1605 Book(s) Related to if he had been with me lib/e laura nowlin

“I love you, Elsie Hathaway, with everything in me”
Finally, her brother-in-law loves her back! He finally found the balls to leave her barren sister.
He is the Famous and feared Drug baron, Italian-born but raised on the streets of Chicago, Angelo Moretti, of the Moretti conglomerate and her father’s business partner.
But it's not that simple to Elsie, he is dying and he needs a genetically made child to sustain him.

With her sister Evelyn’s inability to conceive a child giving her the upper hand, Elsie is willing to do anything for Angelo’s love.
Including becoming a surrogate mother for them.

All was well in their little haven until it all came crashing down, the truth of it all came to light, and she realised she’d been used, her child taken from her, and now she was lying on the cold floor of the Moretti’s estate, dead.

If only she had a second chance at life………

Just as her body was heading for cremation, her dying wish came true.
Now she’ll show them who the real demon is…..

Miss Mafia’s wicked revenge…

Lily is a beautiful woman who was forced to divorce her husband. Ryan, her husband, wanted to marry his former lover. Because of his parents' wishes, the two of them were finally matched. But after Lily's father died, Raynold immediately filed for divorce. Unknown to him, Lily was pregnant with their child.

When the divorce had taken place, Lyly's ex-boyfriend came to propose to her. Because the father's property was still in the hands of the ex-husband, the two of them, along with Lily's biological brother, finally agreed to take revenge on Ryan's family.

On the one hand, Ryan's wife has found out about their plan to destroy Ryan's family.
Will their revenge be avenged? And does Ryan know the fate of the child who has been born?

She was killed by her mate and was dumped in the forest for bird to feed on but was saved by a soccerrer who turned her into an hybrid with a black magic.... How cruel must fate be when she got mated to the same man in her new body?

WARNING!!!!!!!NOT SUITABLE FOR UNDER EIGHTEEN! EXPLICIT CONTENT********************************************He shoves two fingers in my mouth. "Suck. Make them nice and wet for me."

I don't know why I do what this man tells me when he tells me to do things, but I obey each and every time and suck those fingers like my life depends on it.

My thighs starts quaking when I hear that zipper going down, because I know what will happen next. He will shove himself inside me so deep that he has nowhere else left to go, and leave me burning alive.

"You don't move your hands when I take mine off. Do you understand me? If you disobey, I will tie you up and leave you here until your parents come looking for you and find you filled to the brim with my cum."***************************************Someone is following me.
I was almost mugged, or maybe something even worse could have happened.
But there was a guy who saved me like some modern superhero masked in a black helmet.
I should have been terrified when he slit my assailant's throat before nodding at me, waiting for me to get safely in my car, and laying his hand on my window.
Instead of feeling scared, I'm feeling....
Excited.
Alive.
And I'm dying to feel it again.
So I do what no sane person does. I roam the streets of the city when I should be in bed, resting, just waiting for another glimpse of my rescuer.
He doesn't disappoint.
He corners me and makes me feel things I shouldn't be feeling because I'm in a relationship.
I yearn for his touch, I open my legs when I should use it to run far, far away.
Someone is following me.
And I like it.

The transformation to a vampire leaves Kaldar amnesic. He reawakens as a cold and unfeeling vampire, confused and curious about his new life.
Kaldars aspiration to discover his past life as a human drives him, yet the scent of a human girl brings a new kind of light to his life. Like her name, Dawn brings light and love into Kaldars heart, one the young vampire crazes over and knows he cannot live without. But not only is it outlawed for vampires to mate with humans, but it is also a crime punishable by death.
Their romance is bound to stay hidden, but soon enough, it turns dangerous, and Kaldar finds himself in a position that forces him to kill to protect Dawn's life. It seems like the world is only revolving around their hidden love, but new threats arrive at every corner, from wolves to fellow vampires.
His life as a vampire becomes more difficult with every passing day, and he soon learns that he has to choose between his aspiration to figure out who he is as a human, run away with his human lover, or live without her. her.

"It is best you leave because you don't know who you are dealing with."
"But there's something about you that makes me come closer," I said boldly despite his eyes screaming the word dangerous.
He roughly pinned me against the wall, taking a whiff of my scent. "Do you know who you are talking to? No dragon has ever been a match for me, and no lady has ever satisfied my sexual needs, so be careful, little one, because you might likely be wishing for death."
I should have been scared, but my wolf found him fascinating, so I leaned closer and said, "Well, I'm the one to come close enough to tame your untameable dragon."

If you are a fan of reading about the prince charming coming to save the lady in distress, then this isn't for you, because the lady in distress would be the only key to calm the ticking monster from unleashing its wrath on the people.
Garcia is a young lady who had one job, which was to flee for safety, but she ended up fleeing into the hands of the man who is not just a monster but also contributed to the deaths of her pack. Now his enemy also wants her so badly. Would they fight over her, or would they be ready to share her?

Valentina has spent her entire life learning how to disappear.

Growing up in Tepito, she knows that surviving means staying invisible—keeping her head down, finishing her studies, and dreaming of a future far away from Mexico City, where her family might finally be safe. She never wanted power, danger, or attention. She only wanted out.

Everything shatters the night her cousin Paloma’s secret pulls her into the ruthless world of the Cruz cartel.

After witnessing an internal betrayal, Paloma becomes a liability. A girl is murdered to send a message. And Valentina, cornered by fear and desperation, makes a single reckless choice that seals her fate—stealing cartel merchandise in a failed attempt to survive.

There are no second chances in this world.

Now trapped inside a violent criminal organization where trust is a myth and mistakes are paid in blood, Valentina comes face to face with the most dangerous man in the cartel. A man who does not forgive. Who does not forget. Who does not release what belongs to him.

Survival is no longer about escape.

It is about submission, power, and the devastating cost of being claimed by the enemy.

And Valentina is about to learn that in the cartel’s world, temptation is never harmless—and loving the wrong man can be deadlier than any bullet.

⚠️MATURE READERS ONLY⚠️ DARK ROMANCE ⚠️

After years of loneliness, Phobos approached me. A frightening beast, my mate who emerged from within the bounds of a ruthless thundering storm. The male I yearned for. He caught me off guard and I was under the spell he cast through his ocean eyes. A spell I couldn't defeat, and that very moment I knew I was in trouble. The second our eyes met I knew he would bring me pain.

