1734 Book(s) Related to joy of life

"Oh, Moon Goddess," I whispered. "Can my day get any worse?"
I had no wolf. No strength. No weapons. This was how I was going to die.
But it never came. Instead, there was a sickening crunch.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice deep and gentle.


Rejected and abandoned from birth, Kira has spent her life in the shadows—mocked, cast aside, and branded as the daughter of a lowly omega. What no one knows is that she harbors a dangerous secret—two wolves reside within her, a power unheard of in all of history. To survive, she's learned to keep her head down and her true nature hidden.
But fate has other plans.
When Kira crosses paths with the ruthless Alpha Asher during mating season, their undeniable bond should seal their destiny. Instead, he rejects her, unwilling to be tied to someone of her bloodline. Shattered and alone, banished from her pack—she falls into the hands of Lycan Prince Dante, a man who claims her as his true mate.
As Kira is thrust into a world of power, ancient prophecy, dark blood-ties and deception, shocking truths unravel. A stolen identity. A lost legacy. And a revelation that ties her fate not only to Alpha Asher and Prince Dante but to the future of every pack.
With two powerful men vying for her heart and an ancient prophecy threatening to consume her, Kira must decide—will she embrace the destiny she never chose, or carve her own path before it's too late?

Sofia's life was insufferable and her future seemed bleak growing up among the hunters working as their slave, at least until she is rescued from an attack and kidnapped by an alpha who is interested in getting answers from her, and a whole lot more.


His hand grasped my wrist and pulled me to a stop. I lurched backwards and almost fell down. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked.
"Trying to escape again? I thought you learned your lesson last time." "I did, I'm not running away from here." "Seems like you were," his voice was silky. I shook my head. "You never learn." Somehow, he maneuvered me around so I was facing him and he planted his lips on mine. I froze in my shock and even though I had sensed he had been angling in this direction for some time, the reality of his unwanted advances was difficult to comprehend in my shock.

Vanessa, an omega in the Blood Moon Pack, suffered a devastating blow when the Alpha's son spurned her in favor of another. Seeking solace elsewhere, she eventually returns to her pack, only to be greeted by tragedy: the untimely passing of the beloved Luna, the woman who raised her.

In the midst of grief and upheaval, Vanessa’s world is further rocked when she discovers she's been chosen as the Alpha's second chance mate. Alpha Alexander, grappling with unexpected emotions and the significant age gap between them, struggles to come to terms with this twist of fate especially considering Vanessa was once rejected by his own son.

As tensions rise and emotions run high, Alpha Alexander’s conflicted feelings lead him to make a rash decision: to punish Vanessa for a drunken mistake made in the heat of the moment. But as the lines blur between duty, desire, and resentment, both Vanessa and Alpha Alexander find themselves on a collision course with destiny.

"Marry me," Alexander finally said, his tone firm and cold, sending chills down my spine. "If you really want your father to live and you want to clear his life, you're going to marry me. That way, you can at least be useful to me."
The tears I was holding back finally fell. I had no other choice. "I'll do it."
"Good girl," he whispered darkly. "Since you've accepted, you'll be moving in with me right this instant."
Having an alcoholic father and no mother, Maya Henderson has never known what it feels like to be lucky. But when she discovers that her father owes the most dangerous man in the city a million dollars she could never repay, her entire world crumbles. Pleading wasn't an option.
Now, she faces an impossible choice: Marry Alexander, the ruthless mafia king who holds her father's life in his hands Or refuse and watch both of their lives be destroyed.
Forced into a marriage born from debt and power, Maya steps into a dark world of danger, betrayal, and temptation. She doesn't know if she'll end up hating her new husband forever or falling for the very man who ruined her life.
Will she survive in the arms of a man she should fear or lose herself to the forbidden pull of his love?

