
Introduction
Chapter 1
CHAPTER ONE
Olivia Glass had exactly five and a half minutes to manage an unexpected disaster.
It was seven-thirty p.m. on a Thursday night, and she was in the back of an Uber, on the way to meet her boyfriend, Matthew, for dinner at one of Chicago’s hottest new restaurants. He’d been out of town all week and had messaged her that morning with the invite.
Now she had discovered a massive rip in her pantyhose, just above the knee.
Olivia stared in horror.
The hole in the black nylon was enormous. It was at least two inches across, and was starting to run up her leg.
She had no idea when this could have happened. The pantyhose had been perfect this morning when she’d put them on. Since seven a.m. she’d been in her office at JCreative, the advertising agency where she worked as an account manager, spending most of the day in meetings and teleconferences.
After receiving the surprise invite to the trendy Villa 49 from Matt, she’d realized that she wouldn’t have time to go home and change, and had rushed to the shops during the only free half-hour she had. Panicking because she was running out of time, she’d grabbed something off the rack that was shorter and clingier than she usually wore.
Back at the office, buyer’s remorse had descended, and she’d started to wonder if the dress wasn’t too daring for a thirty-four-year-old woman to wear.
“Age is but a number,” she’d told herself bravely. So what if the dress had been designed for an eighteen-year-old? Although she was a little heavier now, it wasn’t as if she’d been a stranger to the gym since then.
As soon as her boss, James Clark, the owner of JCreative, had left the building, Olivia had changed in the restroom at work. She’d run her fingers through her shoulder-length blonde hair, refreshed her lipstick, sprayed on some perfume, and rushed downstairs to meet her ride.
She hadn’t realized until she saw the damaged pantyhose how pale her legs were. Even though it was the middle of June, she’d been working so hard they hadn’t had a chance to see any summer sun. Through the rip, which Olivia now estimated was about the size of a dinner plate, her skin was blindingly white.
Matt would notice, Olivia knew for sure. He would spot the rip immediately. He was very detail-oriented, which was what made him a highly successful and wealthy investment fund manager. Even though they’d been together for four years, Olivia always tried to look her best for him and make him proud. Her pantyhose disaster would be a publicly embarrassing moment for both of them; the stuff of nightmares.
She had difficult things to confess to Matt during this meal. A wardrobe malfunction would complicate the situation.
For a moment, she considered taking her pantyhose off and arriving bare-legged. She could wriggle out of them in the back of the Uber, and hope that the driver didn’t realize what was happening and give her a one-star rating for using his vehicle as a change room.
She shook her head. Pantyhose removal was not an option. Her legs were positively blue-white, and she already felt self-conscious that this dress was shorter than her usual attire. She needed all the help the black nylon hose could give her.
Briefly, Olivia considered ripping an identical hole in the other leg, before deciding that this was impractical. There was no guarantee it would tear the same way, and in any case, she couldn’t carry it off. She didn’t even feel comfortable wearing ripped jeans.
What to do? The hole was roughly the size of a small car, her destination was now three minutes away, and she had no solutions to her crisis whatsoever.
Then Olivia saw her salvation ahead.
Beyond the next intersection she spotted the signboard for a lingerie and hosiery boutique that looked to be open.
She would ask the driver to drop her there, rush inside, change into a new pair as fast as she could, and call another Uber to take her the rest of the way. She’d be a few minutes late, but at least she’d arrive with a full and undamaged set of clothing.
“Could you please—” Olivia began.
Then her cell phone rang.
Reflexively, she grabbed the call and found herself speaking with James.
“Olivia. Are you still in the office?”
“I’ve just left. Is it urgent? I can check my email immediately.”
Olivia found herself sitting straighter, and she could hear the bright, brisk, professional tone that she instinctively adopted when conversing with her boss.
“Not urgent, but important. We need to meet first thing tomorrow. In the meantime I’ve had some more great feedback on the Valley Wines campaign.”
Olivia felt her heart sink as the Uber accelerated past the boutique. Her only chance had gone. Now they were heading into West Loop, the area characterized by its juxtaposition of old and new—low brick buildings and glass-clad skyscrapers, fine restaurants lining the streets, and a notable absence of any underwear stores.
She was going to arrive at Villa 49 in precisely two minutes with a hole in her pantyhose the size of the International Space Station, and there was nothing she could do about it.
“I’m glad the campaign’s going well,” she said.
“I’ll be sending you an email later, with details about your bonus. You’re going to do extremely well out of this.”
