1267 Book(s) Related to collided book by lauren asher

Ignored By One Alpha, Chased By Another

Ignored By One Alpha, Chased By Another

44k Views · Ongoing · Riley Above Story
Since the age of 12, Aurora had known that she would be Raymond’s future Luna and wife.
However, just before inheriting his Alpha position, Raymond found his fated mate—a rogue girl named Giana.
Forced by his parents, Raymond had no choice but to marry Aurora. Yet on their wedding night, he abandoned her to be with Giana.
Tormented by the mate bond, Aurora ended up having an ONS with a handsome and charming man.
But how could that man turn out to be Raymond’s best friend, the Alpha King’s nephew, and notorious playboy—Kane…?
Bought by Mistake, Claimed by the Billionaire

Bought by Mistake, Claimed by the Billionaire

1.8k Views · Ongoing · MIFA
"Go take a shower. I'll be waiting in bed."

In the hotel room, Lydia was tipsy, her fingers fumbling absently with the man's tie. He leaned in close to her ear, his voice low and smooth: "Let's shower together."

She thought he was just a paid escort she'd hired for the night.

It wasn't until later that she found out — he was the wealthiest man in New York, the head of the Levitt family, Simon Levitt.


Lydia's life had never been her own. Her father wanted to marry her off to the playboy Ivor in exchange for business interests. Her stepmother Marlo and half-sister Natasha worked together to push her out. The inheritance left by her birth mother was withheld by her father as leverage. And at one point, her own father and stepmother had secretly plotted an accident to get rid of her for good. With nowhere left to turn, she struck a clear-headed deal with Simon — she would use his influence to break free from her constraints, and he would use the engagement to consolidate power within his family. The prenuptial agreement was spelled out in black and white. There was no room for feelings.

But fate never follows the script. Simon's ex, Elizabeth, suddenly reappeared claiming to be carrying his child. Natasha threw herself at him in a desperate attempt to take Lydia's place. And Simon and Ivor turned out to be half-brothers. Lydia's birth father's death also seemed tangled up in all of it. She was at the center of the storm, with danger closing in from every direction.

The man she thought was only using her kept showing up at her most dangerous moments — taking back her mother's inheritance, putting Hector in his place, shielding her from threats coming at her from all sides.

She asked him, "What do you actually want?"

He looked down, pressed his lips to hers, and said nothing.


Then one day, Lydia stumbled upon a long-buried secret between her mother and the Levitt family —

She and Simon had never been a coincidence. Not from the very beginning.

And Simon had known all along.

Behind this "mutually beneficial" arrangement, what was the truth that had been hiding there the whole time?
Betrayed by Love, Bought by the Alpha

Betrayed by Love, Bought by the Alpha

292 Views · Ongoing · Lila
I sacrificed everything to save my mother—even my freedom.

The night I won the award that was supposed to fund her life-saving surgery, I walked in on my fated mate tangled in bed with my best friend.

He said I was “too boring to love.”
She whispered my mother was “better off dead.”

Broken and desperate, I made the deal I swore I never would—I sold myself to Alpha Damien Gatsby, heir to the Gatsby empire.

Cold. Ruthless. The most powerful Alpha in Faellac City.

But I didn’t expect his touch to set my blood on fire.

And I never imagined the man with the coldest heart would steal mine.

Now the mate who betrayed me wants me back.

The Pack that rejected me wants me silenced.

And the Alpha who owns me… refuses to let me go—even if it destroys us both.
Cursed By The Moon, Mated By Desire.

Cursed By The Moon, Mated By Desire.

693 Views · Ongoing · benitasmith389
When Calistra, the goddess who created all werewolves, awakens in the body of Zara a broken omega who took her own life she finds herself trapped in a cruel punishment. Her new mate is Rafael Prickette, the Alpha’s reckless son and the man who made Zara’s life a living hell.

Stripped of her divine power, Calistra becomes his servant, forced to endure the bond that ties her to the one she despises most. But when the mate bond defies his cruelty protecting her, punishing him it sparks a dangerous pull between them.

Vengeance was meant to be her purpose. Desire was never supposed to be her weakness.
Fascinated by Him

Fascinated by Him

5.3k Views · Ongoing · petersmay808
"Never call a girl a bi-t-ch," I said, my gaze locking onto his as he blinked awake, the bright blue drink I had just doused him with still trickling from his dark locks. "Or she might just give you a taste of her temper."

I flashed him one last sardonic smile before brushing past him and walking away, practically swaying with attitude.

Well, this year promises to be... interesting.

Carla Summers: a self-proclaimed connoisseur of sarcasm and the living embodiment of impulsive missteps. In an attempt to flee her tumultuous past, she relocates to California with her mom, hoping for a fresh start—and perhaps a chance to get it right this time around.

In her new home, Carla quickly befriends Josie and Tamia, her newfound accomplices in mischief, and for the first time in years, her life begins to feel like it's settling into a semblance of normalcy.

However, she also crosses paths with Asmodeus Stewart—the school’s irresistibly infuriating bad boy—and his entourage of less-than-stellar characters.

She detests him, and he returns the sentiment in full.

Yet, as poets often muse, the boundary between love and hate is perilously thin. Sometimes, when two people despise each other, that animosity can evolve into something far deeper.

A hopeless entanglement, one might say...
Touched By Fate

Touched By Fate

3.3k Views · Ongoing · Emi Captain
David Ramirez has just broken up with his boyfriend after catching him having sex with his best friend. To forget what he saw David goes to the club to let out some steam and hopefully find someone to have sex with.

He does eventually meet Maxwell Sharaf a hot brown-skinned god who he’s willing to have sex with to forget about his ex. After a night of passion, David leaves Max’s house before he wakes up, he loves what happened last night but he can’t seem to forget about his ex. He’s walking on the streets of New York when he gets shot in a robbery gone wrong. David dies.

But he doesn’t stay dead for long because he comes back to life but not as he was before. He finds out that he has super speed, super strength, and other supernatural abilities. He unconsciously goes to Max’s house because something is drawing him closer to Max. When he tells Max what has been happening to him Max explains that he accidentally turned David into a werecat. And Max is a werecat himself, a direct descendant of the goddess Bastet.

