Tricked by the Tycoon

Tricked by the Tycoon

Jennifer Cooper · Ongoing · 79.2k Words

756
Hot
761
Views
0
Added
Add to Shelf
Start Reading
Share:facebooktwitterpinterestwhatsappreddit

Introduction

When billionaire heiress Ruth Keen falls for a gorgeous, supposedly broke college student, she hides her identity and plays the role of an ordinary girl to win his heart. Marriage comes fast, life is sweet, and everything seems perfect — until she discovers her impoverished husband is actually Matthew Lynes, a powerful tycoon who’s been outplaying her from the start.

Chapter 1

Veridian City. The Belmont Hotel.

It was nine o'clock at night, and the VIP hall on the third floor was currently hosting a lavish birthday party. Unlike the blindingly bright, ostentatious lobby downstairs, the lighting in the inner hall was deliberately dimmed. It was a moody, intoxicating mix of deep shadows and warm amber, washing over the velvet carpets and the ornate, textured walls. Paired with the low, smooth hum of a live jazz band, the party was practically oozing atmosphere.

"Ru, word on the street is you went on a blind date?"

The spicy burn of vintage red wine hit the back of Ruth Keen’s throat. She coughed, barely managing to keep herself from choking on the mouthful she’d just taken.

How the hell did news travel that fast?

"You're dangerously well-informed for a birthday girl," Ruth said, swallowing the wine with lingering dread. she shot Anne Clark a sideways glance. "I literally did this out of the country, and you already know?"

"Oh, please. My brother knows the guy. He came over today, brought you up, and I just happened to overhear." Anne’s eyes widened, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial, highly excited whisper. "You aren't denying it! So it's true?"

It was true. A few days ago, Ruth had technically endured her first-ever blind date.

And it had been a colossal failure.

To be fair, it wasn't voluntary. She was just playing the good daughter, humoring her elders by grabbing dinner and meeting a guy. But if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck... it was a blind date.

"So? How was it? Any sparks? Did you click?" Anne fired off the questions like a machine gun, before adding, "Because let me tell you, he was singing your praises to my brother."

Tyler Cosmo, the trust fund kid in question, was tight with Anne's brother. They were the kind of friends who shared everything. At first, Tyler’s praise had been pretty standard, but apparently, he’d gotten a little drunk on the memory of her and ended up talking about her like she was some descending goddess. It was borderline unhinged.

Ruth tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful as she tried to find the polite words.

She had a small face with features that struck a devastating balance between pure and seductive. Her off-the-shoulder gown put her swan-like neck and delicate collarbones on full display. As she held her wine glass, her slender wrist and porcelain skin contrasted sharply with the dark red liquid. The entire visual was effortlessly, lethally captivating.

Anne had known her for a decade and always knew she was gorgeous, but three years abroad had somehow evolved Ruth’s beauty to an entirely new level.

No wonder the Cosmo heir lost his damn mind, Anne thought, staring at the flawless face in front of her.

After a few seconds, the goddess finally spoke, answering the questions in strict order: "No sparks. Didn't click. Not my type."

Anne rolled her eyes so hard she practically saw her own brain.

"Not your type. Again."

It was always that exact same line!

They’d been friends since middle school. Back in high school, Ruth was affectionately known as the "Lawn Mower"—because she effortlessly mowed down every "grass" who tried to ask her out. Class idols, sports captains, school heartthrobs; she harvested them all.

And her reason for rejecting that endless parade of gorgeous men was always exactly the same.

No sparks. Didn't click.
Translation: Not hot enough to date.

As her best friend of ten years, Anne knew the cold, hard truth. Ruth Keen might look like a fairy-tale fairy, but deep down, she was an absolute, unapologetic face-worshipper.

If she saw a beautiful woman, she would obsess over her aesthetics all day. But when it came to men? Her standards were viciously, impossibly high.

"You spent all these years at Harvard," Anne sighed. "If the foreign guys didn't do it for you, fine. But there are so many gorgeous trust fund kids back home, and none of them do it for you?"

It was tragic, really. A lifelong VIP member of the superficial club who just couldn't find a face she wanted to worship.

Anne softened her tone, dropping the teasing. "Honestly, the guy who meets your standards probably hasn't even been born yet. Just be patient, Ru. Wait for him."

Ruth smoothly picked up the thread. "Right. And then what?"

