I met the devil when I was fourteen years old. Just a kid himself, he was hellbent on making me miserable. By fifteen I hated him. When I was sixteen, I moved as far away as I could. Since I've left, my life has been simple-peaceful and still. I had no intention of ever returning to Skull Creek. Until tragedy struck and I was called back. It's been two years since I saw my step-brother. I hoped he had changed. But the devil is still the same. He's arrogant and ruthless. Rules the town with an iron fist. Where he walks, crowds part. Now his blame is set on me, along with his dark orbs of hate. It's time to show him I'm not the same girl I was back then. If he pushes, I'll push harder. Where I bend, he will break. As long as he doesn't find my weakness, I can survive this. Even if my weakness has become the devil himself. ******BONUS STORIES ADDED*****
FOURTEEN YEARS OLD
IT'S TOO SOON. How can someone who claimed to be madly in love with another person, marry someone else only six months later? Not to mention, making that hellish boy a part of our family. He breathes fire and I swear his eyes change from brown to as black as coal when he's angry. He scares me, he really does.
Now, I'm supposed to live in this monstrosity of a mansion with him? I've got no idea what Mom is thinking. Sure, my new stepdad is loaded, but that's about all he is. His son is his spawn and these men are a different breed of human. They lack empathy and knowledge of personal space. Part of me thought my parents would be together forever. Even if I heard the arguments and the desperation for a better marriage in their voices. I'm starting to feel naive to think that happily ever afters exist. Then again, I'm only fourteen, so what do I know?
"Penelope," Mom hollers from down the long stretch of hallway. My door is cracked open just enough to let her words flow into the room.
"Coming," I yell back. I set my brush down on the new vanity that Richard, my soon-to-be stepdad, bought me. He
purchased everything in this room. Everything is brand new. Pink and white walls, matching bedding, and wall art. Nothing like the room I had back in Portland. I'd give it all up to be back there with Dad-to have my family whole again. My insides prick with pain at the realization that we will never go back to that happy place, because none of us are the same people we were back then.
They'll tell me it's not my fault. People fall out of love, blah, blah, blah. It doesn't make me feel any better, though.
One last look in the mirror, and I'm ready to go to the church where my mom will take a new last name, and I'll be the outcast in this family.
Just as I step away from the vanity, my door flies open. At first I expect to see Mom, but since it's not her, I backstepped, almost tripping over the stool behind me. "Go away!" I shout at Blaise. He stands there silent but rooted to the spot, like he just came in here to try and scare me again. He's got wide eyes and a blank expression. "I'm not scared of you," I tell him, hoping he doesn't see through the lie.
Slow, but heavy steps bring him in front of me. Face to face with my new brother. "You should be." He smiles devilishly. There's something so dark about this boy.
"Why aren't you dressed for the wedding?" I ask, gripping the sides of my peach-colored dress. Mom picked it out to match all the other girls in the wedding. She said I'm too old to be a flower girl, but the perfect age to be a junior bridesmaid. Blaise and I are set to walk together, since we're the same age. I begged Mom not to make me, but she brushed away my pleas and told me to suck it up.
"Because I don't want to. And I only do what I want."
I swear, the devil lives inside of Blaise. My body shivers every time I'm near him. He even visits me in my dreams and turns them into the worst nightmares. One night, I woke up to a loud bang in my room, and I swear he was in there watching me sleep. Another time, he lit my math textbook on fire because he didn't like that I was in the same class as him and his friends. Just grinned at me, opened it up, and took the flame of a lighter to it. Then he laughed. Who does that?
I turn on my white heels to walk away, but Blaise grabs my arm. "Let me go." I try to jerk away, but it does no good. He grabs a fistful of my perfectly curled hair and pulls. When I go to scream, he slaps a hand over my mouth.
"If you don't stop this wedding, you'll live to regret it. I don't want a stupid sister."
With the little space between his hand and my mouth, I open, then push forward and bite down on the skin of his thumb.
Blaise screeches, then shoves me aside like a ragdoll. I trip over the stool of my vanity and fall on the floor, bumping my head on the footboard of my new bed on the way down.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," Blaise threatens before walking out.
I'm left lying there with a gash on my head that's sure to leave a scar and a small rip in the side of my new dress. Tears stream down my cheeks as I push myself to the floor.
Accused of murder, Sylvia Todd's mother was deemed a traitor by the entire pack, condeming Sylvia to live the rest of her life alone in humiliation as a lowly slave. All she wanted to do was to prove her mother's innocence somehow, but fate never seemed to be on the side of the traitor's daughter. Still, Sylvia never lost hope. As the future lycan king of all werewolves, Rufus Duncan possessed great power and status, but he had an inexplicable reputation for being cruel, bloodthirsty, and ruthless. Unbeknownst to everyone, he had been cursed long ago to transform into a killer monster on every full moon. Even though fate did not always look upon the two, it brought Sylvia and Rufus together as each other's destined mates. Will justice be served for Sylvia's mother? What about Rufus' secret? Can Sylvia and Rufus defy all societal norms and stay together? Will these two unlucky souls have their happy ending?
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
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."
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.”
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
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.”