We were childhood friends, him and I. Phobos the sweet male whom I grew up with and looked up to as a pup vanished and was replaced by a cold-hearted barbarian, he scared me whilst he butchered many with a blink of his eyes. No regret, no trouble his beast often in control surging forward consuming his senses. They were equals.

How could I connect with a male like that? How could I make him call me his? A male who didn't need the presence of a Luna. I was neither a want nor a necessity for him as he was for me. The way he gazed at me, I could sense it in the marrow of my bones. Disappointment, unworthy...unneeded.


'𝓕𝓪𝓬𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓽, 𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓯𝓵𝓮𝓮 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓡𝓾𝓷 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓽, 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓱𝓲𝓼.'

“Whom does this female belong to? She possesses no seat here. This is not a place for females.”
An older male wolf's authoritative and influential voice blares throughout the room, the high walls carrying the sound of his condemnation of my presence.

“I think you are mistaken for IT IS the place for me. I am an Alpha.” A flash of teeth from my side as my warrior spirit soars, a slow wild lick of my lower lip to taunt him eyes glaring at the ill-bred male whilst I continue to confidently saunter to my rightful seat on the table.

Whispers and murmurs travel through the room gossips spreading like wildfire as they inspect my flesh head to toe. Their suits are neat, in many instances fine, and wherever I encountered the eye of one it is only to recognize in it a degrading and unwelcoming stare. They find me unworthy.

There is a deep familiarity with these kinds of unhesitant stares for this is my normality of life. To be met with hate, disgust, and humiliation of the soul I possess. It is not because they do not know me. They do know. They know of the battles I had won for my pack. And they certainly feel the strength I possess.

Perhaps they merely pretend to be blind and deaf, to remain oblivious to my surging vigour. Or perhaps, they failed to anticipate that I would be the first female Alpha to stand in this hall; the only wolf not in a suit; the only female who can sit at the same table with males.

⚠️MATURE READERS ONLY⚠️ DARK ROMANCE ⚠️

•Mature Content•

Lycan prince Kaden Moretti is known for his ruthlessness and cruelty, but that is until one day when he finds the injured angel in the forest--Isabelle Morgan who is supposedly his mate

Captived and kept away from civilization for her whole life, Isabelle knows nothing about the world. On her escape from her malicious captors, she finds herself getting exposed to a new yet dangerous world and worst of all she doesn't know her destination. Rescued by the handsome Lycan prince and being under his care, for once in her life she leans onto someone. But she doesn't know he's her mate, neither she understands the mate bond.

A beauty, timid and fearful of even the smallest things, fragile like a petal Kaden finds himself letting go of his hard exterior for the girl who seems to land within his arms from heaven itself. But Isabelle's captors aren't going to do stop chasing her, what will happen when the devils will begin chasing them? Will Kaden be able to save his Angel?

"W-what are you doing?" I asked, my breathing getting heavier as his warm fingers inched towards my bikini bottom.
"You called me a coward earlier, remember?" He asked, his other hand wrapped around my throat and lips torturingly brushing over mine "So let's see how much you can handle if I break the boundaries."
"I haven't said anything wrong," I breathed out, the collision of the heat of our bodies made the wetness between my thighs build more
"Oh really?" He hooked my legs around his waist leaving me surprised
I opened my mouth to say something but before any sentence could leave my mouth, sliding past my bikini bottom his fingers were there on my bare clit and the next second they thrust inside the very tight hole of mine leaving me to scream.
But everything went silent as he pressed his hot lips upon mine just as I had been wanting since the first day I had ever seen him.

**
I always knew the things I felt for Jacob Adriano were wrong in so many ways. He was my dad's best friend, totally out of bounds but I couldn't stop wanting him. And once in the event of my dad's destination wedding, I came across him after years...I lost every one of the boundaries I had and surely I planned to make him lose his ones too.
After all Jacob Adriano, the sinfully attractive Italian was not unaware of my obsession with him.
But little did know that forbidden relationships always bring havoc and demolition.....
18+, strong mature, and sexual content.

⚠️MATURE READERS ONLY⚠️ DARK ROMANCE ⚠️

"What should I do now that I have seized my prey?" He questions me, voice deep and husky whilst he inhales sharply nose buried into the flesh of my neck savouring the scent of his female. Fangs out ready to sink, ready for a bite.

"Should I devourer it?" He whispers into my ear whilst the tip of his hot tongue tastes the flavour of my burning skin. I shiver beneath him encaged under his strong body.

"I am starving my female and you look absolutely... succulent." He moans, tongue licking his lower lip as an uncontrollable need sets him on fire from within.


Deimos was neither man nor wolf. He was a God, the Alpha of Alphas. They say he has no soul, for his eyes hold coldness that no heat can melt, his heart hard as rock possessing deep scars from his battles protected by high walls. He is merciless, instilling fear within others and striving off it. He did not understand the meaning of love nor mates until he met his moon blessed. - HIM

Destined for greatness she fought tooth and claw to survive. Her past, her arduous war. The first female Alpha to have ever been born. Having no place in her pack she fought for her birthright, for her reign. She didn't know that her battle didn't end that night she won. She didn't know that her biggest bloodshed would be with her mate. Deimos. -HER

He would fight against his heart and she would fight with her soul.


⚠️WARNINGS:- PLEASE READ. IMPORTANT ⚠️

This is a DARK-ROMANCE so if you are not comfortable with these kinds of books please don’t read. You have been warned!


There is NO rejection or second chance mate in my books.

3)The male species in my books are DOMINANT over females as their world follows a certain hierarchy. Their world is very different from our human world with different values and ethics. So don’t compare them and tell me certain scenes are abusive as I do my best to portray animal behaviour and they will be rough and tough.

The Alpha female protagonist in this book will submit to her mate at certain times. If you want to see a female protagonist who is unrealistically ‘always strong and never breaks’ please go somewhere else instead of writing comments saying your disappointment, hate, and annoyance. I don’t want to read hate comments on my characters AT ALL.


My protagonists are full-grown mature adults. NOT children. If you want to see them always happy, never fight, and live in la-la land all the time this book is NOT for you.


Do not copy my book, I will find you and report you and take legal actions! Authors put in a lot of hard work for their readers.


You must be at least 16 and older to read this book, it is a mature book meant for adults and not young readers.


Constructive criticism is accepted but any mean comments will be deleted!


