Ashley Delaney Hale has always been surrounded by protection. In Beacon Hills, that’s the only reason she’s survived this long. But protection has a way of changing—especially when it comes from someone like Brett Talbot. He was supposed to keep her safe. That was all. Watching her, guarding her, making sure nothing ever got close enough to hurt her. But somewhere along the way, that protection turned into something darker. Something possessive. Now, every glance she gives someone else, every step she takes without him, feels like a threat he can’t ignore. And as danger closes in from all sides, Ashley begins to realize the truth—Brett isn’t just protecting her anymore… he’s claiming her. In a town full of monsters, the most dangerous thing might not be what’s hunting her— but the one who refuses to let her go.
Birmingham, 1921. Seventeen-year-old Ashley Delaney Hale lives a simple life with her parents, working as a barmaid at The Garrison Pub. She never expected her ordinary days serving drinks to change with the arrival of one of Birmingham’s most feared men. When the infamous Thomas Shelby notices Ashley, her quiet world is turned upside down. Soon, lavish bouquets, expensive jewelry, elegant gowns, and mysterious invitations to glamorous galas begin arriving at her family’s doorstep. While Ashley struggles to understand why such a powerful man has taken an interest in her, her parents grow increasingly concerned about the attention of someone whose name commands both respect and fear. As rumors spread throughout Birmingham, Ashley finds herself caught between the peaceful life she’s always known and a dangerous world filled with wealth, influence, and secrets. With rival gangs watching every move and her family’s safety hanging in the balance, Ashley must navigate a future she never asked for—one that could change her life forever. Sometimes the most ordinary people become the center of the most extraordinary stories… and sometimes one chance meeting is enough to alter fate forever.
Ashley Delaney Hale is seventeen, kind-hearted, independent, and perfectly happy living a quiet life working at a small tea house in Birmingham. She knows nothing about the city’s dangerous underworld—and she certainly doesn’t know the man who walks through the tea house doors one rainy afternoon. Tommy Shelby. To Ashley, he’s just a mysterious, intimidating customer who seems to carry far more darkness than he lets anyone see. She doesn’t know his name is feared across Birmingham. She doesn’t know he’s a powerful mob boss. And she has no idea why he keeps coming back. But Tommy finds something in Ashley that he hasn’t felt in years: peace. Around her, the noise in his head becomes quieter. She doesn’t judge him, fear him, or care about the Shelby reputation. She simply sees Tommy as a person. As Tommy begins quietly protecting Ashley from the dangers surrounding his family, Ashley slowly finds herself pulled into a world of secrets, enemies, and violence she never knew existed. Because when Tommy Shelby cares about someone, his enemies notice. And now Ashley may be the one thing Tommy cannot afford to lose. She might be the change Tommy needs—but can he protect her from the world he built before it’s too late?
In the dark and smoke-filled Kingdom of Small Heath, King Thomas Shelby rules with power and fear from the grand Shelby Castle. To the people of the kingdom, Queen Grace Burgess is the picture of elegance and kindness, beloved by all who know her. When seventeen-year-old Ashley Delaney Hale is sold into service and brought to the castle as Queen Grace’s new maid, she expects a life of luxury and security. Instead, she discovers a palace filled with secrets, sorrow, and shadows. As Ashley and Grace form an unlikely bond, the young maiden learns that life within the royal court is far more dangerous than it appears. Together, the queen and her maid must navigate the darkness surrounding the throne and find strength in one another in a kingdom where appearances can be deceiving and survival often depends on courage, loyalty, and hope. A dark, gothic tale of friendship, resilience, and the hidden costs of power, The King of Small Heath and the Maiden explores what happens when two lives become intertwined within the shadows of a troubled kingdom.
