Novels by Denise

Kiara My mother-in-law, Juliette, and I got along wonderfully. I have to admit I was afraid Juliette would reject me when she saw I was dating Thomas. After I divorced Jake, I changed my phone number, and no one in town heard from me again. I don’t know if they sent me messages or tried to call. One of the people I never heard from again was Juliette. We didn’t speak until Thomas and I showed up at her house to give her the news we had kept secret, that we were together. And that we were having children... But Juliette didn’t take it badly. On the contrary, she believed Jake had been an idiot. She called her own son an idiot because she couldn’t believe he left me just for believing my sister. Juliette said Jake was no different from what he judged: he judged me for being with his brother, but he did the same thing by sleeping with and marrying mine. I was glad to have her on my side, but honestly, her validation wasn’t really important to me. I knew who had been wrong in the re

Jake “Yes, she has a high chance of dying,” he stated, with a tone I didn’t like. I went from feeling hot to feeling cold. Goosebumps covered my skin, and my stomach no longer had room for coffee. “Kiara’s situation is complicated, and so is one of the babies’. But tomorrow, the other baby could also be compromised.” “I can’t believe she didn’t tell me she had cancer,” I said, leaning back angrily against the chair. I felt rage. Too much. “Did you never suspect something was wrong with her?” he asked after a minute. A minute he spent in silence, playing with the sugar packet from the container. He looked thoughtful, but so was I, enough to wonder why he had gone quiet. Then he looked at me, studying every one of my expressions. “No. I know she’s had vomiting and… that. But nothing out of the ordinary to make me suspect she was sick.” “Jake…” He paused. He looked at me as if asking for permission to say what he wanted to say. “What is it?” I encouraged him. Derek leaned ove

Jake“So? What’s the information you have for me?” I asked when the waitress brought us our coffee.“To begin with, you were right about your suspicions. Kiara’s pregnancy is high-risk because one of the babies has a weaker heartbeat compared to the other.”“It was true…” I said, stirring my coffee.I felt a sharp pang in my chest.Another thing I couldn’t understand.Why did I care? It wasn’t my life. It wasn’t my problem. I didn’t love Kiara. I didn’t care what happened to her.And yet, the pang kept twisting something inside me, something I couldn’t decipher.I took a sip of my coffee, as if that could drown the feeling, but it didn’t work.“Yes. I got the information by bribing the hospital receptionist. I was able to access her medical records. From now on, I’ll have access whenever I want, and I’ll come tell you as soon as I find out anything. But that comes with an extra fee,” he clarified.Yes, Derek was very good at his job, but he was also great at squeezing money out of any

Jake Staying away from Kiara was the healthiest option for everyone, but I couldn’t stay on the sidelines. “You’re still in love with her, aren’t you?” Derek asked, staring at me intently. The question caught me off guard, but my lips were ready to answer. “Of course not.” “Then why do you want to investigate her?” he pressed. “Does that matter?” I said, annoyed. It irritated me that he implied I was still in love with Kiara. My feelings for her were now only resentment, hatred, and disgust, not love. Knowing about her relationship with Thomas made that clear. I only felt rejection. “No one investigates someone unless they care. Either you’re still in love with her, or you want to make her life miserable by learning her secrets.” “Neither. It’s simple curiosity.” I looked away. In love? Hadn’t I been clear? Derek looked at me, clearly not buying my answer, which only made me angrier. But I explained what I wanted from his work so he could start gathering information. When

Jake I walked past Kiara and Thomas, holding Irina’s hand. What nonsense. Kiara is trying to drag me into some confusing game of senseless accusations. I could be many terrible things, but I would never send a text message about a baby’s health issues. As we walked toward the house, leaving Kiara and Thomas behind, I couldn’t help thinking about the message. I didn’t know if they made it up themselves or what. It wouldn’t surprise me if Thomas planned something that low just to make our mother angry with me and cause problems for me at the company. But I had a strange feeling in my chest that I couldn’t shake. Something inside me was pushing me to find out what was going on with the baby. Whether it was true or not. I wasn’t sure if my mother knew that information. Asking her wasn’t a good option either. Asking would expose me. It would make her think that I cared about Kiara. I didn’t care. I was just curious. Mom was resting on the couch and smiled when she saw me walk in, b

Kiara When I grabbed my phone from Thomas’s hands, I faced the suspects and dialed the number so they could see. Jake stared at me like I was insane. Irina, however, gave me a faint smile. She was mocking me. She always did. I put the phone on speaker. There was no need to explain what I was doing. But the phone rang over and over from mine. Yet neither of their phones rang. The call eventually ended on its own because there was no answer. “Can you stop wasting our time? We don’t have all day for your nonsense, Kiara,” Jake’s voice was harsh and cold. Completely uninterested. The phone didn’t ring, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t them. Maybe they had it on silent. That had to be it. It made no sense for anyone else to want us out of the city. I looked at Thomas. He read my expression as if he could hear my thoughts. “Show me your phone, Jake,” he ordered. “Excuse me?” Jake raised his eyebrows, already tired of the situation. “Show me your phone. If you had nothing to do wit