Max also tells David that he’s his mate and the beast within him wants Max. Max and David spend more time with each other while Max teaches David the basics of being a werecat. At the same time, some people want David dead because he’s not supposed to be a werecat, but Max and his family try to protect David and Max and David prove time and time that their love is stronger than any outdated law.
Fated By Nightfall

Fated By Nightfall

869 Views · Ongoing · Jen Doll
Bound by duty, torn by fate.

When Raven Elowen is forced into an arranged marriage with the cold and enigmatic Alpha Kael Rathmore, she vows to keep her heart guarded. But as a sinister rogue threatens their packs, their fragile alliance is tested at every turn. Secrets from the past and whispers of an ancient prophecy loom, forcing them closer.

“I’ll protect you, no matter the cost,” Kael promises.

“And if I don’t need saving?” she counters.

As danger closes in, Raven must decide, trust the man she swore to hate or risk everything for a love that could destroy them both.
Death By Breathing

Death By Breathing

30.5k Views · Ongoing · arianniahrain
After a deadly virus shattered civilization, a new world rose from the ruins—one ruled by Alphas.

Females are claimed. Controlled. Bred.

Alex swore she would die before becoming any man’s possession.

Fiercely independent and determined to escape the fate forced on women like her, Alex has spent years surviving under the radar. But everything changes when the powerful Vandicoff brothers—three ruthless Alpha rulers—discover she is their true mate.

The moment they claim her, war ignites.

Alex refuses to submit to their bond, their authority, or the dangerous pull between them. She fights every command, every touch, every instinct threatening to drag her under. But the more she resists, the more obsessed the brothers become.

What begins as a battle for control soon sends shockwaves through the entire Alpha world, threatening the Vandicoff empire itself.

Can Alex survive three possessive Alphas without losing herself in the process?

Or will the one thing she craves most—love—become the very thing that destroys her?

This is a very dark romance with many levels. The things that happen to the FMC are horrific no matter how the men in her life attempt to label it. What happens to her is SA no if ands or buts. I don’t romanticize it, I call it what it is. Other characters, including the men, try to reframe it into something else, but she always calls it what it is. There’s no hearts and flowers between the main characters in the first half of this book despite the attempts of her men to change that, so please don’t think it is that type of romance book. Alex is tough, but she is put through a lot, and comes out the other side a stronger woman. If you can handle the darkness and emerge with her on the other side to a new life with the happiness she deserves, then please read her story.

Trigger warning. This is a dark romance, and it contains scenes of SA on page throughout the book. There is also kidnapping, trafficking, and depictions of torture. So, please be aware.
Marked by him

Marked by him

1k Views · Ongoing · Orina~Bankz
Arya V​itale, t​he da⁠ughter of​ his sw​o​r‍​n enem​y was supp​osed t‌o be a bar​g⁠aining⁠ chip
A p‍awn i​n a bloo‍d w‌a‌r but‌ from‌ the mome‍nt Giova​nni D‍e-Sa‌ntis laid ey‍es​ on her​, he didn’t see a p‌awn… h​e saw his

So he too‌k her
S​t⁠o⁠le⁠ her from her wed​d‍ing, force​d her into⁠ a cont‍r‌act marr‍⁠iage⁠,⁠ and br‍an‍d‍ed her w⁠ith his n​ame in ever​y way th‌at m⁠attered‌

To t⁠he wo‌rld, i⁠t was a b⁠us‍in‍ess stra⁠​tegy

T​‍o him‌ she was ne‌⁠ver meant‌ to be hi⁠‌s,​ it was an obsession

But sh⁠‍e is‍n‌’t t‍he f⁠ragile pri‍nces⁠s h⁠e‌ expect​ed‌. She’‌s sma​rt, sha‍r​p, hot-head​ed⁠, sassy, and far too goo⁠d a‌t ma​king hi‍m fee‍l things​‍ he buried long​ ago
And when she runs away he h​unts h‌er

Becau‌s​e Giovanni doesn’‍t​ lose
​Not h​is em‌pire
N​ot‌ hi⁠s‌ war

‍And never t‌he wo​m⁠an h‌e​‍’s‌ marked​ as his own
But some war​s ca​n’t be w‍on with bullets⁠

Some secrets⁠ re⁠fuse to stay buried

And the dead‌l‌iest betrayal may not come from his enemies at a​ll…
What happens when the​ one thing he can’t cont‌rol
is the only th‌ing that co‍uld destroy him ‍ is the only thing that could destroy him?
And a war that demands blood….even if it’s hers.
Bound by vows

Bound by vows

1.2k Views · Ongoing · Ayomie Lovie
Scarlet Langston never thought she'd find herself at the mercy of the man who once held her heart. Five years ago, she left Tucker Beaumont to protect herself from the scars of a broken love. But when her family's house is threatened, she has nowhere else to turn. Desperate, she seeks out the only man who can help Tucker, now a ruthless billionaire with an empire of his own.
Tempted by Accident

Tempted by Accident

846 Views · Ongoing · Ottah Uchenna
I only wanted to send a naughty messages to my boy friend…
But instead, I accidentally sent a very naughty message to my cold, bossy CEO. Mr. Adrian Cole.
He doesn’t just ignore it.
He replies: “If you’re that curious, I can give you a real experience.”
That one message changes everything.
A night I can’t forget.
A secret that could end my career.
And a man who suddenly wants more than just one night.
But Adrian has secrets — dark ones.
And when I start getting mysterious threats at work, I realize our night together was no accident.
Someone wants to destroy both of us…
And the man I’m falling for might be the one holding the knife.
Bound by Two

Bound by Two

276 Views · Ongoing · runeamon.writes
Being a part of a reserved family, Suki knows her place within the community of the Moonstone pack. She has her duties, and she completes them perfectly, just as her father orders. As the daughter of the Beta, the second in command, she's set to live a life of importance within the pack, helping to aid it to greatness, and that's only meant to become stronger once she finds her mate.

Like every other werewolf, she has dreamt of what it would be like to find her mate when she comes of age, to know what the power of the mate bond truly feels like. However, when she turns 18, she doesn't just experience one bond... she experiences TWO.

Two separate bonds with two completely different males - bad boy Brendan and the perfect soldier Reynard. How could this be? It defies the laws of nature; all werewolves are given one mate and one mate only.

