



Another name: TEARS OF A FLOWER"What do you want, Victoria?" Victoria walked closer to Vega, her eyes held hatred in them."Look, let me warn you, don't even dare try to ruin my marriage, or else I will make your life a living hell!""You knew he wasn't your mate, and you let him mark you, didn't you?" Vega asked with anger brewing inside her.Victoria lowered her gaze a little, which meant she actually knew."So what if I know? I'm the one he marked, not you!" She yelled, showing Vega her marked neck.******************************What happens when your twin sister is accidentally marked by your one true mate?Victoria and Vega are twin sisters born to the Alpha of white snow pack.These sisters are so identical that it was very difficult to differentiate between them. Their Father Alpha Blake Gilbert sometimes found it hard to tell their differences too.Fortunately they had two distinct features that separated them, one is the fact that Victoriawho happened to be the eldest was reckless and stubborn, while Vega was calm and quiet.But sadly, Vega was the one who always got punished for her sister's crime.Everyone in the white snow pack thought Vega was the black sheep among the two.Vega suffered silently.Secondly, Victoria's wolf was brown while Vega's was white, but no one had seen Vega's wolf which was a rare kind.Alpha Reynold Flames of Blue Stone Pack happens to be the most famous and well-respected Alpha in the northern province of Westland.He is a Lycan and he was very powerful.At the age of thirty, Reynold was still without a mate.When he visited white snow pack, his wolf sensed the presence of their mate.Excited as he was to find his mate, he was deceived into marking the wrong woman (Victoria) since she smelled just like his mate (Vega).What will happen to these three lives which have become entangled for life? Will there be a breakthrough for them or will things get even worse? 



Life, they say, is not a storybook but life unfolds in chapters; good chapters, bad chapters. What happens when the chapters of Jasmine’s life were not only bad but terrible?***In a world where only the strong gets what they want, and where women are only considered toys, Jasmine, an omega wolf, is thrown into the furnace of life to burn by her mate whom she loved but now loathed.She was abused day and night, lost countless pregnancies in the hands of her toxic mate, and was used as a mere pleasure toy. Life seemed hopeless, and fate played a quick one when she discovered she was pregnant again.To protect herself and her baby, she ran away from the pack and ended up in the arms of another Alpha.What happens when she discovers this Alpha was her second chance mate?Is she finally going to be happy or has fate tricked her yet again? 



Every she-wolf in the Blackwood Pack envied me.Olivia Klein, the lowest-ranked Omega who married the most powerful Alpha, Dominic Blackwood.Yet none knew the truth of my torment.The Phoenix mark on my neck made me Dominic Blackwood’s Luna—but it never made me his choice.For five years, I endured his hatred, the pack’s scorn, and the crushing weight of a prophecy no one believed.And when the car crash nearly stole our unborn child from me, my desperate calls went unanswered.Instead, Dominic moved his ex into our bedroom.That’s when I understood: prophecies lie. Marks fade. And some battles?Aren’t worth fighting.For the sake of my child, I was resolved to leave.But tell me, why did that callous, heartless Alpha suddenly have regrets? 
My high school life was ordinary, focused on family until I was bitten by Noah, the Alpha of an ancient werewolf pack. Struggling with newfound powers, I was drawn into the Ashwood pack, where I began to master my abilities under Noah's guidance. Despite his human girlfriend, Elsa, I felt a deepening connection with him. Our pack faced turmoil when Douglas, from a rival pack, sought revenge. As tensions peaked, I stood by Noah, helping him defeat Douglas and end the conflict. Through love, loyalty, and battle, the Ashwood pack emerged stronger and united for the future. 



