Amidst the depth devastation of an unknown deadly virus, Iris Clayton escapes and seeks refuge from the group of pandemic survivors protected by a strikingly handsome and badass Colt Snow. Iris is drawn to him, and there is more to this mysterious man than meets the eye. After the loss of his brother, Colt doesn't give a damn about a vulnerable woman than protecting his group. But action speaks louder than words. Every time he looks into her terrified unique blue irises, Colt finds himself trapped in those depths and only knows one thing-he feels the strong urge to risk his life and protect her from whoever is hunting her. After all, Blue Iris might be the only hope of humanity and survival. "I was wrong to think that there was no humanity left in this world anymore." _Iris Clayton
Silence.
THE WORLD had turned into a deafening silence of danger and uncertainty. And in the darkness where sadness and horror lingered.
The night fell. It was time for me to move.
The desolated pet shop had been my shelter for the past few days and the safest place so far as no one who would think of getting pets nowadays. A dog was probably a good idea, but the food was not easy to search in this world full of chaos.
After shoving my extra shirt and the only blanket into my backpack, I slipped my feet onto the old running shoes and ready to move out.
After a few steady breaths, I walked out, determined to find a new place where I could stay for a few days or longer. I had been running from places to places for two weeks now and I hadn't seen or met any living human being other than the littered dead bodies everywhere, burned or decomposed.
I couldn't remember the last time I talked-probably the day I escaped, and I missed my own voice. Talking to myself would make me crazy and singing would make me cry and hungry, so, I just kept my mouth shut.
The cold breeze smelled death. A ghost of pain rippled through my body. It had been like this since the unknown deadly virus wiped out the country. My labored breathing and my steps against the asphalt echoed through the darkness.
I picked my way to the intersection, hoping to find an apothecary. The weak light from the silver moon was the only guide I had to follow.
I knew for a fact that it had been raided, but by any luck, I could find a stash of painkillers or any medicine I could trade with food when I met survivors.
Passing by rusting vehicles lined at the sides of the deserted road, the Bowl of Hygieia printed in the white wall came to view. I sighed in hope, but it quickly crumbled down when I noticed the open tail lights of the SUV parked in front.
Hustling, I ducked down and hid behind the car. After everything I had been through, it taught me many, and one thing was to trust no one other than my own instinct.
Silhouettes of a man and a woman hopped out from the SUV. The short curvy woman walked toward the trunk, pushed up the hood, and took something, then left it unlocked.
A click of gun and murmurs were the only thing I could hear. They marched to the apothecary door in somewhat in rush. Alerted, the man's handgun was out and aimed at the glass door, and the woman cautiously tailed behind him.
A few minutes later, I slowly and carefully walked to the SUV, hoping to find something to fill my grumbling stomach. When I got into the trunk, it was empty, only a stinky blanket that smelled blood, and nothing else my eyes could find. It must be their first stop, and I could not find any food.
Shit!
Hurried footsteps crouched against the broken glass made me stiffen. It was too late for me to run, and when they spotted me, I was dead.
My instinct kicked in. I got into the trunk and covered myself with the blanket, then someone shut the door down.
A moment later, the engine revved.
"This isn't enough," said an angry male voice. It was almost a roar.
"We don't have time to search around, Frost. We need to go back right now." A soft voice came from a woman.
"I know," the man hissed, angrier.
"He'll be okay. He'll live."
Someone's life was in danger, I thought.
"Yeah, he needs to be."
I was counting how long the drive was. A silence loomed from the two people for a few minutes.
If my feeling was right, the car turned left in less than ten minutes. The gravelly road against the tires indicated that we were off the highway.
"We can go and search the nearest pharmacy once he has this," she suggested.
"No. You'll stay. I'll go with Colt. It's more dangerous out there than that area."
"I can take care of myself," she answered defensively.
"Do you think I don't know that? But Darick needs you, Heloisa."
"Fine."
My temples pounded as the car jumped from the bumpy road a couple of times-the driver seemed to be in a hurry, and my stomach also ached. I closed my eyes when my headache worsened. I was beyond hungry and thirsty. And weak.
Minutes passed, and I must have lost count of the time. My plan was to escape before they would notice someone was in their vehicle.
Nowadays, people would not accept excuses. People killed each other when they found them they were threats.