As she and her two mates try to understand their anomaly of a mate bond, they also have to deal with an even greater threat that's approaching - something that's not only a threat to their pack, but to the entire werewolf species.

Will they be able to save the pack? And who will Suki choose as her mate to finally seal the bond... Brendan or Reynard?


18+ Warning: this book is indeed 18+ and NSFW. Moderate spicy scenes occur at the beginning of the book and will intensify to full spice as the story continues. It will also include violence and other 18+ elements, so please be vigilant, and if anything makes you uncomfortable, please refrain from reading further.
Wanted by Two

Wanted by Two

3.5k Views · Ongoing · Kae Adam
“Clarissa Emberdale, I reject you! Leave my pack at once!!” It replays in her mind, and she is compelled to leave the group, her head down in shame. But it isn't enough to deter Clarissa from living her best life as a caregiver while simultaneously providing a better life for the kid growing in her belly. She decided to take a second chance at everything except love. Having made up her mind that there is no guy that would actually love her except to use her, she was given the opportunity to be the caretaker of the grandmother of a multimillionaire, Jason. Though he was out of her league, she can’t help falling in love with him daily. When her ex returns back with an apology and a bouquet of roses, he found out that she was already in a relationship. With rage and determination, he vowed to win her back with his Alpha abilities, because he couldn’t bear her with being with another man.
Defeated By Love

Defeated By Love

207 Views · Ongoing · Jay Crawley
"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?
RANKED BY BLOOD

RANKED BY BLOOD

398 Views · Ongoing · Ayomide Nifemi
Ethan Cole was just an ordinary man.

He worked at an office for $12 an hour, was three months behind on his rent, and only had four numbers in his cell phone, which was cracked in a bus stop. He was not unlucky. He was just one of those guys that no one cared about.

Then on a Wednesday night, a mugger got a knife into his ribs and that's the end of Ethan Cole.

Except it wasn't.
Caught by fangs

Caught by fangs

1.3k Views · Ongoing · Hosanna
Maris Caine is a counselor who has the ability to enchant anyone with her voice but what happens when she disrupts a ritual and runs away with the entity needed for it to be completed, leading to Azazel birthing a new demon that he sends after her–Vampire.

Logan Wolfe is the Alpha of the Oberon kingdom who happens to save his mate from Azazel and swears to protect her but how is that possible when she is stubborn and blames it all on Logan?

She finds out a secret about herself and wages war amongst five kingdoms.
CURSED BY MOONLIGHT

CURSED BY MOONLIGHT

509 Views · Ongoing · blessingolatunji79
Rowan Calloway has one plan for senior year: survive it quietly. Scholarship girl at Velthorpe Academy, daughter of a minor diplomat, wrong bloodline, wrong world. She has never believed in werewolves, curses, or fate. Then her father sits her down and tells her she is engaged to someone.
Caspian Drell is the only heir to the Alpha King, built from cold command and colder silence. When a witch's curse declares his bloodline will die without a human-born heir, his father's solution is a contract marriage to a diplomat's daughter. He does not want a human. He does not want softness. He especially does not want a girl who looks him dead in the eye and tells him exactly what she thinks of him.
The terms are simple. No affection. No interference. One child. Then freedom. But Velthorpe Academy does not care about their terms, and neither does whatever is burning to life between them every time they are forced to share the same space.
The curse is not what Rowan thinks it is. And neither is Caspian.
BOUND BY DESIRE

BOUND BY DESIRE

78 Views · Ongoing · Salako Morenikeji
1. Genre and Tone

We’re aiming for a contemporary erotic romance with an intense and passionate tone. The story will blend emotional depth with explicit content, ensuring a strong connection between the characters.

2. Character Development

Protagonist 1:

Name: Lena Hart
Age: 28
Background: Lena is a successful corporate lawyer, ambitious and highly disciplined in her career. However, her personal life feels unfulfilled. She’s been in a few relationships, but none have sparked the deep passion she craves.
Personality: Confident, intelligent, and assertive in her professional life, but she yearns to explore a more vulnerable and passionate side of herself.
Desires: Lena is searching for a connection that transcends the mundane—a partner who can challenge her, both emotionally and physically.

Protagonist 2:

Name: Aiden Cross
Age: 32
Background: Aiden is a self-made entrepreneur who owns a chain of nightclubs. He’s charismatic, with a mysterious edge that draws people to him. Aiden has a reputation for being a playboy, but beneath the surface, he’s looking for something real.
Personality: Confident, charming, and a bit of a risk-taker. He’s used to getting what he wants, but he’s tired of superficial relationships.
Desires: Aiden craves a relationship where he can be vulnerable, someone who sees past his public persona.

3. Plot Overview

Initial Encounter:

Setting: A high-end, exclusive nightclub owned by Aiden.
Scene: Lena is at the club for a work event, feeling out of place in the glamorous, high-energy environment. Aiden notices her from across the room, intrigued by her aura of control and composure.
First Interaction: They lock eyes, and there’s an immediate, electrifying connection. Aiden approaches Lena, and their conversation is charged with tension, setting the stage for their complex relationship.
Marked By Four

Marked By Four

741 Views · Ongoing · author.alice
“You were never meant to live, little queen,” His whisper sent a chill down my spine. “But you belong to us now.”
Aria should have died in that car crash. Instead, she wakes up in a palace and encounters four kings, all bound to her by a mark that burns like fire.
A vampire who wants her blood, a Lycan who wants her body, a Fae who wants her power and a Demon who seeks to break the ties binding them.
Each of them claims she’s theirs but none of them agree to share. As the kingdoms start to fall one by one and an ancient prophecy slowly awakens, she discovers that the greatest danger isn’t in the curse that binds them.
It’s in the way each of their touches makes her forget she ever wanted to escape.
Bound by fate

