Content Warning- Violence, Assault, Foul language, and sexual content. Readers' discretion is advised. "There's no place, I'd rather be than to be with you Afina Jones" - Steve when he was falling deeply for her. "In your eyes I see paradise, I'm lost when i look in your eyes and i dont ever want to be found, you're the true definition of perfection and all i want is to compliment you"- Bradley Haastrup Afina, an orphan with a challenging past, finds a supportive family in the Haastrups. Her close bond with Bradley and Lisa changes when Bradley, harboring a secret crush, is deployed. A traumatic incident sparks a connection between them. Afina discovers her buried feelings as Bradley heads to England. She befriends Nixie on a Hawaiian vacation, meeting businessman Steve. A mysterious love journey ensues, marked by a kidnapping. Steve, a gangster, falls for Afina. Despite a toxic relationship, Bradley's return rekindles their love. Threatened by Steve, Bradley prevails, and Bradley and Afina's enduring love story begins.
Life is filled with numerous occurrences that define us and make us who we are. I guess our only duty is to know which is helpful and which isn't. Some part of the helpful part can be dangerous at times but we need to take a chance on ourselves to find out.
Countless times within the nineteen years of my existence I've neglected the happy moments, regretted my decisions, and wondered what I should have done differently.
There are many what-ifs in life, like:
What if I didn't say that?
What if I had done something differently?
I'm not saying that we can use this to justify our actions yet, our actions are the very thing that led us to certain moments in our lives. We watch the sunset at the horizon, spreading its largess into a grateful sky. Rich hues of red blended with oranges, purples, and crimsons.
Afina, That's my name; Afina Jones. A girl who despite being abandoned as a child, is filled with ambition. I will never abandon anyone.
"So," Lisa says, breaking the silence. "Tomorrow we graduate. We're no longer kids."
Bradley rolls his eyes. "Lisa, you've been saying that for the past hour,"
"Yeah, could we talk about something else?" I ask, giggling.
Lisa huffs, pouting. "This is a big deal! We can't be reckless teenagers anymore, especially you, Bradley."
I smile, agreeing.
"Don't worry, little sis," Bradley responds with an impish grin. "I got it all figured out."
I raise my eyebrows. "Little sis? You do realize she's your twin sister, right?"
"I've been around longer" He huffs.
Lisa punches him playfully in the arm. "Only by two hours, dickhead!"
They fall to the ground, playfighting as I laugh wholeheartedly.
Bradley smirks at me. "Get in babe, you know you want to,"
I shoot him the finger. "In your dreams, asshole,"
"Let me be your asshole," He winks.
I roll my eyes, smiling. "Shut up, Haastrup."
We all lay on the grass. Bradley holds out both of his arms so we can snuggle up together. I look at the sky, waiting for the stars to come out. And for a moment, there is just silence. The silence caressed my skin like a cool summer breeze. It was as comforting as a nurturing mother.
But then I became unsure.
"Whatever happens, I wish that the three of us stay together," I whisper to Bradley.
He looks at me, in assurance. "We're right by your side, just like you're by our side,"
I nod. "Of course,"
"Whatever happens, whatever life throws our way," He says. "You'll be fine, even if we aren't here."
"How do you know?" I query.
"Because that's who you are. You move on and get on with life," Bradley replies. "You worry too much."
I smile, scoffing. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks."
"No problem kiddo. Get some rest."
When the stars come out to play and the evening takes on that aroma of the night, when the crickets sing for the joy of living, life awaits. I love the softness, the quiet, the sense of rest. My thoughts slow as a beautiful carousel, each dancing as ribbons from a kite string that reaches for the sky, its colours embracing those lofty heights and inviting in the dreams that wear festival costumes and are formed of music.
In our sleep, we are children again. We dream of things past, things that will never be again. In our dreams, we have comfort, freedom, and love. Sometimes we can be visited by those we lost and for those perfect hours of sleep, we are whole again. Then on waking, we scramble to write it down, just in case there is wisdom in the randomness.