Please be nice to other readers as well, their opinions are theirs, no need to push your thoughts on to them.

Alright, done! Now enjoy the ride babes ❤️

Excerpt

"What were you trying to do, Qiyara?" My eyes devour the harshness of his hungered swallow and his clenched trembling fist set against the wall. His raging heat that bounds me within, I find unfathomably irresistible.

"I was merely dancing, Cronus." A feverish breathless lie I spout engraving the way the tip of his hot tongue peeks out his mouth to caress his plump lower lip. I wish to obtain a taste of what he can offer.

My ample breasts heave achingly to stroke his wicked flesh, his eyes set aflame to my words for he knows I hold no truth. Then I shall gladly be a sinner, his sinner.

"If you were trying to make me jealous so that I would lose my control and ravish you then you are wrong. I have trained to be a master of control since I was a mere pup. Do not test me." He does not understand, my desperation for him to ram himself raw & deep within me.

"You won't touch me." I move forward swiftly to taste the nape of his neck with a seductiveness. My hand descends his sculpted flesh to embrace his straining girth that is fastened under his jeans. Succumb to me, my male.

He seizes my wrist with brutality. "You are still young, you are not ready." He is too much of an honourable male for me.

"Fuck me, Cronus. Take me against this wall." I am relentless in my lewdness. I lure him into my den.

"Stop it, Qiyara!"

Blazing eyes meet his with a formidable determination. "Then I will keep going against you. I shall be the devil for I will entice you because I ache to feel it."

"Feel what?" He questions nose flaring, his wrath to my stubbornness soaring.

"You lose control."


The forbidden fruit, that was what Cronus was to me. He was one of my brother's closest friends and the most sought-after male who many females from diverse packs fawned over praying he would end up being hers. He was a charmer indeed for with those flirty smiles of his and genuine kindness he enthralled many including me. He was thirteen years older than me but I always had a thing for older males so it started out as a covert crush until I too stood in line with the rest of the females hoping to claim him as mine. However, my position in that line of thirsty females was not last as I had expected but first for Cronus ended up being my mate just as I yearned for, the moon's gift.

Forbidden fruit? Not anymore, Cronus is mine and I am going to gobble this male up.

A long river split the city of Hillwood into two, separating the Palace and royal blood from the ordinary and the Vampires from the Humans. The consecutive agreement made by the Vampire kings was what Black Vale Dynasty has gone by; They were the ones for any decision to be taken. Respected, obeyed, and feared, all three of them were the most powerful predators on the planet but there was a thing to mention--They were great rulers too.

Jasmine Doloris, residing on the side of the city of Hillwood between human civilization didn't know anything about her identity and the deep secrets of her past that she was restrained away from, raised by a kind woman who under the pressure of a promise lied to her that Jasmine was found by her years ago on the Riverside, Her life that was mostly surrounded by lies and delusions she was unaware of, didn't have anything more than simplicity. But everything started taking a drastic turn when she took the job in the Kings' palace as their maid and their attention fell on her. Soon, The most unimaginable happens--On the night of the full moon, she turned out to be their Mate and this put everything into a mess of questions.

Sinfully attractive, irresistible and dangerous in nature, unbeatable in battles--The Vampire Kings had it all a woman could desire and Jasmine was the complete opposite of what the kings were.

Join Jasmine's story to find out how she deals with the storms, a roller coaster of emotions, and finally, her destiny whilst her life unfolds as well as the reality of her identity. After all, Jasmine might not be a human at all and her past might not be what she had assumed .....

"Hunter let me go," I whimpered as he leaned in and took a whiff of my scent from my neck.

My mind and heart, none of it were willing to accept the closeness but my body was yearning to submit.

My nipples brushed against his solid naked chest and a zap of electricity attacked my core resulting in the moisture gathering in my sensitive folds.

He moved his hand and cupped my bottom, earning a gasp from me.

"This body of yours. IT'S. MINE." He growled.

"And I'll do anything to make sure that you get this in your head even if it means to get you on my bed and make you submit over and over again." And then he tore my panty with one pull.



When on Aria's Eighteen birthday her bully, Alpha Hunter Rodriguez, turned out to be her mate, she could not be more devastated. But destiny wanted something else and once the mysterious rouge attacks began, putting everyone's lives in danger. For the pack--Aria and Hunter had to work together to overcome the storm.

Where there was Hunter's realization of his mistakes, there was Aria's fight to resist the mate bond and her feelings.

But in this ever-growing fire and electric pull between them, there was someone who wanted to tear them apart and Aria became the main attraction of the one regulating the attacks. But they did not know that the unknown enemy they had to fight was sheltering under their own pack in disguise and after the pack, it was Aria who was at the main risk.

The real enemy only had one rule--Whether he'd claim or...he'd kill.

Can Hunter Rodriguez save his mate or it's going to be too late?

Trigger Warning: 18+, rape, abuse, Mature and sexual content, slavery, violence.

"Don't get the ideas that you are ever going to receive anything other than hate from me, Athena. I don't need a mate. I don't need a weak pathetic bond like this to survive," He growled as he grabbed a fistful of my hair and harshly threw me on the bed.

I was naked and helpless in front of his menacing eyes.

"Sebastian, please don't do this..."

"I have purchased you from that auction only because you'll come in use to tame my wolf, and you are nothing but a good that I will use every day and night for my pleasure. And your life in hell starts from today."

"Please don't..." I begged but none of my words affected him.

I backed away till my body hit against the headboard but he dragged me by my ankles and shredded the last piece of fabric, my panties, and threw it away.


After being sold by my parents to auctioneers because of being a wolf-less she-wolf. When fate landed me in my mate's arms from the auction, for once I thought I was finally going to find happiness...someone who'd love me. But it was another hell I landed into.

Sebastian Valdez-- was known as the cursed Alpha who killed his own father. Everyone feared him, his barbaric deeds had no bounds, and he did not have a heart. He only had one rule in his life--Thrive in others' pain. But what he did to me was even worse.

He snatched my innocence, abused me, raped me every night, hurt me beyond extreme, and left me with only the want to escape from his cage but that was until I got to know what his curse was......I want to save him from the curse, no matter what he has done to me. I love him as his mate, not just a good from the auction...

