. Jenna searches for answers and soon doesn’t know who she can trust. Her family or her new found friends? A legend in Dem’Say Woods is more than just a chilling tale and Jenna finds herself in the thick of it all.
This is a Collection of short horror stories which includes the bestselling short story House Of Horror and Find Me. House Of Horror- When Mathew Hansen first heard the disembodied voice of a woman through the wall of his new London flat, he thought he imagined it. Mind playing tricks, in a flat that settled and creaked like an old woman. Or maybe too much booze fuelling his nightmares. The voice couldn’t be real; just the wind, moving around the old Victorian house. Besides, his bangable neighbour Amanda couldn’t hear the strange chanting sounds. She was just messing with him when she said she did. A little payback for sleeping with her and never calling her back. It must be his imagination. Right? Find Me- With no one to believe her, Mia finds herself thrust from college and into her deceased Grandmother's decrepit home. Returning to the place she swore she'd never return, her haunting childhood comes back with a vengeance. Forced to stay in the deadly house, will she uncover the house's haunting past before it's too late? What bone chilling secrets does the house hide? Mirror Mirror- Skylar finds herself in a horrible accident, one that changes her life. She is forced to move and live with her aunt. Skylar's aunt thinks she is going crazy. As events unfold, Skylar must fight for her life. Will her aunt believe her? Skylar is sure that there is something in the attic. That something wants her dead. And more!!
Kayla Wilson has no memory of her childhood. Found alone and lost in the middle of the woods at the young age of eight. The Wilson’s take her in, treating her as their own. Nightmares plague Kayla every night as she sleeps. Shopping with her best friend, her nightmares become reality sending her life out of control. She is thrust into a new life where her nightmares become more real with each day that passes. She learns there is more to the world than she ever thought possible. Stories and legends all have some truths to them and unfortunately for Kayla she is a part of this new world whether she wants to be or not. She must adapt and fight for her life as a threat awaits her around every corner. Can Kayla handle her new life and survive the evil of the world? Can she uncover the secrets of her past?
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
Lucia Balstone thought she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with, but he was the one who ended her life. Their ten-year marriage seemed like a joke when her husband stabbed her with a dagger. Fortunately, God is never blind to people's tears. Lucia got a second chance. She was reborn at the age of 22, before all the terrible things had happened. This time, she was determined to avenge herself and let those who hurt her pay! She made an elaborate list of her goals, and the first thing on her list was to marry her ex-husband's enemy, Alonso Callen!
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
Olivia White replaced her sister to be engaged to Vincent Barton. She thought that the one she married would be a disabled man with notorious reputation, while to her surprise, Vincent is actually very handsome with great figure. What’s more, he treats her so well that he tends to satisfy all her requirements with no limits. In front of the public, he is the ruthless heir to the Emperor, while in front of her, he is her clingy husband who only belongs to her.
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.