I glared when his hand reached again to my neck. Our faces only an inch apart. His big hand was almost wrapping it whole. His thumb massaging my throat like a feather. "And when I thrust inside of you, I want to hear you scream my name. Every name of mine."
"Dante. Adriano. Sol. Di. Angelo." His thumb stroking the center of my neck while uttering every name he owned. His eyes hooded in heat, lust clouding the windows of his soul. "And when you cum, it'll be Dante you moan."

Hailynn Fleury is a talented painter. Growing up as an orphan, she and her best friend Ethan, always wanted to get back to the people that helped and cared for them. When one of her friends convinced her to auction her paintings at one of her charity events, it didn't take much persuasion knowing the money would go to the orphanage.
On the night of the auction, her future took another turn when she saw a handsome man holding a gun. Later finding out that he was a mafia boss with an intention of keeping her from thereon. Witnessing him pulling a trigger to someone would have been the mafia boss' wisest decision to never let her go. Except that he couldn't touch the girl knowing the promise he had with his cousin. Dreams of bedding the girl is no longer an option. But how will he treat his ragazza, really?

Find out how both of their lives took a turn- with the aspiring artist and the Italian mafia boss.

"You taste like warm sweet honey and I want more of you!" He growls as he presses his manhood into my hip. "Give yourself to me tesoro." [Treasure]
His words are like fuel to my igniting fire.
I want him, I crave him and when his lips start to suck on my heated skin I turn into a puddle of water when his hand dips into the top of my dress….
What began as a fling evolved into something far greater than either of them could have imagined.
What will the Italian billionaire do to save Vanessa when they are thrown into a world they are both unfamiliar with time and time again?

Working in the Sex Industry isn't always what it's cut out to be. Some find love, like to cause chaos and others just simply try to get away with murder.
Six lives, one book and an endless rollercoaster of fun!
Amar lowers our hands, removing the gun from my grasp and he waits for Vanko to re-enter the room, passing him the murder weapon to dispose of.
I feel Amar turn away from me and I turn to face him, wrapping my hand around his arm.
When he comes to a halt and looks down at my hand, ""What now?"" I ask him.
"You are free to leave." He says as he elevates his gaze to mine, staring me directly in the eyes."

"Fuck.."I moan as my feverish skin makes me dizzy with lust.
[Yes.] "Evet, Mila. You make me want to ravage you when I should be disgusted by the thought of even touching you." He mutters.
"But I'm not. Instead, everything about you makes me mad with desire and I can not control it. God's, I tried to but I don't want to anymore." He removes his hand from the wall, wrapping his fingers around my jaw and he forces me to stare up at him.
"You've already had a taste of me and one taste is all you get." I swallow loudly, throwing his words back at him.

Captivating smile
5ft, 6inches tall, a willowy build and gorgeous translucent skin

Janice Sketches was a well-known matchmaker that could solve any problem within seconds. She finds matches to those unable to and was very skilled at it.

But, she hadn't found her perfect match.

Jules Forrest, also known as the devil for being a ruthless CEO.

He only engaged in a nightstand and didn't believe true love existed.

However, his principle changed when he met the stunning woman that shared his bed after a night at his brother's wedding.

Beneath the cover of a decent society lurks a hidden world, a world of darkness ruled by blood, betrayal and greed. But in this dark Mafia world, years of war and turmoil have left many crime families in ruin and on the brink of extinction, and among them is the once mighty Lorenzo family.
Born into this world of blood and power is the beautiful Isabella Lorenzo… born and raised from childhood to obey and serve, in a world where women were nothing but currency for power and alliance. When her aging father, Don Antonio Lorenzo begins to lose his grip on the remains of his once powerful empire, Isabella is forced to become a pawn in a last ditch alliance: a contract marriage to Luca Moretti, the deadly and emotionless heir of the rival Moretti syndicate.
To the outside world, their union is a merging of wealth and influence, but beneath it lies a fragile bundle of chaos waiting to erupt. Luca is every bit a mafia prince… ruthless and power hungry, while his wife Isabella is a beauty who buries her pain under loyalty to her father.
However, there is an undeniable attraction between Luca and Isabella, but years of bad blood between both families make trust an impossible dream… they may share a bed, but not a soul.
Unknown to Isabella, the Morettis have no intention of keeping their part of the bargain… Their marriage is only a cover for annihilation.