"Huh?" Anne blinked. "What do you mean, 'then what'?"

Ruth drawled her words, slow and lazy. "I wait for him to grow up... and I'll be a cougar by the time he's legal."

"..." Anne stared at her. "Ah?"

Ruth didn't miss a beat. "So, it’ll have to be a wild one-night stand. I'll get knocked up, pull a secret baby trope, and flee the country."

What the fuck kind of campy dumpster fire poetry is this? Why did it even rhyme?

Anne looked at her like she’d completely lost her mind. "Did Harvard teach you to write trashy soap operas? You’re drunk. Go eat some carbs and sober up."

Ruth was, admittedly, a little buzzed. Anne’s horrified expression put her in an excellent mood, and she couldn't stop laughing.

She stayed and drank with the birthday girl for a bit longer, but she quickly noticed the shifting atmosphere. More and more people wanted to come up and schmooze with Anne, but they were intimidated by the stunning, unfamiliar woman sitting next to her. They just kept casting lingering, hesitant glances their way.

Their stares practically screamed: Are you done monopolizing her yet? It's our turn!

Receiving that same look over and over got boring fast.

Ruth set her empty glass on a passing waiter’s tray. "I’m out, babe," she said. "Jet lag from yesterday is still kicking my ass, and I’ve got an errand to run tomorrow. We’ll hang out properly another time."

"Alright, get some rest." Anne paused, her brow furrowing. "Wait, you've been back in the country for like twelve hours. What kind of errand do you have tomorrow?"

Ruth hesitated. But considering this would be a highly public project in the very near future, there was no point in hiding it.

She brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear and said it as casually as if she were picking up groceries.

"I have to go donate a building to Cal U."

Anne nearly choked on her wine.

Ruth slept until noon the next day, waking up completely refreshed with a full health bar. After a quick lunch, she drove straight to California University.

Veridian City had distinct seasons, and with September approaching, the air already held the crisp, comfortable chill of early autumn. The afternoon breeze was perfect.

Cal U was a century-old institution with a massive reputation. Despite cutthroat competition among the elites, it had never dropped out of the top three national rankings, boasting absolute dominance in several majors. Finance, for one. And Computer Science—the exact major Ruth had studied back in the day.

It was also the department her family’s company, Sylvan Enterprises, was officially partnering with today.

Ruth had never been the type to study hard. She was the annoying kind of student who understood a concept once and refused to do the homework. In high school, she spent more time tutoring Anne than she did studying for her own exams. She slacked off like a truant but effortlessly dominated the top of the dean’s list.

When she got into Cal U, she chose her favorite subject: Computer Science. She had fully planned to cruise through four easy years of college, but life threw a massive curveball. After her freshman year, she abruptly transferred to Harvard to study Finance.

But her time at Harvard didn't go the way anyone expected.

Ruth was used to being brilliant, unbothered, and totally free to party. But at Harvard, there were no slackers. Hating the suffocating, hyper-competitive academic atmosphere, her logic took a sharp left turn from the rest of her peers.

Running on the pure spiteful philosophy of 'get it done, get out, and get on with your life,' Ruth overloaded her credits, burned the midnight oil, and crammed relentlessly. She ground her teeth and suffered through two years of academic hell just to secure a degree that took normal people four.

It was brutal. But to her, saving three years of her youth was a massive profit.

A familiar figure appeared at the campus gates, snapping Ruth out of her thoughts. She smiled and walked up to greet him.

She might have been a student once, but today, she was here as the official representative for the Sylvan Enterprises investors. After shaking hands with the welcoming committee, she met the eyes of the old President she hadn't seen in three years.

President Fearon was in his early fifties, sporting a classic receding hairline and a warm, booming smile. He drew out her name affectionately. "Ruth—"

Ruth laughed. "You still remember me?"

"Don't be ridiculous!" Fearon scolded playfully. "I remember every single one of my star pupils!"

Technically, she had been his star pupil for exactly one year.

Before he was President, Fearon was a legendary, heavyweight professor in the CS department. Back then, there was a massive national tech competition. Desperate to crush their bitter rivals at Farnsworth University, Fearon had personally stepped in to coach the team. He led Cal U to a flawless victory, and Ruth had been sitting right there on the championship squad.

Her smile widened. "I'm honored to be remembered."

She had come alone, dressed in casual, understated clothes. She toured the pre-approved construction site with the university officials, took a stroll around the perimeter, and finally headed into the main administration building for the final signatures.

