Erica was always a stubborn girl. For whatever reason she would just never comply with anyone's wishes and instead went against everything everybody said. Until one night, she found herself passed out in the middle of nowhere after a drunk night and she stumbles her way right into Aiden Evans' mansion. The impassive CEO is used to getting what he wants and having his authority questioned did not set easy with him. But after a snow storm blocked Erica's ability to leave the house, she found herself stuck with Aiden Evans' intimidating self. Whatever Aiden commanded he expected to be obeyed but he had another thing coming if he thinks Erica would give in easily and Erica has another thing coming if she thinks Aiden is going to let her get her way.

Nova can't escape the rich town of Riverside, where a tragedy follows her every step, but she can work to uncover who's been lying to her all these years. ***** When seventeen-year-old Nova Nightingale returns to her late mother's hometown the last thing she expects is to be public enemy number one, but the rumors surrounding her mother's sudden disappearance fifteen years earlier follow Nova everywhere she goes. And to top it all off, the local rich boy, Isaac Royal, is adamant about making her life hell. Surrounded by rumors, lies, and a secret keeping the town on edge, Nova has to figure out why she's hated and why the boy hell-bent on making her suffer seems to be the only person she can trust. Content/Triggering Warning: this story contains themes of suicide and violence [[word count: 80,000-90,000 words]]

{UNPUBLISHED FOR EDITING & REWRITING.} Her father tells her she's worthless, but she doesn't know what she did to deserve this. She's fierce and strong as a street fighter, but when she's home, she's nothing more than a mute frozen in fear. Because of her father, she's been mute for over ten years. Damien King, leader of the Serpents; he's dangerous but never to her. She may seem fine, but she's nowhere near it. She's broken, constantly hearing her father's voice screaming in her head, but she remains silent. Two years ago, Damien made a choice. Whether it's in reality or his nightmares, it's a choice that'll always haunt him. When he's around, danger follows, but when she's around, darkness does. What will happen? How will it end? Will she let him in, or will he break her more than she's ever been broken? Just because she's silent doesn't mean she's innocent. Warning ⚠️: Mature Themes. {Highest Rank: #1 In Teen Fiction | #3 In Action} *** "I'm not mad at you," he whispered, "for keeping it a secret. I know you have secrets, secrets you don't want anyone to know, besides Zach. I just kept thinking...maybe if you trusted me, you would have told me. I just wish you trusted me to know those secrets." He turned his head to the right, away from me, and looked at the waves. You're worthless! This is why she left...because of you! My father's words tried reaching me again, but I pushed them out, only hearing my thoughts and Zach's. Baby steps. Trust him, Mae. Trust yourself. "I do trust you," I whispered. He turned his head so fast and looked at me with his mouth open and his eyes wide. That was the first time I spoke to anyone that wasn't my brother or my father in over ten years. And it felt so right.