"This game is dangerous, little Cheska," Matthew affirmed.
It was too late for Cheska to react or understand what he meant. All she knew was that she was on the bottom while Matthew was on top of her. He had changed their position so easily.

"Hey, what are you doing? It was an accident," Cheska tried to reason while pushing him away. But she knew her push was too weak, and her hands stopped moving.

"Perhaps I can give you a minor example of how I plan to punish you if you take offense towards me," Matthew said, focusing his gaze on her lips. He did not hide the lust that was clearly reflected in his eyes. But instead of being scared, Cheska felt excitement.

'Damn you, Cheska! Why aren't you doing anything? Why are you waiting to taste his lips?' Her mind screamed, but her body remained frozen, waiting for his kiss.

—*—
Cheska's been waiting for her mate for a year now. And when she found him, her world crumbles because the mate given by the goddess is none other than Matthew De Silva— the alpha of the pack and her STEPBROTHER!

Tormented by her feeling, Cheska decided to reject the mate bond but Matthew has a different plan...

But how can Cheska escape the bond binding them, if the person she is escaping from is the one who makes a way for them to get closer?

Will she choose to escape for the forbidden love?

Or will she choose to give in and chose to be love?

Artemisia's dream of marrying the man she loved shattered into a million fragments when her parents auctioned her off to a wealthy stranger she barely knew.
She met the stranger at the altar and realised he was the same man she had met two years ago.
After the wedding, Artemisia realized there was more to her new husband than he was letting on, and she decided to unravel the mystery even though it almost cost her life in the process.
Sinclair Steele, the Alpha of Blue moon pack was about to ascend the throne. But before that, he needed a Luna by his side.
He got to know his new wife wasn't the regular human he thought her to be. Instead, she was a gift made specially for him by the moon goddess.

Jay has depression and anxiety; he has struggled with daily life since he was 14 years old. After he lost his mom when he was 19, life became very routine and meaningless to him. His childhood best friend was Skyler, he tried to help Izuku but even he wasn’t enough to keep Jay from thinking horrible thoughts. One day he was walking home from work when he ran into one of his neighbors. A loud-mouthed blonde who Jay was completely infatuated with. When they ran into each other, the blonde bumped into him and caused him to drop his messenger bag. Jay rushed to pick it up, but not before the blonde saw a case of razor blades with one covered in blood, slightly hanging out of the bag. Just as Jay is apologizing and trying to run away, the blonde drops a business card into his bag. Little did Jay know that that one business card would not only save his life but lead him to his soul mate.

In a world where the technological ceiling was reached decades ago, Elias Thorne is a man
stuck in the gears of a failing industrial city. That changes when he interfaces with The
Architect, a cryptic, neural-linked system that provides blueprints for technology that
shouldn't exist for another century.

What Elena Lockser wanted was to secured a job in Aiden Inc which was her dream company and nothing else.

She encountered Aiden Crooks, the CEO of Aiden Inc, also the man she had been running from all her life as her interviewer.

Aiden Crooks, aside from being the CEO of Aiden Inc, he was an Alpha werewolf, and a single father.

He never believed in second chance mate until he met Elena in his office.

Will they get the true love they deserve when obstacles arise to drift them apart?

Rhea Morgan, a partially deaf investigative journalist, uncovers a blood-soaked conspiracy involving corrupt political systems and her own mysterious heritage.
Kellan Thorne is an exiled Alpha vampire who is on the run from the rest. Both Ree and Kellan’s lives intertwine but they soon discover that what they share might soon be torn by dark secrets that have been buried for long.

