It Was Never Supposed to Be Her She always thought she knew what love was supposed to feel like. Safe. Familiar. Predictable. Then there was her. They've been best friends for as long as she can remember, sharing secrets, late-night conversations, inside jokes, and pieces of themselves no one else gets to see. She's never questioned what their friendship means-until suddenly, she starts noticing things she can't explain. The way her best friend's smile makes her heart race. The way a simple touch lingers a little too long. The way jealousy creeps in whenever someone else gets too close. She tells herself it's nothing. She tells herself she's just confused. Because falling for her best friend was never part of the plan. And questioning everything she thought she knew about herself is terrifying enough without risking the one relationship she can't afford to lose. But feelings don't always follow the rules. And sometimes, the person you were never supposed to fall for becomes the person you can't imagine living without. It was never supposed to be her. Until it was. 8/31/26|#1 in questioning🫶🏽

Caden is the kind of man people learn to fear before they ever learn his name. At 25, he's already built a reputation that follows him everywhere. He grew up in the hood with no mother to protect him and no father to teach him right from wrong. He learned early that nobody was coming to save him. Hunger, violence, betrayal, and survival became normal long before he was old enough to understand what childhood was supposed to feel like. Caden is a thug, but he's not reckless. He's calculated, quiet, and patient. He doesn't need to raise his voice to make people listen. His presence alone can change the entire energy in a room. He has blood on his hands and has killed before-and unlike most people, the guilt doesn't keep him awake at night. To Caden, violence became another language, one he learned fluently growing up. He's heavily tattooed, built, and carries himself like someone who knows exactly what he's capable of. His eyes are cold and difficult to read, making it almost impossible to tell what he's thinking. He trusts almost nobody, keeps his emotions buried, and never lets people get close enough to discover what's underneath the hard exterior. But Caden isn't heartless. There's a part of him buried beneath all the anger, violence, and survival instincts-a boy who never got the chance to be loved properly. He doesn't know how to ask for affection, how to trust someone, or how to believe that someone could stay without eventually betraying him. Caden learned how to survive without a family. Now, he's built one through fear, loyalty, and power. And anyone who threatens what belongs to him learns very quickly why they call him dangerous.

Some monsters don't scare you, they save you. Gianna Lee thought she was finally leaving her past behind. A new city. A new life. A fresh start. But when strange things begin happening, she realizes her past may have followed her. Secrets surrounding her family begin to surface, and the more she searches for answers, the more dangerous things become. Some secrets are better left buried. Some monsters are better left unknown.