Six months after losing her mother, sixteen-year-old Ashley Delaney Hale is uprooted from her life in San Francisco when her father, Derek Hale, decides they need a fresh start in his hometown of Beacon Hills. Now a single dad working as a mechanic, Derek is struggling to keep his family together while carrying grief and secrets he isn’t ready to share. Meanwhile, Ashley is forced to start over at Beacon Hills High, where she quickly befriends Liam Dunbar and unexpectedly connects with her kind and understanding history teacher, Scott McCall. Then there’s Brett Talbot. Cocky, irritating, and entirely too amused by getting under her skin, Brett seems determined to make himself a permanent part of Ashley’s life. Unfortunately for him, she’s completely unimpressed by his charm—and unfortunately for her, he doesn’t seem to mind. As strange things begin happening around town and whispers follow the Hale name, Ashley realizes Beacon Hills is hiding secrets far bigger than she ever imagined. Between grief, new friendships, unexpected feelings, and mysteries tied to her family, she and Derek may discover that coming home changes everything. A story about loss, healing, second chances, and finding family in unexpected places, where old wounds reopen, new relationships bloom, and sometimes the people who annoy you the most end up mattering the most.
At nineteen, Ashley Delaney Hale has one priority—her little daughter, Arabella. After her boyfriend, Theo Raeken, shattered her heart by cheating on her, Ashley and her two dads, Derek McCall-Hale and Scott McCall-Hale, left Beacon Hills behind for a fresh start in London. It was there that Ashley discovered she was pregnant and chose to raise Arabella surrounded by the unconditional love of her family. Now, they’re returning to Beacon Hills—the town Derek and Scott once called home—hoping to build a new life. Reunited with her lifelong best friends, Liam Dunbar and Mason Hewitt, Ashley begins settling back into the familiar town. But when Liam’s older brother, Brett Talbot, learns the truth about everything Ashley has endured, he quietly vows to protect both Ashley and Arabella from the man who broke her heart. As old memories resurface and Theo’s return threatens the peaceful life Ashley has built, she soon realizes that Beacon Hills holds more secrets than she ever imagined. The people she trusts most have been hiding the truth for years, and the family she thought she knew is far more extraordinary than she ever believed. Filled with romance, mystery, found family, and supernatural danger, The Secret They Kept is a heartfelt story about healing after heartbreak, discovering hidden truths, and finding the courage to protect the people you love most.
Ashley Delaney Hale is human—but that doesn’t mean she’s safe in Beacon Hills. At 16, she’s clever, brave, and loyal, yet surrounded by werewolves, hunters, and constant danger. But the greatest challenge isn’t always supernatural—it’s navigating the protective, possessive instincts of Brett Talbot, the boy who has always watched over her. When other guys start paying attention to Ashley, Brett’s jealousy flares, testing the limits of his control and forcing Ashley to confront her own feelings. Between high school drama, supernatural threats, and Brett’s intense devotion, she discovers that sometimes love can be just as dangerous as any monster lurking in the shadows. In a town of claws, secrets, and loyalty, Brett’s possessive instincts might just be the thing that keeps Ashley alive… or the thing that changes everything between them.
Sixteen-year-old Ashley Delaney Hale-McCall thought moving to Mystic Falls with her dads, Derek Hale-McCall and Scott Hale-McCall, would be the beginning of a normal new life. She couldn’t have been more wrong. Mystic Falls is a town filled with secrets. Vampires walk among humans, werewolves hide their identities, witches practice magic, and powerful families have controlled the town’s supernatural world for generations. The Salvatores, Gilberts, Forbes, Raekens, and other ancient families all have their own secrets—and Ashley is about to become part of them. At Mystic High School, Ashley quickly finds herself surrounded by new friends, including some of the school’s most popular students. But while she is trying to adjust to her new life, strange things begin happening around her. Things she can’t explain. What Ashley doesn’t know is that her fathers have been keeping the biggest secret of all from her. Ashley is a witch. Derek and Scott have hidden her magic for sixteen years because they know how dangerous Mystic Falls can be. They only want to protect their daughter until she’s ready to discover the truth and learn to control the power inside her. But secrets have a way of coming to light. As Ashley’s magic begins awakening, she finds herself caught between supernatural families, dangerous enemies, unexpected friendships, and a destiny she never knew existed. And then there’s Theo Raeken. Born into Mystic Falls’ most powerful family, Theo is used to getting whatever he wants. The Raekens are feared, respected, and rarely challenged. Nobody tells a Raeken no. But Ashley doesn’t care about Theo’s reputation. That makes him want her attention even more. As Theo’s fascination with Ashley grows, Ashley must figure out who she can trust while learning to control a power that could change Mystic Falls forever. Because Ashley isn’t just another new girl in town. She’s a Hale-McCall. She’s a witch. And Mystic Falls has no idea what she’s capable of.