After 18 years of enslavement, Seraphina is rescued by a Prince, her Prince, her fated lover. She learns that, not only is she Heiress to the Kingdom, she also has a dragon familiar. She is the first Dragon Dhampir. Seraphina truly thought her life of pain and sorrow was finally over only to learn that, her Prince has a sordid past and a bastard child on the way and the child’s mother is hellbent on destroying Seraphina and all she holds dear.
After finally finding a family, her dream wedding in sight and another happy surprise on the way, her seemingly picturesque life will come crashing down around her in a fit of flames and fury but, will she rise from the flames like a phoenix or will she burn with all that she loves?

Fantasy/Vampire/Shapeshifter/Romance/Dhampir/Dragon/18+

"I, Ella Brown, hereby sever my ties with the Silver Crest pack."
The words felt heavy on her heart, but she knew it had to be done. As tears streamed down her face, she knelt down, crying bitterly as she made one final, heartbreaking declaration.
"I, Ella Brown, reject you, Alpha Derek of the Moonstone Pack, as my mate."


"Ella Brown," Derek whispered, his voice full of shock.
"Mate," Lila, her wolf, whispered within her, the bond between them sparking to life once more.
"Ella, what are you doing here?" Derek asked, his grip tightening on her arms. "I've searched everywhere for you."
Ella quickly regained her composure, pulling away from him. "I'm in a hurry, Derek," she muttered, attempting to sidestep him.
"Ella, don't leave," Derek pleaded, his voice breaking slightly.
"You are my mate," he growled, his voice blending with his wolf's. "You're not leaving me again."


Ella's fury ignited. "Alpha Derek," she spat, her voice trembling with barely contained anger. "I am not your mate anymore. Control your damn wolf."
Ella Brown’s life was supposed to change for the better when she turned 18—gaining her wolf and preparing for her engagement to Alpha Kevin Taylor. But everything shatters when she catches Kevin with her stepsister, Sandra, the night before the ceremony. Heartbroken, she flees into the night, only to stumble upon her fated mate, the powerful Alpha Derek of the Moonstone pack. Their irresistible bond leads to a night of passion, but Derek coldly rejects her the next morning.At the engagement party, Kevin twists the truth, publicly humiliating Ella. Alone and betrayed by both alphas, she discovers she’s pregnant and flees her pack. Years later, as a renowned healer in the north, Ella is sought after by desperate packs suffering from a deadly plague. But when Derek shows up at her doorstep, demanding her help and refusing to let go of the bond he once rejected, Ella must decide—will she heal his people or make him suffer the way he made her?Can Ella protect her heart from the mate who broke it, or will Derek reclaim what he believes is rightfully his?

What do you do when you fall in love with the man who hurt your best friend?
Her plan was simple: seduce the scumbag who shattered her best friend's heart, make him crawl, and then ruin him. It was supposed to be a cold, calculated game.
Enter Jason: the campus heartthrob, the future Alpha heir, and—according to Lysa's intel—the target. She played the innocent girl, lured him into her trap, and waited for the perfect moment to strike. She thought she was the cat and he was the mouse.
She didn't know she was hunting a predator who had already claimed her as his Fated Mate.
Now, an Alpha knows his human Mate only approached him to destroy him. And he wants her back anyway.
"The game ends when I say it ends, Lysa. Not when you decide you're bored. When. I. Say."

Amara Morgan, a fiercely independent and enigmatic woman, finds herself irresistibly drawn to the dark allure of Ethan Blackwood, the brooding alpha of the Silverwood pack. Little does she know that Ethan harbors a secret, one that could either ignite their passion or tear them apart forever.

As their connection deepens, Amara uncovers a dark prophecy that foretells the awakening of an ancient power. Suddenly, she becomes the linchpin in a battle between werewolves, witches, and an unspeakable evil. With her heart torn between love and duty, Amara must embrace her own hidden abilities to save her soulmate and their forbidden love.