The details had been ironed out months ago, so the trip was purely a formality.

Even after three years, Ruth remembered the campus layout perfectly. The President's office was on the top floor. As they entered the lobby, she pointed toward the restroom. "You guys head up. I'll be right there."

The officials nodded, taking the elevator up ahead of her.

Ruth slipped into the restroom. After washing her hands, she checked her reflection in the mirror. She was wearing minimal makeup, basically just sunscreen. Thanks to a solid night’s sleep, her skin was glowing and her eyes were bright. In her casual clothes, she blended into the college campus flawlessly.

But when she pushed open the restroom door to leave, the previously empty hallway was suddenly occupied.

Three girls—one with a ponytail, one with wavy hair, and one with braids—were huddled by the elevators. They were completely engrossed in their conversation and didn't even notice her.

As Ruth walked over to press the call button, their hushed, frantic squeals filled her ears.

"That guy was so hot! Holy shit, what major is he? How have we never seen him before? A god like that doesn't just exist on our campus without us knowing!"

"Give me a second... fuck, I can't breathe." The wavy-haired girl clutched her chest. "I made eye contact with him. Direct eye contact! His face is absolutely flawless!"

The braided girl spoke a little softer. "But looking like that... do you think he's from the film academy next door?"

"No way!" Ponytail argued instantly. "It's only the 30th. He's obviously moving into the dorms early like us!"

"God, I want his number so bad!" Wavy-hair aggressively nudged her braided friend. "Babe, you're the only one wearing makeup today. Go ask him!"

Their voices were practically vibrating with sheer thirst.

Ruth’s inner face-worshipper immediately snapped to attention.

Flawless? A god? Is he really that hot?

Right now, she was mentally sending a 'respectfully looking' meme.

But business was business. Her brief spike of curiosity had to wait. The elevator arrived, and she headed up to the top floor.

After finalizing the paperwork and saying her goodbyes to the President, Ruth headed back down. She’d already forgotten about the thirsty girls by the elevator and was planning to take a nostalgic stroll around campus. But as she reached the end of the corridor and turned the corner toward the exit, she walked right into the scene of the crime.

Standing right in front of her was the braided girl who had been pushed into asking for a number.

The girl’s face was flushed crimson, her eyes wide and totally starstruck, staring blankly at the person in front of her.

And standing across from her...

It didn't take a genius to figure out this was the "god" they had been hyperventilating over.

He had his back completely turned to Ruth, but as she walked closer, her eyes locked onto his silhouette and flat-out refused to let go.

He was tall. He was dressed in a simple white button-down and black trousers, yet the fit was devastatingly perfect, highlighting an absurdly attractive body ratio.

The shoulder seams of the white shirt sat flawlessly, emphasizing a lean, broad frame.

Lower down.

The shirt wasn't skin-tight, but with every slight movement, you could see the lines of a tight, narrow waist. His legs, wrapped in dark fabric, were endlessly long and straight. And that ass—

It was an ass that made her want to blow a shameless wolf-whistle.

Just a slight profile of his back was a total visual feast.

Ruth forcefully reined in her terrifyingly inappropriate thoughts and pulled her gaze away.

We are rational adults, she reminded herself. No matter how curious she was, she couldn't just awkwardly circle around a guy getting hit on just to check out his face.

But putting everything else aside, just based on that body... calling him a god really wasn't an exaggeration.

As she walked past him, Ruth swore to herself that she only slowed her pace by a tiny, microscopic fraction of a second.

She took one last appreciative glance at the waist, the legs, the ass. She had already reached the glass doors of the building when a voice suddenly cut through the quiet hallway.

Clean. Crisp. Impossibly smooth.

"Sorry," the guy said. "I don't give my number to strangers."

Since classes didn't officially start for another two days, the Cal U campus wasn't crowded. Most of the people wandering the tree-lined avenues were just students moving into their dorms early.

The leaves hadn't turned autumn colors yet, still a vibrant, summery green. Ruth wandered the campus, looking at the familiar sights, but her mind was completely hijacked by the memory of that spectacular back profile.

Finally, she couldn't hold it in. She pulled out her phone, gripping her leather document folder in one hand while typing to Anne with the other.

Ruth: Babe. I just saw the hottest guy at Cal U. Narrow waist, long legs, and an ass that just won't quit. TvT
Ruth: I am suddenly available.

