Library

Exhalation

What would you do if you've been saving yourself for your mate? Only for him to choose another Alpha Female right in your face? Reciprocate the act. Avenge. An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. Easier said than done. Because whenever he was around me, my body betrayed me. "Alia, do you trust me? Even just for tonight?" His voice came out low and rough that it sent shivers of pleasure direct to my core. I know I should not trust him. But my mouth and body have a mind of their own. "I trust you, Gavin..." I whispered as I pressed my back to his naked chest. He took a deep breath and dipped his head into the crook of my neck, slowly brushing his lips against my burning skin. I angled my head, giving him more access while a sultry moan escaped my throat when he started nibbling and sucking the soft spot where his mark should be. This was all wrong, but I don't want to be right this time. Just for tonight. ¨¨¨¨¨¨Book 2 of the Black Shadow Pack Series - The novel is stand-alone, however, to understand the characters deeper and the concept of The Claiming, I highly recommend that you read the first book HE'S MY ALPHA (completed). Also available on this app. Black Shadow Pack Series: Book 1 - HE'S MY ALPHA (Completed) Book 2 - THE BETA IS MINE (Completed) Book 3 - LOVING THE GAMMA (Completed) Spin-Off Book 1 - IN THE ARMS OF MY ALPHA (Completed) Spin-Off Book 2 - THROUGH THE EYES OF MY ALPHA (Ongoing)

9.9

80 Chapters

A Life Debt Repaid

"You took everything I ever loved ever since we were children! Congratulations, you've done it again!"Cordy Sachs had given up on her lover of three years, deciding to go celibate and never to love again… only for a six-year-old child to appear in her life, sweetly coaxing her to 'go home' with him.Having to face the rich, handsome but tyrannical CEO 'husband', she was forthright. "I've been hurt by men before. You won't find me trusting."Mr. Levine raised a brow. "Don't compare me to scum!"..."Even if everyone claimed that he was cold and that he kept people at arms' reach, only Cordy knew how horrifically rotten he was on the inside!

9.3

1514 Chapters

Alpha Rasmus

He tilted his head. His olive eyes drank in her features. The way her eyes fluttered, her lips parted slightly in shock at his sudden change in demeanor. "I want you," He rasped, voice rough. "Huh?" She blinked. Her eyes snapped up to meet his gaze. She was taking too much time to consume what was happening. He gripped her jaw, his fingertips digging into her cheeks firmly as he jerked her face up, her lips puckered out due to his hold. "I want you," He husked and it was like her heart ceased to beat just for a second before it began to wildly thunder in her chest. "Oh," was all she was able to say. Her plump lips formed a small 'O' and with a low growl, his lips came crashing down on hers. **** Broken Alpha Innocent girl Slow burn Love Warning: Violence. Abuse. Broken Alpha Innocent girl Slow burn Love Warning: Violence. Abuse.

9.3

151 Chapters

Alpha's Second Chance

Logan The Alpha was rejected and abandoned by his mate. He carries a big secret about the heritage of his bloodline. That makes him bigger, faster, and much stronger than any other Alpha. Olivia She is on the outside looking like any other teen. But unlike other wolves, she is already trained just as hard as an experienced warrior at the age of 17. After her beautiful mother was killed by rouges, her dad swore that his daughter would never be unable to protect herself. Growing up, she caught the eye of their old Alpha, who had lost his Luna and mate on the same day she lost her mom. He wants her, and that makes her dad pack up and leave the pack together with her and her brother only a month before she turns 18 and will be able to find her mate. What will happen when they come to her mother's old pack and Alpha Logan senses that she is his second chance mate when they enter his territory. Could she be what he needs to fully move on from losing his first mate? What does it mean her birthday is on the same night as the blood moon.? Will Logan’s secret come out? And how will it all affect Olivia and their matebond? Will the matebond blossom, and both find that all-consuming love and passion that every wolf hopes to get? Read and follow the story to find out.

9.5

360 Chapters

Ascension of a Gamma

(Completed)I always knew who I was born to be, but the Goddess had other plans. She deprived me of the one thing I needed to fulfill my duty. I disappointed my pack, I lost the ones I loved, and my purpose was losing its worth.I persevered for years, waiting for the day I could leave my pack. But my plans were thwarted yet again when She fated me as mate to an infamous Alpha. It would’ve been alright had I not known about his dirty little secret.Lost and confused, who would’ve known that I would one day stumble upon something that would undo everything I knew about the past. And because of it, I’d find myself asking about my real identity and destiny.I’m Anna Bella Fiora, future Head Gamma of the White Lake Pack. Well, at least I thought I was.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*This contains both parts:Part I: Broken Hearts and Fragile SoulsPart II: Cures and Soulmates---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------WARNING: CONTAINS MATURE THEMESINTENDED AUDIENCE: MATURE ADULT (18+)(Locked on 12/04/2020)Book Cover Designed By Saii Designs

8.9

84 Chapters

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

(Sequel of Accidental Surrogate For Alpha. Can be read alone.) Ariel was looking forward to her arranged marriage as the perfect princess, only to discover that she was being seen merely as a surrogate. Determined to escape the impending wedding, Ariel found herself with nowhere to turn. Her brothers helped her disguise as a boy, and she entered the mysterious and formidable Alpha Academy. To her surprise, Ariel stumbled upon her mate within its walls, and not just one … but more? However, her outward identity remained that of a young man… Will her true identity be uncovered, and can Ariel survive the harsh trials of Alpha Academy?