For months, no one really knew if the government still existed. They killed to survive. They killed for food. They were paranoid, and trust didn't come easily even to a girl like me that could barely harm a fly.
I was in my deep thoughts when the blanket was pulled away from me.
"I'll take- oh, my God!"
Shock rocked me in my place.
My arms flew to my face, not to protect myself from harm, but to shield my eyes from the light pointed directly at me. My heart pounded. My lips went dry.
"Who are you?" the angry man asked in a cold and deadly tone.
"I-I'm... I-I'm unarmed." I raised my hands to surrender.
I closed my eyes when silence surrounded us. I could only hear my breathing until several clicks echoed in my ears.
This is not good. This is the end. My end.
I forced the strength in my voice. "I'm just a survivor who wanted to live like you."
"Yeah, I get it, and shit like this and that," the same angry guy said.
"How did you get inside the car?" the soft voice asked-the same woman who talked earlier.
"You forgot to close the trunk, again, didn't you? Now, I need to kill her because she already knows our place. How could you be so reckless, Heloisa?"
I quickly moved to sit down. My world spun, but I managed to support my body with my hands to avoid falling. Squinting, I blinked until my eyes adjusted to the light.
Another silhouette stepped forward, his shadow alone vibrated deadly and intimidating as his muscles shifted against the illuminating light from the post. His overwhelming size reminded me that he was taller, bigger, and stronger than me-than any of the two.
"You're running out of time. Talk!" No hint of humanity in his deep voice.
His lack of emotions twisted anxiety in my empty stomach. I'd been in this situation many times, but one thing I was sure of before, I knew they would not kill me, at least not yet, but these people didn't know me at all. So, this is the end.
My chin trembled.
"Who the fuck are you?" Something more terrifying about his command that I'd never been encountered before.
I swallowed. My mouth ran dry. My throat clogged, and I had barely strength left to answer him.
"Don't!" the woman screamed that shocked me through my core.
In a split second, the darkness claimed me.
***
What happened?
WHERE AM I? The smell of soap tickled my nose. I tried hard to tune in my other senses, but all I could hear was my own breathing. The comfy feeling against my head and my back made me want to fall asleep cocooned in this warm blanket.
I opened my eyes and wandered around the wooden-walled room. At least two bunk beds from my side and two from the opposite side. There were no windows, they must have blocked it for safety-just the kerosene lamp lighting up the entire room. Beds were empty. I could smell now the mud and the musty smell of cabins. This must be the campsite based on the bed style I was in.
The door swung open, revealing a woman-the same woman from the-Oh, my god!
I'm still alive.
"Of course, you are?" The sweet smile spread across the woman's lips. If my memory served right, her name was Heloisa.
Did I actually say it out loud?
"You collapsed. You must be hungry. I brought something for you. This isn't much, but it fills an empty stomach."
The smell of mushrooms made my stomach grumble.
She chucked. "I know you are."
When I was about to sit down, I realized there was something hooked to my hand. My heart rate accelerated.
"It's alright." She must have seen my reaction. I was terrified. "Our doctor checked you up when you passed out and while you were sleeping. He said it could be due to hunger and dehydration. Well, just like everyone, right? And you look so pale and fragile. How long have you been alone out there? Good thing you found us before something bad happen to you." She continued talking while I stared in horror at the transparent tube attached to me.
"That's just fluid." She sat beside me in the bed. "I cleaned and changed you up into my clothes. Yours are already washed." But something was missing.
Shock, I searched for my neck. "Where's my necklace?"
The woman looked shocked as well. Her brown eyes widened. "Oh, the necklace? Um, it's with Gael."
"Who's Gael?" Hastily, I pulled out the IV and stood up, ignoring the pounding of my head, the grumbling of an empty stomach, and the spinning of my vision. "I need that necklace."
"It's safe. You can have it back once you've eaten something."
I walked to the door, squeezing my eyes shut. I open my eyes after a couple of breaths. I was right, we were in the middle of the forest, and guarded by walls from old metal roofs, but not safe enough to stand still with strong blows of weapons.
There were three old cabins aligned across the cabin where I was standing, with the same structural designs and disparate from where I came from. A large fire pit in the center with charred pieces of wood caught my eyes, reminding me of the summer camp back in high school.