The cab swerved to pass a bus, and Olivia’s purse tipped onto its side. The contents fell out and scattered over the seat.
“You know who Des Whiteley is?” James continued.
“I think I’ve seen him copied on emails,” Olivia said, making a desperate grab for her perfume atomizer as the cab zigzagged again.
“He’s the CEO. The chief executive officer.”
“Of Valley Wines?” she asked.
“No, no. Of their holding company, Kansas Foods. He asked me to pass on his personal congratulations to you. Sales are through the roof.”
“That’s amazing.” Olivia stretched over to reach her wallet, her lipstick, and a rogue Kleenex.
Her eyeshadow, the small compact she always carried with her, was under the Kleenex.
The color was Shimmering Charcoal.
It gave Olivia an idea.
She opened the box and rubbed her finger over the eyeshadow. Then she rubbed it over her exposed leg.
Success. Shimmering Charcoal turned her skin pantyhose-colored. It camouflaged the damage so that it was almost undetectable.
“I told him that your approach to this campaign epitomized our company’s values,” James continued. “Methodical and organized.”
“Organized,” Olivia repeated, scooping up another finger full of eyeshadow.
“Creatively disciplined and results-oriented.”
“Results-oriented,” Olivia echoed in agreement, rubbing the charcoal powder into the gap.
“Planning for every eventuality,” James said.
“Absolutely. Planning.”
She should color in a wider area, Olivia decided, as the pantyhose might shift when she walked, or the run might travel higher. Carefully, she eased her finger under the nylon.
“We’ll speak tomorrow. I’ll be in the office at seven a.m., so let’s start then. We’ll need at least two hours set aside. We’ll have a short one-on-one briefing, and then a group meeting in the boardroom.”
What could it be about? Olivia wondered.
“I’ll see you there,” she said, and he disconnected.
Olivia closed the compact and put it back in her bag.
The success of the campaign had surprised everyone, herself included. As the only woman on the senior executive team, despite her years of hard work, she’d been used to applauding while others’ achievements were lauded. She’d never thought it would be her turn to head up a runaway success. In a way, this campaign had felt a lot like camouflaging the damage to her pantyhose.
She felt as if she’d gotten lucky while winging it, and didn’t really deserve it, or even want it at all.
“You said something?” The Uber driver interrupted her thoughts, glancing back at her. “You were going to ask me a question, then your phone rang.”
“Oh. No, it’s all right now. I thought I needed to stop earlier, but it turns out I didn’t.”
He nodded. “You mentioned Valley Wines. You work for them?”
“Not directly,” Olivia said. “I work for an agency that handles their account.”
“Are they any good? My wife likes one of the California brands. I can never remember the name, but it’s got a pretty label. We haven’t been able to find it recently so I told her she should try another.”
Olivia felt a stab of guilt. Shelf space was limited, and the gains made by Valley Wines meant other brands had lost out.
For a moment, she considered giving a standard response that the wines were great, and his wife must definitely try them. Then she decided not to. After all, she and the Uber driver were strangers, and it was always easier to be honest with strangers.
“My personal opinion?” she said. “Don’t touch Valley Wines. They’re horrible, cheaply made, and not worth the money.”
They had arrived. The cab stopped outside Villa 49.
“Thanks for the advice,” the driver said. “We’ll look for a different wine.”
“You’re welcome. Thank you for the ride.” Olivia climbed out.
With her wardrobe disaster under control, it was time to think about what she wanted to say to Matt.
“I’m sure this will come as a shock to you, but I’m really unhappy.”
That was going to be her starting point.
Mulling over what she should say next, Olivia walked into the restaurant.
Last Chapters
#32 Chapter 32
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#31 Chapter 31
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#30 Chapter 30
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#29 Chapter 29
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#28 Chapter 28
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#27 Chapter 27
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#26 Chapter 26
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#25 Chapter 25
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#24 Chapter 24
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#23 Chapter 23
Last Updated: 3/3/2025
You Might Like 😍
Omega Bound
Thane Knight is the alpha of the Midnight Pack of the La Plata Mountain Range, the largest wolf shifter pack in the world. He is an alpha by day and hunts the shifter trafficking ring with his group of mercenaries by night. His hunt for vengeance leads to one raid that changes his life.
Tropes:
Touch her and die/Slow burn romance/Fated Mates/Found family twist/Close circle betrayal/Cinnamon roll for only her/Traumatized heroine/Rare wolf/Hidden powers/Knotting/Nesting/Heats/Luna/Attempted assassination
The Prison Project
Can love tame the untouchable? Or will it only fuel the fire and cause chaos amongst the inmates?