It's not that we think they're really talking to us, mostly, but our subconscious minds can send these people we esteem with solutions. Of course, sometimes it's all garbage or too obscure to figure out. Sometimes they are nightmares, but those are getting fewer and far between now that life has settled back into a rhythm.
I truly look forward to turning in at night, which is funny because, I remember wanting to stay up late, not wanting to sleep at 9 pm, but rather at 1 am. Yet, now sleep is precious, and desired.
**********************************
It had finally happened. The moment of truth is the stepping stone to the real world. This is what they've been preparing us for. After thirteen memorable years. Through the good, bad, idiotic, fun, and change. It was finally time. Time to step out into that bright light, shake the hand of an administrator, and grab the ticket to freedom. The piece of paper that would remind me forever that I've accomplished something. Most of all it's that time to look out among all the fellow classmates, stick up two middle fingers and say "fuck you all." In August, College will start but I knew I wouldn't be attending. For now, I was as free as a bird. All I had to do was sit in this uncomfortable robe and wait for my name to be called. California, here I come!
In December, when everyone is in College, I'll be working. I've known Bradley and Lisa ever since I was five years old. They came from a rich background since Mr. Haastrup and Lisa's father owns the famous 'Haastrup Suites', a well-known hotel around the world. Since I was thirteen, Dean Haastrup, or as I prefer to call him: 'Nip Tip' noticed my interest in the hotel and began teaching me about hotel management. My dream has been to take over the hotel when he believes I'm ready since Bradley and Lisa want to do something else.
It may seem like I'm taking advantage of my best friend's riches, but I prefer to see this as an opportunity. I am an orphan, with no truth of who I really am and where I came from so I believe that this opportunity is a way to give back. I probably don't make any sense right now... never mind.
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Lisa squealed. "I can't believe we just graduated, all of us!"
I smiled back. "I know! I'm so excited!"
Bradley chuckled and hugged us both. "Hey Lisa, you figure out what you're gonna do in September?"
"You know, I think I want to practice law, you guys!" She beams happily.
"Did you watch 'Legally Blonde' again?" I frown.
She glares at me and throws her cap. "Shut the fuck uppppp!"
Me and Bradley look at each other before laughing.
"What are you going to do, Brad?" I ask.
He looked at me and we locked eyes for a few seconds before he looked down, zoning out and then re-zoning in.
"I uh-" He stammered. "I've actually been thinking about the military..."
"The military?" Lisa says. "Are you sure?"
"Well, I've already applied... and mum and dad know. They're good with it."
"I think that's amazing, Brad" I say, giving him an honest smile. "When do you leave?"
He sighs. "I have just over a week left before I have to go"
"Just a week? Jesus, Bradley when were you going to tell us?" I queried.
Lisa backed me up. "Yeah, these are things we have to know... we won't see you for months, possibly even a few years,"
I sigh and calm myself down. "Nevermind, that doesn't matter anymore. If you have a week... let's make it a good one."
Bradley smiled at me.
"And the first thing we can do to make this a great week is crash the leavers party," Lisa said, smirking.
"Oh hell yeah," I reply, grinning mischeviously.
"Hey um..." one of the graduates called out. Was he talking to me?
"Afina, right?" Vanessa asked.
"Yeah" I responded.
"Are you going to the leavers party?" He asked me.
I nodded in response.
"Hope to see you there" He smirks, winking at me before walking away.
Lisa looks at me, laughing.
"Somebody's getting laid," she says in a sing-song voice.
I rolled my eyes, giggling and told her to shut up.