I'm not my husband Ethan Doyle's fated mate, but we love each other and share a happy marriage.I think we'll keep living that way—until I find a strange message on Ethan's phone."Ethan, do you want to come see the lingerie you bought me?"My world collapses, and I can't bring myself to love again.Then, by accident, I discover my fated mate has suddenly appeared.He turns out to be Ethan's uncle, Kieran Doyle, the Alpha of Frostmane pack.I don't want any more ties to the Doyle family, yet Kieran keeps pursuing me and forcing himself into my world."You're my fated mate. Where do you think you're running?" Kieran pinches my chin and makes me look him in the eye."Kieran, don't..." I keep backing up until I hit the wall.His cedar scent wraps around me, filling my every breath."You're divorced now, my mate." 
Have you ever wondered how your life will be when everything you know just changes and the person you used to be changed in a way that makes you very scared even afraid of yourself?She wasn't a saint, not a good person, and made a lot of wrong choices in life. Her choices led her to a place that made her get enlightened and review herself for the better. When she wanted to end it all and make it up to those people that she wronged, fate had something entirely different from what she had imagined. All it took was a bite and her life was changed forever.He lost everything at the hands of the greedy people in his pack. He vowed to get his revenge and pay them back one hundred-fold. He fulfilled that vow, he got what he wanted but never did he think that he will be cursed to be one without a mate even in his late thirties.He lost all his hope and lived for the sake of the pack that was with him when he was at his lowest. Being a rogue king, having a lot of enemies at his back, he knew that he shouldn't fall.Living in a dark world with no hope of light and pink bubbles, all it took was a bold move from her and he knew that very second that he found her.Bold, defiant, daring, and above all confident. What more could a scarred rogue Alpha like him ask for?His Venus!!! 

Ava’s world has always been a prison, ruled by fear and cruelty under her father’s oppressive hand. Bound by a lifetime of pain, she knows only suffering, her every breath laced with terror. When the man who should have protected her sells her into slavery, Ava falls under the ruthless control of Mr. Drake. Yet, despite the darkness closing in, she refuses to surrender. With strength and resilience, she fights back, determined to escape and seek revenge on those who betrayed her.Will she break free from the chains that bind her and rewrite her own destiny, or will the shadows of her past consume her?This story is not for the faint of heart. It delves into dark themes of abuse, violence, and the fragile hope for redemption. Reader discretion is advised. 
When Erin run into her high school boyfriend, who now is a billionaire, at a restaurant, he cornered her against a bathroom stall "Behavior yourself." She warned him "Be a good girl if you don't want to be heard. " -- “Are you ladies bothering my girlfriend?” “Gavin?” One of the girls said, her voice suddenly so small. Gavin Pierce. The Alpha of the Darkmoon Pack; he’s seemingly one of the cruelest and toughest Alphas to walk our universe. He also happens to be my ex-boyfriend. The very same one that I left back in high school. Gavin drapes an arm around my shoulders, completely disregarding my soaked shirt. The girl and her friends stared at us with gaping mouths, unsure of what to say at that very moment. “You got back together?” she asked, her voice nearly hollow. “I had no idea.” “My personal affairs aren’t a concern of yours, Cassondra,” he said to her, sounding bored and uninterested. “Of course, not…” Cassondra stammered. She bowed her head to us. “I’m very sorry.” -- “You owe me for saving you out there,” he said in a deep and threatening tone. I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat, staring into his gorgeous eyes. “What is it you want?” I asked, my tone low and breathless. “Don’t you remember the last time we were in a bathroom together?” He asked, that smirk appearing on his lips again. “It was in a stall… just… like… this.” 

