»You don't find omens. They find you.« Mara Bennett's quiet life is shattered when a mysterious black cat appears on her doorstep. Every day at the same hour, the cat slips away, disappearing into the city. When Mara finally follows it, she uncovers a hidden world of secrets, omens, and forces beyond her comprehension. Now, with the clock ticking and the world quietly unraveling, Mara must decide: Follow the cat into the darkness, or let the end come unchallenged? ⚞ • ⚟ Entry for the Open Novella Contest 2026 ‣ Main Prompt ➸ 98. You never imagined the end of the world would begin with a one-eared black cat showing up at your door. ‣ Additional Prompt ➸ 5. Every day at the exact same time your cat slips out of your home. One afternoon, curiosity gets the better of you and you follow, only to discover it's living a secret life you never imagined. Open Novella Contest Achievements ‣ Round 1 | 2k Words ✔ ➸ Round 1 Winner ‣ Round 2 | 8k Words ✔ ‣ Round 3 | 20-40k Words ✔ ©️ ofbooksandcats on Wattpad | 2026

Elara Vesper is not unlucky in love. She is cursed. Every suitor who wins her heart finds his true soulmate... the moment he leaves her. Dubbed the Grim Reaper of Relationships by the gossip of the Aurelian Empire, the duke's daughter has accepted a lonely fate. But when a secret mission goes awry, she uncovers the first secret involving her greatest rival, the knight Kaelen Hale. Now, strange forces are converging around her. A charming stranger who knows too much. A bodyguard of living shadow. And even her own pet cat is behaving oddly. To survive the sinister conspiracy now haunting her, Elara must unravel the truth behind her curse. Is it a punishment, a protection, or the key to a prophecy that demands she trust the very people fate has pushed into her path-and her heart? Some curses are meant to be broken. This one might be the only thing keeping her alive.

It is the fall of 1598 when Gábor Hunyadi, the first general of Emperor Rudolph II., arrives at Čachtice castle. Not long after, he is dead and his successor Vilmos Tóth finds himself confronted with the mystery surrounding the case he now has to solve. Although he soon finds a confidant in the widow Dorottya, his key witness of all people doesn't talk - and seems to suffer from acute amnesia. And then there is the deceased general's nephew who has apparently disappeared without a trace... ─── ⋆⋅♱⋅⋆ ─── My entry to the OpenNovellaContest 2026 ©2026

[ 2026 Open Novella Contest Entry ] Jane Newton isn't grieving; she's furious. Two years after burying her husband, Mark, a security protocol triggers in her empty home, revealing a digital ghost that shatters her reality. She didn't bury the truth-she buried a stranger. Mark wasn't the quiet graphic designer she loved. He was a cyber-intelligence specialist who staged his own death in the midst of a plot at the highest levels of power. Now, Jane is the accidental courier of evidence of a looming assassination-and the only person who knows that Mark is still alive. With SQUID tracking her every digital heartbeat, Jane must vanish into the analogue world. But when the hunters take her sister, Jane stops running. In a world built on encrypted lies, the truth is the most lethal weapon of all.

[Right person, wrong lifetime.] Damien never got to confess his feelings, not before the world stole his love away. But death isn't the end. For them, death is the beginning. When Damien dies and finds himself stuck in the afterlife, he comes face-to-face with the boy he's loved his entire life... except Lucas doesn't remember anything. He doesn't remember dying, his own name, or Damien. As they navigate through a world woven from memories and starlight, Damien must decide: schould he help Lucas rediscover the bond they once had, or protect him from the truth of how their lives ended? Cover made by @ToWolfKin

Kennedy "Ken" Duvall thought being a vampire would change her life for the better. She certainly didn't have much going on before being turned by her maker, a timid gentleman by the name of Timothy. One night, however, when Timid Timothy goes missing after a hunt gone wrong, it's up to Ken to chase him down and set him straight. Because as much as she wants to deny it, life without him as a new fledgling has been harder than she thought. Without him, she actually sucks as a vampire-- pun intended. "81. Unalluring and bumbling, your character is the world's worst vampire."

SPOILERS FOR SUNRISE --------------------------- An Eternal Sunrise one-shot! Main prompt: Fall #63 Sub-prompts: Spring #16, Fall #78, Fall #80, Winter #93, Winter #104 -------------------------------------- The Wolves of Glindale are a species of wolves as old as time. Blessed with powers beyond human imagination. Also known as 'The Mother Wolves', they were the ones who created the first werewolf. Ever since their creation, early werewolves have dedicated The Temple of Lycaon to them and made pilgrimages to gain their blessings. Every 100 years, when the first blood moon of the year appears, the temple's gates emerge, signalling the beginning of another pilgrimage season. Thousands look for its whereabouts, but without success, save for a chosen few who had their spirit as their guide. Yet, finding the temple is only the first step in a series of daunting challenges, and only those worthy can see the end of the finish line. Dr Melissa Ortega and her associate, Dr Christopher Bentley, are tasked by the Director of the Ministry of Lycan Affairs (MLA) to look for the elusive temple and study the legendary wolves. But of course, he won't let them venture into the unknown alone without a powerful guide. Who is this mystery guide? And, will they find the Mother Wolves? Keep reading to find out! ----------------------------------------- This tale can be considered as an alternate timeline to the main series, and is a standalone! Also, this book is rated Mature for violence, gore, and mentions of SA, trauma, and body horror common in the genre. -------------------------- 2026 (c) All Rights Reserved. All writing done is mine, and so is the cover design using Canva. NO AI USED! No stealing, or I will send AJ and the McIntyre family after you. 😤