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I'm Miranda Oakley. I've had 99 hymen reconstruction surgeries because my boyfriend, Carson Stallone, likes it that way. He promises to marry me after I undergo the same surgery for the 100th time.I leave the hospital in glee. Tonight, I plan to give Carson an unforgettable night as it's our 100th time making love.I cautiously push open the mansion door and suddenly overhear chatter and laughter inside, and my name is also brought up in conversation.I stop walking at once."Carson, I can't believe that you've managed to fool the most elite social butterfly in Seafare City, and she still thinks that you're going to marry her."What if she finds out that your fiancee won't even be her two weeks from now? Do you think she's going to lose her mind? She might even send her clients to get revenge on you!"Carson takes a drag on his cigarette and smirks. "She wouldn't dare. I have videos of her doing the deed with 99 different men. If she tries anything, I'll just leak them all online and make her infamous for the rest of her life.""Oh god, that's genius, Carson! She probably still doesn't know that you weren't the one sleeping with her each time, but rather a bunch of random old men!"Carson's friends clap in delight and praise him for his brilliance and ruthlessness. I freeze completely in shock. No wonder Carson always brings me a warm glass of milk every time we sleep together. It was so that other men could take advantage of me.I tear up the reconstruction surgery report and turn to leave.Since he isn't planning to propose to me, then I'm going to fulfill his wishes and find someone else to marry. 
Ten years after our breakup, I found out my ex-boyfriend was still offering a huge reward to find me.
I let out a scoff and swiped the message away.
We didn’t end things peacefully.
The year we broke up, he got another woman pregnant.
And thanks to his mother’s scheme, I ended up pregnant by someone else too.
When he found out, he lost control and made me take abortion pills.
He cried and said, “I just want you to understand. In a family like ours, my life isn’t my own to live.”
“I can give you anything except an official status in my life.”
His mother said, “Our family will never accept someone from the bottom. There’s no way I’ll let our bloodline continue with someone like that!”
He just stood there, listening, not saying a word.
After that, I disappeared from his world.
A decade passed. Suddenly, he was in front of me again.
His face, even more refined and elegant than before, showed a rare vulnerability as his eyes grew red.
He said, “I’ve changed. My parents no longer have the power to dictate who I love.”
“Can we start over?”
I shook my head. “No.”
He looked lost. “Why?”
I answered calmly, “Because my husband wouldn’t allow it.”
... 
In my previous life, I found myself as the unwanted presence in my marriage to Henry Pelham. He was deeply in love with another woman, which eventually led to our broken marriage and my tragic death.
After my rebirth, I realized that the best course of action was to give up and stop caring about our marriage. So, I patiently waited for Henry to bring up the subject of our impending divorce.
But things took a strange turn. Suddenly, that very man, who had been gone for months, began returning home frequently.
"Will you believe me when I say that you will soon long for my complete disappearance from your life?" I asked.
"Stop daydreaming," he replied. "We are destined to torment each other until we die."
I sighed. I was convinced that Henry would soon meet his true soulmate, as had happened in my previous life.
The time had finally come for Henry to cross paths with her, and I thought that I was just one step away from freedom.
Yet, to my astonishment, he retorted, "Who ever said I wanted a divorce?"
He not only opposed the idea of our divorce, but he also became increasingly obsessed with me, to the extent that he abandoned his soulmate! 