I shoved my feet onto the first shoes came to my sight aligned beside the door and walked down to the muddy ground.
"You're still weak. You need some more rest."
"I'm fine. I need to take my necklace back," I insisted stubbornly.
"Okay, then. Follow me. This place is an old campsite in the middle of the forest. It's way safer from the looters. By the way, I'm Heloisa. You can call me, Lois. Where you from?"
I ignored her rambling question and followed her crossing the muddy ground. "What happened last night?"
"You mean two nights ago?"
"What?" I stared at her in shock. "H-how long did-?"
"You slept for almost thirty hours. You must be so exhausted."
She had no idea.
"I'm fine, thank you."
We stopped at the wooden ladders with muddy footprints leading to the door. She knocked while I stared at her again in disbelief.
She then yanked the door open and said, "Gael, she's awake and wanna talk to you. It's urgent."
"Has she eaten something?" The calm and concerned tone of a male voice came from the room.
Warily, I stepped inside. The room size was the same as where I slept in. Only there was no bed except for a desk and two chairs. Stacks of papers and a single pen atop of it. No guns and no decoration hanging on the wall, but there was a single open window from my right, probably for ventilation because I could smell cigarettes thickly hanging in the air.
He was a smoker. Gael was around my dad's age. He had short graying hair and bright blue eyes. A medium built, and from where he was sitting, he was probably around five feet and eleven inches tall.
I took a deep shaky breath. "Sir, I need my necklace back."
Gael strolled his gaze on me from head to toe. "That must be so important to you. A gift? Just Call me Gael."
"Gael it is. That's my mom's."
"You can go, Lois," he dismissed her. "Have a seat-"
"Iris. My name is Iris Clayton." Slowly, I took a seat at one of the two chairs across him.
"Were you separated from your family or group?"
"My group. We were attacked two weeks ago by dangerous and armed men while we were heading North. My group leader thought we could change the route and search for some supply on our way. We got separated from each other after the attack."
I doubted if Gael was convinced with my story, but he was listening.
"It happened so fast. It was all blurry, and all I could hear was the gunfire and screams from my group. I saw..." My eyes stung and my heart broke every time I remembered how my brother died. "I saw my brother collapsed to the ground."
"I'm sorry for your loss, Iris. We've also lost people we cared about from the outbreak and killed by dangerous people. Everyone here is like you who wants to live."
I nodded and wiped my tears dry.
"How did you get into that place?"
"I've been strolling from places to places almost every night, but I stayed for a couple of days at the pet shop since no one seemed to pass by that place anymore."
"Quite clever."
"You'd become clever when you only have one mission since the virus wiped out the country. To survive."
"I want to be honest with you, Iris. We don't recruit or take people in anymore. These past few months, we barely survive through scavenging. We don't have enough food, medicines, and supply left. We have families and children here, and in a few days, some groups might find this place, and you know what they would do when you refused to give what they wanted. We're also lacking ammunition and manpower to defend this place."
"I understand. I'm leaving as soon as I get my necklace back. Thank you for your hospitality, Gael."
Heartbroken, Charleigh Wrylee, a charming and driven associate architect, dedicates her life to her career. She grabs the opportunity when a new project promises her a promotion. Bryce Chase is a tough daddy and a great baker with only two goals in life-raising his child and managing his cake shop. But things change when he runs into a new girl. Even though their interests don't align, it turns the heat between them, pulling them together like magnets. Will they be able to set their issues aside and follow their hearts instead? Or will they rather stick to what they're fighting for; his shop and her promotion? *** Sometimes hiding the truth comes with a great price. That's what the quiet and preserved Arizona Sky realizes after meeting Tripp Wrylee- a hardworking overconfident CEO of a top architectural firm. She finds herself doing things she never thought she'd do- marrying a man she barely knows and leaving her the next day. Three years later, he comes back, asking for a second chance, filling the husband's role he left empty, bringing out the other side of him that Ari never knew he had. Things between them become surreal until his job is at risk, their relationship is in hot water, and the people she loves are against their relationship, but something between them is maybe worth saving.