Fresh out of high school and suffocating in her dead-end hometown, Margot longs for her escape. Her reckless best friend, Cara, thinks she's found the perfect way out for them both - The Prisoner Project - a controversial program offering a life-changing sum of money in exchange for time spent with maximum-security inmates.
Without hesitation, Cara rushes to sign them up.
Their reward? A one-way ticket into the depths of a prison ruled by gang leaders, mob bosses, and men the guards wouldn't even dare to cross...
At the centre of it all, meets Coban Santorelli - a man colder than ice, darker than midnight, and as deadly as the fire that fuels his inner rage. He knows that the project may very well be his only ticket to freedom - his only ticket to revenge on the one who managed to lock him up and so he must prove that he can learn to love…
Will Margot be the lucky one chosen to help reform him?
Will Coban be capable of bringing something to the table other than just sex?
What starts off as denial may very well grow in to obsession which could then fester in to becoming true love…
A temperamental romance novel.
Alpha Nicholas's Little Mate
What? No—wait… oh Moon Goddess, no.
Please tell me you're joking, Lex.
But she's not. I can feel her excitement bubbling under my skin, while all I feel is dread.
We turn the corner, and the scent hits me like a punch to the chest—cinnamon and something impossibly warm. My eyes scan the room until they land on him. Tall. Commanding. Beautiful.
And then, just as quickly… he sees me.
His expression twists.
"Fuck no."
He turns—and runs.
My mate sees me and runs.
Bonnie has spent her entire life being broken down and abused by the people closest to her including her very own twin sister. Alongside her best friend Lilly who also lives a life of hell, they plan to run away while attending the biggest ball of the year while it's being hosted by another pack, only things don't quite go to plan leaving both girls feeling lost and unsure about their futures.
Alpha Nicholas is 28, mateless, and has no plans to change that. It's his turn to host the annual Blue Moon Ball this year and the last thing he expects is to find his mate. What he expects even less is for his mate to be 10 years younger than him and how his body reacts to her. While he tries to refuse to acknowledge that he has met his mate his world is turned upside down after guards catch two she-wolves running through his lands.
Once they are brought to him he finds himself once again facing his mate and discovers that she's hiding secrets that will make him want to kill more than one person.
Can he overcome his feelings towards having a mate and one that is so much younger than him? Will his mate want him after already feeling the sting of his unofficial rejection? Can they both work on letting go of the past and moving forward together or will fate have different plans and keep them apart?
Surrendering to Destiny
Graham MacTavish wasn't prepared to find his mate in the small town of Sterling that borders the Blackmoore Packlands. He certainly didn't expect her to be a rogue, half-breed who smelled of Alpha blood. With her multi-colored eyes, there was no stopping him from falling hard the moment their mate bond snapped into place. He would do anything to claim her, protect her and cherish her no matter the cost.
From vengeful ex-lovers, pack politics, species prejudice, hidden plots, magic, kidnapping, poisoning, rogue attacks, and a mountain of secrets including Catherine's true parentage there is no shortage of things trying to tear the two apart.
Despite the hardships, a burning desire and willingness to trust will help forge a strong bond between the two... but no bond is unbreakable. When the secrets kept close to heart are slowly revealed, will the two be able to weather the storm? Or will the gift bestowed upon Catherine by the moon goddess be too insurmountable to overcome?
The mafia princess return
Invisible To Her Bully
Shattered Girl
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Was that too much?” I could see the worry in his eyes as I took a deep breath.
“I just didn’t want you to see all my scars,” I whispered, feeling ashamed of my marked body.
Emmy Nichols is used to surviving. She survived her abusive father for years until he beat her so severely, she ended up in the hospital, and her father was finally arrested. Now, Emmy is thrown into a life she never expected. Now she has a mother
who doesn't want her, a politically motivated stepfather with ties to the Irish mob, four older stepbrothers, and their best friend who swear to love and protect her. Then, one night, everything shatters, and Emmy feels her only option is to run.
When her stepbrothers and their best friend finally find her, will they pick up the pieces and convince Emmy that they will keep her safe and their love will hold them together?
The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates
"Let me go," I whimper, my body trembling with need. "I don't want you touching me."
I fall forward onto the bed then turn around to stare at him. The dark tattoos of Domonic's chiseled shoulders, quiver and and expand with the heave of his chest. His deep dimpled smile is full of arrogance as he reaches behind himself to lock the door.