Twenty-year-old Ashley Delaney Hale-McCall is only trying to survive. Working as a dancer at Beacon Hills’ exclusive Velvet Room, Ashley doesn’t love her job, but she needs the money to pay her rent, buy food, repair her car, and keep the small apartment she calls home. Then one mysterious woman starts coming to the club every night. Her name is Malia Tate. Beautiful, wealthy, intimidating, and feared throughout Beacon Hills, Malia is the daughter of Henry Tate, the ruthless head of the powerful Tate Mafia family. Every night, Malia sits in the same private booth and watches Ashley from across the room. Ashley has no idea who she is. She’s only heard whispers about the Tate family. But Malia isn’t the only Tate who has noticed her. When Henry Tate begins accompanying his daughter to the Velvet Room, he takes an immediate interest in Ashley and repeatedly requests her presence. Ashley finds herself caught in the attention of a family whose name alone is enough to make people afraid. Then strange things begin happening. Ashley discovers her overdue rent has been paid. Her broken car is suddenly repaired. Groceries arrive at her apartment. Her bills are mysteriously handled. Even her paychecks are always exactly right. Ashley doesn’t understand what’s happening—or who is behind it. But Malia knows. And as Malia’s fascination with Ashley turns into something much deeper, Ashley unknowingly becomes caught between a dangerous father and daughter who both want her in their world. The Velvet Room was supposed to be Ashley’s way to survive. Instead, it may become the doorway into the most dangerous family in Beacon Hills.
Sixteen-year-old Ashley Ryland McCall thought she knew what fear was. Growing up in Birmingham, England, Ashley has spent years watching her father, Scott McCall, suffer behind closed doors because of his abusive boyfriend, Ennis. But when Ashley comes home from school early one day and discovers that Ennis has finally gone too far, she knows they can’t stay any longer. That night, Ashley and Scott leave everything behind and escape to Beacon Hills, California, hoping to find safety with Scott’s mother, Melissa. But starting over isn’t as simple as they imagined. As Ashley begins attending Beacon Hills High School, she notices that something about the town isn’t normal. People whisper about disappearances, strange attacks happen in the woods, and everyone seems to be hiding secrets. Then Ashley meets Derek Hale, an auto mechanic she encounters while visiting the library. Derek is quiet, mysterious, and unexpectedly protective of her—but Ashley doesn’t know that he is hiding a dangerous secret of his own. He’s a werewolf. Just when Ashley and Scott begin believing they might finally have a chance at a new life, Ennis discovers where they’ve gone. Determined to find his boyfriend and daughter, Ennis will stop at nothing to bring them back and reclaim the control he believes he still has over them. Now Ashley and Scott must stay one step ahead of Ennis while navigating the dangerous supernatural world of Beacon Hills. With Derek hiding his true identity, mysterious dangers surrounding the town, and their past threatening to catch up with them, Ashley must learn that sometimes the safest place isn’t the place without monsters. It’s the place where the right people are willing to stand beside you and fight. In Beacon Hills, Ashley came looking for a home. Instead, she found secrets, danger, friendship, and someone willing to protect her.
Seventeen-year-old Ashley Delaney Hale-McCall has spent her entire life in Beacon Hills, a town where supernatural secrets are practically impossible to escape. But lately, Ashley has noticed someone following her. His name is Dean Winchester. She doesn’t know him. She doesn’t know where he came from, and she certainly doesn’t understand why he seems to be everywhere she goes. At school. Around town. On the road home. And sometimes, waiting outside her house when she gets home. Ashley tries to ignore him, hoping he’ll eventually disappear. But Dean never does. When her fathers, Scott McCall and Derek Hale, begin noticing the mysterious man around their daughter, they immediately become suspicious. They question Ashley, trying to understand who Dean is and what he wants from her. Ashley insists everything is fine. But Scott and Derek aren’t convinced. Because Dean Winchester isn’t who he appears to be. Hidden beneath his human identity is Michael, the Archangel—an ancient and immensely powerful being who has become obsessed with Ashley for reasons she cannot understand. As strange supernatural events begin unfolding across Beacon Hills, Ashley finds herself caught in a mystery far bigger than she ever imagined. She doesn’t know why Michael is watching her. She doesn’t know what he wants. And she doesn’t know why he seems determined to stay close to her. But Scott and Derek are determined to uncover the truth before whatever is happening reaches their daughter. In Beacon Hills, secrets never stay buried for long. And Ashley is about to discover that the stranger who follows her everywhere may be hiding the most dangerous secret of all.