There isn't a single ounce of fear projecting off him as he stands in front of me, his extreme level of authority practically radiating throughout the room. "Touch her again and the next bullet I fire will go through your fucking skull. Comprendere?" He warns, the threat clearly understood as the dozens of eyes around us become wide and fearful. .................................... Arie has always loved the idea of capturing memories and moments that will last forever. The ability to take a picture and know the memory of it will live on for as long as the people in it, possibly even more. That is, until the day she accidentally photographs something that will leave her regretting that one innocent click over and over. Arie is a beautiful talented photographer in her early twenties and very bubbly but he life took a turn when she met with Diego, a ruthless mafia Don who takes no nonsense from any one, if you cross the line with him, you're dead. Arie, one day in excitement took a picture in an event she attended that happened to escalate into a gory Mafia crash, that almost cost her life but for some reason Diego spared her life but it wasn't just on a platter of gold was she released from his grasp, as she became his slave who eventually turned to his lover as she was different from any woman he's ever met.
Kristin is a young girl who suddenly wakes up in the basement of the Russian mafia and one of the best Assassins in the world, Aleksandr Ivanovic. what he wants with her, she doesn't know. she is forced to face his harsh and cruel treatment. the strange thing there is, Alek keeps referring to her as Khloe, her twin sister's name. She spends too much time there that she starts making friends and maybe, just maybe, she might understand why Aleksandr has her in his basement. she might see him for the broken mafia Don that he is, and not the vicious, ruthless, and heartless assassin the whole world paints him to be. But will Aleksandr keep his hands to himself before Kristin gets a chance to know him beyond the mask he has on, or will he ruin everything before it even begins?? Warning: This is a very dark romance, with mentions of rape, torture, and gory thing.
"Reveal to me who caused you pain," he commanded. I could have succumbed to fear and divulged the entirety of my traumatic past, but instead, I shook my head. There was no way I was sharing my darkest secrets with him. "I will find out... I always find out, cara," he murmured. Despite his assurance, I doubted he could fathom that my father was the source of my nightmares. He gazed at me, and I met his stare head-on. "You have freckles," I whispered, raising my right hand to touch his face. "Do I?" His voice carried a husky tone. He turned his face slightly toward my hand, revealing the firm set of his bold profile. His jaw was rigid as granite, but his eyes softened. Leaning in closer, he hesitated for a moment. I understood he was giving me the opportunity to evade his kiss.
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
"Please trust me, I didn't do anything." "I don't believe you. I am rejecting you as my Queen and giving you the punishment of death." Alina was living outside her pack for five years. Her parents didn't try to contact her and always ignored her. Her best friend convinced her to go back to their pack and she agreed. But she had never imagined what was waiting there for her. She never thought she would meet her mate and had to face betrayal from everywhere. She had to pay for the crime which she never committed. Aaron Robertson is the king of Lycans. He is a very dominant and powerful King who not only rules Lycans but also rules other ranks of werewolves. Everyone is afraid of Lycans and he is the king of them. But who knew that he would get a mate who was just a simple Omega with no powers and strengths? He called her weak all the time but little did he know that his weak Omega would give him the biggest betrayal of his life for which he had to give her the sentence of death.
Trigger warning!!! Intended for mature readers who enjoy morally complex, slow-burn, poseesive, forbidden, dark romance that pushes boundaries. ***EXCERPT*** Blood everywhere. Trembling hands. "No!" My eyes blurred. His lifeless eyes stared back at me, his blood pooling at my feet. The man I loved-dead. Killed by the one person I could never escape - my stepbrother. *** Kasmine's life was never hers to begin with. Kester, her stepbrother, controlled and monitored her every move. At first, it was all sweet and brotherly until it began to turn into an obsession. Kester was the Alpha, and his word was law. No close friends. No boyfriends. No freedom. The only consolation Kasmine had was her twenty-first birthday, which was supposed to change everything. She dreamt of finding her mate, escaping the sickening control of Kester, and finally claiming her own life. But fate had other plans for her. On the night of her birthday, not only was she disappointed that she wasn't mated to the love of her life, but she found out that her mate was none other than him - Her tormentor. Her stepbrother. She'd rather die than be mated to a man whom she had known as her big brother all her life. A man who would do just anything to make sure she was his. But when love turns to obsession, and obsession turns to blood, how far can one girl run before she realizes there is nowhere else to run to?
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."
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.