Bound by fate

739 Views · Ongoing · JOSEPH GODWIN
Story blurb
After Zara’s family is framed and brutally executed as traitors, she is reduced to a life of slavery in the Nightshade pack, enduring constant torment and rejection. But her world takes a sudden turn when she catches the eye of Alpha Ashen, ruler of a powerful kingdom and fiancé to the Alpha's daughter. Captivated by Zara, Ashen defies expectations and proposes to her instead, sparking chaos among the packs.
On her journey to her new life, Zara is kidnapped by Magnus—a dangerous rogue who shocks her with two revelations: he is her fated mate and the rightful heir to Ashen’s throne. Years ago, Magnus’s family was slaughtered, and their throne seized by Ashen’s father. Now, Magnus has returned, stronger and vengeful, determined to use Zara as leverage to reclaim his birthright.
But as fate entangles them, Magnus must wrestle with the pull of their mate bond, while Zara is torn between the fierce love of the Alpha who rescued her and the dark allure of the man who holds her captive. And Ashen must decide: will he risk everything—the throne, his pack, and his reputation—to save the woman he loves?
Dive into a gripping tale of betrayal, revenge, passion, romance and a love triangle where hearts collide with ambition. Will love conquer all, or will power and vengeance destroy everything? Find out in this riveting werewolf saga.
Bound by Desires

Bound by Desires

883 Views · Ongoing · Nancy Bright
In the shadowed underbelly of a bustling modern city, innocent Lena stumbles into The Shadowed Parlor, an exclusive lounge where desires whisper in crimson alcoves. Drawn by curiosity, she meets Ethan, a commanding yet patient dominant whose steady gaze pierces her hesitations.As their sessions unfold, marked by ritualistic trust games, silken bonds, and pendant talismans, Lena confronts her fears of vulnerability. Intense dialogues with Ethan peel back layers of doubt, while side couples like teasing rivals and loyal allies add intrigue through overheard confessions and charged encounters. Amid morning rituals in their high-rise apartment and late-night revelations, emotional stakes rise: can surrender forge unbreakable love, or will past shadows fracture their bond?
Forbidden by Design

Forbidden by Design

723 Views · Ongoing · Axis_ Srphm
Two worlds that are not meant to collide, where loyalty is bought with blood and sacrifices. Where behind every smile could be a deadly betrayal from the very people you rely on. Maelis Ardent is forced to walk a dangerous and excruciating path to protect the people she loves, her family. Assigned to get close to the mysterious, desirable, untouchable but dangerous Lucien Allard, the supposed heir of a powerful tyrant dynasty, she must survive a world full of secrets, deception, and dangerous ambition, where in this world showing emotion is not an option, because one wrong move would cost everything she has.

 
But she never knew that Lucien was more than just a target; he is the beginning of everything. His charm, desire, danger, and the shadows he hides within him make every inch of him dangerous for her, and she must resist. In a world where survival is like a game, a world where pain is the only thing it can offer. In a world where only power and revenge are the language they understand, and emotion is a weakness, where everything is designed, will there be a place for love?
The Beta & the Jewel Thief (Book 6)

The Beta & the Jewel Thief (Book 6)

994 Views · Ongoing · J.W.G. Stout
Mike Pike, the Royal Beta of the New Moon Kingdom was once looking forward to finding his mate at one time. Circumstances changed his mind when he met Jonda six months ago on his quest to find his missing king.
He fell in love and fully intended to take Jonda as his chosen mate.
That was until he found out the love of his life had cheated on him, and on the same night, he ran down his mate who stole Queen Tala's Crown.
Now the thief needs his help to protect her son from the Shadow Witch, the same Dark witch that searches for four ancient stones to open the realms gates, unleashing the god of the underworld.

Mike:
It didn't matter if my mate turned up out of the blue, or that the goddess fated me to a thief and murderer.
I had chosen Jonda the moment I laid eyes on her. My wolf had chosen too.
One night was all it took to knock my realm off kilt and shatter my heart.
A Dark Witch is on the hunt and he's hunting for two things. A set of stones and the jewel thief - Lyric Swift - My mate and her son.

Lyric:
For five years I have lived as a rogue, wheeling and dealing to survive. For three years I have been a mother. I would do anything to protect my son's secret. Even if that means trusting my Beta mate, a mate I can't be with, a mate I couldn't give myself to. A mate who is in love with another. A mate who makes me feel things I don't want to.
The Dark Witch & The Alpha Book 2

The Dark Witch & The Alpha Book 2

597 Views · Ongoing · Kassy Rae Wall
Pythia comes from a long line of dark witches, she killed her mother for her reckless behavior and becomes the queen of the dark witches and teamed up with the Great White Witch and the vampire queen to fight in the battle to keep the balance in all the different worlds, she meets her mate, Tye in the great battle. Tye is the great white witches brother and a alpha. Together they will embark on a battle to correct the elders and take a step forward to peace among the dark witches, the road is long especially when they find out Pythias true royalty line. When realms collide and the moon goddess has to step in and not only aid because of the new found threat but to tell the secrets she has helped keep hidden for many years, Pythia is forced to train harder, work harder and plan for the absolute unexpected but, as she learns her true powers she starts to realize that she can handle anything that may threaten her and her family.
The vampire queen (Ambrosia) and Pythia will become close and discover the true origins of their pasts. They rely on each other when their mates are not around. New family is discovered and it is time they all come together to face one of the toughest moments in the dark witches history.
Almost Gone (The Au Pair—Book One)

Almost Gone (The Au Pair—Book One)

499 Views · Ongoing · Blake Pierce
“A MASTERPIECE OF THRILLER AND MYSTERY. Blake Pierce did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.” --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone) ALMOST GONE is book #1 in a new psychological thriller series by USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) (a free download) has received over 1,000 five star reviews. When 23 year old Cassandra Vale accepts her first job as an au pair, she finds herself placed with a wealthy family in a rural estate outside of Paris, and all seems too good to be true. But she soon discovers that behind the gilded gates lies a dysfunctional family, a twisted marriage, troubled children, and secrets too dark to air. Cassandra is convinced she’s finally found a fresh start when she takes a job as an au pair in the idyllic French countryside. Just beyond the Paris city limits, the Dubois manor is a grand relic of the past, the family its picture-perfect occupants. It’s the escape Cassandra needs—until she uncovers dark secrets that prove things aren’t as glamorous as they seem.Beneath the opulence lies a dark web of malice, one Cassandra finds all too familiar, triggering dreams from her own violent and tortured past, one from which she desperately runs. And when a grisly murder tears the house apart, it threatens to take down her own fragile psyche with it. A riveting mystery replete with complex characters, layers of secrets, dramatic twists and turns and heart-pounding suspense, ALMOST GONE is book #1 in a psychological suspense series that will have you turning pages late into the night. Book #2 and #3--ALMOST LOST and ALMOST DEAD—are also available!
Destined (Book #4 in the Vampire Journals)