*MATURE READERS ONLY * DARK ROMANCE *
"What shall I do now that I have seized my prey?" He questions me, voice sonorous and husky whilst he inhales sharply nose buried into the flesh of my neck savouring the scent of his female. Canines descend eager to sink, unhesitant for a bite.
"Should I devour it?"He whispers into my ear whilst the tip of his hot tongue tastes the flavour of my inflamed skin. I quiver beneath him encaged under his muscular being.
"I am starving my female and you look absolutely... succulent."He moans, tongue stroking his plump lower lip as an uncontrollable need sets him on fire from within.


HIM - Deimos was neither man nor wolf. He was a God, the Alpha of Alphas. They say he possesses no soul, for his eyes retain coldness that no heat can melt, his heart unyielding and emotionless occupying profound scars from his battles guarded by high walls. He is ruthless, instilling fear within others and striving off it. He did not understand the meaning of love nor mates until he laid eyes on his moon blessed.
HER - Destined for greatness she fought tooth and claw to survive. Her past, her arduous war. The first female Alpha to have ever been born on her pack lands. Having no place she battled for her birthright, for her reign. She did not know that her fight did e not cease that night she triumphed. She did not know that her greatest bloodshed would be with her mate. Deimos.
He would fight against his heart and she would fight with her soul.

“Mates!” Olivia’s voice rang in my head, then fell silent, as if stunned by the memories she’d glimpsed.
No! No! No!
This couldn’t be real. It had to be a nightmare.
They couldn’t be my mates... I can’t believe it... Mated to My Twin Stepbrothers?
As the daughter of the Alpha’s mistress, Maya has always been an outcast, scorned by the Blackthorn Pack and tormented by her stepbrothers. Maximus and Leonardo Sterling—the infamous Sterling Twins—were future Alphas with one cruel goal: to make Maya’s life unbearable. On her eighteenth birthday, fate delivered a devastating blow—they were her fated mates. That night, they shattered her innocence, marking her against her will to avenge her mother’s sins.
The Sterling Twins were masters of cruelty, their thirst for vengeance boundless.
Yet Maya’s heart battles the searing pull of the mate bond, torn between hatred and forbidden desire. When she discovers she’s pregnant by the brothers who destroyed her, she rejects them and flees, vowing to protect her unborn child. Years later, the twin Alphas hunt her once more—not just for her, but for their son, the heir they demand for their pack.
Can Maya defy the fated bond and safeguard her child, or will the twins’ relentless pursuit claim them both in this second chance?

Note: Rosie Meachem is the co-author of the story, updating from Chapter 102.

The story of a Lycan and his Mate, and the devil who threatened to tear them apart. And the story of Three powerful vampire Kings and their fragile mate. Mysteries, the darkness of the past, and storms ahead, Can any of them make it to their final destination? Or they will get lost in the waves of time?

Two stories, six lives, one book, one desired ending and demons of the dark.

Read to find out their Journey.

!!!WARNING. THIS IS A COLLEGE DRAMA, BUT PLEASE NOTE ALL MY STORIES ARE A LITTLE DARK AND THE CHARACTERS SOMETIMES QUESTIONABLE. PROCEED IF YOU WANT SOMETHING HOT, BUT ALSO SWEET!!! Getting accepted into one of the most prestigious universities is the country, is a dream come true, especially since my adopted brother is already there and the breakout football star.
It's everything I've ever wanted.....
Until all my dreams come crashing down.
My "brother" hates me.
He's not the same boy that left our house on his way to greatness. He wants nothing to do with me and treats me worse than his enemy.
Until I see him with a girl.
And now he doesn't look like my brother anymore.
He looks like the hot jock every female on campus drool over.
This is wrong.
I shouldn't be looking at him in this light.
And he shouldn't touch me like he's ready to devour me.
He's my brother.
Or isn't he?
The lines are blurred, and the foundation shaken underneath my feet in lust and sin.
Secrets are whispered over feverish skin, forbidden kisses shared in dark corners.
But it's never enough.
I need more.

She left with his children. Now she's back to make him pay.
"Sign them," he said coldly, dropping the divorce papers in front of her.Her heart shattered, but she didn't beg. Not this time.
That was five years ago. Now, Alexandra is back—not as the heartbroken wife, but as the CEO of the fast rising clothing and apparels company, Velvet Vixen. She's beautiful, untouchable… and she's not alone.
"Mommy, we saw a man who Jace looks like.
Two tiny faces. One unforgettable past.
When Liam discovers he's the father of her twins, everything changes. Liam wanted to be the father of his kids and change back to the old times.
Would he be able to accomplish his mission of making Alexandra fall in love with him again? Would Alexandra give in to this man who had once broken her heart and all the promises he made to her before? Would Jace and Jade accept their unknown father back?

"I don't believe in God, Hailey," he murmured, as his firm hands settled on my hips and lifted me from his lap, placing me onto his desk, "But... if I did, I would have thanked him for making you."
A soft gasp escaped my lips as his hands slid under my college skirt, his fingers brushing on my pussy over my panties. "Damien, you are my brother..." I managed to whisper amid overwhelming desires. This felt so wrong.
He emitted a husky chuckle, leaning closer to my ear, his lips brushing against my earlobe. "Correction- Stepbrother."
"But-" Before I could utter a word, his hand swiftly slipped down inside my panties, his fingers landing on my bare, wet heat, and just when a moan could escape my lips, his mouth forcefully met mine swallowing the scream of pain as well pleasure when two of his fingers thrust into my pussy just like I'd felt them in my dreams...


When I was dragged across the country to Los Angeles to live with my mom's new husband and his son, the last thing I expected was for my stepbrother to be off-limits. Least of all, I never imagined I'd find myself tempted by the forbidden.
Damien Black: sinfully attractive, irrefutably irresistible, and seemingly devoid of warmth.
Emotions meant nothing to him; girls were mere toys for him to have in bed. And there came my biggest mistake- believing I could be more than just a toy for him... maybe more than just another conquest in his collection. I was his dirty little secret, one that he wouldn't let go of, accept, shatter entirely, or mend. I was his toy; Well... his favorite one.
Warning: 18+, strong mature, and sexual content.

King Tus III is anxious to find a bride for his son and heir - Prince Kyan. But the defiant Prince insists on having a wife "whose thoughts move the Earth."

The King and Queen search the Kingdom yet do not find such a girl, so they invade other Kingdoms and conquer them, searching for a befitting bride for their son.