BrightThe police station had a smell I didn’t like. I could sense the anxiety, the confinement. I went through security, left my phone in the tray, and was forced to sign a few papers. I hadn’t called James—not from home or my phone— to tell him I was coming here, because he wouldn’t have agreed with my decision.They led me to the visiting room. Metal table, phone hanging from the wall, two guards watching from a distance. I’d asked to see Dante face-to-face, no glass between us. They said they’d consider it, that they’d see if it was possible. I sat down and waited. I didn’t speak, didn’t check the clock. I just waited for them to bring him in.He came in handcuffed. The guy walked with his head high, as if nothing weighed on him. He had that same arrogant smile he used to wear when he thought he owned everything. He lacked conscience and overflowed with ego. The guards sat him in front of me and stayed close, just in case.“Bright,” he said, like he was anywhere else but a prison.

SophiaThe doorbell rang, and my heart jumped.I knew they were coming, but part of me wished they wouldn’t. Ever since they told me the police would stop by the house to talk to me, I hadn’t been able to sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I went back to that room. To him.Bright was the first to get up from the couch. James, standing near the door, took a deep breath before opening it."Police," a woman called through the door.Two officers stepped in, a woman with her hair neatly tied back, sharp eyes, and a young man holding a folder."Inspector Roberts. Officer Francis. Here for Mrs. Sophia."“That’s me,” I replied, trying to sound calm, though my voice trembled.“We just want to ask you a few questions,” she said. “May we come in?”I nodded. Bright gestured toward the living room so they could sit down. I remained standing, not knowing what to do with my hands.“We’d like to clarify a few details about your case,” the inspector began. “First of all, we need to understand why a f

SophiaSophia remained by my side, breathing calmly, her face serene against the pillow. The light coming through the open curtains slid across her skin like a golden trace. It had been so long since I had seen her so peaceful, without fear or tension. But I could still sense the trauma lingering in her. It was a calm born from exhaustion, not peace, an aftermath of darkness that she still carried within her. The darkness Dante had left behind.I couldn’t get out of my head what Dante had told me a few hours ago. Unlike her, I felt like I was losing my mind, trying to figure out the new game Dante was planning. Dante was clever, a real killer. A master planner. If he’d managed to sneak into our wedding night, into a house full of werewolves who already had his scent, then he was capable of anything. I didn’t even feel completely safe knowing the house was surrounded by wolves; after all, we had been attacked once. Sophia had no idea about the deaths Dante had caused that night. I didn

SophiaSophia was still asleep, deeply, breathing calmly. Every now and then she moved her head slightly or her lips curved into a small grimace.She had stayed awake all night. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, not after everything that had happened. I was afraid that if I closed my eyes, when I opened them again everything would disappear, that Sophia would vanish like an illusion, like those times I dreamed of finding her and woke up with an empty chest.I was sitting next to the bed, elbows on my knees, hands clasped. The silence was so deep I could hear her breathing. Her skin still smelled of soap from last night’s shower, and her perfume filled the room as well.A soft knock on the door pulled me out of my trance.“Bright?” it was James, his voice low.I looked at Sophia before answering. She didn’t move.“Yes, come in,” I said, almost in a whisper, but I knew he would hear me.The door opened slowly, careful not to make a sound. James’ hair was damp and his clothes clean. His e

BrightThe silence in the room was almost absolute. Only Sophia’s soft breathing and the faint ticking of the clock could be heard. There was little light, but it was enough for her to rest well. She looked peaceful in her sleep, and that broke my heart. I knew she hadn’t truly slept in a month. Her face looked exhausted, different.Her skin was pale. Her body looked thinner, and her lips were dry. Still, she was beautiful. She looked so fragile that I was afraid if I touched her, she would break. I had dreamed for so long of seeing her sleep peacefully by my side. I couldn’t believe it had finally happened.A soft knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. I didn’t have to ask who it was. I would recognize that knock anywhere.“Come in,” I said quietly, careful not to wake her.James peeked his head in before entering slowly. His expression was a mix of exhaustion and relief. His clothes were dirty, his hair messy, and there were a few scrapes on his arms, probably from running

SophiaThe door opened, and the warmth of home wrapped around me deeply. My house. The house where I grew up. After so much cold, after so many days filled with darkness, I had finally come back to them. The familiar scent of the house —my mother’s strong perfume— reached my nose. My eyes filled with tears even before I saw them.“Sophia!” my mother’s voice was the next thing I heard, trembling, vibrant, filled with an emotion I hadn’t heard from her in years.Before I could react, I saw her running toward me. Her white apron moved with her hurried steps, her hair grayer and thinner, as if she had aged in the month I was gone. When she reached me, she threw her arms around me and didn’t let go. I felt her embrace so tight that I thought she might break my bones. But feeling my mother’s arms again made me feel like a little girl. I had missed her so much.I clung to her and cried.“Mom…” was all I managed to say.She sobbed uncontrollably, burying her face in my hair, stroking my back