But secrets have a way of revealing themselves, and the truth threatens to unravel everything Amara holds dear. Betrayal lurks in every shadow, and allies become enemies as the battle for Silverwood intensifies. Can Amara and Ethan defy fate and break the ancient curse that binds them? Or will their love succumb to the forces of darkness?

When Lyca ran away, she ended up in the forest, where everyone was afraid and avoided going. This is the Mystic Forest, which is said to be the den of the son of darkness, A scary monster.
But Lyca immediately removed this story from her mind when encountering the 'sons of darkness.
The image she saw was mesmerizing, a perfect face that seemed to have been sculpted by a sculptor. Its eyes are as blue as the ocean, matched by a prominent nose and red lips. And the most exciting part is that Lyca doesn't see only one with the perfect image, but seven!
But the legend is true because behind those beautiful appearances hides a fierce creature—and it's too late for Lyca because their leader has already entrapped her.

In a tale woven with friendship and heartbreak, Melissa and Lydia, two university freshmen who had been inseparable for over eleven years, find themselves facing unforeseen and tragic circumstances. Eager to explore the realms of romance, their innocent quest for true love takes a dark and twisted turn as they stumble upon secrets that were meant to remain buried. The shocking revelation leads to a horrific event—the untimely death of Lydia—leaving Melissa reeling under the weight of grief and devastation.

The loss of her lifelong friend not only shatters Melissa’s world but also draws her family into a web of sorrow and despair. As she grapples with the pain of betrayal and heartache, the shocking truth about Lydia's killer emerges—a person so entwined in Melissa’s life that she could never have anticipated their role in this tragedy. This revelation plunges her into a perilous situation that nearly claims her own life, forcing Melissa to confront the haunting question: what could love truly be when it comes hand in hand with such profound suffering?

Lara Parker has one rule: never expect good things during the holidays. Her luck is so bad it should be studied. Still, she plans the perfect anniversary dinner, hoping just this one time, December will be kind. It isn’t.
Her boyfriend walks into the restaurant with another woman on his arm… and breaks her heart publicly. But across the room sits Killian Wilde, captain of the Northwind Icehawks—and an Alpha werewolf trying to unwind after a big win. When chaos erupts, one scent hits him harder than any check on the ice. Mate.
A spontaneous, spite-fueled kiss from Lara ignites a bond he’s spent his whole life searching for.
She thinks it’s a reckless moment.
He knows it’s fate.
Now Lara finds herself entangled with a man whose world is colder, wilder, and far more dangerous than she ever imagined and who’s determined to show her that the holidays aren’t cursed after all… not when she belongs to an Alpha who’d burn winter down for her.
Warm lights, cold ice, one irresistible Alpha.
This Christmas, her heart doesn’t stand a chance.

Captivating smile

5ft, 6inches tall, a willowy build and gorgeous translucent skin

Janice Sketches was a well-known matchmaker that could solve any problem within seconds. She finds matches to those unable to and was very skilled at it.

But, she hadn't found her perfect match.

Jules Forrest, also known as the devil for being a ruthless CEO.

He only engaged in a nightstand and didn't believe true love existed.

However, his principle changed when he met the stunning woman that shared his bed after a night at his brother's wedding.

When Emilia Gray awakens from a three-year coma, she's forced to confront a dark and mysterious world she never knew existed. Bound to the powerful Valois family by a centuries-old blood oath, Emilia must navigate a treacherous landscape of supernatural politics and forbidden love.
As she's drawn deeper into the world of the Valois, Emilia finds herself torn between her growing feelings for the enigmatic Luca Valois and her desire for independence and self-discovery.
Will Emilia be able to claim her own power and forge her own destiny, or will the blood oath forever define her fate?"

*****Warning: this book contains mature content which may not be suitable for younger audience.

Elena Lockser didn't know who she was until she encounters Aiden Crook.

Aiden Crook never believes in a second chance at love until Elena walked through his office.

