Novels by Tia Summers

SLOWLY, MY EYES open to meet the blurry sight of my parent’s living room ceiling. I attempt to sit up but wince as a sudden pain shoots through my temples, almost sending me right back into the fetal position I had been curled into on the cold floor.How did I get here? I thought.Everything is a fog, still, I remember leaving Becca’s party... seeing Nero... then... nothing...What happened after I left the party?And why can’t I remember?As the pain subsides and most of the ringing in my ears lessens, I manage to get to my feet, only to meet the entire circumference of the living room alight with flashing red and blue strobes, glaring through the open window.I blink.What is going o—Before I can even arrange a thought, my door is kicked open, and in comes a brocade of Patrol Guards with guns aimed at the ready... Right at me.“Put your arms above your head! Now!” One of the Guards shouts, spittle flying out of his mouth. My arms do as he says without a second thought.“What— What’

BECCA DROPS the flat iron beside me and spins my chair around to face the mirror. “I’m done,” she announces as I blink away the surprise. My hair, usually curly, now comes down in straight, silky strands hanging all the way past my waist. I sported a smokey eye, sexy red painted lips that I’d never dreamt of wearing till tonight and a light dousing of blush on the apples of my cheeks. Another person is staring back at me. And she's beautiful. “Leo wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off of you when he sees you,” Becca says. “Even though I wish you’d dump the dumb fuck but beggars can’t be choosers.” I roll my eyes. “Are you forgetting that you’re the one who begged me to get out and find a boyfriend? And when I do you’re not happy.” “Yeah, because I meant Rory from Math class not Leo from Sex Ed,” she deadpanned. I snort. “I like Leo, Becca and he’s been good to me. I think if you gave him a chance, you’d really like him.” She sighs picking an invisible thread from her dress. “I d

BECCA SLAMS THE door of Leo's Hummer and he almost has an aneurysm gripping the steering wheel. "I'm gonna kill her." As soon as the words leave his lips, he hops out of the car and get's into her face right there in front of the Alpha's Keep. "Slam my door again, you fucking evil bitch from hell—" "Or what?" Becca cocks her head to the side. The challenge almost twinkling off the blacks of her eyes. "What are you gonna do?" I could see the muscles in his jaw working overtime as his body tensed. No one has ever tested his patience the way Becca has managed to. Those two were like fire and gasoline. Toxic as hell together. They're always trying to see who could get under the other's skin the fastest and Becca almost always wins, being that she just didn't know when to stop. She's always been like this though. Pushing the limits even when it pushes her back. It is one of the things I admire most about her, and one of the things I deplore. Nevertheless, they've been arguing since we

THE AIR IS CHILLY despite being surrounded by so many hot-blooded shifters in the middle of town. I snuggle deeper into my puffer jacket to get away from the cold—and the several eyes boring into the back of my head. They have been glaring at me ever since I stepped into town. I do my best to ignore it but Goddess is it uncomfortable! I don't want to be here if you couldn’t tell. But alas, Mom needs my help today and I promised I’d pick her up some hot coffee on my way over to help warm her up since we’re in the middle of Autumn and in Denali, it’ll only get colder from here. Luckily, Denali wolves are built for this kind of persistent wintry climate being that we’ve been living on these snowy-capped Mountains for centuries now that we've grown almost resistant to the cold. It also helps that we're especially known for having white, fluffy fur coats in our wolf form that protect us from the worst of the winds, compared to our other shifter neighbors. I follow reluctantly behind Bec

"FREAK!" CUTS ACROSS the crowded hallway as heads swivel around to look for the recipient of the insult. And if I didn’t know any better I’d swear these people could smell fear with the way they zoned in on me the moment I stepped through the crowd. Laughs ring out so loud you would’ve sworn the asshole was Chris Rock on Comedy Central. I ignore Ben, the self-imposed class clown and my bully for four years, and head to my locker. My head is downcast so as to not draw attention to myself. But the moment Ben set his sights on you, he made everyone know it. Every-goddamn-one! I feel him at my back as I yank open my locker. “Leave me alone, Ben.” I switch my books as fast as my shaking hands would let me. “Oh come on, Massie. It’s your birthday. It won’t be a special day if I don’t remind you how much of a broken, psychotic bitch, you are.” A book tumbles out of my grip and hits the ground like a thunderclap. I cringe, not at the sound but at his words. I spin on my heels to face him, m