Sixteen-year-old Ashley Delaney Hale-McCall has always been the quiet girl at Beacon Hills High School. Beautiful, timid, and shy, Ashley lives with her two fathers, Scott Hale-McCall and Derek Hale-McCall, and her twin brother, Isaac Hale-McCall. While Isaac quickly finds his place on the lacrosse team, Ashley is still trying to figure out where she belongs. Then mysterious roses and handwritten poems begin appearing in her locker. Every envelope bears her name in beautiful handwriting, but there is never a signature. Ashley becomes determined to discover who her secret admirer is. But after a frightening encounter in the preserve leaves her unconscious, Ashley wakes up on the doorstep of her home with no memory of how she got there. Unbeknownst to her, someone saved her. Someone who has been watching over her from the shadows. Brett Talbot is seventeen, mysterious, and covered by a scar that has made him the target of cruel rumors. At school, people call him a freak. A monster. Someone to stay away from. But Brett has a secret. He is the boy behind the roses and poems. As Ashley slowly begins to notice the mysterious boy who always seems to be somewhere nearby, she discovers that Brett may not be the monster everyone believes him to be. And Brett soon realizes that Ashley may be the only person capable of seeing the real him. In a town filled with secrets, danger, and things that aren’t always what they seem, Ashley must uncover the truth behind the roses—and the scarred boy who has quietly fallen in love with her. Because sometimes the person everyone calls a monster is simply the person who has never been given a chance to be loved.
After months away in London, sixteen-year-old Ashley Delaney Hale returns to her hometown of Beacon Hills hoping for a fresh start after a traumatic event changed her life forever. But coming home isn’t as easy as she imagined. As Ashley begins her sophomore year at Beacon Hills High, she quickly realizes that everyone remembers her—and everyone has their own version of why she disappeared. Rumors follow her through every hallway, secrets linger behind every smile, and the town she once called home suddenly feels like a place she barely knows. The deeper Ashley looks, the more she realizes Beacon Hills is hiding something far darker than high school gossip. Strange occurrences, unexplained disappearances, and mysterious behavior from the people around her lead her to question everything she thought she knew—including her own family. With danger closing in and the truth buried beneath years of lies, Ashley must uncover the secrets of Beacon Hills before her past catches up with her. Because in Beacon Hills, some secrets refuse to stay hidden.
In the medieval village of Beacon Hills, 16-year-old Ashley Delaney Hale lives a simple life with her father in a small cottage. Her father is a hardworking woodmaker, while Ashley spends her days serving their household, cooking, cleaning, and helping provide for them. Everything changes when Ashley travels into the village one afternoon with a basket of food and unknowingly catches the attention of the royal family. King Scott McCall-Argent, Queen Allison McCall-Argent, and their 17-year-old son, Prince Brett McCall-Argent, are searching for a family to help care for their magnificent castle. Impressed by Ashley’s kindness and hardworking nature, the King and Queen visit her cottage and offer Ashley and her father positions within the royal household. Ashley believes she has been given an incredible opportunity. But the castle holds secrets. Strange things have begun happening throughout Beacon Hills. Shadows move through the village at night, people disappear, and whispers of something supernatural lurking around the royal castle grow louder. Ashley also catches the attention of people who don’t have good intentions. Theo Raken and Gabe become increasingly obsessed with the young servant girl, deliberately causing trouble and blaming Ashley for their actions. As their behavior becomes more threatening, Ashley finds herself being watched and cornered within the very castle where she was supposed to be safe. But Prince Brett refuses to let anyone hurt her. As Brett begins protecting Ashley and uncovering the truth behind the strange events, the two form an unexpected bond. Meanwhile, Princess Tracy Stewart, Brett’s close friend, makes it clear that she doesn’t believe a common servant belongs anywhere near the royal family. Caught between royal expectations, dangerous secrets, and people determined to control her, Ashley begins to realize that her arrival at the castle may not have been an accident. Because the smallest and most overlooked servant in Beac
Seventeen-year-old Ashley Delaney Hale has always known Beacon Hills is different. She lives with her two dads, Scott Hale-McCall and Derek Hale-McCall, and spends her days working at a cozy little café while trying to live a normal teenage life. But one evening, a peaceful walk through the woods turns into a nightmare when Ashley is chased by a terrifying rogue wolf. Just when she thinks she is about to be attacked, a massive black wolf appears and stands between her and the creature, protecting her from danger. Ashley is terrified. She doesn’t know whether the mysterious wolf is her protector—or another threat waiting to strike. What Ashley doesn’t know is that the wolf is actually Brett Talbot, a nineteen-year-old boy who attends her school and is hiding a dangerous secret. After their encounter in the woods, Ashley starts noticing Brett everywhere. At school. At the café. Around town. Coincidence? Brett knows the truth. He was the wolf who saved her. And while Ashley has no idea that the mysterious creature is secretly watching over her, Brett intends to keep his identity hidden for as long as possible. Because in Beacon Hills, the biggest danger isn’t always the monster you can see. Sometimes, it’s the secret standing right beside you.