"Why did you bend over, Maverick?" "Because you told me to, assh*le." "I'm so tempted to f*ck you right now. You're the most exquisite woman I've ever been with, the only beautiful thing I see and have." "Then what are you waiting for? Just punish me already!" *** MAVERICK As a working college student, I struggle to make ends meet until a stranger approaches me with a proposal-- to be his employer's wife for an enormous sum of money. Knowing the cash will help me pay my grandmother's medical bills, I accept the offer with a demand-- just a marriage of convenience, no intimacy. It's too late to realize I'm marrying the charming and gorgeous to a fault, young Mr. Winston. And there's this instant fire between us despite my inhibitions. Things get more complicated when our sham marriage is put to the test by his father, who threatens to expose my dirty little secret. *** LAKE Being a Braddson-Winston heir is sometimes a curse. My father is a real SOB and a pain in my ass. He makes one outrageous demand for me to secure the CEO seat in the company-- marriage. So I found a perfect bride- Maverick Bates II, who is beautiful but in a dire financial situation. I only ask two things. We stay MBA and keep things purely business until the contract ends. As simple as that. It was meant to be a straightforward deal, but each day I get to know her, my position is not the only thing at stake but also my heart. I realize I can't let her go even if I have to make a dangerous bargain with her father, who happens to be a ruthless crime boss.
Without warning, he grabbed me by my ankles and dragged me to the edge of the bed. “Take your panties off,” he ordered me as he unbuckled his belt and worked on his pants, letting them fall on his ankles. Then he grabbed his dick out of his boxers. He was already hard and began stroking it. When I was too shocked to move, he growled at me, his green eyes searing against mine. “Panties. Off. Now, Nirvana.” I did as he said, scrambling to remove my shorts and underwear. My chest started heaving. My lips went dry as I watched him enjoy stroking himself. “Open your mouth, suck me, and take me all in.” His order woke up something inside me. Lust fired up through my veins, and my clit ached for him. I opened my mouth, and he shoved his shaft inside. “That’s it, sweetheart. Good girl.” *** All her life, Nirvana Thorne thought she was just human, at least not until a mysterious guy rejected her for no reason. When she finally uncovers her family secrets, Knight reclaims her as his fated mate and forces her to dig deep into the unimaginable danger of the underworld to undo the curse. Fighting her attraction towards him is hard enough. Every time they get close, their chemistry sizzles, and the heat between them becomes irresistible. When the pack is under siege, she must learn to gain control of the newfound power within her while the alpha intends to show her where she belongs. *** All Knight Blackwell ever wanted was to run his pack while getting rich. What he didn’t need was a woman demanding his attention, let alone a human mate like Nirvana. So he rejects her. What he never sees coming is his mate possesses an ancient secret— she’s a creature bound in magic intertwined with an ancient dark prophecy and the key to something bigger than anything they’ve ever imagined. With his primal urges getting harder to resist and the powerful being wreaking havoc in his wake, Knight has to sate his dark cravings for his mate before they go to war that Nirvana might have to sacrifice a piece of herself.
“Do it again.” “Be more specific, baby.” I heard a smile in his words. He was enjoying this and wanted me to beg. “Fuck you. You know what I mean.” I grunted in frustration. “I actually don’t.” He stopped again. His rough hand remained between my thighs. “Stop playing games, or I will stroke myself until I come.” I wiggled my ass, seeking a quick relief from the throbbing in my core. Breathing raggedly, he said, “No one is playing games here, baby. I just want to know what you want.” “You really make me do this, don’t you?” My voice was a combination of frustration and irritation. He was enjoying this too much, probably punishing me for giving him blue balls twice. “You were complaining earlier, so, yes. I don’t want another broken nose.” “Spank my ass, Califf. Then touch me and fuck me with your finger. I wanna come. Do you think you can do that?” *** All Shadow ever wanted is to live in peace with their pack, but as a royal Lycan and the daughter of a witch, it comes at a price. When a faceless enemy targeted her, she did not only lose her wolf but also her healing gift, leaving her powerless and vulnerable. Now that the bond is gone and her happy ending is not guaranteed, she has nothing left to offer. She doubts whether she’s still worthy of her mate and Luna of their pack. Alpha Califf becomes a formidable Alpha after defeating a sinister enemy. He should be invincible with allied packs everywhere and witches at his disposal, but Shadow becomes a liability. Despite what happened to his mate, he’s willing to leave the pack and live with her away from threats, but their enemy is two steps ahead of them, and Shadow becomes cold and distant, leaving him nothing but agony he’d never felt before. Will Shadow get her revenge and find a way to get her wolf and gift back? Will they uncover the ugly truth behind their enemy? Or their foe is just right under their noses all along.
