lily

He was my boyfriend’s best friend—and the bane of my existence. I wanted to hate Luke Taylor. I did hate him. I just never hated him enough. Now, a decade later, tragedy has brought us back to the place where it all happened—my best times and my worst. Our lives have changed, but that pull between us is just as strong as ever. Only this time, it’s more dangerous too.

I have rules. Dating? Out of the question. One night stands? That's my specialty. That is until an unexpected game of spin the bottle lands me face-to-face with Aiden Pierce, Redfield's basketball team captain. Aiden is captivating, talented, and persistent, and he slowly chips away at my defenses until we strike a deal. No strings attached and absolute secrecy. It was supposed to be uncomplicated, but the more time I spend with him, the harder it becomes to remember why we can't be together.

Barrington University is home of the Lords, a secret society that requires their blood in payment. They are above all—the most powerful men in the world. They devote their lives to violence in exchange for power. And during their senior year, they are offered a chosen one.

Arden, Lorcan, and Carrick are the men everyone fears... They are known as the Deana-dhe. Dealing in debts, they steal information and manipulate. To them, I am Cyn. I'm their original sin. The mute girl they never wanted to be drawn to. The girl who put a spell on them, who became their cailleach. You see, I'm a modern-day witch skilled in the art of alchemy. A long time ago, I made a deal with the Deana-dhe, and they're back to cash in on my debt. If I'm the apple they never wanted to take a bite out of, then they're the snakes willing to use me for their own gain.

Macon is the oldest. Thirty-one. Ex-Marine. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile. Army is twenty-eight. A single dad with the most beautiful green eyes. He has no idea who he is, if not a Jaeger brother. Iron will be in prison soon. You’d never think it to meet him. He’s a nice guy, actually. But he can’t stop reacting to everything. Dallas is the one I hate. Twenty-one, cruel, and selfish. He takes and then throws away whatever’s left. And Trace is mine. Or he was for about two seconds. No one can tame him for long. Not that I ever wanted to.

I hate Dante Moretti. He is cold, calculating, and vicious. It’s no secret that he wiped out his former fiancée and her entire family on the eve of their wedding. He’s the kind of evil that makes even devils cry. But that’s not why I hate him.

Having always done what is expected of her, Mila dresses the part, only dates college boys with exemplary backgrounds, and doesn’t ask questions. Not about her papa’s absences or his refusal to let her set foot in her birthplace - Russia. Suffocated by the rules and unanswered questions, Mila does what she’s always wanted to. She boards a plane to Moscow. She never expected to fall for a man on the way. One with unexplained wealth, tattoos on his hands, and secrets in his eyes. But it doesn’t take long for his caress to become a rough grasp muffling her screams.

Welcome to Carnage Island. Home of brutal chaos. Blood and tears. And nefarious schemes. A half-breed. A reject. A wolf without a mate. My family doesn't want me. My alpha disowned me. And my mate rejected me. So I’ve just been given a new pack assignment. Carnage Island. Home to the worst of wolf kind. Vicious. Cruel beasts. Wicked deeds. I’m not one of them. But I’m not a Nantahala wolf either. I’m something distinctly other: an Omega trapped in an Alpha’s skin. One step toward my fate, and all the males turn their heads. I’m fresh meat. Property to be claimed.

When I met him, I didn't realize who he was. I still didn't when I let him take me back to his hotel for the night. I never expected to see him again. Until I found him on my father's couch, revealing he and I are connected in more ways than simply a one-night stand. To make it worse, he was a Saint, part of the ruling mafia family that owned the city of Redhill. I should have stayed away at that point. I had a lot at risk and my own mess to deal with, but it wasn't that easy. Not when he kept showing up, and that one night turned to two, and then three.

I thought my luck was about to change when my best friend found me an apartment to sublet in the heart of Nashville, TN. As an aspiring singer, this is where I need to be in order to finally get discovered. I’m ready to start my new life until I discover my new neighbor is none other than Stone Walker. Super Bowl winning, NFL receiver. Stone cold fox. My high school crush. And my brother’s ex-best friend—emphasis on the ex.