Kimberly Powers is a 28 year old artist and gallery owner who is all too familiar with the dark alleys of life. But if that's what she has to go through to protect her younger sister, so be it. Finally living the life she has always wanted, she knows it's only best for her to stash her ugly past away into the dark cellars of her mind, away from the woman she has become and all that surrounds her. With her daily interactions, she's had to hide the dead part of her soul and the internal mess she is from the world. She's determined to keep her demons in her head but exactly how much can the expensive three piece suits and sleek haircuts hide? Especially when she meets a man whose honey coloured eyes seem to unravel her being and pierce right through her soul. Will she finally be able to embark on the journey of self love? And when the shadows of her past begin to creep up into the open, will she be able to face her fears and let love lead?
15th January, 2010
Her mum was stoned again. Hard. The seconds ticked by slowly as they sped down the dark highway, the small space of the car practically vibrating with the sound of the music turned on so loud and her mother singing along. Despite the noise, all she could think in her head as she clamped Tiana's sweaty hand tightly in hers was "Lord, let's get home safe please". He mum sat alone in the front seat and her usual smell filled the whole space. Bad breath.....sweat....weed......and a faint smell of what she hoped was not urine. It happened a few times. She would completely pass out when she had had enough and would sometimes pee herself. Not minding to take a shower when she finally awoke, she would merely have a change of clothes and move on to the next aspect of her life. Getting stoned again.
It had surprised her greatly when Natalia had offered to come get she and Tiana from Tiana's school. Today was PTA and of course her mother wasn't going to attend. Kim went.....like she always did. Despite her reassurances that they could get the bus home safe, her mum had insisted on coming and for a moment, she had let a sliver of hope worm it's way into her heart. Was she finally coming back to them? Of course that had been stupid of her. After the PTA ended by roughly 3:30, they had sat at the parking lot, anxiously awaiting her mum's arrival. Her baby sister had come third in her class and she had been so excited to share the news. She was looking forward to sharing the news with their mum even more. Her behavior had been impeccable all year too. Kim was well and truly proud of her. She was turning out to be everything she wanted her to be......which was everything Kim herself wasn't. At the beginning of the wait, she had kept up the cheerful mood, telling Tiana what a good girl she was, how proud she was of her, and how Mama would be proud of her when she heard.
"You really think so, Kim?". Her 11 year old sister had asked while looking up at her with those eyes that crippled her soul. It broke Kim to see her younger sister so broken. The girl had gone through a lot, so many things she didn't deserve.....no one deserved. At the end of it, she didn't even want much. All she wanted was their mother's love and approval, something a child shouldn't even have to yearn for. Her mum knew exactly how much Tiana needed these too, and that was all the reason she needed to deprive her of it. Like it was the child's fault that her mum had stupidly gone on to get herself pregnant with her, the possible fathers too many count and too worthless to matter either ways. As she constantly liked to say, the only reason she hadn't gotten rid of Tiana in her belly was because she had been far gone before she even realized she was pregnant. Seeing how deep those words hurt Tiana, it had become her mum's favorite thing to say, till Kim had coldly told her one day that if she ever repeated it again, she would personally go down to the police station herself to report her mother of drug possession and abuse. That had been the only reason Natalia had shut up. The fierce protectiveness that burned in Kim's heart for her sister blazed just as brightly as her distaste for her mother. Natalia had failed them as a mum, something she would never forgive her for.
She had raised her hand to pat Tiana's head and given her her most beatific smile. "Of course, kitten. Mama would be very proud of you". And just by those words, Tiana had clutched her report sheet tighter to her chest and continued to stare down the road expectantly, not minding at all that it was in fact almost 6:30 now and their mum still hadn't shown up.
She had finally shown up roughly an hour later, heavily stoned. She hadn't even bothered to apologise. Tiana had jumped excitedly at the sight of their mum's battered Toyota rounding the corner, but Kim had merely eyeballed the ugly grey car till it finally screeched to a halt in front of them. As they approached the car, Kim had paused at the driver's seat window and stared down at her mother's face.
"You can't drive like this, Mama". She had said shortly, gripping Tiana's hand protectively.
Her mum had rolled her eyes and jerked her head towards the back of the car. "Get in the car, Kimberly. I have places to be".
"Like you had places to be by 3:30 when you were supposed to come get us?". She had shot back accusingly, all the pent up anger fast rising to surface. "What kind of mother are you?".
"Now you watch your mouth, young lady". There had been a short staring contest between them till her mum had finally turned to glance at Tiana, almost like an after thought. "How was your result, girl?".
From the corner of her eye, Kim had seen Tiana glance up at her nervously before turning back to their mum. She had only gripped her hand tighter in assurance but continued to glare down furiously at Natalia.
"I came third, Mama". Her voice shook slightly with what Kim knew was excitement and underlying nervousness.
"Third? You didn't come top of class?". Their mum, had asked, her voice dripping iirritation.