When Teresa Bradley, a young journalist with a passion for photography, meets Sebastian in a park, she becomes captivated by his beauty. Trying to capture his emotions, she falls into a river, risking her life. A powerful bond forms between them after Sebastian rescues her.As Teresa tries to make sense of her terrifying experience, Lettice, Sebastian’s great-great grandmother, kidnaps her, revealing secrets about her own existence. Bash is determined to save his human Luna, so he's gathering an army with his cousin Liam and their pack.Despite the chaos and danger, a beautiful love story blossoms, with challenges to face. Teresa accepts her destiny and the bond she shares with Bash, but the threat is far from over. Rejected by her family, Lettice turns into a vengeful hellhound consumed by hatred and seeking revenge.Will Lettice's revenge be the downfall of the Kielder Pack, or can Sebastian and Teresa keep their family and lives safe? 
She’s a deadly assassin with no mercy. He’s a ruthless Alpha with no time for weakness. But when fate mates them… all hell breaks loose.Samantha Stone is a Were-Vamp hybrid, the most chaotic of Alpha Zoe’s infamous sextuplets, and a cold-blooded assassin with a perfect kill record. Stealth, power, and zero emotional attachments—until a prank gone wrong lands her deep inside enemy territory.Her mission? Infiltrate the Blue Moon Pack. Keep eyes on Alpha Kyler Arrow. Don’t get caught.Too bad she does.Worse? He’s her fated mate.Kyler—genius Alpha, lethal assassin, and a control freak with a temper—should kill her on sight. Instead, he’s drawn to her fire. But just as sparks fly and secrets start to unravel, fate throws its cruellest twist yet…Samantha loses her memory.Now Kyler must protect the girl who tried to sabotage him—the girl who doesn’t remember who she is, what she’s done, or who she is to him. With enemies closing in and her forgotten past threatening to destroy everything, can Kyler convince her to trust him before it's too late?Action-packed, hilariously wild, emotionally intense, and scorching romantic—Bonded To The Dangerous Alpha will leave you laughing, crying, and gasping for more. 
Every girl at the age of eighteen, if left unmated, is volunteered for the Alphas Hunt. Hazel is no exception and also the only one who sees it not as a chance to find a strong Alpha to take care of her, but rather as a ceremony that strips you of your free will and sends you out into the woods to be hunted like a deer.If she is claimed she will be his. If she is not, she will return in shame and be shunned from her pack. Hazel knows the ways of the Alphas, being the daughter of a Beta, but what she doesn't count on is the presence of the Lycan King. The leader of all is participating in his first-ever hunt, and she is his prey.***Warning: This book contains a LOT of mature content such as strong language, explicit s*x scenes, physical and mental abuse, BDSM, etc.*** 

In a world where werewolves reign, Amelia, an innocent and kind-hearted young woman, finds herself sold to the cruel Alpha King, Lucius by her step father, the Alpha of a small pack to secure his place. Determined to secure her freedom, she must bear him a son, unaware that Lucius is her true mate. However, her hopes are shattered when she discovers Lucius's dark intentions and the curse that plagues him. Fueled by a newfound determination, Amelia escapes with the help of a loyal servant, Mary, setting off a chain of events that uncover a hidden conspiracy within the werewolf society.She joins forces with rebel werewolves led by Gabriel, a charismatic alpha. Together, they challenge the oppressive rule of alphas and fight for equality and freedom. However, their quest becomes more perilous as other alphas seek to manipulate Amelia's unborn child, recognizing the power it holds to break Lucius's curse and give them to power to become the Alpha King.Amidst battles and betrayals, Amelia's conflicted feelings grow as she navigates her bond with Lucius when he finds her and seeks to claim her as his mate and her blossoming connection with Gabriel. With the fate of their child and the werewolf realm hanging in the balance, Amelia and Lucius must unravel ancient prophecies, expose the conspirators, and confront the manipulative forces that seek to control their destinies.Amelia's journey is one of sacrifice, love, and self-discovery as she challenges the very foundations of werewolf society. Will she find the strength to forge her own path, redefine the roles of mates and power, and ultimately shape the future for herself, her child, and the entire werewolf realm? 


Orphaned at birth, Scarlett Winters returns to her birth pack hoping to finally find a family's love. Instead, she becomes nothing more than a pawn in pack politics, arranged to marry Alexander Amber, the powerful heir to the Northern territories. For three years, she plays the role of the perfect future Luna flawlessly, until Alexander's former flame Grace returns, flaunting both her pregnancy and victim status."Let's sever the mate bond now," Scarlett declares, her emerald eyes flashing with defiance as her immunity to Alpha command sends shockwaves through the pack."Don't be ridiculous," Alexander sneers, his arrogance evident. "You wouldn't dare give up the Luna position."But what Alexander and the Winters Pack don't know is that their supposedly docile she-wolf was raised by the formidable Thorn Pack in the North. Her adoptive brother Roman, the legendary Shadow Alpha King whose mere name makes lesser wolves tremble, has been searching for her since she mysteriously disappeared three years ago to protect their adoptive mother.Now Roman has finally found her. Their reunion ignites the mate bond they've both been fighting, forcing them to confront their forbidden feelings. As his scent of pine and midnight overwhelms her senses, Scarlett feels her carefully constructed walls crumbling."Five minutes," Roman growls, pulling her onto his lap, his blue eyes blazing with three years of suppressed desire, "to explain why you fled during our pack's darkest hour." 

