
Introduction
She thought she was safe in the "friend zone" until Nathan decides to prove just how much power he has. With one cruel dare, he shatters Clara’s first relationship and reminds her exactly where she stands which is at the bottom of his "type" list.
Chapter 1
Nathan Cross. The sound of that name struck a chord in me that was never supposed to be touched.
Because somehow-against all logic -he managed to pull me, Clara James, into his orbit.
This was unacceptable.
Not because I'd sworn off boys-trust me, I wasn't immune to them. It was because over the years I prided myself on being amongst the few girls who didn't fall for his looks. Or his flirtatious words for that matter (though to be honest they were never directed at me anyway).
Cross was the school's notorious playboy, he had almost every girl wrapped around his finger.
Almost. Although I found him attractive I had yet to be swayed by his charms. Unlike Amy, who enjoyed blabbing about him 24/7. Apparently, it was an honor to kiss the likes of him.
"And oh my goodness, those soft lips of his.." Amy closed her eyes and sighed with bliss. "I felt like I was in heaven." When she opened them again, they were starry eyed, and I had to bite my tongue from reminding her that she was just another name added to his ever-growing roster. But why waste breath?
Amy was too busy floating on cloud nine to hear me anyway.
Amy was the daughter of my mom's best-friend.
Three months ago their house caught on fire, and while Mrs. Thomas used the insurance money to buy a nicer home a state away, Amy refused to switch schools senior year. My mom offered her our spare bedroom, and ever since then she's been invading my space. Our parents grew us like sisters, thinking we would naturally become best friends, but Amy and I couldn't be more different.
While I was a tom-boy, Amy was the quintessential girly-girl: shiny brown hair, big brown eyes, curves in all the "right" places. Any guy would think she was eye-candy. Especially when she wore tight spaghetti straps with a push-up bra that made her already ample cleavage impossible to ignore.
"... and then he picked me up and threw me on the bed!" Amy gushed, snapping me back into her monologue. She grinned as she pulled her red convertible into the school parking lot. If there was any benefit to having her stay over, it was that I no longer had to take the school bus.
"All I can say is he's really gifted."
"Shocking," I muttered dryly, twisting my long hair into a ponytail.
"You'd be surprised! There he is!" Amy squealed, catching sight of Cross across the lot. She gave herself a quick once-over in the car's side view mirror. "Come on Clara, walk me over!"
"Can't you go there yourself?" I asked, already annoyed by her desperate antics. Amy had guys lining up for her attention, but of course she was fixated on the one who didn't care.
"Because you're friends with him. He's with his buddies right now. Please? You hang out with him all the time!"
"You have a boyfriend," I reminded her. James, her
football-player boyfriend was actually really cute.
"Please CJ!" she begged, clasping her hands together like a child, using my initials which was something I've gotten used to over time.
"Fine," I gave in, walking ahead of her.
"Yes! And next time, could you wear something more appealing? Those baggy jeans and that hideous shirt do anything for your body. Or my status, for that matter."
"Thanks." I said, sarcastic.
We both knew I had no impact on her popularity. If anything, having a less-polished friend made her look prettier. I couldn't tell you the amount of times a guy used me to get closer to Amy. Once they met her they immediately fell for her coquettish smile and flirty demeanor.
"Your mom actually agrees with me," Amy went on, "She said you should be more like me. You know, dress feminine, try out for cheerleading. Like our moms did,"
I snorted. My mom and Amy have been pushing that agenda since middle school. Dressing girly?
Skip.
Trying out for cheerleading? Even worse. My mother loved to remind me that cheerleading ran in the family grandma, great-grandma, the whole glittery legacy. She wanted me to keep the line going. But if the squad's reputation was anything to go by, that wasn't happening.
Everyone knew it was a madhouse of girls throwing themselves at football players, and then turning around to call other girls sluts for doing half as much.
No, thank you.
I wanted to stay away from all the drama for as long as possible. Rumor had it Amy had slept with ten football players, including three of the school's most sought-after boys: Theodore Scott, David Carson, and of course Cross. She only ever admitted Cross to me, the others remained speculation. Honestly, I didn't care enough to ask. Theodore and David were my friends too, and I preferred not to picture them hooking up with my childhood friend.
Last year the cheer squad offered me a spot, I declined saying that I didn't have any time, an excuse to avoid being around people I probably wouldn't get along with.