“I can smell you’re wet for me, my little mate.” My nose flared. My chest heaved. My rage boiled inside my body, making me want to explode. “Well, take this, Alpha. I, Shadow Raven Hawks, omega of Night Stalker Pack—” “Shadow, what the fuck are you doing?” He was fast to cup my face as his eyes began brewing the pain. “Rejecting—” I wasn’t finished when he slammed his mouth against mine, stopping me. *** She’s a lone wolf— a rogue. Shadow Hawks learns to keep her head down. That’s how she survives until she wakes up in a pack run by a control freak hot-as-sin ruthless Alpha. With one single sniff of him, she feels an intense connection with irresistible heat. Now she’s got her old pack on her heels. The only one who can protect her is Alpha Califf. She will do everything, even if she has to bow down and reveal herself. Califf Stone doesn’t have time for a relationship but to protect his pack from a sinister, vicious Alpha killing the neighboring packs. Until he meets a mysterious rogue who enjoys defying his orders, he finds himself craving for her, losing control— And he knows she’s the one. When their common enemy threatens her, he’s ready to break his defenses to protect his mate. What surprises him, she’s not only half-Lycan, half-witch. She’s also a Lycan Princess.
Estelle Bladwyn has a certain type— a little older with a little less demanding job and knows his way in bed. When she bumps into a hot thirty-ish man on her not-so-romantic-getaway on an island, he does check two on her checklist, and exactly what she wants for that moment. One thing that doesn’t set right— their growing attraction is overwhelming, and her life is already complicated. But who can deny someone like Linden, who held you captive with his eyes, caged you in his arms, and still promised you a good time? Gabe Linden is getting old and still single and done with hookups and doing favors. When some big guns like Moses Braddson, a man he looks up to, he just can’t say no to. The only problem is he hasn’t taken the job yet— he knows he’s already failing it. Looking into her celadon blue eyes, he sees right into her soul. There’s no way he’s letting her go, even by means of breaking his number one rule— The beautiful billionaire is his to keep.
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
Julia and Evan were the perfect couple-or so she thought. But everything changed when Evan abruptly ended their relationship, leaving her heartbroken and unable to tell him she was carrying his child. Years later, Julia has built a life for herself and her son, Andy, while Evan has risen to unimaginable wealth and success. Their paths cross again at a chance meeting, but Julia soon discovers Evan has moved on with someone else. Julia is done with the pain. She's fought battles alone, raising a son who deserves the truth about his father, even if Evan doesn't deserve her forgiveness. When Julia told Evan years ago she had something to say, he didn't listen. Now, it's time for him to listen. But is it too late to reclaim what he lost? "We should break up," he'd said, the words cutting through her like glass. The pregnancy test in her pocket stayed hidden, just like the child they would never share. Now, it's Evan's turn to hear the truth-and to face his deepest regret.
"Please trust me, I didn't do anything." "I don't believe you. I am rejecting you as my Queen and giving you the punishment of death." Alina was living outside her pack for five years. Her parents didn't try to contact her and always ignored her. Her best friend convinced her to go back to their pack and she agreed. But she had never imagined what was waiting there for her. She never thought she would meet her mate and had to face betrayal from everywhere. She had to pay for the crime which she never committed. Aaron Robertson is the king of Lycans. He is a very dominant and powerful King who not only rules Lycans but also rules other ranks of werewolves. Everyone is afraid of Lycans and he is the king of them. But who knew that he would get a mate who was just a simple Omega with no powers and strengths? He called her weak all the time but little did he know that his weak Omega would give him the biggest betrayal of his life for which he had to give her the sentence of death.
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
Blinded in a crash, Cary was rejected by every socialite—except Evelina, who married him without hesitation. Three years later, he regained his sight and ended their marriage. "We’ve already lost so many years. I won’t let her waste another one on me." Evelina signed the divorce papers without a word. Everyone mocked her fall—until they discovered that the miracle doctor, jewelry mogul, stock genius, top hacker, and the President's true daughter… were all her. When Cary came crawling back, a ruthless tycoon had him kicked out. "She's my wife now. Get lost."
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.