SOMEONE HAD DOUSED our entire front yard in crimson red while we were eating breakfast. Everything from the bushes to my parent’s windows was splattered with the foul paint with the words ‘Happy Birthday, Murderer’ written in harsh red strokes across the front door, like something right out of a horror flick. A wave of helpless anger simmered inside me, so deep and so raw I felt the sting of bitter tears well up behind my eyes. But there was no use crying. This is not the first time this has happened to me and it certainly won’t be the last. This is my life after all. Goddess knows the Denali wolves would never allow their pack’s pariah a day of happiness, especially on her birthday. No, to them monsters like me are meant to be chained, and if they couldn’t have that, they’d settle for my sanity. “Is anyone else getting that smell?” Becca asked, her nose scrunched up on an inhale. I follow her lead, sniffing the air and not pinpointing the smell until... I almost bring up my breakfa

The KnightIt's not the fact that she's my mate that has my blood boiling, even though that's a contributing factor, it's the fact that they were ready to touch her when she clearly didn't want them to. That's not something I stand for and I'll be a dead man before I let something like that slide under my roof. In my pack.Rage sweeps through me like a hot knife at that thought and I stomped on the gas, my hands almost vibrating with barely controlled anticipation.I swing to a stop in front of the packhouse after dropping Morgan off and hop out. Zain meets me on the porch leaning against the door a cigarette hanging from his lips. "They're in the basement," he threw out.I don't say anything pushing through the front doors. My Gamma, Kyler nods with a stoneface before following me, Zain not far behind. I open the door to the basement and instantly the sounds of the men whimpering and begging, find me at the top of the staircase. I smirk, pulling up the sleeve of my shirt. __________

The VillainI get off the bus, still in my waitressing uniform, and start my trek towards the building, along the long winding driveway.I don't knock when I reach the door and just saunter in. The house is quieter than it was yesterday and for some reason, I knew this was a rare occurrence. I see the little boy from yesterday, probably fifteen years old, jog out of the kitchen, a cupcake in his mouth and three more cradled in his arm."Hey!" I called. He paused, eyes bugging out as he took me in. What was his name again? "...Ricky, right?""Youknuffmynamf--" He mumbled around the cake in his mouth. He swallowed. "You know my name?""We met yesterday.""Oh yeah, you're the hot chick that was with the Alpha," he blurted in recollection. His cheeks pinkened at his unconscious confession."Uh... Thanks." I chuckled awkwardly. "I was wondering if you knew why the house is so quiet? Where is everybody?""It's Wednes

The VillainHe guided me down the stairs, past the wine cellar, to the damp, cold basement. Here, there was none of the vibrant colour and elegancy as upstairs. Here it was just stone and freezing air. I could see my breath leave my lips in white mist and watch it disappear further into the darkly lit room. I shivered."Are you cold?" I didn't get the chance to answer before he was shrugging out of his blazer and draping it over my shoulder. His scent surrounded me and I relaxed within its warmth, inhaling his intoxicating scent like an addict."Wouldn't you be cold?" I murmured."Are you worried about me, princess?"I rolled my eyes. "I knew I shouldn't have asked." He chuckled and guided me deeper into the room."Why are we here? Is my surprise my very own ghost? You know I always wanted one," I say sarcastically."Patience, princess. All will come in due time." He took my hand and I let him only because it was dark

The VillainI get off the bus for work. The sky is dark, dotted with stars, and illuminated by the chalk-white moon overhead. The street was dead quiet as I walk towards my house, only to come to a halt at the familiar car in my driveway, so out of place in this kind of neighborhood.He's leaning against his door, hands in his pockets staring at something in the distance. It couldn't be much. All there is around here is broken picket fences and dirt.He looked like a fallen angel, dark, excruciatingly beautiful and ethereal. Hard to believe that the moon goddess designed me to be his mate. I couldn't match his beauty, his goodness. We were just too different. Maybe Maya was right, he would've been better with her, would've been better if he'd never laid eyes on me.I knew he sensed my arrival the moment I stepped off the bus but he didn't turn to me."Are you done avoiding me?" I ask, my movements slowing at the end of the dr