As soon as we stepped into the living room, I breathed out deeply and gazed at him.

"I meant, I want to go back to Renee, to my friend." I said.

"You are not going anywhere." He stated calmly as if afraid he would lose his temper anytime soon.

"You can't tell me to stay here. I don't know you. I don't know what you are. I don't know if I would be your next prey. Please just let me go in peace, please." I didn't realize I was crying until I tasted the saltiness of the tears.

"Shut up, I don't want to lose my temper here." He pinched the bridge of his nose, before exhaling slowly. His broad shoulder moved with each breath he took.

"Why are you detaining me here? Do you want to kill me? Who are you?"

"So many questions in a sentence." He tutted.

"Just tell me who you are and why are you keeping me here? I want to fucking know!"

Aiden stared at me with uncertainty before stepping towards me.

I scurried back, slamming into the door.

He pushed me to it violently and I winced in pain at the force. His eyes flickered from the blue it was to a golden yellow and a fang appeared in place of his canine.

I shrieked as he continued pressing his elbow in my neck.

"This is me, sweetness and you are fated to be with me don't forget that. You are to be my Luna!"

My heart burns with a fierce desire for retribution, not for the love of the murderer Alpha. But why do I feel this way? It all started when I uncovered the truth about my parents' death. The Alpha who took their lives must pay for his heinous crime. However, what if the Alpha I encounter is not the ruthless killer I expected? Will I be able to resist the temptation to exact my revenge? As I delve deeper into the mystery, a shocking revelation will shatter everything I thought I knew. My world will never be the same again.

I, Anastasia Dawson and this is my story.

"Well, you did keep your end of the bargain and we do have a little before dinner," she said wrapping her arms around his neck pulling him down. Trailing a kiss from his jawline to the corner of his mouth.

He opened his eyes to see her biting her lower lip smiling at him. Leaning down he captured her lips as they shared a slow, lingering kiss. Biting her lower lip she gasped and he took the opportunity to plunge his tongue into her mouth as their tongues began a dance so old time stood still, leaving them both breathless as they pulled apart. Covering her round bottom in his hands he picked her up and walked to the lounge loving the close contact as he sat down with her in his lap.+

"I'm glad you knocked me down with your car querida, or else I wouldn't have you right here with me. You are so..."

"Baby. Just shut up," she stated as she leaned towards him and kissed him.

Stepping out of the car he stood in front of her looking down at her angry little face.

"How dare you disgrace me in such a manner. Where do you think you are going with her?" She spat.

"Woman step aside. Let me help that poor girl you are so afraid of," he said in a low voice. "It's funny how you feel threatened by a woman you have never spoken to, a woman I have not yet known," he said as his lips twitched into a smirk.

The queen seemed to think over his words an appealed expression dominating her features.

"Just remember who your wife is," she huffed walking away from him looking around to see their audience.

You want more....? Then hurry up and start reading

PS DON'T OVERANALYSE THE STORY WHEN READING. IT IS AFTER ALL JUST MY MIND GOING CRAZY TO GIVE YO'LL A STORY ☺️.

Their worlds were never meant to clash, but through knowing each other their lives unraveled.

"Don't think about Malcolm because I am not him. I will treat you better, give you the desires of your heart, showered you with kisses that will make you weak at the knees, even go as far as giving you my heart, but just don't leave me," he said looking lost as he pulled her closer supporting her some more.

"No, no, not again," I murmured as my heart rate increased.

"Then this is what is going to happen. Tomorrow we are getting married I don't care if you have to be in bed for the ceremony but so be it. We are going to live together as man and wife, and I am going to f***k that idiot out of your system until I am the only one in your mind, until you long for only my touch.....

He thought the worst thing he had ever done was losing me.

He was wrong.

Six years ago, Pete Leadsilver had everything an Alpha could want. Power, a respected pack and a future already written for him.

Then he met me.