Anne replied instantly.

Anne: Pics or it didn't happen.
Ruth: Some girl was asking for his number, so I didn't even get to see his face.
Ruth: But I swear, if I wait around campus a little longer, this might be my perfect m—

She barely typed the 'm' in match.

Suddenly, a shadow enveloped her. Someone was standing entirely too close.

Walking too fast to stop, Ruth couldn't brake in time. She watched helplessly as she collided right into a solid, unyielding chest, hitting him in a textbook bumper-car collision. A soft thud echoed as her folder slipped from her hand and hit the concrete.

It was a solid hit. The impact wasn't massive, but it wasn't light either. Yet from start to finish, the guy didn't even flinch. He was planted to the ground, completely unfazed.

Instead, the momentum bounced Ruth backward.

As her eyes caught the crisp edge of a white button-down shirt, it clicked. Oh, shit. It's the hot-ass guy with the radio voice.

The guy's reflexes were insane. The second they collided, his hand shot out like an automatic reflex, gripping her arm to steady her. As soon as she found her balance, he let go instantly.

The whole thing took maybe three seconds.

Knowing she was the idiot texting and walking, Ruth started apologizing before she even looked up. "I am so sorry, I—"

The words flowed smoothly.

Until she actually saw his face. Then, she froze.

"—didn't see... you..." she trailed off, her voice dropping to a whisper.

He was tall, which meant he had to lower his eyes half-way to look at her. He had thin eyelids and long, thick lashes. His eyes hooked slightly at the inner corners before sweeping up—a sharp, striking, devastatingly refined shape. His hair was pitch black, but his irises were surprisingly light, catching the warm afternoon sun and turning into a soft, glowing amber.

Despite the stark white of his shirt, his skin was an obvious, cool porcelain. His jawline was elegant, his features deep and clear.

He looked like a flawless painting sketched by the creator, where adding a single stroke or taking one away would ruin the masterpiece entirely.

As she breathed in, Ruth caught his scent—something clean, crisp, and cold.

Before she could even move to pick up her dropped folder, the guy beat her to it. He bent down in one fluid, graceful motion and picked it up.

He held it out to her.

His hand filled her vision. The nails were clean and trimmed. His fingers were long, pale, and slender, leading down to a beautifully prominent wrist bone.

How the hell are even his hands this gorgeous?

Ruth took the folder, lifting her eyes back to his face. "...Thank you."

"Don't mention it," the god said.

It was that same, incredibly pleasing voice. Hearing it up close, it seemed to have a faint, lazy resonance to it.

Then, the corner of his mouth curved up just a fraction.

"Remember to watch where you're walking, classmate."

Staring at him from this close, completely captivated by the fleeting smile on his face, Ruth’s brain short-circuited into blank static.

Voice like a clear spring, face like flawless jade.

Ruth looked at him. For the first time in her twenty-something years of life, she felt her heart suddenly accelerate, shifting gears and beating wildly against her ribs.

It was a hard feeling to describe. It felt like a stone dropping into a crystal-clear stream. Like the sky breaking open into blue after a rainstorm.

Or, to put it simply and brutally:

She was in love.

Last Chapters

You Might Like 😍

Accardi

Accardi

1.1m Views · Completed · Allison Franklin
“I thought we discussed this earlier, Weakness? I warned you. His death is on your hands.”
“I thought you said you were done chasing me?” Gen mocked.
“I am done chasing you.”
Before she could formulate a witty remark, Matteo threw her down. She landed hard on her back atop his dining room table. She tried to sit up when she noticed what he was doing. His hands were working on his belt. It came free of his pants with a violent yank. She collapsed back on her elbows, her mouth gaping open at the display. His face was a mask of sheer determination, his eyes were a dark gold swimming with heat and desire. His hands wrapped around her thighs and pulled her to the edge of the table. He glided his fingers up her thighs and hooked several around the inside of her panties. His knuckles brushed her dripping sex.
“You’re soaking wet, Genevieve. Tell me, was it me that made you this way or him?” his voice told her to be careful with her answer. His knuckles slid down through her folds and she threw her head back as she moaned. “Weakness?”
“You…” she breathed.