In the quiet corners of life, Flora's journey reveals a flow of emotions—love, loss, and unyielding resilience. Estranged from her parents, step sisters and fiance who had horrible plans for her she finds comfort in the care of her grandmother, Melissa, and her guardian, Aunt Celia. Through trials and challenges, Flora carves her path, finding solace in the nurturing love of her grandmother. With gentle strength, she embraces the sudden and almost shameful motherhood and faces the future with unspoken fears leaving behind the town that held her worst nightmare to start anew. Over time, Flora's life takes a turn for the better. She becomes a top jewelry designer and gets a job as the main designer. She buys a nice house in a calm area. Her house becomes a lovely place for her twins, Kayden and Kendra, to play in the yard. However, despite her successes, there's something missing—Kayden and Kendra's father. Who is their farther and where has he gone? 
Her marriage, which has lasted for three years, ends in a divorce. The whole city laughs at her and mocks her for being the abandoned wife of a wealthy family. Six years later, she returns to the country with a pair of twins. This time, she has taken a new lease on life and is now a world-renowned genius doctor. Countless men are now lining up to court her and marry her, until one day, her daughter tells her that “Daddy” has been on his knees for three days straight, begging to remarry her.Roxanne, a kind-hearted and innocent young woman, is married off to the wealthy and enigmatic businessman, Lucian. Roxanne’s life takes an unexpected turn as she finds herself in a loveless and suffocating marriage. Lucian is portrayed as a distant and cold husband, consumed by his own ambitions and scandals.Despite her efforts to be a dutiful wife, Roxanne's marriage becomes increasingly unbearable. She discovers that her husband is having an affair with a scheming socialite. Roxanne’s heartbreak and humiliation push her to the brink, leading her to make a daring decision: she leaves behind her luxurious life to find herself anew.Roxanne’s journey of self-discovery takes her to the bustling city of Paris. In the artistic and bohemian atmosphere, she begins to unravel the layers of her own identity. Through a series of chance encounters, she befriends the charismatic and free-spirited artist, Who in turn becomes Roxanne’s guide to a world of pa*sion, art, and liberation that she had never known before.As Roxanne navigates her new life, she gradually lets go of the constraints that had bound her in her former existence. The novel beautifully portrays her metamorphosis from a timid and abandoned wife to a confident and independent woman. Through mentorship, Roxanne discovers her own artistic talents and finds solace in painting, using the canvas as a means to express her emotions and aspirations. 



I was forced to marry my Mate, the Alpha King. But I said hell no!As a white she-wolf, I, Christal, am also an noble Alpha.Though it was my destiny to marry him, I had never met him, I felt nothing for him! What's more, I've heard he's an extremely violent tyrant.That's why, I chose to escape from my Pack! By pretending to be a human being.However, he found me, captured me, and tried to conquer me.I thought he was cold-bloody, but he protected me, spoiled me, and even got to know me deeply.God, what a gentle Alpha King! Gradually, I totally fell in love with him, but when he proposed to me again, I had to reject him.Because I had a dark dirty secret, that I could never tell him... 
Giselle Whitman's stepsister, Chantelle Whitman, sends Giselle's husband, Gavin Farrell, explicit photos. But Giselle is the one they send to a psychiatric hospital. For 180 days, Giselle suffers inhumane abuse every single day. The day she finally gets discharged, she decides she wants nothing more to do with her old life.Gavin favors Chantelle over her? Fine, Chantelle can have that trash of a man.Penelope Farrell, her own daughter, prefers Chantelle over her? Well, Giselle wishes them a perfect little mother-and-daughter bond.Her brother, Dylan Whitman, dotes on Chantelle? Then they can all stay together for good.When Giselle appears with Reagan Simmon, the most powerful and revered man in all of Kingswell, and sweetly asks him to put her shoes on for her, everyone loses their minds.…The head of the Simmon family, Reagan Simmon, is a man of dazzling brilliance and noble bearing. Though devastatingly handsome, he is notoriously known for keeping women at a distance. As a result, everyone speculates that the Simmons bloodline may very well end with Reagan.Until one day, he is seen chasing after a young woman on the street, his eyes filled with affection. He coaxes her softly, his voice barely above a whisper, "Baby, get some rest tonight. Let's go home and sleep. No funny business. I promise."…Gavin, now Giselle's ex-husband, watches the woman who once had eyes only for him being cherished by another man now. Once dejected and miserable, Giselle now blossoms once more, becoming more vibrant and alluring than ever. All Gavin can do is watch from afar, stealing glimpses of her happiness. And that is already more than he deserves. 