Destined (Book #4 in the Vampire Journals)

719 Views · Ongoing · Morgan Rice
"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)DESTINED is book #4 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with TURNED (Book #1). In DESTINED (Book #4 in the Vampire Journals), Caitlin Paine wakes to discover herself back in time. She finds herself in a cemetery, on the run from a mob of villagers, and seeks refuge in the ancient cloisters of Assisi, in the countryside of Umbria, Italy. There, she learns of her destiny and her mission: to find her father and the ancient vampire Shield needed to save mankind. But Caitlin’s heart still pines for her lost love: Caleb. She desperately needs to know if he has survived their trip back in time. She learns that her mission requires her to go to Florence, but if she wants to pursue matters of the heart, she must go to Venice. She chooses Venice. Caitlin is overwhelmed at what she finds. Venice of the eighteenth century is a surreal place, men and women dressed in elaborate costumes and masks, celebrating an endless, lavish party. She is thrilled to discover and reunite with some of her close friends, and to be welcomed back into their coven. And she is excited to join them in Venice’s Grand Ball, the most important costume dance of the year, where she hopes, once again, to find Caleb. But Caitlin is not the only one who can travel back in time: Kyle soon arrives, too, and is determined to hunt her down and kill her once and for all. Sam, too, arrives, determined to save his sister before it is too late. At the Ball, Caitlin searches everywhere, and finds no sign of Caleb. That is, until the very last dance. She dances with a masked man who takes her heart away, and she feels certain that it is him. But as the partners change, she loses him again. Or does she? Caitlin soon finds herself torn between the two loves of her life, and discovers that she has to be careful what she wishes for. Her joy at finding what she wants might just come mixed with tragedy and heartbreak. In a climactic, action-packed ending, Caitlin finds herself up against true evil, Rome’s ancient vampire coven, and the most powerful vampire coven that ever existed. Surviving will demand all her skills, as she finds herself battling for her very life. She will have to sacrifice more than ever, if she is to save the one she loves…. “DESTINED is fast paced with enough action and twist and turns to keep you engaged until the end. There are so many twists and exciting developments throughout the story that it keeps your attention!” --The Romance Reviews “ I just turned 30 and there are a few YA series that I just love and this one is definitely on that list! READ IT! READ IT! READ IT! Don’t forget READ IT!” --werevampsromance.org
Vowed (Book #7 in the Vampire Journals)

Vowed (Book #7 in the Vampire Journals)

607 Views · Ongoing · Morgan Rice
"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)VOWED is Book #7 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with TURNED (Book #1)! In VOWED (Book #7 of the Vampire Journals), Caitlin and Caleb find themselves in medieval Scotland, in 1350, a time of knights and shining armor, of castles and warriors, of the quest for the Holy Grail said to contain the key to true vampire immortality. Landing on the shores of the ancient Isle of Skye, a remote island off the Western coast of Scotland where only the most elite warriors live and train, they are ecstatic to reunite with Sam and Polly, Scarlet and Ruth, a human king and his warriors, and with all of Aiden’s coven. Before they can continue their mission for the fourth and final key, the time has come for Caleb and Caitlin to wed. Against the most amazing backdrop Caitlin could ever hope for, an elaborate vampire wedding is planned, including all of the ancient rituals and ceremonies that accompany it. It is the wedding of a lifetime, meticulously planned by Polly and the others, and Caitlin and Caleb are happier than they’ve ever been. Simultaneously, Sam and Polly, to their own surprise, are each falling deeply in love with one another. As their relationship accelerates, Sam surprises Polly with a vow of his own. And Polly surprises him with her own shocking news. But all is not well beneath the surface. Blake has appeared again, and his deep love for Caitlin might just threaten her union, on the day before her wedding. Sera has appeared again, too, and vows to break apart what she cannot have. Scarlet, too, finds herself in danger, as the source of her deep powers are revealed—along with the revelation of who are her true parents. Worst of all, Kyle has landed back in time, and has tracked down his old protégé, Rynd, to force him to use his shapeshifting skill to trick and kill Caitlin and her people. As they fall into his elaborate trap, Caitlin and the others find themselves in deeper danger than ever before. It will be a race to find the final key, before everyone Caitlin holds dear is wiped out for good. This time, she will have to make the hardest choices and sacrifices of her life.
Fated (Book #11 in the Vampire Journals)

Fated (Book #11 in the Vampire Journals)

456 Views · Ongoing · Morgan Rice
"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)FATED is Book #11 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with TURNED (Book #1)! In FATED, 16 year old Scarlet Paine struggles to understand what’s happening to her, as she wakes and realizes she’s becoming a vampire. Alienated from her parents and her friends, the only person she has left to turn to is Sage, the mysterious boy who has quickly become the love of her life. Yet Sage, whose house she finds boarded up, is nowhere to be found. Scarlet, alone in the world, with nowhere left to turn, seeks out her friends and tries to reconcile with them. All seems to be patched up when they invite her to join them on a trip to an abandoned island in the Hudson—but as things get out of hand and Scarlet’s true powers are revealed, who her friends and enemies are becomes more confusing than ever. Blake, still interested in her, tries to make amends. He seems sincere, and Scarlet is confused as she has to grapple with whether to be with Blake or to wait for Sage, who is nowhere to be found. When Scarlet finally finds Sage, they have the most romantic time of her life; yet it is tinged with tragedy, as Sage is dying, with but a few days left to live. Kyle, meanwhile, turned into the only other vampire left in the world, is on a murderous rampage, seeking Scarlet; Caitlin and Caleb consult with Aiden, and they each embark on different missions—Caleb to stop and kill Kyle, and Caitlin, to the famed Yale University library, to research the ancient relic rumored to both cure and kill vampires for all time. It is a race against time, and it may be too late. Scarlet is changing rapidly, barely able to control what she’s becoming, and Sage is dying with each passing moment. As the book culminates in an action-packed, shocking twist, Scarlet will be left with a monumental choice—one that will change the world forever. Will Scarlet make the ultimate sacrifice to save Sage’s life? Will she risk everything she has for love?
Bitten (Book #3 of the Vampire Legends)

