Esme Things can become clear in a second. When I found Tanner in his office with that woman, so many things became obvious. Tanner's always held himself back from me, but now, secrets and lies come tumbling out into the light. He's never loved me and he never will. I'm no longer willing to be a placeholder in his life, and I have to end our marriage. Tanner I'd been married for four years to someone I didn't believe I loved because I thought I still loved another woman. A woman I had to give up when I chose to marry my wife after I got her pregnant. Now, the other woman's back, she's divorced and is telling me it's our time to be together. Just as soon as I divorce my wife, who's pregnant with our second child. The allure of the past was impossible to resist, so I gave in, met her at my office and my wife found us just...after. So many things became clear to me even before I looked into my wife's devastated eyes. What had I done? I knew what I'd done, and now I had to prove to my wife that she's the one I want.

For a decade, Melody suffered pain and humiliation at the hands of her stepbrothers. That stopped the night she looked into Zane's eyes and he discovered they were mates. But the consequences of years of abuse don't disappear in a day, nor do the scars. Because of the twins' actions, Melody's heart is weak and could give out at any moment. How can the twins claim their mate when the act would kill her? After a few stumbles, the twins' earnest desire to win her heart gave Melody the strength to trust them. Or at least try. But the first chance they had to screw up, they embraced with open arms. Which left Melody doubting their intentions, until they appeared in her room, bloody and bruised. That gave her the opportunity to patch them up, and they felt guilty upon witnessing how much their mate cared. Her heart of gold inspires the twins love and fills them with shame. Those who bask in her love warn them to be patient, and to never stop trying. Other than one, her beloved uncle, Aeydan. A vampire who suffered abuse as well and refuses to forgive the twins, albeit he tolerates them for his niece. However, that chance the twins had to screw up? Yeah, he's not willing to forgive them either and promises to torment them every chance he gets. To make matters worse, the hellhound's presence exposes Melody to an ancient evil intent on using her to escape punishment for their sins. Can the twins protect their mate, or will an ancient war claim another innocent victim?

Ash, Aeros, and Luna have finally mated, and are healing together with their kits. Luna knows the future holds hardship since she must reveal the children of the night to the humans. However, she doesn't realize a dark secret hides within her mate Ash. When it wakes, will she be strong enough to survive it? Or will the darkness swallow her whole and doom humanity to slavery? Ash was once Luna's cruelest tormentor, along with her elder brother. Now they are determined to make up for the past, even though Luna has already forgiven them. She seeks to heal and no longer dwell on the past so she can complete her task. Unfortunately, a long-buried secret in Ash's blood might have other plans. If she survives that, she must face her old pack and bring them to heel. Otherwise, they will sow discord throughout the werewolves and destroy Luna's chances of success. Not that the werewolves will accept her with ease, regardless. No, they enjoy their dark, lost ways and have no desire to return to the light. Why would they when they enjoy the mantle of monster?