Savannah Cole's childhood friend and longtime boyfriend Camden Brooks finally agrees to marry her after she proposes 99 times.She thinks she's finally on her way to happiness and throws herself into wedding preparations. However, Camden wants to get revenge on her for forcing him to marry her.During the wedding, he drugs her and watches as she's sullied by another. He even spreads the video online so that everyone knows.After this incident, Savannah's career in the entertainment industry is destroyed. She's forced to retire.At the same time, Brielle Dawson, who debuted at the same time as her, takes the opportunity to claim the market and rise to fame.When Savannah hits rock bottom, Camden's uncle, Wyatt Greene, steps forward and claims he's loved her for years.Savannah marries Wyatt after getting her heart broken by Camden. After marriage, Wyatt heals her with his tenderness, and she falls deeply for him. She thinks what happened with Camden was a blessing in disguise—it helped her meet the right person.After six years of marriage, everyone says that Wyatt loves Savannah more than life itself. He treats her like a princess.Their first child is already five, and Savannah is five months along with their second. That's when things go wrong… 
Once upon a time, in the heart of a bustling city, there lived a young woman with a heart full of dreams and a spirit as wild as the wind. She found herself tangled in the glamorous world of the elite, married to a man whose wealth was as vast as the ocean. Their union was one of passion and intensity, but it was also one that left her feeling trapped and suffocated. After an unforgettable night of passion, she decided to take her fate into her own hands. She slipped away from the golden cage, leaving behind the life of opulence and her billionaire husband.Fast forward six years, and our heroine reappears, now a woman of strength and independence. She's not alone though; by her side is a sprightly little boy, a spitting image of his father. His twinkling eyes and charming smile are a mirror reflecting the man she left behind all those years ago. Now she is faced with a dilemma that is as old as time itself. Will she return to the arms of the man she once loved, the father of her child, and give her son the family he deserves? Or will she continue to tread the path of independence, raising her son as a fiery, hot single mom?The story is a rollercoaster ride of emotions, filled with moments of joy, heartbreak, suspense, and anticipation. It's a tale about love, sacrifice, and the strength of a woman who dared to break free from societal norms. It's about finding the courage to follow your heart, even when the world tells you otherwise. It's about the journey of a woman, a mother, and a lover. It's about life, in all its messy, beautiful glory. 




When Andrew Bergman's 99th mistress seeks me out, I'm in the middle of a manicure session.
She tosses me an ultrasound report. "You must be Andrew's wife, right? I'm pregnant with his baby, so you'd better divorce him soon."
I merely shoot her a glance before pulling out a stack of evidence recording her feats of sleeping around with other men and throwing them in her face.
The woman's attitude went through a 180-degree change. She ripped up the report instantly.
"I'll cut off all ties with Andrew right away!"
I admire my freshly done nails, which are painted sanguine red—just like blood. I did spend eight hours on them, after all.
One minute later, I tell the nail tech, "You can get rid of them now."
After all, I have a "ferocious battle" in bed tonight. It'll be difficult for me to put my skills to good use if I still have my fake nails on.
Ever since I got married to Andrew, I've been either dealing with his mistresses or on my way to dealing with them. I've long since become the biggest laughingstock in the upper crust.
Whenever the other socialites see me, they tend to make fun of me by asking me for tips and tricks to discover if their spouses have cheated on them.
Honestly speaking, I don't care about Andrew's flings with other women. What I care about is the fact that those women will fight with me for his wealth.
Besides, whenever I discover a new mistress, Andrew agrees to fulfill one wish for me unconditionally.
This time, I wish to have a child with him. 