Cercei's eighteen years of existence were marred by excruciating pain and suffering solely because of her uncanny resemblance to Vienna, the Alpha's daughter. Cercei found it unbearably cruel that she possessed the same beauty as Vienna, which made Vienna feel insecure, leading her to subject Cercei to relentless torment.Despite the numerous hardships, Cercei received love and care from her parents, and she remained humble. Although their Alpha never respected them and treated them as mere servants, her family found happiness. However, everything changed dramatically on her eighteenth birthday when their Alpha ruthlessly killed her father without a valid reason and mercilessly crushed his heart underfoot after digging it out.Enraged and seeking revenge, Cercei felt powerless until she encountered the King Alpha of the North, whom she slept with. This chance encounter changed her life abruptly, cracking all the hidden secrets and lies her mother had carefully concealed for eighteen years. The revelation shattered Cercei's belief in her perfect family and parents, leaving her questioning everything she had ever known.#Caught in an Unexpected Romance Writing Contest 


Driven by love, Evolet, a weak Omega, joins the Luna's hunt to be with the Alpha who stole her first kiss. She does this against her mother's order, hoping her best friend, Fiona, would keep this a secret. But her trust is broken when Fiona reveals her devilish side, causing a rift between Evolet and her mother. She reveals her true desire to be the Alpha's Luna, mocking Evolet's inability to summon her wolf. Her words got to a desperate Evolet, who feels scared and ends up doing something she has never done before. She strikes a deal with the pack's enemy, a pervy rogue with a strange wolf ability, to become her wolf for the game.***"Do you know what you're saying? You want me to be your wolf?""Yes, I do. I... I want you. Please, be my wolf."**** Will Evolet succeed and defeat Fiona?* Is she doing the right thing by going against her mother's order and joining this hunt for the sake of a man?* What if she's wrong about the Alpha and the Royal Family?* What if the rogue isn't just her wolf... But more than that?Find out now. 



“I know this may sound crazy,” Nelson began calmly, “but I want us to get married. For real.”Grace’s head shot up, her eyes wide with disbelief. “What?”“It’ll be a contract marriage,” he explained. “Three years. Once the contract ends, you’ll be free to go your own way, and I’ll go mine.”The words sent her spiraling. “Why?” she croaked.Grace's life takes a tragic turn when her father dies mysteriously, and all his wealth is taken in a claim of paying an unknown debt. It gets even worse when her mother becomes a drunkard, and she has to be the breadwinner of the family to ensure her brother is well taken care of. Dreams shattered, and abandoned when she found out about her cheating boyfriend. She feels it's all when life throws her another curve ball as someone sets her up to be raped. What happens when her rapist turns out to be none other than Nelson Divine. The richest billionaire alpha in the country. Not only that, he is her alpha mate. Love, hate, betrayal, and nigh more is Grace faced with. Will her life change after encountering the demigod of an Alpha? Or is she bound to suffer forever? 


After two years of failing to find her mate, Zira was close to giving up hope. She decided it was time to get out and travel instead of dreading her misfortunes. Before she had a chance to leave, she acted upon feelings for someone else. However, those feelings set off a chain of events that would change her life and everyone around her. She finally had a chance to be with the person she had a crush on for a while, but that all changed when he met his mate. Would she be able to let go and leave the place she had finally called home?Alaia had dealt with heartbreak that nearly killed her. So, when she found out that her mate had a lover who always seemed to be in the way, Alaia would stop at nothing to make sure he was completely hers. How far was she willing to go?Isaiah was ready to take the next step with his chosen mate and focus on being the next Alpha of the Black Moon Pack. That all changed when his sister's marriage proposal led him to find his mate. Unbeknownst to him, other events would challenge him as an Alpha and a mate. Would he be able to choose between his duties as an Alpha or his duties as a mate? How will he handle the love triangle between Zira and Alaia? Does he have the power to protect all those he loves?Triggers/Warning: Sexual content, death of a character, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Please take caution when reading. 