Isla is the first child of a peasant family in the Kintail Kingdom. All her life, she has been suppressing herself because of the strange powers she possesses. Her world crumbles when her Kingdom is raided, and her family is separated.

She is sold as a slave to a goldsmith, but when she plans an escape in which she uses her strange abilities, she is captured and sent to the King to be the wife of the Prince.

Can Isla escape from a forced marriage and reunite with her loved ones?
Are her strange abilities a blessing or a curse?

“You're not doing this on my birthday, are you?” I asked Ethan, my eyes covered in tears as I watched him glare at me with disdain. “You aren't leaving me dejected after sacrificing three whole years of my life with you!”

“And I'm giving you a life to be free, isn't that way better?” he asked in return, stretching the dreadful file towards me. “Consider this a birthday gift and leave. I'm going to specifically make sure you get all the benefits associated with the divorce.”

“You’re...”

“Leave Marinette,” he interrupted mildly. “Leave now and say nothing else. You can have the Ferrari or any of the estates in Paris as part of the compensation. Just go.”


**

Marinette Monroe thought she had found her happily ever after when she married the successful and charismatic Ethan. But five years later, her dream life is unravelling. Her husband’s attention is elsewhere, and his heart seems lost to a ghost from the past—his first love, Veronica Rodriguez.

On what should have been a day of celebration, Marinette’s birthday becomes a nightmare as Ethan comes home late, drunk, and distant. When he hands her divorce papers, her world shatters. Left with no choice but to pick up the pieces, Marinette discovers a strength she never knew she had. As she rebuilds her life and carves out her own success, she becomes someone that even Ethan can't ignore.

But just as Marinette rises to prominence, Ethan realises too late what he has lost. Now, he is desperate to win back the woman he once took for granted. But can he rekindle a flame that he extinguished, or is he too late to mend the heart he broke?

When Mafia underboss, Vincent DiCassio, marries Lily—a woman he’s been forced to wed as part of a truce between crime families—he never expected her to challenge his control. But Lily isn’t just the naive bride he thought she’d be. A contract marriage turned battleground for power, Vincent pushes her to her limits, testing not only her resolve but her darkest desires. As their relationship evolves, will Lily submit to him completely, or will she shatter the chains of control he’s worked so hard to bind her with?

Sold to the Alpha King. Rejected as his mate. But she wasn’t there for love… she was there for revenge.
But fate had different plans for them.
Even though he rejected her, the bond between them strengthened.
“You should’ve killed me when you had the chance.” Sylvia challenged him.
His jaw clenched. “I couldn’t. My wolf wouldn’t let me.”
“Then teach him to forget me,” Her voice got low as she continued, “Because I won’t stop until your kingdom falls.”
What began as vengeance… might become destiny.
And when the truth is revealed… everything will burn.
Including their hearts.

Sold to the Alpha King. Rejected as his mate. But she wasn’t there for love… she was there for revenge.
But fate had different plans for them.
Even though he rejected her, the bond between them strengthened.
“You should’ve killed me when you had the chance.” Sylvia challenged him.
His jaw clenched. “I couldn’t. My wolf wouldn’t let me.”
“Then teach him to forget me,” Her voice got low as she continued, “Because I won’t stop until your kingdom falls.”
What began as vengeance… might become destiny.
And when the truth is revealed… everything will burn.
Including their hearts.

Trigger Warning: 18+, rape, abuse, Mature and sexual content, slavery, violence.

"Don't get the ideas that you are ever going to receive anything other than hate from me, Athena. I don't need a mate. I don't need a weak pathetic bond like this to survive," He growled as he grabbed a fistful of my hair and harshly threw me on the bed.

I was naked and helpless in front of his menacing eyes.

"Sebastian, please don't do this..."

"I have purchased you from that auction only because you'll come in use to tame my wolf, and you are nothing but a good that I will use every day and night for my pleasure. And your life in hell starts from today."

"Please don't..." I begged but none of my words affected him.

I backed away till my body hit against the headboard but he dragged me by my ankles and shredded the last piece of fabric, my panties, and threw it away.


After being sold by my parents to auctioneers because of being a wolf-less she-wolf, When fate landed me in my mate's arms from the auction, for once I thought I was finally going to find happiness...someone who'd love me. But it was another hell I landed into.

Sebastian Valdez-- was known as the cursed Alpha who killed his own father. Everyone feared him, his barbaric deeds had no bounds, and he did not have a heart. He only had one rule in his life--Thrive in others' pain. But what he did to me was even worse.

He snatched my innocence, abused me, raped me every night, hurt me beyond extreme, and left me with only the want to escape from his cage but that was until I got to know what his curse was......

WARNING: {R18+ ROMANCE}{Explicit sexual content}


"I only want you, Theia. Always have always will and this shall never change. How could I ever want another when I possess the one I solely exist for?"

"Phobos," I call his name fondly a need to hug him and breathe in his calming scent surfaces.

"I do not wish to treat you like you are made of glass because you aren't. Your body was made for me and it can handle everything I choose to give it. And this I will prove it to you."

"When?" I ask breathlessly as he ultimately turns around to meet my curious eyes. Golden rings outline his irises his beast announcing his presence and they stand as one before me. A wicked smile paints his face with a flash of canine displayed to me. A promise he gives that I will be ruthlessly devoured.

"When I fuck you senseless."


After years of excruciating loneliness, Phobos approached me. A frightening beast, my soulmate who emerged from within the bounds of a ruthless thundering storm. The male I yearned for. He caught me off guard and I was under the spell he cast through his ocean eyes. A spell I couldn't defeat and that very moment I knew I was in trouble. The second our eyes met I knew he would bring me endless heartache.

We were childhood friends, him and I. Phobos the gentle and playful juvenile I grew up with and looked up to as a pup vanished and was replaced by a cold-hearted barbarian, he terrified me as he killed many with a blink of his eyes. No regret, no concern his beast often in control surging forward consuming his senses. They were equals.

How can I connect with a beast like him? How could I make him call me his? How can I love my childhood friend who has become a merciless monster?


#TBVC is a childhood friends to lovers dark romance erotic series with an age gap of 9 years between the protagonists. It will be a rollercoaster ride of emotions but will also have tons of delicious spice to heat you up. I truly hope you enjoy it my little wolves!

After years of endless suffering, Stacy is home, back to the chamber of torture she was sent from years ago. There's something important at home she wished to defend. However, on the first day of her return, she stumbled upon her father's enemy.