Eliana had a flash marriage with a stranger! Her father suddenly suffered a heart attack, her mother fell into a coma due to a stroke, the family's company went bankrupt, and to make ends meet, Eliana, once the high and mighty heiress of the Lucian family, ended up working as a bartender. In a twist of fate, Eliana got entangled with Nicholas, the wealthy and domineering CEO known as the "Wolf". Both had their own agendas, so they agreed to a marriage of convenience. Eliana knew well that she was just a pawn in his game, not worthy of Nicholas's love, yet she couldn't help but fall for him uncontrollably. Faced with his cold indifference, Eliana ultimately chose to disappear from his life.But Nicholas, in a fit of rage, searched the whole city to find her. 
After an accident, her life becomes entangled with the most revered man in Duskhaven. She's forced to leave after giving birth.Three years later, she runs into the man again. She does her best to avoid, hide, and stay away from him!To her dismay, he comes knocking on her door with their adorable child in tow. "You've already had my child, woman. Do you still want to flee?"Cynthia Lynch is rendered speechless.…He's Zachary Beaver, the king of an empire and someone feared by everyone. She thinks there's no chance of them ending up together, but he makes space for her in his heart and dotes on her to no end. He loves and protects her like she's a precious treasure!Then, he uses an alluring tone on her. "Do you want to consider having a second child, Mrs. Beaver?" 
The Don.A panties-dropping gorgeous man, rich, seductive but above all, Dangerous!That's the description of The King of the Italian Mafia, Don Massimo!Who am I?......…I'm Julia, just 18 years old, and don't know much about the real world. I'm brought up secluded and protected from everything (bad) by my parents, all in the name of their love but it was suffocating!At a younger age, I was even home schooled because my mom was scared that something will happen on the way to school or that I would pickup bad influences/habits….It felt like they were stuck in the past while I tried to live in the future!….there wasn't even a TV at home!!When I finally became of age I decided that it was my time….so I went to University and stayed on campus. My parents were not happy about it but with help of my granny I managed to convince them in the end by making a deal that I'll call them every day at least once….a small price to pay for my freedom I thought, so i took the deal.I'm now in my last year but little did I know that my life was about to change because of an unexpected encounter with one man, a man that brought me to my knees with only one look, one seductive word and one touch......."Don Massimo!"Now HE has set his eyes on my virgin ones, drowning me in his smoldering chocolate orbs with no way out......…but i don't mind drowning!…..He unleashed something in me, something i didn't even know i had in me.......something raw…..All goes well until the moment my secret crush comes out in the open and my family shows their true colors and HE starts changing his mind!.......I thought he wanted me but now he backs down, telling me that I'm too innocent for his dark world.......fighting with his own heart between wanting me and not wanting me......And me well i don't know what HE did to me but it seems like some of his darkness already crawled it's way into my heart making me want him, need him, CRAVE him more then ever!! 




During the time I don't have a single cent under my name, I've received three missions to win over the hearts of three respective targets.
The first target is a rising star in the business world.
The second target is a genius doctor.
The third target is a famous lawyer.
Based on how busy these three targets are, it's a walk in the park for me to woo all of them as long as I can manage my time properly.
But I've completely forgotten about the fact that all three targets have their own first loves.
In the morning, the first target's childhood sweetheart accuses me of stealing her bracelet. So, the first target forces me to kneel for the whole night as a form of punishment.
In the afternoon, the second target's first love demands that I donate my organs to her. Even the second target tells me that the reason he allows me to approach him is so that I can serve as his first love's organ donor.
At night, the third target's best female friend takes my nudes and spreads salacious gossip about me. But the third target tells me to be more gracious, and that his friend is just joking around.
I seriously can't endure getting tortured 24 hours a day, so I tell the system that I want to give up and go home.
The system just replies, "Giving up is so easy! All you have to do is die in this world."
Naturally, I take its advice.
But why is it that all three targets suddenly lose control of themselves once I'm gone? 

Why choose just one if she can have them all?Princess Katrinetta is about to embark on her Choosing, a time when every province in Yewforia will select one man to send to Castle Wrenbrook where he will have the opportunity to show his value to the beautiful, intelligent woman who will someday rule the realm. Katrinetta is tasked with the duty of choosing just one man to spend the rest of her life with.In the realm of Yewforia, a man’s highest honor is to please a noblewoman. When that woman happens to be the princess, being a part of the Choosing means everything.As Katrinetta becomes more acquainted with the Representatives, it becomes clear she can never choose just one of them! Cassius is powerful and knows how to make her laugh. Jate is gentle and shy. Reeve is mysterious... and that’s just three of the men who have pledged their hearts to the beautiful princess!Despite her feelings for the new men she’s grown to adore, Katrinetta is also in love with the one man her mother, Queen Rona, would never allow her to be with. When Eliason is blocked from the Choosing, Kit is desperate to find another way to keep him in her life, even if it means defying her mother and the realm.Realm of the Chosen follows Princess Katrinetta as she embraces the love of her men and establishes herself as a benevolent ruler, one who will vow to protect her people and do what’s best for them, no matter the cost.Full of steamy bedroom scenes, romance, love, and intrigue, Realm of the Chosen is a reverse harem romance for mature readers. 

