Leap's Day: February 29

On New Year's Eve, my own brother slapped me three times. He stood there, full of himself, and spat at me in disgust. "This is my house. Who do you think you are, coming in here and telling me what to do? Get out. You're nothing but bad luck. If you dare stay, I'll hit you again." He seemed to have forgotten something. The house he was living in was the one I had bought for Mom. The jewelry his wife wore was all paid for by me. The money in his children's hands was the generous allowance I had just given them. My face still burning, I looked around at the others. My sister-in-law curled her lips into a mocking smile and let out an icy snort. The two children stared at me with open hostility. Mom, who had called me there tonight for my birthday, stood silently in the corner. Just like always, her eyes were red, yet she said nothing. At that moment, something in me snapped.

Thirty days. One month. A single, heartbeat-stopping wager. Benjamin Parker was the sun. A golden-haired scholarship recruit with flour on his hands and a heart that he wore—vulnerable and beating—on his sleeve. He spent weeks chasing the school’s "Ice Prince," offering handmade tarts and a smile that could melt the coldest winter. He thought his persistence finally paid off when Jonathan Hayes—the obsidian-eyed, terrifyingly beautiful heir to a tech empire—pinned him against the school gates and claimed him in front of everyone. But the "Golden Romance" was a lie from the very first kiss. Jonathan didn't choose Benjamin because of his heart; he chose him because he was a convenient target for a cruel poker-room bet. The stakes? A vintage motorcycle. The duration? Thirty days of manufactured affection. Now, the countdown is ticking. Between the silk sheets of Jonathan’s penthouse and the shadows of the St. Jude’s library, the line between the game and reality is blurring. Jonathan is the predator who accidentally caught himself in his own trap, growing addicted to the very light he’s destined to extinguish. Benjamin is the lamb who is slowly realizing the wolf isn't just at the door—he’s in his bed. When the moon turns red and the thirty days are up, the truth will do more than just break Benjamin's heart. It will shatter his soul. One month of sweetness. A lifetime of ruin. In the game of hearts, the house always wins... and Jonathan Hayes never plays fair.

At the age of 30, Jamie Lynn Langford experience the so-called Aromantism where she became unaware that she is now near the end of the calendar without a man by her side. the most awful thing is she became distant from everyone, especially a man. It's not that she is in doubtful sexual orientation because she is 100 percent sure she is straight. It`s just that she became busy establishing her own career sadly to think! She felt bad for it. Until her best friend Diane invited her on a vacation that will make her life turns into a roller coaster ride of emotions. And all of that is new to her. Will she accept the fact that once she is set on Francis Ribbs' attention, she is nowhere to escape in his clutches? Will she entertain those possibilities? Or keeps blinds on to it?

Jasper Eaton decides to ditch me at the altar just so he can meet up with Wendy Klein, his ex-girlfriend who abandoned him when he almost got crippled five years ago. All the guests are stunned, to say the least. I can only tug at Jasper's hem of his shirt while trying very hard to keep my expression intact. "Can you please stay with me now?" Mixed feelings cross his eyes, but he soon wrenches my hand off him, finger by finger. At the same time, he shakes his head. "I'm sorry, but I must go now. I need to ask Wendy why she was so heartless to me back then." Amid the crowd's shocked gasps and murmurs, Jasper leaves without even looking back. My dad, who has a bad heart, trembles violently out of fury. I can only stare in a shocked daze as he collapses to the floor shortly after. "Dad!" I break down on the spot. Still, I manage to send him to the hospital. There, I slump outside the emergency room. At that moment, my phone buzzes for a short while. Two new text messages have shown up on my screen. The first message comes from Wendy. "I told you that as long as I'm back, Jasper will never choose you. You lost again, Celeste." The second message comes from Jasper. "Give me 30 days. We'll break up for the time being. Once the period is over, I'll definitely love you and you only." My gaze is already hollow at that point. The smile curving on my lips is one of mockery and bitterness. This time, I will never lose ever again.

My entire existence has led to this moment, the day I finally put an end to this misery, the day I pay tribute to the sacrifices of my loved ones, the day I grant freedom to the human race. All it requires is a simple pull of the trigger. I desired this, worked tirelessly for it, but inexplicably, I find myself unable to complete the task. "Do it," Bas urged in a soft whisper, a gentle smile playing on his lips. How could he find solace in a moment fraught with tension? His eyes locked onto mine, a silent challenge. Unable to contain the tears streaming down my face, I felt a flood of emotions. Sensing my hesitation, Bas delicately laid his hand on mine, guiding the gun closer to his chest. "I love you," he uttered to me. No, I couldn't endure this any longer. I shook my head, the pain becoming unbearable. "We do this in 1...2...3..." **** In a world where werewolves coexist with humans, Rebecca faces a daunting prophecy: she must become the mate of the infamous Alpha's son, Bas. Every century, the moon selects a human girl to fulfill this prophecy, destined to bear a child for her mate and then be sacrificed. But Rebecca refuses to accept her fate. Can she defy the prophecy and protect her loved ones, or will her rebellion lead to tragedy? And when she starts developing feelings for someone forbidden, what will the consequences be?

Athena (Thea) turns twenty on the same day Conrad, the Alpha of Crimson Pack, turns twenty-five. Alpha Conrad hosts a party, making it mandatory for every pack member to be in attendance. Thea, although wanting to go badly, has to keep herself hidden from the other werewolf classes; not only is she an Omega, she was not born on pack lands and is therefore not an official pack member. After teetering on the edge for too long, she sneaks into the party, not heeding to her guardian’s warning. As the moon goddess would have it, she finds out that she is Conrad’s mate. Conrad is livid, as well as most of the pack members. It’s impossible for an Alpha to be mated to an Omega, or so they had all believed. They never seem to take into account that Thea’s life is turning upside down as well. She experiences first hand how impossible it feels for her to be a Luna.