There was a reason I hung out with guys more than girls-less gossip, less backstabbing, less drama.
I'd had enough of it at a tender age in middle-school where I was bullied relentlessly by a group of preppy mean girls. Back then I swore off any femininity.
These days, I was more open-minded, but the tomboy life fits too comfortably to give up.
As we neared the boys their attention shifted toward us-or rather, toward Amy. Aside from her boob-show, she was wearing a skirt that revealed her long, toned legs, curtesy of the endless hours she spent at the gym.
"Hey guys," Amy purred.
"Hey babe," said Theodore. His shaggy brown hair and honey-colored eyes didn't drive girls away; they clung to him like bees to honey.
David gave a tired wave, his gray eyes half-lidded under messy black hair. Judging by his look, he hadn't slept much-again.
Cross barely looked up from his phone. "Hey," he muttered, thumbs still scrolling over the screen. Amy's smile faltered. I didn't feel sorry for her. She knew Cross’s game: he played with a girl until he got bored, then disposed of them like an old video game. Their tenuous relationship snapped over a year ago, yet Amy still hovered like she was waiting for a comeback.
The bell rang, cutting through the crowd. Cross slid his phone into his pocket and walked past Amy without so much as a glance. Amy stood frozen, then darted off to find a cheer friend for a shoulder to cry on. I rolled my eyes. I knew this would happen. And I also knew she'd eventually shoot her shot again.
Some girls just love the heart-breaking chase.
"Hey CJ, is your sister single?" Theodore asked suddenly, eyes still tracking Amy from a distance.
"First off, she's not my sister. Second, no." I shook my head in disbelief. "She's with James. He's on your team, remember?"
"Oh yeah," he recalled, only for his gaze to then land on a short blonde across the hall. "Dang, look at Katie's boobs. Those D's are front and center.
David smirked. "I bet I can get her number faster than you can."
I shook my head at their antics. It's hard to tell which would luck out. Some girls fell for Theodore's swoony, whirlwind romance; others melted for David's quiet, easy-going warmth. Either way, Amy was already forgotten as they jogged off toward Katie.
"I need a new girl. Been holding back long enough," Cross said. His jet-black hair gleamed in the light, making his frost-blue eyes more dangerously beautiful.
I'd have to be blind to not notice how handsome he was. And if I were honest, there were moments- very private, secret moments--when I imagined what it would be like to run my fingers across his broad shoulders and feel those lips against mine.
"What's the matter, CJ? Volunteering for a night?" The corner of his mouth lifted, amusement flickering across his features.
I turned my head, realizing too late I was gawking. Heat rushed up my neck. "No thanks. I'm fine."
"Didn't look fine a second ago. Is that a drool?" He reached for the corner of my mouth, mocking me with a swipe of his thumb.
"I was not drooling!" I swatted his hand away. "And besides, it wasn't you I was staring at."
"Oh yeah, then who?" he asked, skepticism dripping from every word.
"T-the person behind you," I stuttered, blurting the first thing that came to my mind.
Cross turned-and found himself staring at Robert Darin, currently preoccupied with picking a bugger out of his nose. After a triumphant second, Robert inspected his prize and promptly popped it into his mouth. I covered my lips in disgust, gagging. Suffice to say he was definitely not attractive.
"Everyone, Clara has something important to say to us," Cross announced, getting our table's attention. Pizza was for lunch, and as usual our little group - Cross, Theodore, David and I sat dead center, drawing more attention than I was comfortable with.
"Cross, drop it." I hissed, glaring at him. He had been pestering me about the whole Robert Darin situation all morning. I refused to feed his ego by admitting anything.
"She likes Robert," Cross snickered, savoring my irritation.
"Robert? As in Robert Darin?" David echoed, his brows rose. Cross nodded and the whole table erupted in laughter. Unamused, my lips stayed pressed in a flat line.
"Didn't know you had a thing for Robert," Theodore managed between chuckles, naively believing Cross. "But hey, everyone's got their tastes."
"He's lying." I snapped, folding my arms.
Cross leaned forward, eyes glittering like he knew something I didn't. "So you admit it? You were staring at me instead?"
"Not every girl falls for you," I shot back. "And if you're planning to mess with me, don't even try it."