There are two heirs to the most elite family in Pluville. The older heir, Zack Sullivan, was refined and polite, whereas the younger heir, Connor Sullivan, was wild and flippant. To the socialites, they were extremely popular candidates when it came to marriage alliances.
The Sullivans have already determined that Winona Lowe is to become Zack's fiancee because of her stunning looks and unprecedented talents. Unfortunately, she had fallen from grace three years ago because of a series of accidents in her family.
Her younger brother, Scott Lowe, was accused of sexual assault. After that, he somehow fell off a building and died. Her mother took her own life, leading to her father, Gerard Lowe, officially introducing his mistress, Hannah Jordan, into the family.
As for Winona, she's viewed as a by-product of her mother's infidelity, thanks to a paternity test that claims that she doesn't have any blood relations with Gerard.
On the day the news is made public, the Sullivans instantly terminate the engagement between Winona and Zack. At the same time, Winona gets cast out of her family.
It's snowing heavily that day, yet Winona waits outside Sullivan Group in nothing but thin clothes. Unfortunately, Zack never shows his face.
That night, Winona goes to the bar to drink her sorrows away. Suddenly, someone snatches her glass away. She turns around to see Connor's flippant smile on his face.
"Forget about being my sister-in-law. You should become my girlfriend instead." 





Year eight of marriage, Roger's mistress outside was about to give birth.The day I found out, I printed out the divorce papers and moved out of the villa.Roger looked at me, reluctance in his eyes: "I'm sorry, I will definitely find a way to compensate you."Others said I was too petty.What man doesn't stray? As long as it doesn't threaten your position, just endure it. What's the big deal?What do they mean, "endure it"? I refused.I always remembered how, back then, to marry him, I had given up the job offer I'd secured.Roger had even knelt before his parents for three days and three nights."Fine. Want to compensate me? Then I want you to kneel before my door for three days and three nights too. After all, one should see things through from beginning to end." 


In the third year of their marriage, Weston Lowe's foster sister, Elaine Cole, becomes addicted to anesthetics.Sylvia York secretly arranges to send her to a rehab center in Helvetora, but the plane crashes, and no remains were ever found.From that day on, Weston loses his mind. He tears York Group apart, driving Sylvia's parents to take their own lives. He then drugs Sylvia before abandoning her in the back alley of a bar.She is assaulted and left for dead.As her life slips away, Weston towers over her with wild eyes. "You left Elaine without a body, so yours will be fed to the dogs!"His obsession and twisted attachment make Sylvia finally understand the forbidden feelings he had for Elaine all along.When Sylvia opens her eyes again, she is reborn. 
In a world divided among three powerful rulers—the Lycan King, Alpha King, and Rogue KingGrace Windsong, a strong-willed Luna, finds herself betrayed by her Alpha husband. Unable to bear children, Grace is cast aside as her husband openly embraces his fated mate. Determined to seek revenge and reclaim her dignity, she strikes a deal with the Lycan King, Alexander Black, her husband’s fiercest rival. Yet, as their alliance intensifies, buried passions and bitter secrets resurface, turning their quest for vengeance into a dangerous game of love, betrayal, and redemption. With enemies on all sides, Grace must decide if she can overcome her past and navigate the dangerous politics of the werewolf world, while confronting her past and fighting for her future—or lose everything in the process... 


When 20-year-old rebellious heiress Selena Lowe wakes up, she realizes she has aged 17 years in a single night.On top of that, she's married to her childhood sworn enemy, Elijah Cole, and has three children with him.However, the most ridiculous thing about this entire situation is how Elijah criticizes her for being a bad mother when the doctors are fighting to save the life of their daughter, Louisa Cole.The only photo she has of Elijah is their wedding photo, which she's using as her phone wallpaper.Selena is missing a good chunk of her memories. She has Elijah blocked on Twitter. Her children fear and avoid her. Her old classmate, Jordan Shaw, appears out of the blue and confesses his undying feelings to her.Her temper explodes. She grabs Elijah's collar and yells, "Did you trick me into marrying you? You bastard! I refuse to play the role of your gilded wife any longer!"She didn't expect Elijah to grasp her wrist. His eyes are dark behind his glasses as he hisses, "Did you already forget? You're the one who forced me to marry you all those years ago."So, here comes the million-dollar question—did Selena force Elijah to marry her, or did he trick her?Can this wealthy and messy family of five even have fun anymore? 