What began as a game became a mistake I would spend years trying to survive. When I told him I was carrying his child, Pete chose not to believe me. He rejected me, humiliated me, and allowed the people around him to make sure I understood that there was no place for me in his world.

So I disappeared.

I took the secret of my pregnancy with me and built a life far away from the Alpha who had broken me.

Six years later, Pete finds me again. Only this time, he isn't the man with all the power. His pack is dying, his people are running out of time, and I may be the only person capable of saving them.

But I'm no longer the woman Pete remembers. And beside me is a little boy who carries far too much of Pete's face to be a coincidence.

Our reunion should have been about a cure, but instead, it becomes the beginning of a war neither of us saw coming.

Because Pete's greatest danger isn't outside his pack.

It's inside his own family.

Old resentment turns into manipulation. Loyalty becomes betrayal. And the people Pete trusts begin hiding secrets that threaten to destroy everything he's built.

Then someone comes for the people I love.

Suddenly, this is no longer about whether Pete can earn my forgiveness.

It's about whether he can keep me alive.

Whether he can protect the son he never knew existed.

Whether he can uncover the truth before the people closest to him destroy everything he has finally learned to value.

Along the way, we'll lose people we thought would always stand beside us, I'll be forced to confront wounds I've spent six years trying to bury, and the family we're slowly building will be tested in ways neither of us could have imagined.

Because sometimes love isn't the hardest thing to find. Sometimes it's the hardest thing to survive.

Pete once believed power meant never needing anyone and I once believed surviving him meant leaving him behind.

We were both wrong.

Because some bonds refuse to die, some betrayals cut deeper than rejection and some people don't come back into your life to give you a second chance.

They come back to show you exactly what you almost lost.

Pete Leadsilver lost me once.

This time, he'll have to fight to keep the family he never knew he needed.

Wha..what do you..you wa..want?"

"You," he said with a lopsided grin only his eyes showed his true intentions as he placed his hands on her waist lifting her up onto the counter stepping in between her legs.

"You..you.can't," she stuttered.

"I am, I can and I will have you Lia. This I promise you," he said nuzzling her neck before claiming her lips stealing her breath.

"Ethan no," she said breathlessly pushing him away.

"Lia why do you keep pushing me away. You know you want this as much as I do. I know you feel the same way as I feel about you. Why are you fighting us!" He growled frustratedly.


"Don't lie to me," he growled saying each word slowly whilst pacing in front of the door.

"Ethan I."

"Don't," his voice boomed as he stopped looking at her angrily as she flinched. "Start speaking," he whispered.

He's the golden boy of Kansas City hockey. He has the trophies, fortune, women, and a life where he always gets what he wants.

She's the Special Agent who has spent ten years hunting the monster that murdered her father, waiting for the day its signature appears again.

Zane Chandler's perfect life shatters when he comes home to find his younger sister brutally murdered, her eyes gouged out and a five-pointed star carved between them.

For Island Meyers, that star isn't just a killer's signature. It's the ghost that has haunted her for a decade.

Determined to solve the case that destroyed her, Island takes charge of the investigation, only to face the victim's furious brother.

Zane dismisses her as a rookie, demands she's removed from the case, and insists she isn't capable of finding his sister's killer.

What he doesn't know is that Island isn't a stranger. Their families are connected by a betrayal neither of them has forgotten, and a secret buried for ten years.

Island refuses to walk away. This investigation is her only chance to uncover the truth she's spent a decade chasing, and no grieving hockey superstar is going to stop her.

But when another body appears and the killer's twisted game grows deadlier, Zane and Island are forced into an uneasy partnership where every clue exposes another lie, every discovery brings them closer to the monster, and every argument makes their attraction harder to ignore.

Because Zane's sister wasn't chosen by chance…She was a message.

Now Zane and Island must trust the one person they swore they'd never need before the next victim wears the star.

Because whatever murdered the people they loved isn't finished.

And this time, it's watching them fall for each other.