The VillainKaden hasn't climbed through my window in a week and I don't know how I feel about it. A part of me is worried while another part wants to punch him in his throat if I ever see him.I'm worried about my Dad. How is he doing in the prison? Are the others well? I haven't heard from anyone... not Malcolm, not Jacob either, and I'm feeling restless and uneasy about that. Will they really be executed this time?No, Kaden wouldn't do that.He wouldn't kill my father... right?I told Gia what happened as soon as I caught sight of her the night he was taken. I remember her words exactly. "Good riddance." As if he was nothing. As if he wasn't her mate and the father of her children.But who am I kidding? Gia has never cared for anyone but herself. I shouldn't have expected much from her but the sad thing is, I did expect something. Grief, regret... something. Anything! But I was wholly disappointed.At this point,

The VillainI don't usually come through this forest during the day. Afraid of being spotted by patrols. So it feels a little strange as I slip through the passageways below the fallen tree.I press the stone and after a few seconds the latch above my head opens up and an eye leers down at me. "Pierce? What are you doing here? Malcolm said you're not supposed to come back here.""My Dad texted me this morning said he needed my help with the patients," I said.Jacob narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure?""Am I sure my Dad texted me and I didn't hallucinate it? Yes, I am. Now open up," I snap.He closes the latch and open

A high-pitched ringing reverberates in my ears and my teeth ground at the auditory assault. I squint through the disorientation and my eyes almost bulged at the portal Wrath had shoved me through. A dark hole seemed to warble in front of me and as I peer through I could make out the inside of Wrath's suite. With a flick of his wrist, the portal vanishes and I'm stuck frozen, my jaw aching from hanging open so long. "How—? What—" "It's a portal," He says in his usual bored drawl, it snaps out of my stupor. "I got that. I mean how did one just appear in front of us." Wrath rolls his eyes and walks on. I had to jog to catch up with his long strides. "I'm a demon, Dovey. If I have to say it a third time we're going to have a problem." "We already had a problem when you kidnapped me," I bit out. He eyed me from the corner of his eyes, his lips curling up in an amused smirk but he didn't say anything. Good. Because if he did, I was going to punch him in the throat. Demon or not. I'm

I hear movement about the room but yet I can't be bothered to respond to it. I snuggle deeper in the covers, moaning in its comfort. Somewhere in the back of my mind, the image of a dude offering 'dream me' a million dollars to babysit some kid and then 'dream me' accepting it because, duh, I'm not stupid. But then... I fly up, my eyes wide taking in my surroundings. I feel the bed dip and my eyes snap to Wrath. He's tying the laces of his combat boots at the edge, he glances at me behind him. "Great, you're awake. We have a lot to do." I don't know where I suddenly got the energy from but I was on the other side of the room with an alarm clock poised to strike. I narrow my eyes at him, "Where the hell did you take me?" He gives me an annoyed look. "Put the clock down before you hurt yourself." I didn't waste any time, I throw the clock at him. He sees it coming and ducks. It crashes against the wall behind him but I'm already grabbing the remote in the next second. I throw it at

I walk backstage of Circuit Night Club where all the dancers are currently in the process of squeezing their asses into their costumes. I do my best to ignore the dirty looks as I walk past the other dancers but it's only so much a girl could take. Still, I reach my vanity and drop my bag with the enthusiasm of a girl walking into a den of hungry wolves.Hilary is on me before I could get a breath in. She leans against the table, twirling a lock of pretty red hair between her fingers. "You're late."I roll my eyes. "I'm aware," I mutter. "You know you should get a job as an alarm clock. You're annoying as shit and all you're good at is screaming."Hilary's lips curl upwards. "You forget I also give good hea—""Lalalalala! I didn't hear it!"She throws back her head and laughs, slapping my hands away from my ears. "Never thought I'd see it... a prude stripper."I throw her a deadpanned look as I pull out my makeup from my dirty knapsack. "I'm not a prude, I just prefer not to fill ever