Genevieve loses a bet she can’t afford to pay. In a compromise, she agrees to convince any man her opponent chooses to go home with her that night. What she doesn’t realize when her sister’s friend points out the brooding man sitting alone at the bar, is that man won’t be okay with just one night with her. No, Matteo Accardi, Don of one of the largest gangs in New York City doesn’t do one night stands. Not with her anyway.
After the Affair: Falling into a Billionaire's Arms

After the Affair: Falling into a Billionaire's Arms

1.5m Views · Ongoing · Louisa
Dear readers, this novel is coming to an end soon. I highly recommend another fantastic story of the same genre:


I’d appreciate all your support, thank you so much!
From first crush to wedding vows, George Capulet and I had been inseparable. But in our seventh year of marriage, he began an affair with his secretary.

On my birthday, he took her on vacation. On our anniversary, he brought her to our home and made love to her in our bed...

Heartbroken, I tricked him into signing divorce papers.

George remained unconcerned, convinced I would never leave him.

His deceptions continued until the day the divorce was finalized. I threw the papers in his face: "George Capulet, from this moment on, get out of my life!"

Only then did panic flood his eyes as he begged me to stay.

When his calls bombarded my phone later that night, it wasn't me who answered, but my new boyfriend Julian.

"Don't you know," Julian chuckled into the receiver, "that a proper ex-boyfriend should be as quiet as the dead?"

George seethed through gritted teeth: "Put her on the phone!"

"I'm afraid that's impossible."

Julian dropped a gentle kiss on my sleeping form nestled against him. "She's exhausted. She just fell asleep."
They'll Regret This

They'll Regret This

7k Views · Completed · Charlotte York
They traded me for their "real" daughter the day she showed up.

My fiancé didn't just dump me—he proposed to her that same night. My so-called family handed me bus fare and a one-way ticket to the countryside.

Perfect. Let them think they won.

They don't know who I really am. The anonymous genius surgeon who saves lives when elite hospitals give up. The legendary artist whose paintings sell for millions at auction. The undefeated shadow queen of the underground fighting circuit. And the true heiress to a fortune that makes theirs look like pocket change.

Now my ex-fiancé begs on his knees. My fake sister's jealousy is eating her alive. And that cold, arrogant CEO who once threw our engagement contract in my face? He's hunting me down like a man possessed, desperate for one more chance.

They threw me away like trash to upgrade their lives.

Joke's on them.

I was always the upgrade.
The mafia princess return

The mafia princess return

920.7k Views · Completed · Tonje Unosen
Talia have been living with her mother, stepsister and Stepfather for years. One day she finally get away from them. Suddenly she learn she have more family out there and she have many people that actually love her, something she have never felt before! At least not as she can remember. She have to learn to trust others, get her new brothers to accept her for who she is!
Confined To The Alluring CEO

Confined To The Alluring CEO

2.1k Views · Ongoing · Ava John
Penelope is heartbroken when she gets to know that her fiance is going to get married to her step-sister Mireya who is already carrying his child.

As she tries to pick up the broken pieces of her heart and move on she is forced to make a life-changing decision in order to save her grandpa's life from the clutches of her wicked stepmother.

Tyrell Achilles is the man whom Penelope has to marry. He is rumoured to be a crippled, hot-tempered, cruel man with a damaged face and the son of the Achilles family which was once the wealthiest family in the country until they went bankrupt.

After the wedding, Penelope realised everything was not what it looked like, but one thing was sure, she was going to use this opportunity to make every single person who betrayed her pay.

She was going to ruin them till the very end but to achieve her goal, she must be able to thread through the traps and conspiracy unscathed.

When she is on the verge of giving up, a hand is stretched out to her, and it is none other than that of her alluring husband Tyrell Achilles and he says these words to her gazing into her eyes. "I never thought this would happen but I'm in love with you, Pennie."

Will she give love a chance or keep fighting the feelings she has for her enigmatic yet alluring husband?
Reborn To Rule: I Will Seize The Throne!

Reborn To Rule: I Will Seize The Throne!

2.3k Views · Ongoing · Khira
"Aveline Ashkaar." Rhaedon's voice was low as his golden eyes held mine. "The moment you offered yourself to become my Luna, everything about you became mine. Your life, your obedience, your blood... including the abilities that flow through it."

He paused, his gaze never leaving mine.

"And I don't share what's mine."



I died on my son's death anniversary, betrayed by the man I'd devoted my entire life to, and the woman who stood by, smiling as I took my last breath… was my very own sister.

