She ceased her coloring and stood, straddling my lap, her gaze fixed on the hope tattoo nestled between my collarbones. Her fingers traced the tattoo with a purple marker, her touch firm, like someone I loved, used to do all the time. Her hair was cascading over her eyes and I reached out to tuck it behind her ears. "I wanted to see your eyes," I murmured, as she met my gaze. She continued to stare, as if searching for something within me to reassure her. And then, in a moment that felt like a dream, her lips met mine, her fingers gently caressing my face. It was the first time she had initiated a kiss, and it was as if I was experiencing my first kiss anew. I responded immediately, pulling her closer by her waist. By now, I could feel her tears amidst our kisses, but she did not pull away until she sadly did, looking at me one last time with her sorrowful green eyes before wrapping her arms around me. "It helped," she whispered, her voice barely audible. TW: abuse, death, suicide, suicidal thoughts, self harm, eating disorder, suicide attempt, murder, depression, drug abuse, child neglect, rape, sexual assault

"You took my father from me! You killed him!" I snarled, pulling against the chains. He watched me with those same dead eyes, not an ounce of emotion. "He trespassed into my home and stole my food, he got what he deserved." he stated calmly. I bared my canines, just wanting to rip through his flesh with them. "Now I know why." "Why what?" "Why no one could ever love you...you're a monster. A cold blooded beast at heart." I spat with hatred. "No one could ever love a beast like yourself." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Arabella, proclaimed as the most beautiful woman to ever live in Britain. Even the humans consider her a rare beauty. She was a kind-hearted girl, but she would stand up for whatever she believed in. She would fight whomever she deemed as a threat, and that included the beastly King of Alphas, Samuel Blackmoore.

If you can see them, then you're already dead. If you can hear them, then you're not far from it. If you can smell them, like the forest they live in, then avoid danger at all conceivable costs. Because they're the monsters in the shadows of Harvey Hill's forests, and their king needs his queen.

Ella's always been a simple child. She didn't want anything other than a book in her hands and her brother by her side. When her brother finally figures out his invention and ventures out to find someone to buy it, he doesn't return. A creepy mansion, some talking furniture and, oh yeah, a giant animal big enough to kill her with one big step. What's the worst that could happen? This is a retelling of the fairytale Beauty and the Beast.