« It's you and me. Together, » he says, his voice soft yet unwavering. « Us against the world. » In that moment, I want to believe him. I want to believe that someone like him - untouchable, adored, the golden boy of our school - could really mean those words. That the universe could be kind enough to let someone like me hold on to someone like him. But life isn't a fairy tale. I know that better than anyone. Growing up, I learned to fear men. To distrust their words, their smiles, and their promises. My stepfather was my first lesson - a cruel man who used his fists and his words to break my mother and me into pieces too small to repair. I watched her endure him, and I told myself I'd never give anyone that power over me. I would never let anyone get close enough to hurt me. And then came that morning. The day Jake Spencer - star quarterback, school heartthrob, a boy who lives in a world so far from mine it might as well be another galaxy - saw me. Not just looked at me, but *saw* me. It was the day he saved me. Maybe he didn't realize what he was doing, but it didn't matter. That small act of kindness cracked something open inside me, like sunlight slipping through the shutters of a locked room. But Jake Spencer doesn't remember that day. How could he ? To him, it was nothing - a fleeting moment in a life full of glory and victories. But to me, it was everything. It was a lifeline, a flicker of hope in a world I thought would always be dark. It doesn't matter. I tell myself that every day. He's the golden boy. I'm the invisible girl. We belong in two different stories, and I'm better off blending into the background. It's safer there. For both of us. But fate has never cared about what I want. When it brings us together again, it isn't gentle. It strikes like lightning - sudden, fierce, and utterly unstoppable. He crashes into my life, turning everything I thought I knew into chaos. He tears down my walls, breaks through my defenses, and leaves me exposed in ways I never thought possible. He destroys me. And just like the first time, I'm the only one who remembers. But what I don't realize is that this time, he's breaking too.
I throw my phone on my bed and lie down on it, a soft sigh escaping my lips. I just made a phone call to check on my sister, Melanie, who has just arrived in Australia with Mom and Dad.
She's just been accepted at a well-known university in Perth to pursue her bachelor degree, and our parents are staying there for a week before going back home to New York.
Meanwhile, here I am, in Texas. Completely away for them. To say that I'm thrilled to work here as an intern in one of the biggest oil and gas companies in the country is an understatement.
I can't be more grateful for that. It's the result of all the hard work that I've been putting my entire life.
I just have to make a little more effort to nail my job here – enough to secure the company's trust – and finish my final year in Boston University before graduating with honours.
I've got my life planned. Some people might think that I already have everything in my hands. Excellent academic records. Promising career prospects. And glorious achievement in sports – I've never given up the thing I love the most, which is football.
But now, as I stare at the ceiling of my house, I can't help but feel empty. I'm close to achieving all my goals. So what now ?
Another sigh escapes from my mouth as I cover my eyes with my arm, closing my eyes to sleep.
At some nights, just like what happens now, the same horrible feeling stirs inside me again. That feeling of guilt. Regrets. Fear.
The funny thing is that it always happens when I feel lonely.
Fuck. This makes me not want to fall asleep. But I can't help it.
No matter how hard I try to resist, when the nightmare comes, it just happens.
It's something that I've been trying to escape, only to fail miserably. It's something about my ruined past. My horrible past.
It's something that happened years ago. Back when I was still in high school.
.
« Jake. » Her voice is shaking. It sounds so vulnerable.
A scream threatens to escape from my mouth. I don't want to hear it.
I don't want to go through this anymore.
« Please, » she begs, her cries echoing in my ears.
I snap my eyes open, but I can't see anything. Everything is dark.
I try to open them as wide as I can, to the point that I can feel that my eyes are bulging out of their sockets. But still, I see nothing.
I can only hear her voice.
« It hurts, » she whispers brokenly.
The lump in my throat is getting bigger, and I swallow hard. Her sobs break, and suddenly, I feel nauseated again.
I want to throw up. I'm so disgusted at myself. I want to scream, but again, nothing comes out from my throat.