"That's the highest she's been so far, Mama". Kim had cut in, waiting for her mother to say one more wrong thing, just one more. That would be all the excuse she needed to pour out the raging words that zapped through her mind, dying to be let out. But her mum had merely shrugged, jerking her head towards the back of the car again.
"Get in girls".
A fallen heiress. A broken alpha. A plot for revenge…..and an unexpected twist of fate. When calamity strikes her pack, Valeria does everything within her power to save her people. Even if it means begging for help from the arrogant alpha of the rival pack. But fate has other plans in store for her and when things take an interesting turn, she's left with two choices. Sign her life away to her unexpected mate, or watch her people die. Beneath the icy demeanor and long sleeved clothes of Draaven Ventura lies a den of secrets….and a vengeful heart. When his feisty mate comes breezing through his door, seeking for help, he doesn't hesitate to use the situation to his advantage. His long assembled plan for vengeance is finally coming together, and he has the perfect pawn to use in his game.
A billionaire who hides his bleeding heart with a tough exterior and a soft, family oriented 24 year old woman. Who would have ever thought? Vanessa Higgins lives in constant reminder of how indebted she is to her aunt for taking she and her sister in when they lost their mum. But the ultimate favour was asked of her when she was asked to marry a man she barely knew to enable the family business. In an unexpected turn of events, she ends up marrying another man on that same day, a cold hearted billionaire who is willing to go to any length to have the debt he's owed paid back. Damien De Luca never imagined he'd be getting married when he woke up that morning. But after a look at Vanessa, he had to keep her around him, even if that meant entrapping her with her family's debt. He has married her alright, but not for the reason everyone thinks. What happens when his true reason dares to burst out, exposing the man in him whom he has spent so long trying to erase? A marriage based on a contract might not be so bad after all, but what of a marriage based on lies, warped truths and secrets?
A traitorous history. A vengeful spirit. A heart caught somewhere between love and hate. A story that tells it all. Marissa Randall's 20th birthday and awakening takes a turn she never saw coming. The alpha of her pack turns out to be her mate and her wolf is the exact replica of a woman whose name no one mentions. When the sins of a mother come back to haunt a child, how far must she go to free herself from the bondage? Alpha Lazarus is beyond elated to meet his mate after so many years of waiting. But what happens when his destined partner is the daughter of the biggest traitor in the history of the pack, whose treason cost the lives of his parents and many more loved ones? Will it really be that easy to put the past behind? Or....will the powerful drive for vengeance mark the beginning of the end? Let's find out.
"You feel it don't you?". He whispered. She gulped nervously and remained silent, her gaze holding his firmly. "You do feel it. You are my mate, Ariella". And before she could get a word out, his lips came crashing down on hers. Ariella has lived all her life in hiding among humans as a werewolf who could be killed if discovered. While she hates that her mother had been cast out of her pack, she's mostly content with her quiet life among mortals. But everything comes crashing down one day when her family is arrested for owing taxes. Right as things seem to take a turn for the worse for her and her family, a stranger appears and saves her. He's Draaven, her mate whom she would be meeting for the first time and alpha of the Lycans, a pack which has had a lifelong feud with the Cecils, her mother's birth pack. Draaven manages to save only Ella and while he realizes she should know the truth, he refuses to tell her for fear of losing her. Will their love be able to triumph over secrets, rivalry and pack wars? Will Ariella finally be able to own her wolf identity and take her rightful place in the same pack that her mother had betrayed? Read on.
Caught in a web of betrayal, Nicole's life shatters in a single evening when her mother-in-law, Veronica, sets her up in an elaborate scheme. Blindsided, Nicole faces her husband Taylor's cold rage as he casts her out of his life and home, accusing her of infidelity and theft. As she tries to defend herself, her best friend, Sarah, adds another blow by denying their loyalty. "Please, Taylor, you have to believe me!" Nicole pleads, her voice breaking, but his icy response is a dagger to her heart. "I don't hate you, Nicole," he sneers. "I despise you." When Nicole reveals she's pregnant, she hopes for compassion, but it only fuels Veronica's determination to rid the family of her. After signing the divorce papers, a dejected Nicole wanders alone, where a brutal attack leaves her bleeding, helpless, and desperate to protect her unborn child. Six years later, Nicole returns from the ashes to inflict seven times the pains upon those who humiliated her and left her to die. "I'll make them pay so dearly that they'd regret ever been born!" She declares. This is a story of romance and revenge you don't want to miss!
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
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?"
What happens when an all business Alpha planning his chosen's mating ceremony, smells the most wonderful fruity scent that belonged to his curvy mating ceremony planner. Confident plus size Ji'lahni, her two cousins, and friend owns a successful Wedding planning company along with a dance, and self defense workout studio, get hired by their new friend who is like a mother to them to plan her sons wedding I mean mating ceremony? What will happen when the sassy plus size women step into the world of werewolves? Read to find out.
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."