Sixteen-year-old Ashley Ryland McCall-Hale has gotten used to living between two houses. Her fathers, Scott McCall-Hale and Derek McCall-Hale, are divorced and live in separate homes in Beacon Hills. Every week, Ashley alternates between them, trying to balance two completely different households—and two fathers who rarely agree on anything. Scott is the understanding father who gives Ashley room to breathe. Derek is fiercely protective, constantly questioning her choices, criticizing what she learns at Beacon Hills High School, and keeping a close eye on who she spends time with. Then there’s Brett Talbot. Brett knows exactly what Ashley is going through because his own parents are divorced. What starts as friendship slowly becomes something more, but Derek isn’t about to let his daughter get close to someone he doesn’t trust. As Ashley struggles between her father’s expectations and her own desire for independence, strange things begin happening throughout Beacon Hills. Missing people, unexplained events, and secrets surrounding her fathers make Ashley wonder if her family is hiding something from her. With Brett by her side and Derek determined to protect her at any cost, Ashley finds herself caught between family, love, secrets, and a town that is far more dangerous than it appears. In Beacon Hills, nothing is ever simple. And Ashley is about to discover that sometimes the biggest secrets are hiding inside your own family.
Years ago, Ashley Delaney was a seventeen-year-old girl working at a small tea house in Small Heath called The Copper Kettle. It was there that she crossed paths with Thomas Shelby—a dangerous man whose world was filled with violence, power, and secrets. But years have passed, and both Ashley and Tommy have changed. Now an adult, Ashley still lives in Small Heath with her family. The Copper Kettle has become a part of her family’s life after Miss Higgins passed away and left the beloved tea house to Ashley. Her little sister is now a teenager, and the tea shop remains a place filled with memories. Thomas Shelby has changed too. His family is gone, his children are grown, and the man who once ruled Birmingham has left much of that life behind. Living alone at Arrow House, Tommy is finally trying to live with the ghosts of his past rather than allowing them to control him. Then one ordinary day, Tommy walks through the doors of The Copper Kettle—and sees Ashley. The feelings he thought he had buried come rushing back. Ashley isn’t the girl he remembers, and Tommy isn’t the man he used to be. He no longer wants to control her, possess her, or pull her into his dangerous world. He simply wants to be near her. But the chemistry between them is impossible to ignore. Stolen glances turn into secret conversations. Secret conversations become stolen moments—in the tea house, in alleys, at the Garrison, inside Tommy’s car, and even at the old betting shop where so much of Tommy’s past remains. They try to keep their growing relationship hidden, but Birmingham has a way of bringing old ghosts back to life. As Tommy’s past threatens to catch up with him once again, Ashley must decide whether she can trust the man Thomas Shelby has become. And Tommy must face the hardest challenge of his life: Learning how to love Ashley without becoming the man he used to be. Some people are meant to disappear from your life. Others remain there, waiting quietly until the years f
At 16, Ashley Delaney Hale is human in a town overrun by werewolves, hunters, and secrets that could kill her. Born to Derek Hale but raised alongside Scott McCall as her adoptive father, Ashley grew up surrounded by the supernatural yet grounded in love, loyalty, and courage. She may not have claws or fangs, but her sharp mind, quick instincts, and unwavering heart make her a force to be reckoned with. Between high school life, family secrets, and the dangers lurking in Beacon Hills, Ashley must learn that being human doesn’t mean being powerless—and sometimes the bravest acts come from the heart.