"Relax," Cross said smoothly, his voice dropping into that velvety tone he knew made girls falter. "I'm picky. You're not exactly my type, a little too boyish."
His gaze flicked over me in a slow sweep that made my stomach twist. "You're safe."
Amy calling me boyish was one thing, but hearing
Cross say it...that stung.
"Screw you!"
He smirked. "I knew you wanted me. Don't get your hopes up, though. I'd never actually go out with you."
My fingers clenched the edge of the table, glaring at him so hard it hurt. My glare only made him grin wider, like he enjoyed pressing on a bruise just to see if I'd flinch.
"Careful," he murmured. "Keep looking at me like that and people might think you're obsessed."
"Ignore him," Theodore stepped in, cutting through the tension. He rested his head over my shoulder in a comforting way.
Cross lounged back in his chair, absolutely enjoying himself. "It's not like I called you ugly." His tone dripped with mock sincerity. "If it helps, I'd call you..a high average."
I scoffed at his pathetic attempt to soften the blow.
Jerk.
And to think he was right about one thing: I did find him attractive.
Last Chapters
#55 Chapter 55 Extra _ Reconciliation.
Last Updated: 5/28/2026#54 Chapter 54 Extra_ It's Graduation Day!
Last Updated: 5/28/2026#53 Chapter 53 Extra_ First Date.
Last Updated: 5/28/2026#52 Chapter 52 FAQ
Last Updated: 5/28/2026#51 Chapter 51 CHAPTER 51
Last Updated: 5/28/2026#50 Chapter 50 CHAPTER 50
Last Updated: 5/28/2026#49 Chapter 49 CHAPTER 49
Last Updated: 5/28/2026#48 Chapter 48 CHAPTER 48
Last Updated: 5/28/2026#47 Chapter 47 CHAPTER 47
Last Updated: 5/28/2026#46 Chapter 46 CHAPTER 46
Last Updated: 5/28/2026
You Might Like 😍
The Deadly Mafia Princess
Her gang take the matter in their own hands, to try to save their leader from the horror of her home. What none of them know, they wasn’t her real parents, and now Ro will be sent away to live with her real family. That makes her closest members in her gang pack up and move as well. They don’t want to be far away from their leader.
Bound by the Dragon Mafia
The head chef looked like he was silently praying for death.
I rushed forward. “Amara. Stop traumatizing these poor people.”
She spun around, delighted. “Sera! Good, you’re here. Taste this. It’s missing despair.”
The chef’s face morphed into existential crisis.
I grabbed her arm. “Put the spatula down.”
“But—”
“Down.”
With exaggerated offense, she dropped the spatula and muttered, “Fine. But if no one here has artistic vision, that’s not my fault.”
She went undercover to expose a mafia empire.
He offered her thirty nights to save her life.
When investigative journalist Seraphine Vale steps into the glittering underworld ruled by billionaire crime lord Dante Vescari, she thinks she’s chasing a story about missing women and corruption.
Instead, she uncovers a secret older than blood—an empire built on fire, sin, and dragons.
Bound to Dante by a forbidden pact, Seraphine finds herself caught between fear and desire, truth and temptation.
Each night pulls her deeper into his world of power, passion, and danger…
and closer to the monster hiding beneath his perfect skin.
Thirty nights. One bond.
And a love that might just burn the world to ash.
A Queen Among Tides (Book 5 in the Gods' Saga)
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)
Rise of the Banished She-Wolf
That roar stole my eighteenth birthday and shattered my world. My first shift should have been glory—blood turned blessing into shame. By dawn they'd branded me "cursed": cast out by my pack, abandoned by family, stripped of my nature. My father didn't defend me—he sent me to a forsaken island where wolfless outcasts were forged into weapons, forced to kill each other until only one could leave.
On that island I learned the darkest edges of humanity and how to bury terror in bone. Countless times I wanted to surrender—dive into the waves and never surface—but the accusing faces that haunted my dreams pushed me back toward something colder than survival: revenge. I escaped, and for three years I hid among humans, collecting secrets, learning to move like a shadow, sharpening patience into precision—becoming a blade.
Then, under a full moon, I touched a bleeding stranger—and my wolf returned with a violence that made me whole. Who was he? Why could he wake what I'd thought dead?
One thing I know: now is the time.