When I opened my eyes again, I was five years in the past—before the betrayal, before my death and before the beginning of it all.

This time, I refused to marry the man who destroyed me.

Instead, I walked straight into the arms of the only man the entire Empire feared—Crown Prince Alpha Rhaedon Ashkaar.

Rhaedon was everything Lucien wasn't.

Dangerous. Competent. Powerful.

And the perfect weapon for my revenge.

He wanted the throne. I wanted vengeance.

It should have been the perfect alliance, but revenge was never that simple.

With every step I took toward my revenge, another secret from my first life came to light. The deeper I dug, the more I realized I wasn't the only one playing this game.

And by the time I uncovered the truth...

Walking away from Rhaedon Ashkaar was no longer an option.
Protectors Of Her Warrior's Heart

Protectors Of Her Warrior's Heart

1.8k Views · Completed · arianniahrain
Tali had spent her entire life in hell.

Rescued by men who call themselves Protectors—warriors from another realm who embody the legends of angels and vampires—she is thrust into a world she never knew existed. For the first time, she experiences freedom, safety, and the possibility of a future.

But freedom comes with a price.

Tali is forced to face the father she believed abandoned her and a powerful council determined to use her for their own ends. Stranger still are the abilities awakening within her—powers no one understands, yet everyone seems desperate to control.

As she learns to trust, she chooses the mates destined to stand beside her. In their arms she finds love, devotion, and a family worth fighting for. But not everyone wants their bond to survive.

When the council betrays the Protectors and attempts to steal her newborn son, it ignites a war that will shake every realm.

Now Tali stands at the center of a conflict far greater than herself. The answers to ancient mysteries, the fate of her child, and the future of countless worlds all rest on her shoulders.

Surrounded by mates who love her fiercely and refuse to leave her side, Tali will battle enemies old and new, forge powerful alliances, and discover just how strong she truly is.

Because this war won't be won for her.

It will be won with her.

And together, they will fight for their future, their family, and a love worth crossing realms to protect.
Taste of Fate: The Vampire King's Human Mate

Taste of Fate: The Vampire King's Human Mate

3.9k Views · Ongoing · Miranda Carr
I never knew my blood could kill a king—until I met one. Sebastian, the ruthless and immortal King, rules with precision. For centuries, he's ruled with ruthless precision, his heart as cold as the stone throne beneath him. One moment, I'm nothing. The next, I'm his obsession. His touch burns like ice fire. His stare follows me through shadows. And when he feeds from me—God help me—it feels like drowning in darkness and craving more. He tells me my blood is unlike any he's tasted, that my scent drives him to the edge of madness.


He reached for the back of my head and pulled me up just enough to reach my neck. When his fangs slid into me, the pain was instant, electric. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. My hands found his shoulders, clawing for something to hold. My legs kicked. Tears streamed down my cheeks.

He moaned against my throat as he drank, and the sound was devastating.
Offside With You

Offside With You

2.3k Views · Ongoing · Eanie Ruth
For eighteen years, Aveline Carter has lived in the shadows, forgotten by a mother who only seems to see her identical twin brother, Asher Carter, whose heart disease demands constant care. She resents him until the night she finds him lying unconscious on his bedroom floor.
At the hospital, Asher falls into a coma. His scans reveal bruises, internal bleeding and signs of prolonged physical abuse. Broken and furious, Aveline vows to expose the cruelty hidden behind the prestige of Crestwood Academy.
Cutting off her hair and disguising herself as her brother, Aveline infiltrates Crestwood Academy and fights her way onto the hockey team determined to unmask those responsible. Revenge should have been simple until she meets Kieran Hampton, the team’s arrogant and sharp-eyed star player. From their first clash, tension ignites. Aveline is certain he’s guilty and has no problem making his life miserable, but their undeniable chemistry only draws them closer with every confrontation.

While Aveline focuses on the wrong target, the real threat stands closer.