9.6

1014 Chapters

What Philosophical Questions Does 'Exhalation' Raise?

4 Answers2025-06-25 19:27:12

Ted Chiang's 'Exhalation' digs deep into the nature of consciousness and self. The title story, with its mechanical beings dissecting their own brains, forces us to ask: Is memory the core of identity? If we lose our past, do we cease to be ourselves? The entropy theme hits harder—every thought, every breath accelerates decay. It mirrors our climate crisis, making you wonder if intelligence inevitably dooms its own existence.

Other stories tackle free will versus determinism. 'The Lifecycle of Software Objects' asks if digital beings deserve rights as they evolve, blurring lines between code and soul. 'Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom' uses quantum branching to explore regret—how alternate selves haunt our choices. Chiang doesn’t just ask questions; he makes you feel their weight, like a clockwork lung slowly winding down.

Where Can I Buy 'Exhalation' By Ted Chiang?

4 Answers2025-06-25 17:55:17

Finding 'Exhalation' by Ted Chiang is easier than you think, and the options are vast. Major online retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Book Depository stock both paperback and hardcover editions, often with quick shipping. For those who prefer digital copies, Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play Books offer instant downloads. Independent bookstores often carry it too—check local shops or chains like Powell’s Books. Libraries are a great free alternative, especially if you’re okay with waiting. Secondhand sites like AbeBooks or ThriftBooks sometimes have cheaper used copies. If you’re into audiobooks, Audible’s version is narrated beautifully.

For collectors, signed editions might pop up on eBay or specialty stores. The book’s popularity means it’s rarely out of stock, but prices fluctuate. I’ve noticed airport bookstores sometimes surprise with niche titles like this. Whether you want new, used, or digital, there’s a fit for every budget and preference.

How Does 'Exhalation' Explore The Theme Of Consciousness?

4 Answers2025-06-25 16:11:04

Ted Chiang's 'Exhalation' digs deep into consciousness by framing it as a mechanical process, almost like clockwork. The titular story features an air-driven civilization where beings refill their brains like tanks, treating thoughts as literal fuel. It’s a brilliant metaphor—consciousness isn’t some mystical force but a fragile, physical system. When their air runs low, their minds stutter, making you wonder: are we just biological machines too? The story doesn’t stop there. It ties memory to identity, showing how even artificial beings grapple with existential dread when their 'fuel' dwindles. The prose is clinical yet poetic, dissecting self-awareness like an engineer might study a failing engine.

Another layer is the act of documenting their own decline. The narrator’s dissection of his brain isn’t just science; it’s a desperate bid to leave meaning behind. Chiang twists the theme further by suggesting that curiosity itself—the drive to understand consciousness—might be what dooms them. It’s a darkly beautiful take: awareness isn’t a gift but a ticking time bomb.

What Is The Significance Of The Title 'Exhalation' In The Story?

4 Answers2025-06-25 00:56:44

The title 'Exhalation' carries profound metaphorical weight in the story. It symbolizes the fleeting nature of existence, mirroring the mechanical beings' realization that their air-powered civilization is doomed to entropy. The act of exhaling represents both life—sustaining their clockwork bodies—and inevitable decay, as each breath depletes their finite resources.

The story's pivotal scene, where the narrator dissects his own brain to study memory, is framed as an 'exhalation' of thought, a release of understanding before silence. This duality elevates the title beyond literal meaning, weaving it into themes of mortality, curiosity, and the quiet beauty of transience. Even the prose mimics breath—measured, rhythmic, fading.

How Does 'Exhalation' Compare To Ted Chiang'S Other Works?

4 Answers2025-06-25 08:28:04

Ted Chiang's 'Exhalation' stands out in his oeuvre by diving deeper into the philosophical implications of science rather than just its mechanics. While stories like 'Story of Your Life' (the basis for 'Arrival') focus on linguistics and perception, 'Exhalation' grapples with entropy, free will, and the nature of consciousness. The titular story, for instance, is a meticulous dissection of a mechanical universe where air is the currency of existence—a metaphor for our own fragile reality.

What sets 'Exhalation' apart is its emotional resonance. Chiang’s earlier works, such as 'Tower of Babylon,' are cerebral puzzles, but here, tales like 'The Lifecycle of Software Objects' blend hard sci-fi with raw humanity, exploring love and loss through AI upbringing. The collection feels more mature, weaving existential dread with tender moments, a balance his prior books hinted at but never fully embraced. It’s Chiang at his most inventive and vulnerable.

Is 'Exhalation' Part Of A Larger Series Or Universe?

4 Answers2025-06-25 10:44:19

Ted Chiang's 'Exhalation' is a standalone collection of short stories, each a self-contained universe with its own rules and themes. Unlike series like 'The Martian Chronicles' or 'The Foundation', these stories don't share characters or timelines. They explore disparate ideas—time travel, free will, AI consciousness—with the depth of novels crammed into bite-sized brilliance.

The title story, 'Exhalation', is particularly iconic, dissecting entropy through a mechanical civilization's lens. While some authors build sprawling franchises, Chiang crafts intricate one-offs, making this book a mosaic of isolated yet profound worlds. Fans craving interconnected lore might feel adrift, but those valuing dense, original concepts will revel in its independence.