Five Years as My Mate's Stand-In
I was secretly with Cole-my best friend Brooke's brother-for five years, only to find out I'd always been a stand-in for Alexis, my half-sister. He lied to me, took intimate photos of me without consent to share, and humiliated me publicly. Heartbroken, I ended things, took a job in Norlan Town, and even thought I was pregnant.
Later, work brought me back to Belmor Town. I reunited with Gabriel, and kept dealing with Alexis's harassment. When my dad died from a sudden heart attack, grief pushed me to fight back-and Gabriel, who'd loved me quietly for years, stood by my side to take on the Price family.
Gabriel and I formed a sacred bond.
Even when Cole finally woke up, admitted he'd loved me all along, I couldn't go back.
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Chapter 3
"Atta girl, Lauren! The pack's got high hopes for you. Keep it up," Michael says, his enthusiasm practically buzzing through the phone.
I mumble a quick thanks and hang up, then dial another number without thinking. It picks up almost instantly.
"Lauren? What's got you calling me out of the blue?" My dad's warm, familiar voice hits me like a lifeline.
I choke up, unable to speak for a moment. He prods gently, worry creeping into his tone, and I force myself to sound light. "Just wanted to tell you I got a promotion, Dad. But it means moving to Norlan Town. Come with me, okay?"
He chuckles, relieved. "These old bones aren't up for that kind of move. New pack's pricey, pup. Take care of yourself. My illness. I'm just living day by day."
"Dad!" I cut him off, my voice sharp. "We got through the worst of it. I'm earning now. Once we find a kidney match, you'll be fine. I'm counting on you to walk me down the aisle when I form my sacred bond."
He goes quiet, then sighs. "Lauren, when do I get to meet this mate of yours?"
He's scared he won't live to see me bound, scared I'm with the wrong wolf. But he doesn't say it. He knows I've been carrying too much already.
"Soon," I say, forcing a smile into my voice. "This weekend. I'll bring him to meet you."
Dad's voice lights up, and I can hear the grin in it. We hang up, and I head to the guest room, collapsing into sleep just before dawn.
I don't know how long I'm out before a damp sensation on my forehead jolts me awake. My eyes snap open to Cole's familiar jawline and the faint, clean scent of his shower gel. He notices I'm up and leans down, chuckling softly as he goes for my lips.
I jerk my head away.
He pauses, smirking. "What, still shy?"
I shove him back, scrambling for an excuse. "You hungry?"
He doesn't call out my dodge, just props himself up on one elbow, his gaze playful. "Starving," he says, his voice husky from the shower.
"I'll make something." I bolt up, desperate to get away, but he grabs my waist and pulls me back to the bed.
"First, I'm eating you."
Before I can protest, his lips are on mine, his warm breath trailing down my neck, lingering there with a teasing edge. I clamp my lips shut, fighting the nausea rising in my gut. Is this how he is with Alexis? The thought makes my stomach churn.
I shove him off and sprint to the bathroom, heaving into the sink.
Cole's behind me, his expression unreadable in the mirror. "When was your last cycle?"
I freeze, splashing cold water on my face. "My stomach's just been off lately," I lie.
His tense expression softens slightly. "Alright, after breakfast, I'll go with you to see a healer."
I nod, hesitating before I speak again. "This afternoon. can you come with me to see my dad?"
He's leaning against the doorframe, scrolling through his phone, and gives a distracted "Mhm."
His easy agreement catches me off guard, stirring a flicker of something-hope, maybe, or just confusion. True or not, I can't confront him yet. I need Dad to feel at ease.
I head downstairs to the kitchen. By the time I bring out a bowl of noodles, Cole's already dressed and heading for the door.
"Something came up," he says. "Go to the healer on your own. Call me if you need me."
"What about this afternoon-"
"Text me the address."
The door slams shut before I can finish. I sit at the table, picking at the noodles, but my appetite's gone. I push the bowl away and head to the pharmacy downstairs, grabbing a pregnancy test.
When three red lines appear, my face goes ashen.
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8.4
I worked three double shifts at the garage just to buy a velvet-boxed cake for my wealthy girlfriend, Arleen.
But when I pushed open the VIP room door, I saw her lover kissing her bare leg.
She didn't push him away. Instead, she laughed and swirled her martini.
"I only forgot Finn because I knew he would stay. He is a poor boy from Queens who follows me around like a loyal dog."
Later that night, her lover intentionally crashed a Porsche to scare me, sending a piece of jagged metal into my skull.
Lying in a growing pool of my own blood, I watched Arleen crawl out of the wreckage.
She didn't even look at me. She threw herself at her uninjured lover, screaming for a medic.
"He just got scraped by a piece of plastic. He is faking it. Deal with Jaquez first!"
When I woke up, I wasn't free. Arleen had locked me in a private hospital wing with 24-hour security, planning to isolate me and keep me as her broken, captive toy forever.
My blind, pathetic devotion finally froze into absolute disgust.