I have waited three years for this. I will make everyone who destroyed me pay—and take back everything that was stolen from me.
The Contract Wife: Marriage Of Malice
He didn't finish. He didn't need to.
I didn't tell him to stop.
Instead, my fingers curled into his shirt, clutching the fabric as though it was my only anchor. Something in him snapped—something he had been holding back for too long. His mouth found mine in a kiss that wasn't tender, but hungry, desperate.
I gasped into him, his hand sliding up to cup my jaw, holding me as if afraid I might vanish.
"You drive me insane," he breathed against my mouth, his lips trailing to my throat. "I can't lose you, Ella. Not you."
My head fell back, a soft sound escaping me as his fingers memorized my waist. My anger melted beneath his desperation.
"James..." I whispered, more plea than protest.
His hand caught mine, fingers threading together tightly. "I'll bring him back. I swear it. Just... don't turn away from me. Please."
The word please—low, ragged, almost broken—undid me more than anything else could have.
Ella never imagined she would marry the man she had secretly loved for years in such a way.
When her brother Theo faced twenty-five years in prison for massive embezzlement, the ruthless business tycoon James Lancaster offered her a deal: marry him in exchange for her brother's freedom.
This wasn't a fairy tale proposal, but a carefully orchestrated revenge. Because in James's heart, Ella was the culprit who had killed his sister Cecilia. He wanted her to pay the price—to atone with a lifetime of suffering.
Bound by Fate, Freed by Choice
Her escape leads her to Alpha Rowan, the commanding leader of the Blackwood Pack, who offers shelter, protection, and an unexpected chance at a new life. But Rowan’s fierce and jealous fiancée sees Lyla as a threat, and the pack’s charming Beta is drawn to her quiet strength.
As a dangerous attraction simmers between Lyla and Rowan, they begin to unravel a dark web of secrets that implicates Kaiden and threatens both their worlds.
With her hidden power awakening, Lyla must navigate treacherous loyalties, face the alpha who shattered her, and decide: Will she follow the destiny fate forced upon her, or claim the love and strength she has chosen for herself?
Avery and the Cursed Alpha
Then a mysterious billionaire offers her a deal that sounds too good to be true.
Alexander Ravenswood is powerful, wealthy, and feared throughout Tenebrous City. Behind his perfect public image lies a deadly secret. He is the Alpha of the Nocturne Pack, cursed by an ancient bloodline that is slowly driving him toward madness and death. His only hope lies in finding the legendary Aethon Orb—or the prophesied mate destined to save him.
When Alex discovers that Avery can draw symbols connected to the long-lost artifact, he offers her a contract she cannot refuse: become his fake fiancée for six months in exchange for enough money to erase her debts and save her home.
What begins as a business arrangement quickly becomes something far more dangerous.
As they search for the missing Orb, Avery is drawn into a hidden world of werewolves, ancient prophecies, and deadly pack rivalries. Powerful enemies want Alex's throne. A jealous Alpha heiress wants Avery gone. And a ruthless rival Alpha will stop at nothing to claim the Orb for himself.
But the greatest secret of all may be Avery herself.
Because the closer she gets to Alex, the more impossible truths begin to surface about her past, her strange abilities, and the destiny that has been waiting for her all along.
With a curse threatening Alex's life, enemies closing in from every side, and a forbidden bond growing stronger by the day, Avery must decide whether to walk away from the dangerous Alpha who needs her—or risk everything for a love written by fate itself.
In a city where secrets kill and destiny cannot be escaped, can a fake engagement become a love powerful enough to change the future?
Vengeance of the Forsaken Luna
"Bella." Ethan's tone shifted, taking on that warning edge I knew too well. "Faye is vulnerable right now. She's terrified you'll resent her, that this will divide the pack. The last thing she wants is for this baby to come between us."
"Then you shouldn't have done it." I met his eyes squarely, letting him see the ice in mine. "Go back to your son."
"For fuck's sake." He dragged a hand through his hair. "How many times—it was artificial insemination. They used my sperm, yes, but Faye and I never—"
Bella let out a cold snort. Such brazen lies. Her mate had an affair with his brother's partner, and his entire family helped force her out with nothing, all to make way for the mistress to take her rightful position. Poor fool—he thought she was just an unwanted adopted daughter, easy to dismiss and control. He never knew the computer genius he'd been searching for was his own Luna.