Bitten (Book #3 of the Vampire Legends)

222 Views · Ongoing · Emma Knight
Rachel Wood wakes in a castle to find herself turned into a vampire. She longs for home, for a normal life. But she is changing too fast. When she learns Benji is in danger, she realizes she has to find him. She will stop at nothing to be with him—even if it means having to choose between life and death.
Risen (Book #6 of the Vampire Legends)

Risen (Book #6 of the Vampire Legends)

43 Views · Ongoing · Emma Knight
In RISEN (Book #6 of the Vampire Legends), Rachel Wood embarks on a mission to find her grandmother in New Orleans, and to learn the secret of who she really is. Her travels take her deep into mysterious territory, as she searches for her roots, and for an explanation of all that is happening to her. Benji will not give up on her, even though she can’t remember who he is. He is still in love with her, and more determined than ever to find her and rescue her—before it is too late. Rachel’s brother struggles to keep from giving in to his dark side, as he grapples to come to terms with his new power. Her sister, Sarah, tries to come to grip with her new life at Syracuse, while learning what it means to be a vampire herself. Rob, driven by his love for Rachel, fights to shake off the influence of the dark coven. He will have to fight for Rachel’s love, hoping her loss of memory will also mean she has forgotten her love for Benji. It will be a race to save Rachel’s life as all these forces converge in an ancient cemetery in New Orleans. But there comes a shocking twist, and by then, it may all even be too late… Will Rachel finally remember her true love? And will she be willing to sacrifice it all for him? RISEN is book #6 of the Bestselling Vampire Legends series (following SWORN, TAKEN, BITTEN, CHOSEN and AWAKENED).
Awakened (Book #5 of the Vampire Legends)

Awakened (Book #5 of the Vampire Legends)

49 Views · Ongoing · Emma Knight
In AWAKENED (Book #5 of the Vampire Legends), Rachel Wood wakes in Benji’s arms—except there is one problem: she cannot remember who Benji is. Heartbroken, Benji lets her go, as she insists on leaving him and returning home.Rachel arrives back in her home in Pennsylvania, and her dad and brother Mark are shocked to see her. She is even more surprised at their reaction: she can’t remember what happened exactly, but she feels sure that she was only away for a single night. Why is everyone acting so crazy, so surprised to see her?Rachel, not remembering anything else, insists on resuming her normal life. She insists on returning to her old high school in Pennsylvania, where she runs into all of her old friends, who are equally startled to see her. A new love interest arrives in her life, while she tries to shake dreams of strange omens, and of Benji, who she still doesn’t remember. She also tries to fight these strange hunger pangs that are overtaking her.In the meantime, Rob is as set as ever on finding Rachel, and he crosses the world, wreaking destruction, to get her. Benji, too, is determined to save her, to make her remember their love—while Hunter and Penelope and Matilda are on a mission to find the Waverly Tablet and prevent Violet from conquering the world.It will be a race to the end while all these forces try to converge on Rachel. But by the time they reach her, she may even be gone herself…Will Rachel remember her true love? What choice will she make?AWAKENED is book #5 of the Vampire Legends series (following SWORN, TAKEN, BITTEN and CHOSEN), and is also a standalone novel.
Touched by Forever

Touched by Forever

7.5k Views · Ongoing · LM Jacobs
“Is this the Senior class?” a pretty teenage girl popped her head into the class, with bright blue eyes, a pearly white smile, and a dashing mob of blond hair.
Dario rolled his eyes. “Yes, Shysie, you guys are late,” he said, annoyed. Dario hoped that the group of Vampires that are in hiding with him would have kept a low profile and behave themselves until the air was cleared with the Higher Council.
A group of 3 students stumbled into the classroom laughing. Ann’s eyes met one, and she started to get a glimpse of flashbacks. She shifted uncomfortably under his eyes, blushing a bit, not sure about the images in her head. She forced her eyes down onto her table. Paris smiled slightly as he knew that Ann was getting flashbacks of a heated session. Even though they did not go all the way, he saw her life when he was drinking her blood from her inner thigh. That night was the wildest she has ever been with a guy. When he drove her home Saturday morning, he compelled her to forget everything and sleep the weekend off. He compelled her to only remember everything when she was near him.
Crowned by Fate

Crowned by Fate

1.5m Views · Ongoing · Tina S
“You think I’d share my mate? Just stand by and watch while you fuck another woman and have her kids?”
“She’d just be a Breeder, you would be the Luna. Once she’s pregnant, I wouldn’t touch her again.” my mate Leon’s jaw tightened.
I laughed, a bitter, broken sound.
“You’re unbelievable. I’d rather accept your rejection than live like that.”


As a girl without a wolf, I left my mate and my pack behind.
Among humans, I survived by becoming a master of the temporary: drifting job to job… until I became the best bartender in a dusty Texas town.
That’s where Alpha Adrian found me.
No one could resist the charming Adrian, and I joined his mysterious pack hidden deep in the desert.
The Alpha King Tournament, held once every four years, had begun. Over fifty packs from across North America were competing.
The werewolf world was on the verge of a revolution. That’s when I saw Leon again...
Torn between two Alphas, I had no idea that what awaited us wasn’t just a competition—but a series of brutal, unforgiving trials.
Author Note:New book out now! The River Knows Her Name
Mystery, secrets, suspense—your next page-turner is here.
Chosen by Darkness

Chosen by Darkness

130.9k Views · Ongoing · Lilian StClaire
Every year, the harvest comes. And every year, the vampires choose.

Eighteen-year-old Isla never paired, never bred, never followed the path carved out for human girls. Instead, she was drawn to the cold, to the mist, to the forbidden castle on the hill.

Now, she knows why.

It's him. It's always been him. Prince Aeron, the first of his bloodline. He is ancient, devastatingly handsome, and cruelly dangerous. He chooses her to be his human. His pet.

Or so she thinks.

Isla is more than just another toy. Marked by a forgotten rune, bound by a curse older than the vampire throne itself, she is the only one who can break the darkness that's creeping up on Aeron.