I want to get out, but my arms and feet are attached to chains. They are controlling my body and my movement. I feel my hands roaming something, and I jerk in shock. This is not happening. I can't let this happen.
I won't let this happen. Again.
My fingers brush against something soft, and I know what it is. I can feel her skin. But I still can't see her. I can't smell her either. I can only hear and feel.
It's impossible that something I used to find comforting, something that made me feel at ease, now pains me to the point that it can actually kill me. Yes, now that I'm sane, it tortures me. Fucking tortures me.
This is fucking ridiculous.
Something warm engulfs my neck and shoulder. She's clinging unto me like I'm her life.
Yes, I'm the only one who can save her, but I chose not to. I beg to do it now. I beg to stop what I'm doing, but the chains are too powerful.
She can only cry in my arms now, her soft sobs so close to my ear, and I'm losing my mind because I can't even remember her voice. It always changes every time I have this nightmare. It's just a fraction.
« Stop it ! » I can feel the words in my throat as I shout at myself, but still, no sound leaves my throat.
Because I know that it happened. It already happened.
« Jake, » she says my name one last time, and I can feel her hot tears dampening my neck. I already know the next words that she'll whisper, because all of this has already played in my mind countless times, in every nightmare. « It hurts... »
Slowly, I open my eyes, and a tear slides down my cheek.
I'm staring at the ceiling of my bedroom. It's brighter than the last time I saw it before I went to bed, because the rays of the morning sun have come through the window.
I sit up on my bed, and my hand is shaking when I rake my fingers through my blonde hair. I'm panting, and my chest hurts like hell.
No matter how many times this happens, the pain won't lessen.
This is my curse, and I have to go through it as long as I live. This is my punishment.
It hurts. Just like she said.
I open the drawer of my nightstand and take out a small box. My throat tightens as I open it.
A small earring sits inside it. It's lost its pair, which might still be with its owner. It's silver-plated and comes in a form of a butterfly.
It's the only trace that was left of her.
Closing the box, I trudge toward my balcony. As the morning has come, I can already hear the sound of cars on the street as their passengers start their weekend.
Declan Stone was the very definition of certainty. Known for his devastating charm and his ability to make anyone fall for his smile with a single blink, he had always believed himself to be the master of the game. Emotions were for others. He preferred simple pleasures, easy conquests, and above all, no attachments. His life, perfectly controlled, ran on tracks he had laid out with precision. Until Kai Coachman entered the scene. Kai was no mere pawn to be moved. He was a storm, unpredictable and captivating, sweeping everything in his path. His voice carried a sharp humor, and his gaze-piercing, bold-seemed to see beyond the carefully constructed facades of Declan. Kai expected nothing from him, and that was what made the irresistible Declan Stone completely crazy. From their first encounter, Declan had felt something, a shiver, a faint alarm ringing that warned him. Kai was not like the others. He wasn't someone you could seduce and forget. Yet, Declan had always been clear with himself : he only played games he knew he could win. But with Kai, it wasn't a game. It was a growing obsession, a need he couldn't control. He wanted him-not for a night or a week, but for everything. Kai had awakened something within him he hadn't known existed : a burning, unshakable desire, something deep, dangerous. Kai, however, was not one to be captured. The closer Declan got, the more he seemed to slip away, leaving behind a trail of sly smiles and sharp remarks. It was frustrating, exhilarating, terrifying. But Declan Stone never gave up on what he wanted. And what he wanted was Kai Coachman.
Killian King is cold, distant, dominant, and possessive of what's his. He is the undisputed top dog at school, the one everyone fears and admires, known as the bad boy. His piercing gaze and unwavering attitude guarantee him a place at the top among his peers. But everything changes the day Finnick Green, a shy, socially awkward, and reserved boy, accidentally stumbles into his life. A simple misstep, a chance encounter, and suddenly Killian's perfect world begins to tremble. Finnick, unknowingly, causes an uproar, an unexpected chaos. The bad boy, who has never shown weakness, finds himself in a situation he can't control. Because what he feels for this uncertain boy is far more disturbing than he could have ever imagined. An alpha trembling in the face of a fragile soul... What will happen when Killian realizes he might be the most vulnerable in front of the one he considers an intruder ?