With a game of escape, Melissa Davis sniffed what she meant not to eat. Now her teeth were aching.________________________________________When Melissa, an 18 years high school student, a professional Sniper and the Heiress of the Whale Mafia family, received a call to come back to the City, she thought it was because of her crime in Germany, however, on her arrival to Mexico, Melissa realized her father had arranged for her an engagement to the Heir of the Shark Mafia family for collateral.To cancel the engagement and fulfil her last bucket list, Melissa ended up with Donald Don, the youngest Mafia Underboss whose true identity was hidden from humans. Hence, he became her hell… her nightmare… her misery and… also her heaven!With Donald Don, will Melissa ever achieve her aim? What more she didn't know about this young and handsome billionaire who had lived his life for one thing other than love? With Melissa beside him, will Donald Don ever be able to break his curse?F B : Author Elita RosePS: This is a Mafia Werewolf Romance Story. 

Trigger Warning: 18+, rape, abuse, Mature and sexual content, slavery, violence. "Don't get the ideas that you are ever going to receive anything other than hate from me, Athena. I don't need a mate. I don't need a weak pathetic bond like this to survive," He growled as he grabbed a fistful of my hair and harshly threw me on the bed.I was naked and helpless in front of his menacing eyes."Sebastian, please don't do this..." "I have purchased you from that auction only because you'll come in use to tame my wolf, and you are nothing but a good that I will use every day and night for my pleasure. And your life in hell starts from today." "Please don't..." I begged but none of my words affected him. I backed away till my body hit against the headboard but he dragged me by my ankles and shredded the last piece of fabric, my panties, and threw it away.****After being sold by my parents to auctioneers because of being a wolf-less she-wolf. When fate landed me in my mate's arms from the auction, for once I thought I was finally going to find happiness...someone who'd love me. But it was another hell I landed into.Sebastian Valdez-- was known as the cursed Alpha who killed his own father. Everyone feared him, his barbaric deeds had no bounds, and he did not have a heart. He only had one rule in his life--Thrive in others' pain. But what he did to me was even worse. He snatched my innocence, abused me, raped me every night, hurt me beyond extreme, and left me with only the want to escape from his cage but that was until I got to know what his curse was......I want to save him from the curse, no matter what he has done to me. I love him as his mate, not just a good from the auction... 
"I, Logan Carter, Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, reject you, Emma Parker of the Crescent Moon Pack."I could feel my heart breaking. Leon was howling inside me, and I could feel his pain.She was looking right at me, and I could see the pain in her eyes, but she refused to show it. Most wolves fall to their knees from pain. I wanted to fall to my knees and claw at my chest. But she didn’t. She was standing there with her head held high. She took a deep breath and closed her wonderful eyes."I, Emma Parker of the Crescent Moon Pack, accept your rejection."When Emma turns 18, she is surprised that her mate is the Alpha of her pack. But her happiness about finding her mate didn't last long. Her mate rejected her for a stronger she-wolf. That she-wolf hates Emma and wants to get rid of her, but that isn't the only thing Emma has to deal with. Emma finds out that she is not an ordinary wolf and that there are people who want to use her. They are dangerous. They will do everything to get what they want.What will Emma do? Will her mate regret rejecting her? Will her mate save her from the people around them? 


Everyone in high society knows that Keith Ford, the scion, is intensely possessive and loves nothing more than showing off his affection.But ever since Ariel Levine's abduction, he realizes the importance of keeping her out of the spotlight.From that day on, his obsession borders on madness. When she develops post-traumatic mutism, he hires the world's top psychologists and brings them into their home to treat her. When she wants to go out, he builds a fully-equipped castle designed specifically for her. It's almost like a small city of its own.People say that Keith is keeping his mute wife under gentle confinement. But Ariel believes that he is just too afraid of losing her again after that one incident.For five long years, she has been living under his airtight protection, completely cut off from the world.One day, Ariel realizes her voice has finally returned. She sneaks out of the castle for the very first time and hails a cab to Keith's company to surprise him.But just as she enters the city center, the police stop her. 
"Underworld, Blood-pumping Street Fights, Ruthless Action, and an Absolute Kingpin."
I blind a local bully to defend the woman I love and spend three years in prison for it.
When I get out, she doesn't show up to welcome me. Instead, I receive her wedding invitation. She is marrying the same bully I took down for her.
The streets are wild, full of danger, and full of schemes.
Brothers stand by each other, but even brothers can betray each other. People turn on you when you need them most.
Loyalty sounds big, but heroes still fall. Some die before they ever see justice.
Power looks glorious, but one wrong step and everything burns down.
My name is Luca Hall. I grew up in Stonebrook. On the day I was born, a storm tore through the hills and woke a real beast.