What do you do when the man from a one night stand turns out to be your stepbrother?
Do you forget that incredible night or…do you commit the same sin again and again?
For Jade Evans, caught amidst her mother's new marriage and the turmoil it brings, an alcohol-fueled encounter on the hills leads to a shocking revelation- the stranger she shared an unforgettable night with is none other than her soon-to-be stepbrother.
But that's not it- the man she encounters on the wedding day isn't the one she spent that passionate night with. Instead, he's someone closely associated with him. Now that all three of them have to stay under the same roof, surely, nothing can go wrong...right?


"Remember when you said you'd drink me all up?" I projected my thoughts into his mind, interrupting his stream of thoughts.
His body seemed to freeze, his eyes snapping in my direction.
"What? Surprised?" I casually brought a piece of toast to my mouth, taking a bite.
His jaw clenched visibly, clearly rattled as he lowered the glass without taking a sip, unfastening the first few buttons of his black shirt.
Fuck! I wanted to see him just as exposed as that night.
As for Chase, he didn't spare me a word.
"I've got to admit, Stepbrother," I chuckled inwardly, confident he could hear my thoughts, "You're quite skilled at playing the 'clueless' act. If I hadn't seen your face so clearly, I might've believed that you're not Chase-"
"Devon, where's Chase, by the way?" Frank's voice abruptly interrupted, causing me to freeze in place, my eyes shooting towards him.
Did he just say... Chase?
No way. I must've misheard.

"Do you have to force yourself on a woman to exercise your dominance?"

"Who are you?"

But Wren knew who had just spoken. It was the one person she dreaded seeing, but right now, she was jumping with joy at his appearance.

Although Luke was off Wren, she still laid frozen on the ground. She knew he was in town, she knew that despite her efforts to avoid him, she would end up bumping into him. Craigsburg was, after all, a small town.
But she never thought it will be so fast. She never thought he will be standing before her, matter of fact, she never thought she would find herself in this situation.

"Get up, Wren." his calm and collected voice sent shivers down her spine. She was thankful for the dark because then he wouldn't be able to see the shocked look on her face.

******** Wren Austin is a twenty-four-year-old working as a call girl in the most famous spot in Craigsburg. Her life takes a turn at the age of eighteen when she has to take care of her sick mom. However, she didn't expect she would meet that man again. Giovanni, a person who made her feel scared and excited, would he save her?

Emerald Jade is a human who goes to work for a large company. During her employment her father suffers an accident and her mother dies. Emerald is promoted but is unaware of her mate bond with her two CEO bosses. Emerald thinks her bosses are a gay couple, so imagine her surprise when she learns she is both of their mate.

I'm now walking towards the deepest part of the forest, my heart beating so fast, the place so silent and spooky.
"Are you sure about this Isabella?" Yvonne asked, her voice trembling in fear.
"I'm sure myself, but I just want to be far away from those bullies in school" I said with sigh.
I sighted a cave, it was calling out to me, I want to run away, but the cafe intrigued me in a way I can't understand.
I found myself walking further, then I turned around, but to my surprise Yvonne was no longer there.
But yet, I was curious, so I continued walking further in.
My heartbeat accelerated, when my eyes landed on a very scary creature lurking in the darkness, but it said word that lingers into the debts of my memory.
'mate'
Meet the intriguing story of Isabella, she was known to be very skinny and ugly, no one wanted to be her friend in school,then there was a faithful day she was bullied that was the day everything about her life changed.
The very day she decided to explore the forest, not knowing that was a beginning of something mysterious and delirious.

"We’re sending you away for a while. "Devon said.

Pain shot through me. They didn’t want me here anymore.

Was this his way of saying that he didn’t want the baby? Was he too scared to say it to my face?

I tensed when David stepped up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

“We don’t want to, but we have no other choice right now,” David said softly.

“I can stay with you,” I whispered, but he was already shaking his head.

“You’re pregnant Val. Someone could slip something into your food or drinks and we wouldn’t be aware of it. You should be as far away from here while we sort this out.”

“So you’re sending me away to go live with some strangers? What makes them trustworthy? Who—”


I’m a human born in a Lycan world.

My mother died during birth, and my father soon after in battle. The only other family I had was my aunt who had no choice but to take me in. In this world of Lycan, I am not welcome. My aunt tried to throw away the burden, me. Finally she found a pack that would take me in.

A pack ruled by two Alphas—the biggest pack known to Lycans. I expected them will reject me too, but things took an unexpected turn. Turned out they wanted me as their mate. But will I be able to handle two Alphas?

PLEASE NOTE: Seperate books from the series are available on the author page. :)

Revenge is what he thrives on. It’s the only thing that’s kept him going all these years.

Luca or Lucas as we know him has been told lie after lie about our family.

That evil witch made him believe that my mother was the cause for all the suffering.

Revenge is bitter sweet, they say. But lines got blurred when things took an unexpected turn. I’m not sure whether it was for the good or the bad.

Will we be able to forget everything he has done to us, to our family? Or will it be too much to accept him as our mate?

CONTENT WARNING
THIS BOOK CONTAINS DARK—AND SOMETIMES VIOLENT--EVENTS THAT MAY BE TRIGGERS FOR SOME READERS.

Cercei's eighteen years of existence were marred by excruciating pain and suffering solely because of her uncanny resemblance to Vienna, the Alpha's daughter. Cercei found it unbearably cruel that she possessed the same beauty as Vienna, which made Vienna feel insecure, leading her to subject Cercei to relentless torment.

Despite the numerous hardships, Cercei received love and care from her parents, and she remained humble. Although their Alpha never respected them and treated them as mere servants, her family found happiness. However, everything changed dramatically on her eighteenth birthday when their Alpha ruthlessly killed her father without a valid reason and mercilessly crushed his heart underfoot after digging it out.

Enraged and seeking revenge, Cercei felt powerless until she encountered the King Alpha of the North, whom she slept with. This chance encounter changed her life abruptly, cracking all the hidden secrets and lies her mother had carefully concealed for eighteen years. The revelation shattered Cercei's belief in her perfect family and parents, leaving her questioning everything she had ever known.