Biting his lip, he stalks toward me, his hand going to the seam of his pants and the thickening bulge there.
"Are you sure you don't want me to touch you?" He whispers, untying the knot and slipping a hand inside. "Because I swear to God, that is all I have been wanting to do. Every single day from the moment you stepped in our bar and I smelled your perfect flavor from across the room."
New to the world of shifters, Draven is human on the run. A beautiful girl who no one could protect. Domonic is the cold Alpha of the Red Wolf Pack. A brotherhood of twelve wolves that live by twelve rules. Rules which they vowed could NEVER be broken.
Especially - Rule Number One - No Mates
When Draven meets Domonic, he knows that she is his mate, but Draven has no idea what a mate is, only that she has fallen in love with a shifter. An Alpha that will break her heart to make her leave. Promising herself, she will never forgive him, she disappears.
But she doesn’t know about the child she’s carrying or that the moment she left, Domonic decided rules were made to be broken - and now will he ever find her again? Will she forgive him?
The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride
Yet Alexander made his decision clear to the world: “Evelyn is the only woman I will ever marry.”
I Slapped My Fiancé—Then Married His Billionaire Nemesis
Technically, Rhys Granger was my fiancé now—billionaire, devastatingly hot, and a walking Wall Street wet dream. My parents shoved me into the engagement after Catherine disappeared, and honestly? I didn’t mind. I’d crushed on Rhys for years. This was my chance, right? My turn to be the chosen one?
Wrong.
One night, he slapped me. Over a mug. A stupid, chipped, ugly mug my sister gave him years ago. That’s when it hit me—he didn’t love me. He didn’t even see me. I was just a warm-bodied placeholder for the woman he actually wanted. And apparently, I wasn’t even worth as much as a glorified coffee cup.
So I slapped him right back, dumped his ass, and prepared for disaster—my parents losing their minds, Rhys throwing a billionaire tantrum, his terrifying family plotting my untimely demise.
Obviously, I needed alcohol. A lot of alcohol.
Enter him.
Tall, dangerous, unfairly hot. The kind of man who makes you want to sin just by existing. I’d met him only once before, and that night, he just happened to be at the same bar as my drunk, self-pitying self. So I did the only logical thing: I dragged him into a hotel room and ripped off his clothes.
It was reckless. It was stupid. It was completely ill-advised.
But it was also: Best. Sex. Of. My. Life.
And, as it turned out, the best decision I’d ever made.
Because my one-night stand isn’t just some random guy. He’s richer than Rhys, more powerful than my entire family, and definitely more dangerous than I should be playing with.
And now, he’s not letting me go.
Oops, Wrong Girl to Bully
My back hit the desk. Pain exploded through my skull.
"Girls like you don't get to dream about guys like Kai." Bella's breath was hot on my face. "You don't get to write pathetic love letters."
She shoved me again. Harder.
"Maybe if you weren't such a desperate little—"
I fell. My head cracked against the corner.
Warmth trickled down my neck. Blood.
Their laughter turned to gasps.
The door slammed.
I tried to stand. Couldn't. The room was spinning, fading to black.
Someone... please...
Angelina, the most powerful Alpha who conquered forty-nine packs, dies in a yacht explosion—only to wake up as Aria Sterling, a fifteen-year-old Omega's daughter who just died from bullying.
The original Aria's life was a nightmare. Humiliated when golden boy Kai Matthews posted her love letter online, then shoved to death by his girlfriend Bella Morrison. But that's not all her family faces:
"You got until Monday," the tattooed gangster sneered at Aria's mother. "Ten grand cash. Or I'm taking collateral—your kids' organs fetch top dollar. That pretty daughter of yours? She could make us money another way too."
Now Angelina's lethal combat skills awaken in this fragile body. No more hiding. No more fear.
Armed with an Alpha's ruthlessness and a mysterious blood-red pendant, she'll dismantle everyone who hurt this family—one calculated move at a time.
Thornhill Academy
Hunted, haunted, and newly awakened, Allison is dragged into a rebellion built on blood and belief, the same fight her parents died trying to protect. As enemies close in and desire sharpens into something dangerous, she must decide what kind of power she will become. The weapon the Council always wanted. Or the storm that tears their world apart. When Allison rises, kingdoms kneel and when she loves, she loves like war.
Dark Academia | Reverse Harem | Dark Romance | Dark Humour | Action-Packed | Steamy | Unputdownable