In the peaceful kingdom of Beacon Hills, King Scott McCall and Queen Allison Argent rule with wisdom and compassion, creating a land where everyone has a place to belong. When the royal castle hires Derek Hale as its new blacksmith, he arrives with his quiet sixteen-year-old daughter, Ashley Delaney Hale, who becomes Queen Allison’s personal maid. Since losing her mother as a child, Ashley has rarely spoken, choosing silence over words. Though shy and reserved, her kindness and gentle heart soon catch the attention of Prince Brett McCall-Argent, the heir to the throne. Unlike others who see only a servant, Brett sees Ashley’s quiet strength and goes out of his way to protect her, accompany her around the castle, and earn her trust. As an unlikely friendship blossoms between a prince and a silent maid, their growing bond challenges the expectations of the royal court. Together, they must navigate courtly whispers, hidden secrets, and the responsibilities that come with their very different lives in a kingdom where courage, loyalty, and compassion can change fate.
Sixteen-year-old Ashley Rose Argent-Hale has always believed she knows her family. She lives a quiet life in Beacon Hills with her two dads, Chris Argent-Hale and Peter Argent-Hale, and spends her days at Beacon Hills High School. Shy and soft-spoken, Ashley would much rather hide inside an oversized hoodie, wear her favorite Vans, and enjoy the cool fall weather than draw attention to herself. But Beacon Hills has never been an ordinary town. Strange things are happening. Animals are disappearing. Mysterious sounds echo through the woods at night, and people are beginning to whisper about something dangerous lurking in the darkness. And Ashley’s dads are acting strangely. Chris becomes more protective than ever, while Peter seems to know things he shouldn’t. Whenever Ashley asks questions, they refuse to give her answers. Because they’re hiding a secret. Chris is a werewolf hunter. Peter is a werewolf. And Ashley has no idea. When Ashley accidentally discovers something terrifying in the woods, the carefully protected life her fathers built around her begins to unravel. The necklace her birth mother gave her as a child may hold a connection to the mystery, and whatever is haunting Beacon Hills seems to be getting closer to Ashley. Now the shy sixteen-year-old must uncover the truth about her family before the secrets of Beacon Hills find her first. In a town filled with hunters, werewolves, and monsters, Ashley may be the one person standing between them all.
Four years ago, Ashley Delaney Hale-McCall disappeared from Beacon Hills without saying goodbye. At seventeen, Ashley discovered she was pregnant. Terrified and unsure of what her family would think, she ran away to London, where she gave birth to a beautiful little girl named Arabella. Now eighteen, Ashley has finally returned home with her four-year-old daughter. Back in Beacon Hills, Ashley is reunited with her two fathers, Scott Hale-McCall and Derek Hale-McCall, and surrounded by the family and friends who are determined to help her and Arabella start over. But coming home isn’t as easy as Ashley hoped. Especially when the past is still waiting for her. Brett Talbot, now twenty, has no idea Ashley is back in town. He has no idea she has a daughter. And he certainly doesn’t know that the little girl Ashley has been raising for four years is connected to him. Brett has built a new life for himself and is now dating Tracy Stewart, who immediately becomes suspicious of Ashley’s return. Tracy knows there was once something between Ashley and Brett, and when she sees Ashley with Arabella, she becomes convinced that Ashley has come back to Beacon Hills to get Brett back. But Ashley isn’t looking for her old life. She’s trying to protect the new one she built for her daughter. As old feelings resurface, secrets begin unraveling, and strange supernatural events once again threaten Beacon Hills, Ashley realizes that keeping the truth hidden may be impossible. Because in Beacon Hills, secrets never stay buried forever. And sooner or later, Brett is going to discover the daughter he never knew he had.