He took her first kiss during their initial meeting, and she called him perverted and arrogant. Her candid demeanor intrigued him, despite the risks involved.
To capture her attention, he announced a surrogacy competition, leaving her no choice but to participate, only to discover he was the same man she had taught a lesson he would never forget.
Caught in the trap set by this merciless billionaire, she went along with his game and became his wife. His dark secrets slowly emerged, pulling them down into a deep despair. Then he vanished from her life, only to be replaced by another stranger. She felt his warmth, and they kissed.
Tears began to cascade down her cheeks, saturating the fabric that covered them. When he sensed her warm tears, he panicked. He didn't understand why, but he couldn't bear to see her cry. "Darling, please don’t cry..." He released her, his fingers delicately brushing her hair. "I won't touch you, I promise not to anymore, okay?"
She sobbed more intensely and choked out, "Don't talk!"
"... Why?" He was taken aback.
She gently bit her lip, unable to refrain from saying, "When you talk, you remind me so much of him..."
He was so kind and doted on her. When he spoke, it felt as if it weren't another person, but her husband Joshua standing beside her. Even the way he kissed her felt strikingly familiar...
In that moment, Hazel realized just how much she longed for Joshua. Without him by her side, each day of waiting became an excruciating ordeal.
She wasn’t afraid of waiting. Even if it meant waiting for a long time, she would value it. But she feared she might never see him again, even if she spent her entire life waiting.
Would she uncover the truth behind this unfamiliar man? Would she be able to forgive if she realized how he orchestrated the intricate game of LOVE and REVENGE?

Cristelle looked the man directly in the eyes, "They're my life. I won't leave them behind, no matter what. You don't need to waste your breath. I won't give my babies to you, no matter what you say. I know you're the father, but you've never done anything for them before. Mr. Bradley, please let us go. We won't see you again. Just pretend that we've never met each other before."
Linford looked sad as he whispered, "No, it's not gonna happen. I won't allow you to slip away again." He paused before saying softly, "I've never wanted to take the babies away from you, Cristelle. I want to raise them together with you."
Cristelle's eyes lit up shortly, "What is your plan then?"
Linford calmly uttered, "Candace and Cody need a dad. We're their parents, and we need to take our responsibility. So, let's get married."
Get married?!
Cristelle was shocked.
Did he want to marry her?
The most powerful billionaire CEO in this city wanted to marry her.
"No! I WON'T marry you!" Cristelle could never forget that night. She couldn't stop shuddering every time she thought about it.

She once belonged to the elite circle; however, the cruel people behind them schemed several tricks to drag her entire family into a mud pit. First, her father was accused of being a corrupt politician, sending him to jail. Her mother barely accepts the truth that they were framed and humiliated, pushing her to commit suicide. Her youngest sister suddenly disappeared without any trace. And she was falsely accused as a whore after being sent to someone's bed that she thought was her fiance's bedroom.

The schemers robbed everything that belonged to them, and she was driven into the deep abyss. Five years later, she became a fashion designer; however, a strange man blocked her path, claiming to be her children's father.

A woman’s beauty is a man’s weakness. She was his great temptation, yet he hated her weak appearance.

A dashing military general rushed in front of her, shaking her frail body when he ordered, “KILL HER!”

Her frantic reaction is to trade her own body to survive. She must survive to return to her own world. But what she didn’t expect was the tough training to become the youngest space warrior.

Her life journey began when she woke up on an unknown planet.

Facing danger and trouble.

She trades her body and freedom to survive.
She felt abused. She learned to hate him.
The unknown planet became her prison.
Two desperate souls were fighting to survive.
One is fighting to feel loved.
The other is fighting for freedom.
Passion
Anger
Lust
Danger
Devotion
For them, their love is worth suffering!

Would she survive days and nights on the battlefield when her frail body dragged her gradually? What secret lies behind his dangerous appearance?

The Silverfang Pack lives deep in the whispering forests, where old werewolf shadows lurk. Trista Blackwood, formerly a beloved Luna, has her life devastated when her husband, Alpha Liam Silverfang, unexpectedly breaks their relationship for another. Trista is cast aside for Lucy, an intriguing omega from a rival pack, leaving her to deal with her shattered heart and a secret: she is carrying Liam's offspring.
Trista flees into the forest in search of comfort and protection, determined to shield her unborn twins from the turbulent world of werewolf politics. But the past won't let her go. As the years pass, her offspring, Aiden and Elara, mature and demonstrate extraordinary powers, hinting at a destiny connected with the fate of the pack.
Meanwhile, Liam is troubled by his decisions. Lucy, the new Luna, is not what she seems to be, and her influence causes the pack's cohesiveness to crumble. When echoes of an old prophecy emerge, claiming that a kind of mixed ancestry would bring peace or destruction, tensions mount among the werewolf community.
As the Silverfang Pack confronts internal and external dangers, Trista must choose between hiding and confronting the demons of her past. She sets out on a mission to recover her position and defend her family, aided by her devoted companion Hazel and the wisdom of the town seer Fiona.
In a story filled with love, treachery, and forgiveness, Trista and Liam must traverse a web of secrets and ancient prophecies to find their real allegiance. As the moon rises above the whispering woods, the pack's destiny hangs in the balance, as ghosts from the past threaten to swallow them all.

Un matrimonio ligado por un contrato, y ella estaba obligada a aceptarlo. Él era su jefe y ella su secretaria.
Ella le dio todo lo que él quería, pero su amor fue desatendido, pero cuando ella decidió irse, él le ofreció un contrato de matrimonio para que se quedara. Pero alguien ocupaba su corazón y no podía ofrecerle nada excepto su talento en la cama.
Después de su matrimonio, soportó el dolor, pero esquema tras esquema destruyó su tolerancia. Finalmente, estaba lista para dejarlo, pero de repente él se negó a dejarla ir.
Charles pareció sentir su dolor, la abrazó de repente y susurró: “Sarah, puedes confiar en mí. Nunca estaré con ella. Eres diferente de todas esas otras mujeres. Realmente quiero estar contigo. Si no lo hubiera hecho, entonces no habría cortado las relaciones con todas las demás mujeres. ¿No me crees ahora?
Sarah sollozó suavemente: “Si has aceptado que se acabó con ella, ¿por qué todavía tienes su foto en tu billetera? ¿Por qué todavía la extrañas? ¿No ves cómo me duele?
Charles la miró, "¡Ella es solo otra mujer de mi pasado!"
La atmósfera entre ellos se volvió sofocante y Charles dijo en voz baja: “Sarah, ¿te dije que podías irte? Recuerda, soy tu jefe. ¡Eres mi secretaria y mi esposa!
Enfadado, Charles volvió a gritar: "¡Sarah, soy tu hombre!".
"¿Oh? ¿Mi hombre?" Sarah se rió y lo miró fijamente. Las lágrimas comenzaron a deslizarse por sus mejillas, "¿Eres tú, mi hombre? ¡Señor presidente, solo soy una mera posesión suya y nunca me convertiré en su esposa! ¡Libérame, te lo ruego!