As Isla descends deeper into the quiet shadows of Aeron’s world, where pain is worshipped, obedience is pleasure, and desire can be more dangerous than death, she begins to question everything she’s been taught about the masters who rule her world.
BETRAYED BY BLOOD

BETRAYED BY BLOOD

2k Views · Ongoing · Ajayi Joshua Olayinka
"Betrayal cuts the deepest when it comes from family. But what happens when fate ties you to a man more dangerous than your worst enemy?"

On the night of her 18th birthday, Tanya’s life shatters when she catches her boyfriend in bed with another woman. Drowning in sorrow, she drinks herself into oblivion—only to wake up beside a dangerously powerful stranger.

But the nightmare doesn’t end there. The woman in her boyfriend’s bed? Her own sister.

As Tanya fights to clear her name, she becomes entangled with Marco, a ruthless and cold Alpha with secrets as dark as his piercing blue eyes. Her betrayal was just the beginning, and the real danger is only starting.

Some bonds are meant to be broken. But others? They are fated by destiny itself.
Hunted By Shadows

Hunted By Shadows

1.4k Views · Ongoing · Fountain A. Gidado
Psychic investigator Sam Drewsbury has spent three years hunting the demon that murdered her twin brother, using her ability to see death echoes to track supernatural killers through Seattle's underground. But when she's hired by mysterious tech mogul to find his missing daughter, Sam discovers the girl wasn't kidnapped—she was sacrificed to open a portal between worlds.
Enter Kieran Braut, a centuries-old hunter bound by ancient magic to destroy demons before they can establish permanent footholds in the human realm. Cursed to feel every death he causes, Kieran has sworn off working with humans after his last partner's betrayal cost innocent lives.
But this isn't just another demon incursion. Someone is systematically weakening the barriers between dimensions, and Seattle is becoming a supernatural battleground. As Sam's visions grow stronger and more dangerous, she realizes her psychic gifts aren't natural—they're the result of demonic blood passed down through her family line.
Kieran needs Sam's unique abilities to track the portal locations, but her demonic heritage makes her both the key to stopping the invasion and the perfect vessel for the demon lord trying to cross over. With each use of her powers, Sam becomes more connected to the demon realm, slowly losing her humanity.
Bonded by Destiny

Bonded by Destiny

5.5k Views · Ongoing · Zora Parker
“Nira,” he breathed, reaching for the back of her head.
She continued to work every inch of him, her hands teasing, her mouth caressing, until his legs began to shake and his knees nearly buckled. She started to feel him grow larger as she moved faster, pulling his hips to her as she swallowed every inch of him, listening to him pant and groan.


It began with the legendary love story between Nira and Cursed One, Mikael. Mythical Investigator Nira Daniels was sent to look into a realm veil because of rumors of Daemoni terrorizing the local village. What Nira found instead was Mikael, the son of the High Queen, known as the Cursed One. He was nothing like she expected a Daemoni to be. Nira saw a thoughtful and insightful man under Mikael’s fearsome Daemoni form. And Mikael learned what love is with Nira’s company. It was a happily-ever-after, until their daughter Theanna was born, whose life was bonded to an intricate destiny……
Bound by Vengeance

Bound by Vengeance

3.2k Views · Ongoing · Star
Eloisa Martinelli is everything she once feared—ruthless, dark, and unrelenting. Driven by vengeance for her family, she has become a deadly force, slipping through shadows and leaving devastation in her wake. Murder is no longer a taboo but a necessity. Yet, beneath her lethal exterior, she battles with her humanity, wrestling with the price of blood on her hands.

Then there is Xavier Romano. Cold and calculating, he revels in his dominance, finding satisfaction in the terror he instills and the power he wields. But his iron control shatters when he crosses paths with Eloisa. Her unpredictability, her unapologetic desire for vengeance, and her allure are irresistible—and dangerous. As they collide in a world where betrayal is constant and alliances are fragile, passion ignites between them, each step drawing them deeper into a forbidden obsession that neither can control. In a life defined by violence and survival, will their dangerous game be their undoing, or will it make them unstoppable?
Married By Midnight

Married By Midnight

1.2k Views · Ongoing · faiquthadunni
Synopsis — Married by Midnight

Zoe Hart never intended to marry a billionaire; she struggles just to pay her rent, let alone a spontaneous marriage in Las Vegas. However, after a wild night filled with too much alcohol and surprising honesty, she wakes up with a pounding headache and hazy memories, only to discover she has a marriage certificate that ties her to Adrian King.

Adrian, the youngest tech mogul in his field, prides himself on maintaining control. Marriage was never on his agenda, especially not to a broke architecture student who possesses a sharp wit, captivating eyes, and zero tolerance to billionaire drama. Yet something about Zoe breaks through his polished world in a way he never saw coming.

When the footage of their wedding vows emerges, chaos follows. Adrian’s company faces a public scandal, Zoe's scholarship is at risk, and the media is relentless. Under intense public pressure, they strike a temporary agreement: remain married for a few months, strictly contractual.

However, living together in a penthouse under constant scrutiny, with staged public appearances, begins to blur the lines. Beyond the rehearsed smiles, genuine connections form—sharing laughter, heartfelt conversations, and unexpected closeness.

As their relationship grows deeper, danger closes in. Someone is determined on dismantling Adrian’s empire, and exposing their "fake" marriage could ruin them both. When sabotage strikes and the media turns ruthless, Zoe steps back to protect Adrian’s reputation.

It's then that Adrian realizes that success is actually nothing without her by his side.

Putting everything on the line, his company, his reputation, his entire life, he takes one last bold move to win her back.

Love was never part of their agreement.

Yet amid the bright light of Vegas and their shared moments, they discover a connection worth choosing.
Bound by Moonlight

Bound by Moonlight

1.3k Views · Ongoing · Blossom
When Aria stumbles across Kael while trespassing into Nightclaw territory to gather rare herbs, the pull between them is instant—and undeniable. But their packs are enemies. Her Alpha would never allow it. And Kael has sworn off the bond that fate once used to destroy someone he loved.

Yet every moon draws them closer.