Niklaus Wade is a quiet, shy, and mute young man, carrying with him a dark and painful past that haunts him every moment, preventing him from uttering a single word. Every silence he keeps is an invisible scar, a mark of everything he has lived through and lost. His world is one of isolation and introspection, where words escape his lips and emotions hide behind a facade of calmness. On the other side is Gnashton Wade, a violent, reckless man dominated by raw instincts. His anger management issues and distorted view of life make him an uncontrollable man, an enraged alpha, often willing to do anything to satisfy his desires. His explosive temper makes those who cross his path tremble, but everything changes the day Niklaus enters his life. Gnashton cannot take his eyes off this fragile boy, this living silence that intrigues him and pushes him to cross boundaries. More than just an attraction, an obsession is born within him. He has decided that Niklaus will be his, that he will do anything to subdue him, to have him under his control. He knows the mute young man is frightened, and that fear only excites his dominant urges further. Through his violence, Gnashton believes he can transform Niklaus, make him his own and his only. But beneath this facade of authority, will Gnashton realize that love and possession can blur together? And that behind Niklaus's silence, there may be answers he never imagined?
Nathaniel lives a life marked by bad luck, a series of never-ending events. Working as a library assistant for a minimum wage, he doesn't have much reason to hope for anything better. His parents have been dead for years, and since then, he's just been getting by. No love, no wealth, not even an appearance that might catch anyone's eye. He's invisible to the world. Society leaves him in the shadows, an ordinary man with nothing remarkable. Nathaniel's daily life is a long string of monotonous days, a sequence of small disappointments and big struggles. But life, even in its cruelty, does not give him a break. No, it has other plans for him. One night, while he's on his night shift at the library, something unexpected happens. Nathaniel, sticking to his routine, slips between the dusty shelves, solitary and lost in his thoughts. But little does he know that the night will take a turn that will change his life forever. Unknowingly, he's stepped into a much more dangerous place than the quiet aisles of the library. He's crossed paths with the most feared of all mafias, a man who can break anyone with just a glance, a man whose icy eyes can make the toughest of people tremble like puppies. This mafia boss, with his crushing aura of power, has no intention of letting Nathaniel go so easily. And here's the kicker: Nathaniel starts feeling strangely drawn to this man, to this force that dominates him. The invisible boy with no future now finds himself chained to a reality he doesn't understand, and he's about to discover just how intoxicating bad luck can sometimes be.
Carrie’s pack life was going perfectly. Chosen mate to the alpha, acting luna to her pack, and in love with her fiancé, she had nothing to complain about. Until the alpha found his mate and everything Carrie loved and worked for quickly unravels before her eyes. Banished from her pack, she works to build a life as a rogue among the humans until the unexpected happens.
She is running for her life from her abusive brother when she finally finds a house deep in the woods. Without thinking, she opens the door to see more than 20 men watching a football game. They turn to look at her, amused and alarmed. “Please help.” Stella is an 18-year-old teenager who was abused for about eight years by her brother. He would hit her whenever he felt like it. She was lucky if he was in a good mood because he would only punch her in the stomach. He claims to have a reason for his abuse. Julian Woods is the soon-to-be alpha of the Graymod pack. He’s 20 years old and has been looking for his mate for about two years now. What will he do when he sees his abused mate in his house?
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.
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?
Blinded in a crash, Cary was rejected by every socialite—except Evelina, who married him without hesitation. Three years later, he regained his sight and ended their marriage. "We’ve already lost so many years. I won’t let her waste another one on me." Evelina signed the divorce papers without a word. Everyone mocked her fall—until they discovered that the miracle doctor, jewelry mogul, stock genius, top hacker, and the President's true daughter… were all her. When Cary came crawling back, a ruthless tycoon had him kicked out. "She's my wife now. Get lost."
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
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."
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.