Cassian Thorne seems strange at first, his interest in her uncomfortably personal yet he gradually becomes her friend. Meanwhile, Kieran despite believing Aveline is male finds himself drawn to “him” in ways he can’t understand. When he uncovers her true identity, he chooses to protect her at all costs even as she refuses to trust him.
Revenge turns to grief when Asher dies, leaving Aveline drowning in guilt for falling for her brother’s supposed tormentor. Questions remain unanswered, and the truth is far darker than she imagined because Asher Carter was never just a victim. The bullying wasn’t just random.
As secrets unravel and loyalties shatter, Aveline must face one devastating question: what happens when the brother you were ready to destroy the world for isn’t who you thought he was?
Bella and Her Beast

Bella and Her Beast

14.7k Views · Completed · Sheridan Hartin
For all the little girls who grew up wondering what happens after the prince kisses the girl—this is the story they never told you.
.
Locked in her frozen tower, Bella dreamed of warmth, of touch, of freedom and of love. Cursed with the power of ice and snow, she’s spent her life alone. A secret they tried to protect the world from. Her only escape comes in the form of the books she reads. Stories of heat, desire, and the kind of love that could melt even her frostbitten heart.
Damien is the Beast. A dragon King with a temper forged in flame and a soul hollowed by duty. The world fears him. The people call him a monster. But beneath the scales and the rage lies a man who has never been touched by love.
When frost meets fire, the world shatters. She was never meant to leave her tower. He was never meant to find her. But destiny doesn’t bow to kings or care for cages and now the question burns through them both: Can Bella have her Beast? Or will the girl of snow melt in the heat of his desire?

.
"I’m keeping her."
"What?"
Before I can react, he scoops her up. Her small body fits easily in the cradle of his talons. For a split second, she looks startled, but not afraid. Her hand rests against one scaled finger, and she stares up at him with that same curious wonder, as though she’s already forgotten she was ever meant to fear me.
"Put her down," I try to command, panic threading through my thoughts. "You’ll hurt her."
"She’s ours," the beast insists, possessive and fierce. "Our snowflake."
Let Them Kneel

Let Them Kneel

235.2k Views · Ongoing · My Fantasy Stories
Kaelani spent her life believing she was wolfless.
Cast out by her pack. Forgotten by the Lycans.
She lived among humans—quiet, invisible, tucked away in a town no one looked at twice.

But when her first heat comes without warning, everything changes.

Her body ignites. Her instincts scream. And something primal stirs beneath her skin—
summoning a big, bad Alpha who knows exactly how to quench her fire.

When he claims her, it’s ecstasy and ruin.

For the first time, she believes she’s been accepted.
Seen.
Chosen.

Until he leaves her the next morning—
like a secret never to be spoken.

But Kaelani is not what they thought.
Not wolfless. Not weak.
There is something ancient inside her. Something powerful. And it’s waking.

And when it does—
they’ll all remember the girl they tried to erase.

Especially him.

She’ll be the dream he keeps chasing… the one thing that ever made him feel alive.

Because secrets never stay buried.
And neither do dreams.
A Queen Among Tides (Book 5 in the Gods' Saga)

A Queen Among Tides (Book 5 in the Gods' Saga)

4.6k Views · Ongoing · ADB_Stories
One mistake centuries ago left Lemuel cursed by the Goddess Merlos and forced to wander the earth granting the wishes of those who touch him. Lemuel was looking at an eternity of loneliness until his unexpected soulmate plucked him right out of the sea.

Shocked to find he's been bound in more ways than one to Sebastian, the future King to the Kingdom of Atlesper, Lemuel resists Sebastian's advances at every turn, believing this may be one pairing Goddess Zarseti got wrong.

Lemuel will have to face his past in hopes of starting a new future, but an overly flirtatious King is the least of his worries when he learns Sebastian's parents are convinced that a conniving usurper disguised as a curvy blonde, is the future king's true soulmate.

A Queen Among Tides is the 5th book in the Queen Among Series/The Gods' Saga. This is an interconnected series. To see how it ends, I recommend reading the full series.

Books in the series order:
A Queen Among Alphas - Book 1
Bite-Size Luna - A Queen Among Alphas Prequel (available under book 1)
A Queen Among Snakes - Book 2
A Queen Among Blood - Book 3
A Queen Among Darkness - Book 4
Whole Again - A Queen Among Alpha's spin-off (available under book 1)
A Queen Among Tides - Book 5
Valor, Virtue, and Verve - Tides Prequel Spin-off (will be available under book 5)
A Queen Among Gods - Book 6
Runaway Empress - A Queen Among Snakes Prequel (will be available under book 2)
A Queen Among Tempests - Book 7
Dark Vocation - Darkness spin-off (will be available under book 4)
A Court of Arcane Souls Anthology (side character short stories exclusive to Ream)
Royal Shadow Series (Next Gen Coming Soon)