And when a dark force threatens to wipe out both packs, Aria and Kael may have no choice but to either fight fate—or surrender to it.
Bound By Bellarmine

Bound By Bellarmine

1.1k Views · Ongoing · Vasily
Elettra has big plans.
Finish her degree, get her mother healthy again, then get the hell out of Dodge.
She’s done with the Bellarmine family. Would’ve run years ago if she could.
She just wants a life free from their control, the memories they buried, and—most of all—free from Dorian Bellarmine.
But Dorian Bellarmine isn’t done with her.
He shows up without warning. Breaks into her flat. Screens her calls. Threatens anyone who gets too close.
He says he’s protecting her. He says no one else can touch her. He says he never stopped wanting her.
But he’s the one she needs protection from.
If not for him, she wouldn’t have been in the car that almost got blown to pieces.
If not for him, she wouldn’t have faced men with machine guns blocking the road.
But, if not for him, she’d have died years ago.
She knows she should run. She’s been trying to for ten years.
But Dorian’s the only way to keep her and her mother alive.
Bound by Bellarmine is a steamy mafia romance about family lies, blood ties that cut too deep, and a love that should never have started.
Captured by him

Captured by him

4.7k Views · Ongoing · Sage Writes
I left behind the lies, the fear, and the mafia world my ex dragged me into. A new apartment was supposed to be my fresh start to focus on my photography and life ahead.

Then I met the man across the hall. Dante Voss was everything I didn't know I needed–kind, patient and very attentive. He made me feel safe for the first time in months and even my stalker seemed far away now. Everything was perfect until cracks started to show up as he knew things I never told him, isolated me and the more I fell for him, the more I started to wonder if our meeting was ever an accident at all.

Because the truth is far worse than I imagined.

Now I'm trapped between two ruthless mafia kings, hunted by the past I ran from and protected by the man who has been watching me from the shadows all along. The stalker I've feared for months and the man I've fallen in love with are one and the same.

Some men don't pursue you, they simply make sure there's nowhere else to go.
Scarred by Love

Scarred by Love

795 Views · Ongoing · J.D. Pierce
"Ma'am, I'm sorry... your tenth IVF attempt has failed."
I stumbled out of the hospital in a daze, my mind replaying every devastating rejection I'd heard over the past year.
Until I caught my own reflection in a shop window across the street—my face pale and swollen... and just beyond the glass, my husband clasping a jeweled necklace around his mistress's neck.
BOUND BY DECEPTION

BOUND BY DECEPTION

1k Views · Ongoing · coachtemsaffiliate
BOUND BY DECEPTION is a fast-paced adult fantasy romance combining fake dating, morally grey protagonists, and a ghost-whispering heroine who refuses to be anyone's asset.

Set in the richly imagined city of Ashenveil , where a supernatural governing body polices the boundary between the living and the dead , this is the story of Seraphine Calloway, a junior book editor who talks to ghosts and has spent her whole life making herself invisible, and Emrys Vayne, a four-hundred-year-old Faeborn Warden who has spent the same period making himself untouchable.

Their arrangement is tactical. Their chemistry is not.

Featuring an enemies-to-lovers slow burn built on genuine intellectual respect, a ghost intelligence network that delivers the story's most crucial plot twists, supernatural political intrigue across six increasingly high-stakes acts, and a villain whose idealism makes him more terrifying than cruelty ever could.

Perfect for readers who loved the moral complexity of Twisted Love, the atmospheric tension of Haunting Adeline and the slow-burn longing of The Love Hypothesis but wanted all three in a world where the dead have opinions and act on them. Dark. Addictive. Impossible to put down.

The dead are talking. She's finally ready to listen to all of it.
Touched By Fangs

Touched By Fangs

279 Views · Ongoing · ogaga3017
His fingers crawled down from my shoulders to my waist like he was going through an art piece, but was breathing heavily at the same time.

“Thalia…” his breath touched my left ear. “Our bond isn't just about instinct…”

I pulled him off me, stepping back into the room. “Jaden, I'm human, and you're a werewolf. A bind cannot exist between us.”

“And does that matter?”

“It… it should.”

He pulled me back into his arms, and our lips engaged in a kiss, his scent of fresh grass waffling through my nostrils.

“You know what?” His hands touched my boobs. “It's no longer about you breaking this curse on me.”


It had never been the same since the cruel incident of my parents’ death, and the scene still imprinted in my mind like a layer of skin.

My mind had always been about them, always dreaming of them.

I met Kael, and just when I thought I'd found some sort of peace, he betrayed me by selling me off to Alpha Jaden.

Weren't all these enough to break me?

Jaden claimed I was his mate despite my not being a werewolf. I tried to refuse, but my whole body could only confirm I was his.

Then what next?

Just when I was going to accept the crazy bond between us, I started to find evidence that he was my parents’ killer.

How was I supposed to cope with all these as a human living among werewolves?
MARKED BY THEM

MARKED BY THEM

305 Views · Ongoing · Emmanuel Francis
Lena Harper has always been invisible, a nobody from the wrong side of town struggling to survive her mother's string of bad decisions. But when her mother marries a mysterious billionaire, Lena's life takes a dramatic turn. Suddenly, she's thrust into the gilded halls of Crescent Ridge Academy, a school for the elite... and the dangerously untamed.

What Lena doesn’t know is that Crescent Ridge is a sanctuary for pure-blood werewolves, where ancient rivalries and primal instincts dictate everything. On her first day, she crosses paths with Ethan Wolfe, the cold and untouchable heir to the most powerful pack; Liam Blackwood, his wickedly charming second-in-command; and her stepbrother, Caleb Rivers, who hides secrets as dark as the forest surrounding the academy.

What begins as heated animosity between Lena and the three alphas takes a sinister turn when her long-suppressed visions resurface, revealing a bond that ties her to all of them, a bond older than time itself. Her scent is intoxicating, her presence inescapable, and her gift as a seer marks her as both their salvation and their curse.

As Crescent Ridge becomes a battlefield of desire and danger, Lena must navigate forbidden passions, ruthless power plays, and a destiny she never asked for. But with the wolves circling closer and her visions hinting at a catastrophic betrayal, she begins to wonder:

Can she survive being the heart of their obsession, or will the bond that draws them together be the very thing that tears her apart?