**WATTYS 2025 HONOURABLE MENTION** Cas and Vish are best friends whose feelings run deep. Whilst Cas is clever, sporty, and on the brink of a bright future at university, Vish has no such prospects. A painfully shy artist, Vish's horizons end at his daily routine of pills, sensory issues and panicking parents. When they celebrate what could be their final summer together by painting wildlife and swimming at a secret wooded wetland hidden in the Fens, the lads awaken something ancient and sinister lurking in the water. A voice in Vish's head -- Charlie -- tempts him to spend longer and longer in the woods. When villagers begin to disappear and Vish becomes increasingly secretive and distant, Cas is convinced that Charlie intends to claim Vish, body and soul. Lies, heartbreak and obsession push their friendship to breaking point, but nothing will stop Cas from protecting Vish from Charlie's onslaught, not even a fight to the death. --- This book started life as an ONC 2025 prompt: 105. Your childhood imaginary friend who disappeared years ago returns - only this time they're real.

A young woman makes the brave decision to flee her toxic stepfather, only to be taken hostage by an escaped convict hours later, but he may just be the key to her freedom. 🔥BOOK ONE IN THE MAYHEM SIX SERIES🔥 *** After stealing money from her wealthy but controlling stepfather, Nataly Collins makes the bold decision to run away with her four-year-old sister. But as she does, she crosses paths with an escaped convict from the local penitentiary, and he plans to keep the sisters hostage until he can safely cross the Canadian border. Of course, the more Nataly spends time with this convict, the more she learns he isn't what he appears to be despite his death-themed tattoos and intimidating stature. Soon it becomes obvious that they need each other to avoid capture. And Nataly can't help but feel the safest she's ever felt around him. Will she be able to fight off her emerging feelings for this dangerous criminal?l? ~ ACCOLADES ~ 🏅ONC HONORABLE MENTION ✨ ONC Shortlister ❤️ AMBASSADORS PICK 🔥 Third ranking in #badboy

This is a FREE STORY with one paid bonus chapter! An exclusive boarding school on the coast of Maine. The unexplained death of a female student. A sister determined to find the truth...even if it kills her. * * * * * When Mia Greenley's older sister, Ava, dies under mysterious circumstances, she's determined to uncover the truth no matter how many rules she has to break. But when she enrolls at her elite New England boarding school, possible suspects reveal themselves at every turn, messing with her head and agitating her deep-rooted trust issues. With the help of Xander, an attractive yet aloof art student, Mia exposes secrets that may have played a role in Ava's death. Someone knows more than they're letting on, and if Mia can't put the pieces together, she could end up like her sister...dead. Sweet Deadly Lies is a FREE story with one paid bonus chapter. Learn how to earn free coins here: https://www.wattpad.com/earncoins/ ✨2022 WATTY AWARD WINNER FOR MYSTERY/THRILLER✨ TRIGGER WARNING: Sweet Deadly Lies is a young adult mystery/thriller that may contain triggers for sensitive readers. There will be mentions of mental health issues, murder, suicide, mild drug use, and underage drinking. Reader discretion is advised. Sweet Deadly Lies (available only on Wattpad) Copyright © 2022, Darly Jamison All Rights Reserved This story is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents in this story are either the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Cover photo by Jasmin Chew on pexels.com, and edited on Canva Pro. Notice: This document is not authorized for upload or use with artificial intelligence systems or platforms. Any attempt to upload, analyze, or process this content using AI technology is strictly prohibited.

As Sutherland's new king, Emory Davercher faces countless challenges, but nothing as excruciating and frustrating as his mysterious, eccentric betrothed. *** When King Emory of Sutherland receives news that his betrothed is on her way to Sutherland, he sends her away before even laying eyes on the woman he has no intention of marrying. Months later, after a narrow escape from an assassination, he flees to his childhood home where he discovers a massive problem. Due to an unfortunate mishap, his betrothed has not left Sutherland. She's been in his secret estate all along. Grand Princess Florence Paulet of Gavaria and her cousin, Lucy, thinks her arrival in Sutherland will be easy. She doesn't expect that her betrothed, King Emory of Sutherland, will send her straight to an empty estate on an island where they fend for themselves for months. And when he finally shows up, he has the audacity to fool her by introducing himself as someone else. After having killed dozens of chickens with her bare hands to stay alive, and with lying as her ultimate weapon for survival since she left Gavaria, what else can an annoyed, blithe, and audacious Florence do? Of course, she has to return the favor and make him twice the fool. He thinks he's fooling her, and she finds fun knowing it's the other way around. As the harsh winter traps them in the estate, lies, little accidents, and undeniable attraction draw them together stronger than the snowstorm. But not as much as Florence's true reasons for leaving Gavaria, which are also making their way to Sutherland.

