[The Wattys 2025 Shortlist] ********** She spent twenty-four years preserving herself for one man-only for him to choose her best friend instead. Tomorrow, they would vow eternity to each other, while she remained nothing but a spectator to a love she had longed for. Desperate, she devised a plan, one final chance to make him hers. A single drop of aphrodisiac, a carefully orchestrated encounter-she would take what was meant to be hers. But fate had other plans. In the darkness of her deceit, she fell into the arms of the wrong man. A ruthless, merciless, and identical in every way except for the shadows that clung to him like a second skin. Her trickery had backfired, and now, she was at the mercy of a man whose hunger knew no bounds. He devoured her, claimed her, and became intoxicated by her taste, scent, and the desperate, helpless moans she never intended for him. She had set a trap, but it was she who had been ensnared. In her desperation, she had tasted her own poison. And he had found a new obsession. *********************************** Started: March 22, 2025 Ended: April 21, 2025 Revised: August 2, 2025

He kept his hand on my neck and inched closer to me. I turned my head slightly and he took the opportunity to nuzzle his nose in my neck. Taking in a deep breath, his hand slid from my throat and wrapped around my waist. What? I was confused and scared. "You always smell so good." He said, the vibration from his mouth tickled my neck. Suddenly the bell rang. "I-I need to get to class" I whispered and placed my hands on his shoulders and lightly pushed him back. His eyes immediately hardened as he roughly grabbed my neck and slammed me back into the wall. This time his body pressed on mine. "You'll leave when I say you can." He said as his other hand snaked into my hair and gripped it softly. "Did you really think just because our parents are getting married that things would change for you?" Joella Stevens is a straight A student and junior in high school. She's very sweet and soft spoken. Her mother has been dating for a while but she has never brought anyone home to meet her. That is until one man pops the big question. Joella finds herself struggling to stay calm when she learns that her mom's new fiancé is the father to her longtime bully, Haden Cooper. Haden Cooper is a Senior and captain of the football team. He's very handsome and charming but there is a dark/controlling side to him and a hidden family history Joella has yet to learn of. Joella tries to avoid him, but she can't seem to get out of his grasp. Things only start to get more intense once Joella and her mother move in with Haden and his father. WARNING: Some of the content in this story can be a trigger for some. Highest Rankings: #1 Abduction #1 Controlling #3 Bwwm #4 Stepbrother #7 Alphamale #8 WMBW

(FHS#2) You better watch out, you better not cry, and you better not fall cuz the f*ckboys just waged a war against Filimon Height's one and only sorority.