Sixteen-year-old Ashley Delaney Hale-McCall finally has the family she’s always dreamed of after being adopted by Derek Hale-McCall and Scott Hale-McCall. When her fathers decide to move back to their hometown of Beacon Hills, Ashley leaves her old life behind and starts over as the new student at Beacon Hills High. Ashley doesn’t care about fitting in. With her flowing bohemian clothes, silver rings on every finger, colorful beaded and woven bracelets, crystal jewelry, and long dark wavy hair decorated with tiny braids and hair jewelry, she’s unapologetically herself. Her unique style quickly makes her the target of the school’s popular crowd, earning her teasing and unwanted attention. The biggest thorn in her side is Brett Talbot—the handsome, arrogant, and cocky captain of the Beacon Hills High lacrosse team. Used to being admired by everyone, Brett clashes with Ashley almost immediately. She refuses to be intimidated by his popularity, and their constant arguments spark a rivalry neither of them can ignore. But high school drama becomes the least of Ashley’s worries when people begin disappearing throughout Beacon Hills. Strange attacks, terrifying rumors, and unexplained events spread across town, leaving everyone on edge. As the mystery deepens, Ashley begins noticing that her fathers seem to know far more than they’re willing to admit. They disappear at odd hours, warn her to stay away from the preserve after dark, and grow increasingly protective with every new disappearance. Determined to uncover the truth, Ashley finds herself drawn into a world hidden beneath the surface of Beacon Hills—a world filled with ancient secrets, dangerous creatures, and supernatural forces lurking in the shadows. Even Brett starts behaving suspiciously, making Ashley question whether the boy she can’t stand is hiding secrets of his own. As the darkness surrounding Beacon Hills grows stronger, Ashley must discover who she can trust while learning that sometimes being diffe
Seventeen-year-old Ashley Delaney Hale-McCall has never wanted to live in her father’s shadow. When her family moves from San Francisco back to Beacon Hills, Ashley believes she’s finally getting the fresh start she’s always wanted. Her father, Scott Hale-McCall, is a famous lacrosse player who has stepped away from the spotlight to return to the hometown he shares with his husband, Derek Hale-McCall. For Ashley, Beacon Hills is supposed to mean a normal school, new friends, parties, and finally getting to experience life as an ordinary teenager. But the moment she arrives at Beacon Hills High, everyone knows exactly who she is. She’s Scott Hale-McCall’s daughter. Suddenly, everyone wants to be her friend. She’s invited to parties, offered seats at the most popular tables, and surrounded by people who are fascinated by her father’s fame. Ashley can’t help wondering if anyone actually cares about the girl behind the famous name. Then she meets Brett Talbot. Along with his friends Liam Dunbar and Mason Hewitt, Brett is one of the few people who doesn’t care who Ashley’s father is. He sees her for who she really is, and for the first time since arriving in Beacon Hills, Ashley feels like she can simply be herself. But just when Ashley begins to feel like she might finally belong, strange things start happening around town. Students disappear. Unexplained incidents begin piling up. People start acting strangely. And Ashley notices that her dads seem to know far more about Beacon Hills than they’re willing to tell her. Ashley came to Beacon Hills looking for a normal life. Instead, she’s about to uncover secrets that could change everything she thought she knew about her family, her new friends, and the town she now calls home. Because in Beacon Hills, everyone has a secret. And Ashley may be the biggest secret of them all.
After losing her biological parents in a tragic car accident, six-year-old Ashley grows up in a quiet orphanage, believing she’ll never find a family of her own. Shy, gentle, and happiest with a book or a drawing pad, she rarely speaks to the visitors who come searching for children to adopt. Everything changes when Derek McCall-Hale and Scott McCall-Hale arrive. Instead of choosing a child right away, they return day after day, patiently earning Ashley’s trust through stories, laughter, and small acts of kindness—including a special stuffed wolf that quickly becomes her most treasured possession. As their bond grows, Derek and Scott realize Ashley is already their daughter in every way that matters. When they officially adopt her, Ashley leaves behind the only home she’s ever known to start a new life in the small town of Beacon Hills. To Ashley, Beacon Hills is simply a new beginning with two loving fathers who chose her when no one else did. But what she doesn’t know is that the quiet town hides extraordinary secrets, and so do the family and friends waiting to welcome her. Filled with heartwarming family moments, found family, healing, mystery, and slow-burning supernatural discoveries, this story follows one little girl as she learns that home isn’t where you’re born—it’s where you’re loved.