To obey his grandfather’s order, the playboy tycoon Seth Cohen had to marry the socialite and sole heiress Evonne Largent.
They tied the knot and lived together under a loveless matrimony.
She was obliged to marry the hottest CEO Seth Cohen to save their fallen business empire after her father fell into compulsive gambling, driving them to the verge of bankruptcy.
Seth had no plan of getting entangled with his stunning and sexy wife, but every time he glanced at her, his body throbs, and he was drawn away.
Evonne will do everything to stay away from him and pretend she’s not affected by the oozing sex appeal of her hot billionaire husband; however, her heart beats faster every time he is around.


She saw the muscles move in his jaw, and she knew he was pissed.
“Care to explain? Make sure it’s believable.”
Seth’s voice carried a hot temper.
There was a picture of her dancing on the tabletop, and Toby beside her was shirtless while Sally poured beer bottoms up straight to their mouths.
“What’s there to explain?”
“You’re married now,” He growled at her, throwing sharp glances.
“Miss me with that bullshit.” She stood up and barely contained her anger.
“There is a certain public image that needs to be maintained. You need to understand that.” He muttered sternly.
“Oh please, I’m not going to stand here drinking the dirty water you give me as you indulge yourself in the purest of wines.”

She was forced to accept a marriage proposal from a strange billionaire to pay her huge debt and to take back her inheritance left to him when her mother died.

Nathan’s lawyer handed her the documents, including the marriage certificate.

Things were moving much faster than she had imagined they would, and everything happening seemed too easy. Too good to be true - a voice in her mind cried out - Be careful! It’s a trap! If it was a trap, though, it was very cleverly hidden.

Crystal contemplated the proposal for a moment before addressing Mike, his lawyer. “I only have two questions,” she said. “The first question is this: if I sign it, does it mean that I don’t need to pay my debt?”

Mike: “Yes. And your second question...?”

Crystal: “Okay, I haven’t reached the legal age for marriage yet, so even if I sign it, it won’t take effect. Is that right?”

Nathan quickly raised his hand and said, “If I say that it is effective, no one will dare to say that it isn’t. Do you believe that?”

“I suppose so,” Crystal admitted. She hesitated for a moment, and then she signed the marriage certificate.

Months later, she asked for a divorce from him. He stared at her in silence, then he uttered, “Have I ever told you how much I love you?”

“What does that have to do with our divorce?” Crystal asked.

“I’m only asking because I care about you,” Nathan murmured.

“I’ll be happy if you say that you care about me,” Nathan continued. “Why must you torture me this way? Haven’t I done enough to prove my love for you?”

She was stunned hearing his confession and the words stuck in her throat.

"Wait," she breathed. "We have to stop. This isn’t just conversation."
"It's better than talking," he murmured, kissing her neck.
"No, we need to have a conversation," she insisted. "Get off me, let me get dressed."
"You can't make love while dressed," he replied, playfully biting her earlobe.
"Listen to me," she urged. "I'm trying to be serious, alright? I realize I shouldn’t have fled."
"What’s this about?" he asked, his tone growing cold.
"I simply want to resolve things," she said earnestly, gazing into his eyes.
A flicker of disgust crossed his features, and his lips turned downward, "I see what's going on. You think I'll forget your betrayal if you let me fuck you."

She fled from her wedding, which led to her own downfall and became a lasting nightmare. She chose to elope with another man instead of the one who truly loved her. That man deceived her, coaxing her into abandoning her husband, ultimately driving her to her demise.
She returned to consciousness and found herself lying on their matrimonial bed.
A firm yet gentle grip enclosed her wrist, leading her hand to the front of his pants. She observed her small, pale hand beside his large, tanned fingers, allowing him to press her palm against him.
It would be so simple to let him take control, to surrender to him. She craved it. She yearned to feel his strong hands exploring every part of her body.

"This pup belongs to me," he growled, his voice thick with power.
"Who do you think you are to claim him?" I shouted.
"I am your father and your king."
When Sophie's twin sister dies mysteriously during childbirth, she makes a promise—to protect the baby no matter the cost. But that vow thrusts her into a world she never believed existed, one ruled by savage wolves, dangerous secrets… and a cursed Alpha King who now claims her nephew is his heir.
"You… You're the father?"
"Yes. Therefore, the pup belongs to me."
"No! I promised my sister I'd protect him. I won't let you take him—not even if I have to fight to the death!"
Attacked. Bitten. Marked.
Now Sophie is changing into something she never wanted to be—a wolf. And the ruthless Alpha King who once hunted her now claims she is his destined mate, chosen by the Moon Goddess herself.
Torn between her human emotions and rising wolf instincts, Sophie must fight to survive the excruciating transformation, uncover the truth behind her sister's betrayal, and protect the child who may be the key to breaking a deadly curse.
But when passion ignites beneath their deadly rivalry, Sophie faces an impossible choice: reject the monster who marked her… or embrace the terrifying power awakening inside her.

Allison was framed, and they said she tried to kill her half-sister, so they sent her to an asylum. For three years, she suffered all kinds of torture, and no one even bothered to check on her. Her own family called her mentally ill, but the truth was her mother betrayed her just to push her illegitimate daughter into the Rogers family and steal Allison’s identity.

She had nothing left except an injured body. But a sudden encounter with the notorious mad dog of the Lopez family became her one advantage. She saved the crippled Jareth Taylor during an underground fight.

Allison slowly walked toward the confused Jareth, who was sitting on the couch with his cane in his right hand. “Elite society calls you a mad dog, but Master Jareth is far more than that. You’re the craziest dog I’ve ever met. Still, I’m willing to become your bait in exchange for power.”

Jareth chuckled, and a mocking smile appeared at the corner of his lips. “I take both body and soul as collateral. Would you be willing to crawl into my bed and warm my lonely nights?”