"You're a curse, Eileen! Everyone around you becomes miserable because of you!"
"You're the damned one, Eileen! You shouldn't have been born!"
The pain was too much, and Elleen clutched her heart and fainted among the Stoneheart wolves.
"Mate!"
She never expected to become Alpha Jason's Mate! Did the moon goddess realize her injustice? Was this a good start for her?
"The thing I regret most is claiming you as my mate! You'll never give birth to a healthy child. You have no value to the pack!"
"Leave with your monster!" Jason announced viciously.
"No!"
Eileen's heart was pierced again. Why was fate so unfair to her? What had she done to deserve this? She looked at her sleeping daughter and collapsed in the forest. The rogues caught her scent, and despair washed over her as she wondered if her fate would end there.
Suddenly, a black wolf appeared and killed the rogues. The sweet scent of her mate filled her senses, and her inner wolf howled wildly in her mind! A second mate? But when she saw the black wolf transform into a human, she felt the air around her being sucked away!
Why was the moon goddess so cruel to her, driving her out of the wolf pack? The person who drove her out turned out to be her second partner! The triplets who bullied her had become her second mate! What would her fate be? Would she continue to be hurt, or had the triplets uncovered the truth and decided to protect her? So, would Eileen choose to accept or reject? 





"What's the big rush, little mate?" he asked, shifting his head from side to side."No, no, no big rush," I muttered nervously under my breath. Alex's closeness was stirring unknown feelings inside me.Alex's hand moved to the side of my face, and I flinched at his touch as he carefully removed a stray hair from my face. Did I just feel sparks?"Why are you scared of me, little mate?" he asked, his husky voice full of emotion."I-I-I am not," I stuttered nervously. "I-I-I am just..."Alex moved his head to my nape, extended his canines, and scraped my marking spot. I shivered, feeling my legs give out under my weight. He slowly pulled his head back and took a deep, lingering whiff of my scent."Ahh," he said excitedly, licking his lips. "You smell so bloody delicious."Alexander took my innocence last night, and now he is taking that thing Angelica in his office as his Luna. Emily became the laughingstock of the pack on her 18th birthday and never expected the Alpha's son to be her mate. After a night of passionate love, Emily discovers her mate has chosen another to be his Luna. Heartbroken and humiliated, she disappears from the pack.Now, five years later, Emily is a respected high-ranking warrior in the King Alpha's army. When her best friend invites her to a night of music and laughter, she never expects to run into her mate. Will her mate figure out it is her? Will he chase after her? Most of all, will Emily be able to keep her secrets safe or rekindle the tango in his heart? 
"I'm mated to you, Asher," I whispered, hoping for his acceptance."No, you're mated to yourself because I can never be with someone like you," Asher replied coldly. "I, Asher, hereby reject you as my mate."Confusion and heartache consumed me as I stared at him, my voice trembling. "Why are you saying all of this to me?""Because, Lenora, I can't be your mate. I regret accepting to be your boyfriend in the first place; it was merely out of pity," he declared, devoid of emotion.Tears welled in my eyes as his words cut through me. "I've never loved you, Lenora. I thought you would grow stronger, but you're still the weakest wolf I've ever encountered, even at seventeen."Lenora Hunter, marked as the weakest wolf in the Serene pack, had never let that define her until she faced rejection from Asher, her only hope. Meanwhile, the presence of Alaric, the New Alpha, struck fear into the hearts of wolves far and wide. He was a dreadful and elusive figure, known but rarely seen. Alaric's arrival in the Serene pack, with intentions unknown, only added to the turmoil. Would Lenora, as the weakest wolf, survive the clutches of this ferocious predator? Could she be an exception to his malevolent ways? 
**Warning: Contains strong language, smuts, abuse and some really explicit content, please read at your risk.** "Let go of me…" Arabella said. She grimaced, shaking her head. "Do you think I would let you go so easily?" He questioned, then tutted. Sandro's nostrils flared as he sniffed her hair wrapped in his hands, Vanilla and Strawberry. The innocent yet naughty scent he remembered her with. "That would never happen, Cara Mia." Arabella gasped as Sandro pressed his body into hers. She moved to shove him away but he grasped her hands and pinned them above her head before pointing the gun at her temple. Arabella shut her eyes tightly as the gun cocked. She inhaled and bit her tongue whilst saying her last prayer inwardly. She wanted to run far away from him. Away from the surface of the earth if possible. But she was certain no matter how far she went, he was going to find her. ------------------------------------- Arabella's life took a u-turn after falling into her enemy's hand. She should feel nothing for him, however. He made her lose all her senses, even her clothes. At the mercy of her foe, she discovers some secrets about him and wishes to unravel more, but got what she didn't bargain for. Alessandro, an Alpha werewolf assuming the identity of a mafia Lord. He was the most wanted criminal in COOAN, and his name incites fear in all werewolves' packs. He was a man fighting his demons and needs a saviour before he drowns. After a traumatic childhood event that left him scarred, Blaze often kept to himself and trusted no one until he met Arabella, whom he believed was the perfect mate sent to him by the moon's goddess. However, she was taken. The powerful urge to save her from her... 
My breath caught as his lips claimed mine."I... I accept your terms,” I trembled as he caressed my cheek. My brain was in a mess and all could hear was his whisper."Liana, you're mine!"***As a 22-year old Alpha’s daughter, I was forced to accept an arranged marriage with an disgusting old man. To find a way out, I made a deal with a mysterious Alpha -- He would free me from my fate, and I would carry a child for him.What I didn't know, was that the handsome stranger I made a deal with was not a savior, but a devil!***“Liana, please let me explain.”“No,” I whispered as I closed my eyes against the pain and disappointment. I looked at my swollen belly, my heart broke for our unborn child.But, I just couldn’t stomach one more lie.“We had a deal,” he reminded me harshly. “You can’t just walk away now.”I smiled bitterly at him. "Yes, I can."A Deal with the Mysterious Alpha is created by A.B Elwin, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author. 