Dylan Emilia strolls into my room later that day, and like always she looks as if she walked straight off the runway and found herself in my room. She's wearing a clean white suit that would've been modest if it wasn't for the white lace top hugging her breast and showing through the open lapels. Her hair runs down her shoulders in golden waves She looked sophisticated, beautiful. Emilia and I were like yin and yang. She was all gold and light. Polished and untouchable, and I was darker, rougher around the edges, lost. We couldn't be any different. I push away some books sprawled on my bed to make room for her in case she wanted to sit. She didn't, she stood by the door just staring at me. "You better be taking me to diner first with the way you're eye-fucking me," I said. She sighed, finally taking the space I made for her on the bed. "I need a favour." I sat up straighter, my interest piqued. "Wha

DylanThere might be over fifty people on the top floor of this luxurious establishment. In my opinion, I could risk going to jail for homicide if it would mean I don't have to see this infuriating man ever again.He sat there like a king, rocked back in his seat, a glass of liquor propped on his knee. He was enjoying seeing me squirm. That much was evident in the roguish flicker in his eyes and the small smirk on his lips. He was enjoying this a fucking lot.I was the kind of girl who can yap your ear of on any day, stranger or no. But put me up on a stage in front of a crowd and I'll freeze up like a deer in headlights. It's not something I'm It's something about standing in front of piercing gazes all honed in on you, that makes my skin prickle uncomfortably."Do I hear five thousand?" My jaw drops."Ten thousand!""Twelve.""Fifteen.""Twenty-five."All around me, men and women are shouting

DylanMy Louboutins met lush red carpet as Enzo helped me out of the escalade. I squinted through the bright lights of the cameras flashing all around me. I successfully climbed out of the car without tripping on my dress. Enzo led me to Nino, Vince, Malachai, and Emilia who were doing their best to ignore the shouts and questions from the paparazzi gathered.I jumped a little when Enzo intertwined his hands with mine. I looked down at our locked hands and then at him. He leaned down. "Remember we're putting on a show," he whispered.I frowned.I almost forgot.He guided me into the lobby of the posh building. Men and women in fanc

Dylan "HeyAbuelita! It's me, Dylan." I hear her gasp over the phone. "Mi rosa. How are you? Natalie told me you're on a field trip for school. Or was that just an excuse to shirk your responsibilities as Maid of Honour?" She sounded raspier than usual, tired and drawn really. I chuckled, but it lacked cheer. "A little bit of both, really. How is Mariana doing with the preparations?" "You know your sister. The house is beautiful but I think several of your cousins are planning her murder. She's more controlling than the wedding planner and that's his job." I laughed. "I'm sure it isn't that bad,Abuelita."

Dylan I stare up at the impending wall after my usual morning jog at the back of the Mansion, away from the coming and goings of the securities at the front. I ran alone today. Enzo had kidnapped Malachai and the rest of the guys to hash out a revenge plan for the Los Toros Cartel. And as expected, I wasn't invited. Not that I'm mad about it... Okay, I am mad about it and I know I shouldn't be. I'm not apart of the Famiglia, they are not compelled to tell me anything. But hell! I almost got shot yesterday, I deserve to know what befalls my would-have-been-murderers! Right? I shake my head, banishing all thoughts of Enzo and his stupid Famiglia away, foc

Dylan We were out before the police got there. As soon as we got home, Enzo marched to his office and locked himself in there with the guys without one word to me. He seemed to know something about the attack and he was deliberately leaving me in the dark. I stared at his dark mahogany office doors, the same doors being guarded by two dudes. Both look like they could floor me into hell if I got too close. Fed up of sitting on my hands, I squared my shoulders and got too close. I needed to talk to Enzo and if it means getting my ass handed to me by a couple of thugs so be it. They barely glanced over me as I stood before them. "Hello, criminals. I'm just going to cruise on by. Nothing to see here, gonna ha