DanaThe wedding night has finally arrived. The long wait would end in less than an hour.I looked at my long, white, expensive, tailor-made dress. It was strange to get married for the second time, but we both decided to leave the past behind and focus on a new future. I'm not going to lie and say it's easy, because it isn't. But we've tried. We've done it together.Our relationship has strengthened after everything we've been through. Demian has become a better partner. Even better than in our past marriage. He has made it his mission to make me fall in love with him day by day and to show me his love.Our three children were happy to have a united family. I could see it in their faces. Soon, a fourth child would join our lives. Demian and I planned it. My health was stable, so we decided to try.“Miss, are you ready?” my chauffeur asked.The limousine was ready to take me to the church. After our wedding, we will go together as a family to the Caribbean. When we return, we will mov

DanaThe first month without him was hard. Without my mother's support, I would never have been able to move forward.The second month was terrifying. I cried so much. I don't know how I didn't become dehydrated.In the third month, my children were already so strong, and the doctors discharged us from the hospital, and we went home, where a four-year-old brother was waiting for us. I took care of Demian's little son because he was left alone. Rachel abandoned him, and he needed a mother. That little boy was not to blame for having a mother like Rachel, so I took care of him as if he were my own son. I know Demian would have loved that.The fourth month was just as painful as the third. I couldn't accept that he wasn't near me. I missed him so much. There wasn't a day when I didn't cry over his departure. I wondered if he was okay. Was he alive? Did he miss us? What did Rachel do to him?In the fifth month, I visited Jeremy's grave almost every day, asking him to help bring Demian hom

DanaI suddenly opened my eyes and sat up in bed, gasping. I coughed non-stop, and my mother was worried about me. I touched my abdomen and noticed that my belly was no longer the same as before. I frowned and looked at my mom."What happened? Where are my children?""The babies are alive in the maternity and baby room. They are in an incubator, daughter" my mom explained, stroking my hair.My babies... my children had been born, and I had been asleep the whole time. I wanted to touch and kiss them. I needed to see and meet them. Their faces, their little hands, and feet. My eyes filled with tears. Finally, I was a mother. Finally, I could meet them.I begged to be allowed to see them. Mom said she would call the doctor to have me taken to see my children. I had never felt such great excitement. I felt energetic like I hadn't felt in a long time."Don't strain yourself. You just came out of a complicated surgery. You have to stay calm. We'll wait for the doctor. Okay?"A surgery? Why

DemianI looked for the address where a black car with tinted windows would pick me up. Rachel's henchmen were coming for me to take me to her. That was the deal. I understood we were going to leave the city and the country so no one could find us. It was madness to leave the country and have no further contact with my family, Dana, or any information about my children. But that was the deal I made with Rachel so she would tell me how to save Dana. I trusted the maid would be of great help to Dana, my son, and my other two children. I wanted to believe everything would be fine while I was gone, but I wasn't sure of it.Nerves were eating me slowly and anxiety was my worst enemy. The star-filled sky didn't match the horrible feeling in my heart today.They picked me up and put a bag over my head. Another rule was not to resist the kidnapping they were going to perform. So I stayed still. I felt a prick on my neck and it took hold of my skin. I grimaced. That wasn't part of the deal, bu

DemianI had to make a quick decision to save Dana. I had to leave or stay with Dana while she died slowly. There was no certainty in Rachel's words, but I had to do something for Dana, and I believe the maid was right all along. If being with Rachel was the key to Dana's survival, I was going to do it. I had to take that risk. I had seen her die before my eyes. I couldn't let that happen again and have it be permanent. Dana and my children needed me. What kind of man was I if I couldn't protect my family from this hell? What kind of man was I if I couldn't keep them alive?I had to accept going with Rachel, but first, I had to make sure the surgery was successful. Hours passed without any answers. A doctor approached Dana's mother, and I went to listen to what happened."What happened? I'm Dana's husband. How is she? My children?""We delivered the babies, and they are alive, but they need to be monitored in incubators for a while, as their organs are still developing. Ideally, the b

DemianDana's heart stopped suddenly while we were talking. Her eyes were fixed on mine, but she was no longer moving. I was terrified. I felt a fear like I had never felt in my life. Anguish took over my body, dragging me down the path of pain. My chest tightened as I realized she was gone. Dana was gone. Someone had to do something. They had to bring my beloved back to me. I couldn't live without her because living without Dana was like being dead in my own life.I took her face in my hands as I heard the long beep of the machine connected to Dana. I searched for something to help her, but I didn't know how. No one prepares anyone for this. Not even I, a powerful Alpha, could escape such immense pain."Dana, no... No!" I shouted. "Don't go! You can't go! I won't allow it. Not like this. Please," I begged. I had never begged anyone for anything in my life, but for Dana, I was willing to do anything.I would give my life for hers. I was willing to take her place and her pain so that s