[THE DOLL GARDEN IS NOW FULLY AVAILABLE ON AMAZON] *** The Harrington family was what everyone in the picturesque town of Runswick, Rhode Island aspired to be, until their eldest child Jenna, tumbled down a flight of stairs, leaving her with few to no memories, just the muffled screams of a few women... But vague, yet disturbing childhood memories come to the fore when the three Harrington siblings are forced to reunite with their father at the estate six years later; where Jenna finds the preserved, doll-like remains of three women, one of which resembles Jenna to an uncanny extent. Now, Jenna is forced to question everything about her childhood up to that night. It isn't until she spots a woman roaming the garden with her lips sewn shut, that she realizes all the painful truths behind her father's estate starts with her look-alike, Marisol...

✨First Place + Grand Winner of ONC 2025✨ (thank you!) In the wake of her estranged mother's death, Maricel Ferrer returns to her childhood home to confront the dark secrets she left behind. 🪞 Maricel has spent years trying to forget the house she grew up in - the house where her mother's mental health slowly unraveled. But after receiving unexpected news, she has no choice but to return. The old fears should be gone, just like her childhood "imaginary friend" who liked to appear in her reflection. At first, it's easy to dismiss the strange occurrences: a flicker in the glass, a movement that doesn't quite match hers. But then the reflection smiles when she doesn't. Moves when she's still. Whispers things she doesn't want to hear. By the time Maricel realizes the truth - that the thing in the mirror has been waiting for her return - it's too late. Because now, it wants out. And it wants to take her place. ONC 2025 | Exclusively on Wattpad Prompt 55: What if the person you see in the mirror isn't really you, but something that's been watching you this whole time? Prompt 105: Your childhood imaginary friend, who disappeared years ago, suddenly returns - only this time, they're real. © 2025 Darly Jamison. All Rights Reserved. This work is protected under international copyright laws.

Juliet Adair moved to Pine Falls, Colorado for a reason. The small town is full of werewolves. Hopefully the kind that will keep out of her business as long as she keeps out of theirs. Unfortunately, one wolf seems to have formed a grudge against the new librarian, and wants nothing more than to see her pack up and move along. Roderick Jameson doesn't trust Juliet. She's an outsider, but more than that, she's hoarding secrets. As the leader of the Pine Falls werewolf pack, it is his job to keep his people safe. Any knowledge he doesn't have is dangerous. But the woman scoffs at his intimidation tactics, and she somehow convinces him to install a state-of-the-art security system in her house when his goal was to drive her away. Doesn't help that his inner wolf is lovesick for the fiery greeting card crafter. These two enemies find their animosity flaring hotter until the thin sheet of paper between loathing and longing goes up in flames. But if any kind of lasting connection can be formed, both woman and wolf will need to learn to trust despite the betrayals that lurk in their past. The same shadows that become solid, threatening their future. *Note: This is book 2 in the Wolves of Pine Falls series and it has spoilers for book 1, Claws & Crochet. But this story can still be read as a standalone!

Three years ago, Ivelle Delaville poisoned her murderous git of a husband and ran away to start a new life. Now blissfully single, Ivelle is content with her carpentry business (apart from the crushing debt), and she's determined to live a life free of romance and villainy. Or so she thinks. Faced with the threat of foreclosure, Ivelle has a choice: poison the evil Prince Eirifold in exchange for a metric f*ckton of gold, or starve to death as her carpentry business goes bankrupt. It seems like a no-brainer... except for one problem. The prince she's been hired to poison may not be as evil as advertised. He's also a really good kisser. ~ Book 1 of The Murdery Marriages ~

(Nocturnal Law Series) { ONC 2025 Shortlister }Magic and justice collide when witch lawyer Gwyneira Grimheart fights to save vampire Emrys Hawthorn's sorry fangs. Sanguine City is notorious for corrupt bat cops, human trafficking, highly addictive fairydust, and contract killings orchestrated by the bloodthirsty vampire mafia. But even these lowly criminals deserve a fair shot at trial and someone has to do it. Gwyneira defends the supernaturals that no other witch or sane mortal will go near, so when Emrys Hawthorn comes politely knocking at her law office's door in the middle of the night, she knows what she has to do. Vampires are dangerous beings, and Gwyneira knows the risks all too well, but if she's not careful, it won't just be her blood he takes. It might be her heart too. Beautiful cover featuring Gwyneira created by Neige❤️ Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Thriller Current Word Count: 35,381

LONGLISTED! ONC 2025 A sci-fi thriller with a thread of gay romance. Jiro wanted to be a pilot for as long as he could remember. Flying through the stars, what could be more thrilling? He worked hard for his dream, nothing was going to stop him, not even the debilitating illness which struck him down, just before his eighteenth birthday. He could push through and he did, eventually securing a job, piloting the shuttle from the terminal up to the space station. But then his illness returned and he lost the job. Swallowing the disappointment, he determined to try again. At least he had his twin brother Drew to support him while he recovered. Even if sometimes he thought Drew didn't understand him, he knew his brother loved him. Until...