My name is Katia, and I am just trying to survive until my fated mate arrives. Which may be easier said than done.Rejectection is the last straw. Whispering my acceptance of his rejection.I run through the pack house, out across the manicured lawn into the forest. "I'm sorry, my sweet girl," I say to my wolf. I'm sorry you have been stuck with me and have had to suffer everything I have. She whispers," it's not your fault, Katia. We came to a cliff with a waterfall. The hurt keeps pounding at me. I need it to stop. My sweet girl, and I just want peace, I keep running and leap off the cliff. Spreading my arms wide, with tears streaming down my face, I fall, not making a sound, waiting for sweet oblivion where we feel nothing ever again. "I love you, my sweet girl! Until we meet again, "My wolf replied just before we hit the water, "I love you too, Katia. I have never regretted a moment with you."The Snow Moon pack is having their last barbecue of the summer next to the waterfall on their land. The adults are laughing and joking while watching the pups play. The alpha, beta, and gamma are swimming with some of the older children and playing a game of Marco Polo.Someone yells, “Oh my goddess, someone just jumped over the waterfall!" Everyone is frozen as they watch what looks to be a child falling arms spread wide, no one makes a sound. The small body hits the water like a plane crashing into the side of a mountain.The alpha, beta, and gamma, spring into action, swimming towards the area the person went under. The alpha is screaming his wolf is going crazy repeating, “Find her. Find her...find her!" They dive and the beta surfaces with a small person in his arms. Alpha takes the girl from his beta, laying her on the ground. The men are shocked by what they see. She is covered in scars and injuries. Her body is twisted and broken. The Beta asks, "Who could have done this to someone so defenseless?"Alpha drops to his knees, repeating, "MATE...MATE...MATE!" 
“I love you, mate,” Kael says to me, and I believe him.Even in the midst of the war and the chaos, the trying to escape and the hiding from our enemies, I know, he is the one for me.I feel the ribbon between our hearts tighten, and the only thing I can say in response is, “Take me.”GemmaAll she wanted was adventure. When she snuck off to take the place of her cousin as a breeder for a distant Alpha, she had no idea the danger and turmoil she’d be faced with. But then, she met Kael, a captured Alpha, and everything changed.KaelHe’s been hiding what’s left of his destroyed pack from their enemies for years. But now that he has Gemma, there’s something worth fighting for.Can the two of them overcome their enemies and find piece for the Moonwake pack so that they can finally be together in peace, or will the rival Alpha win the day?Stolen by the Rival Alpha is created by Claire Wilkins, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author. 

“How does it feel, then, to be kissed by an unlovable brute?” —————— I find it amusing that I didn't even have to track down my runaway bride. She simply climbed into my car, completely oblivious to the fact that I am the man she was running away from. I could catch her. Hunting women down is the last thing I want to be doing, truly. I mean Ruby no harm, even though she unknowingly said some awful, untrue things about me in the car. In time, she’ll learn that those things aren’t true. I’m not like my parents. Still, I have no choice but to marry this girl. She’s barely eighteen, three years younger than me, but it’s fate. All of this mess started about a month ago.