Since he'd tainted himself, Bella was done. She rejected him and reclaimed what was hers, rising to the top with help from Victor, who'd been secretly in love with her for years.
When Ethan tried winning her back: "You don't want our child growing up fatherless."
Bella smiled mockingly. "The child's father isn't you."
From Substitute To Queen
Heartbroken, Sable discovered Darrell having sex with his ex in their bed, while secretly transferring hundreds of thousands to support that woman.
Even worse was overhearing Darrell laugh to his friends: "She's useful—obedient, doesn't cause trouble, handles housework, and I can fuck her whenever I need relief. She's basically a live-in maid with benefits." He made crude thrusting gestures, sending his friends into laughter.
In despair, Sable left, reclaimed her true identity, and married her childhood neighbor—Lycan King Caelan, nine years her senior and her fated mate. Now Darrell desperately tries to win her back. How will her revenge unfold?
From substitute to queen—her revenge has just begun!
Cursed Beauty and her Three Alpha Mates
Cast out by her pack for being wolfless and plagued by uncontrollable heat, Maya has spent her life surviving humiliation in silence.
Fate drags her into the path of Kael Draven, the ruthless Lycan King who claims her… only to reject her.
But Kael is not the only Alpha bound to her.
Finn, her childhood best friend and the rising Alpha, loves her with a devotion so fierce, he spends four years locked away in the most ruthless dungeon only to keep her safe.
Xander, a rogue wolf who can make even Alphas bow to his will, has waited centuries for her to be reborn, and he has no intention of losing her again.
Three Alphas.
Three claims.
One cursed destiny.
They called her wolfless. They thought she was weak. But she is done hiding, and this time, she's rewriting the rules.
Mates: Regrets and Redemption
With my heart in pieces, I sought solace in the last place I expected—my Alpha's arms. One night turned into a dangerous entanglement, and now my Alpha refuses to let me go. As the Alpha’s obsession grows, I'm caught in a web of desire and fear.
Curtis, the boy I once loved, still holds a promise I made, but the Alpha’s powerful presence pulls me deeper into his world. Should I forgive Curtis and keep my word, or should I risk everything for a chance at something wild and unpredictable with the Alpha who won’t take no for an answer?
“There are no limits between us,” he chuckled, the mirth sparkling in his gorgeous eyes. “And all of this stems from the night you gave me both pain and pleasure. I’m simply returning the favor.”
He took two steps forward, and I stepped back. “But…” The memory of what I had done filled me with fear, and I knew I had to get out of there. “I…”
“No, Firecat.” He placed an index finger on my lips. “This will take your mind off that son of a bitch.” His strong hands pulled me by the waist until I felt his hard manhood.
From Sacrificed Slave to the Dragon King's Obsession
His fangs glinted as he gripped my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. Dragon scales shimmered along his neck, breath scorching my skin.
"Your Majesty... I beg—" He shoved me onto the bed. Silk tore with a sharp rip, cold air rushing over my exposed body.
"Scared?" He smirked, palm sliding down my waist, fingers tracing slow, burning circles. "Yet you shiver... not from cold."
I lunged for the candlestick, but he caught my wrist, pinning it overhead. His knee forced my legs apart.
"When your father gave you to me," his lips brushed my ear, voice a dark rumble, "you were already mine."
On the eve of freedom after ten years of servitude, Lina Valeria stood one night away from reuniting with her betrothed. But Dragon King Augustus condemned her to the Abyss Mines on false charges—a trap forged from obsessive desire.
Augustus Ashenwing, Supreme Sovereign of Skyhold Citadel, is ruthless and feared by all races. His obsession stems from ancient grudges and dragonkind's most dangerous instinct: possessive desire. He demands her submission, binding her to his throne as his consort.
From prisoner to queen, Lina battles him through court intrigue and twisted passion—fighting for her mother, her freedom, her dignity.
Yet this cold-blooded tyrant reserves all tenderness for her alone. He indulges her temper, bends his pride, compromises without limit—anything to see her smile. Gradually, her heart wavers. But loving him means betraying Kain, who waited eleven years. Torn between duty and desire, she drowns in agonizing guilt.
Love and hatred intertwined—a forbidden dragon romance in a realm of oppression.