I looked at the heart monitor next to my bed and grabbed an IV needle.
I severed the sensor wire to trigger a flatline, slipped out the fire stairs while the nurses panicked, and burned my identity to ashes.
This time, I was going to disappear to London, build my own empire, and watch hers burn.
9.8
Blood And Shadow
9.8
SYNOPSIS
In the city of Nocturna, where vampires rule the night and humans exist as second-class citizens under the Blood Accord, twenty-three-year-old Sera Blackwood has spent her entire life hiding a deadly secret: she's a Dhampir-half-human, half-vampire-an abomination whose very existence is punishable by death in both worlds.
Working as a blood courier to survive, Sera's carefully constructed life of anonymity shatters when she accidentally saves the life of Daemon Ashford, the ruthless Vampire Lord of the Northern Court and the very man responsible for her mother's execution ten years ago. Bound by an ancient blood debt she didn't mean to create, Sera is dragged into the glittering and deadly world of vampire politics, where every smile hides fangs and every alliance is written in blood.
But Daemon isn't the monster she expected. Haunted by his own dark past and trapped in a web of court intrigue, he's the only thing standing between Nocturna and an all-out war between humans and vampires. As a mysterious illness begins killing vampires across the city-a plague that shouldn't exist-Daemon needs someone who can walk in both worlds. Someone like Sera.
Forced into an uneasy alliance, Sera and Daemon must navigate treacherous court politics, ancient vampire covens, and a growing attraction that could destroy them both. Because the plague isn't random-it's a calculated attack. And the conspiracy behind it reaches higher than either of them imagined, threatening to expose Sera's true nature and reignite the blood wars that nearly destroyed Nocturna a century ago.
As bodies pile up and the fragile peace crumbles, Sera must choose: remain in the shadows and let the city burn, or step into the light and risk everything-including her heart-to save both the humans and vampires who would kill her if they knew what she really was.
In a world where trust is a luxury and love is a weakness, some secrets are worth dying for. Others are worth killing for.
**Blood and Shadows** is a dark, seductive tale of forbidden love, political intrigue, and the monsters we become when we fight for survival.
---
7.2
Lauren Sterling gave up her career to support her boyfriend, Julian Drake, believing his words that he and his family lived for privacy.
But it was nothing but a lie. He had only replaced her with her best friend.
On the day they were supposed to get married, he left her waiting. Out of desperation, Lauren Sterling married a stranger!
Alexander Ashford.
The man who gave her three months to take her revenge.
In a dangerous game where revenge collides with betrayal, dangers and secrets. Will Lauren Sterling survive?
8.0
Lillian spent years training as a lawyer, determined to take down the ruthless Mafia King who ruined her family. Getting him arrested was supposed to be her victory until he was released that same night he was arrested. Forced into hiding, she began living in fear and abandoned everything about her old life.
But Jake Hernandez never forgets.
She had stained his image. Now, he'll take everything from her. But Lillian had one last plan - make him fall, then break him like he did to her.
8.6
For ten years, I was the indispensable right hand and fiancée to star architect Declan Sharp. I poured my life into his career, sacrificing my own ambitions for us. Our wedding was just weeks away.
But my world shattered when I saw him with the new intern, Kisha. He was showing her my design, the one he called "competent," and proudly saying, "This is Kisha's idea."
It got worse. He stole my groundbreaking research paper for her, then publicly dismissed me as a mere "drafting assistant." My own family attacked me, furious I had lost their meal ticket.
I was just a tool. A convenient machine he used to build his empire. He never loved me; he loved what I did for him.
So when he tried to kiss me to shut me up, I slapped him. I deleted every file, every blueprint, every trace of my work from his life. Then I blocked his number and bought a one-way ticket to Detroit. This time, I was building a life for myself.
7.6
Age Gap Romance/Arranged Marriage/Strong Heroine/Found Family/Revenge/Slow Burn Romance
Nineteen-year-old Clarice Sullivan was forced by her scumbag father to marry Theodore Grant, a man of thirty-one. On their wedding night, Theodore, transformed into a ravenous wolf, left her utterly exhausted. "I thought you said you couldn't?" she muttered, rubbing her aching lower back. "Aren't men in their thirties supposed to know some restraint?" Theodore, irritated, pinned her down again. "Round two!" he growled.
After marriage, Theodore switched into full protective-and-doting-husband mode.
"Darling, my worthless father is trying to hit me again!"
"Just wait," Theodore snapped, his temper flaring. He promptly dismantled the entire Sullivan family.
"Darling, she drugged me-tried to hand me over to another man!" Clarice pointed accusingly at her wicked half-sister. Theodore's fury erupted. He slapped the woman hard across the face and ensured her reputation was ruined beyond repair.
With Theodore's unwavering devotion backing her, Clarice repaid every slight and cruelty a thousandfold. When others criticized her for being spoiled, Theodore scoffed, "I'm the one who spoiled her-got a problem with that?"