13 Minutes

When my mind-link request had been ignored by my parents for the twentieth time, I went to the Werewolf Council, clutching the report on silver dust corrosion in my hand. “Hello. I’d like to renounce my pack identity—effective immediately.” Ten minutes later, my parents burst in, dragging my adoptive younger sister, Elsa, with them, panic written all over their faces. The door burst open with a bang, and my Beta father charged in like a storm. His fangs bared, claws twitching. “You’re nothing but a spoiled brat craving attention! Stop this pathetic act. You’re an embarrassment to a Beta’s name!” My mother, a forensic specialist for the pack, immediately snatched the report from my hand. After a brief glance, she let out a cold sneer. “You faked this report just to get our attention? You’ve been a liar since you were a pup.” Elsa clung to both of them, tears in her eyes as she sobbed, “I’m sorry, Jenifer. It’s my fault for holding the shifting ritual. But please... don’t lie to our parents just to make them feel guilty!” Blood was still pouring from my nose, but I wiped it away calmly and stood tall before the werewolf councilors once more. “I haven’t had a real family for a long time. Please—remove all my personal records from the pack. I just don’t want my funeral—scheduled for three days from now—to be delayed.”

He was supposed to be a stranger. A bruised, scarred, filthy-mouthed stranger who pinned me against a bathroom wall and made me forget the boy who broke my heart 20 minutes earlier. I walked away first without his name or number, and I didn't look back. Then I found out my mom was engaged. To his dad. Rhys Maddox. Number seventeen. 6'3" of tattoos, bruised knuckles, and the kind of jaw that makes good girls do stupid things. The most dangerous player to ever step on our ice. My one-night stand. My new stepbrother. He doesn't follow rules - he breaks them. On the ice. In my bed. Against every surface in our parents' house while they eat twenty feet away. He calls me "sis" just to watch me squirm. He watches me like he already owns me. And the worst part? He does. Publicly, we're fake dating - a deal to keep my ex-bestfriend away. Privately, we're a stepbrother and stepsister who can't keep our clothes on the second we're alone. It's our biggest secret. Now the boy who I once considered my best friend suddenly wants me back. And the stepbrother who wasn't supposed to mean anything won't let me go. One wants to protect me. One wants to destroy me. And I can't tell which is which anymore. --- For readers 18+ who like their men possessive, their romances FORBIDDEN, and their chapters dripping with filthy, unapologetic spice.

To transfer my sister, Suri Voss, who was 13 years younger than I was, to a new school district, I took 7 days of annual leave and went back to my hometown. I pulled strings, delivered gifts, called in favors, and finally forced a spot for her in the best middle school in the city. At last, when I could pause long enough to catch my breath, I told Mom, who was heading out to buy groceries, that I wanted grilled pork ribs for dinner. Suri walked over with a cold expression, then threw a full glass of icy water straight onto my head and pointed at my face as she exploded. "You country leech, mooching off our family for years, eating our food and living in our house whenever you feel like it. I let all that slide. Now you want to steal my mom too? Do you have any shame at all?! "Listen carefully, Mom only has one child. She will only ever love me!" I stood there, stunned. Suri had no idea I was Mom’s biological daughter, too. All this time, she had treated me as some freeloading relative. I looked toward the doorway, where Mom was changing her shoes to go out. She seemed not to have heard a single word of Suri’s disrespect. She merely said casually, "Suri doesn’t like ribs. Let’s have grilled shrimp instead." She had forgotten that I’ve been severely allergic to seafood since childhood. I lowered my head and let out a quiet, self-mocking laugh. Unbeknownst to them, if I could secure Suri a place in that school, I could just as easily make sure she lost it.

On the day I get released from prison, Joshua Caldwell's adoptive sister, Madeline Caldwell, hosts a live stream to welcome me home. She makes sure to shove the phone right in my face. "This is my older sister, Victoria. Even though she has gotten violated by 13 people, she still has the courage to continue living in this world." The comment section explodes instantly. Joshua frowns slightly, but Madeline merely sticks her tongue out at him with a cute smile on her face. Instead of going hysterical like I did three years ago, I just smile at everyone. "A woman's body is never her weakness. The offenders are the ones who deserve to die, not me." After returning home, I don't stop Joshua from letting Madeline visit our parents' graves on their death anniversary on my behalf. I don't mind Joshua giving my room away to Madeline and telling me to stay in the storeroom. Even when Madeline pushes me into the water once again, Joshua chooses to save her despite her knowing how to swim. After I get rescued by a passerby, I just go home on my own silently. Mixed feelings swirl in Joshua's eyes as he looks at me. "That three-year sentence has changed you for good, Vicky." I just smile softly in response. All I've done is finally see reality for what it is and not harbor any hopes for him at all. Moreover, the system, which I've lost contact with, has finally returned three days ago. It told me that it could take me home in seven days. But why is it that Joshua loses his mind after I've left this world for real?

During the ten years since I was found and brought to my biological family, Sonia Baxter, the girl who took my place, and I have been as close as real sisters. Even Mom says that Sonia cares more about me than a real sister would. I once swore I'd give my life to protect our special family of four. When Sonia is rushed into emergency surgery with a ruptured cerebral aneurysm, I am in my office, calmly practicing a basic suturing technique on a surgical simulator. On the screen, the robotic arm threads the needle with such precision that it looks like a work of art. A few minutes later, my boyfriend, Oliver Lyons, slams open the office door and shouts at me, "Amelia Baxter! Sonia's in critical condition. Only your micro-dissection skills can save her! Every expert in the hospital is waiting for you! We've got less than an hour before the window closes!" He looks at me with hopeful eyes. I'm the only person in the country capable of performing a surgery this complex. My hands are even known as the "Hands of God". However, I simply reply with a hum and continue fiddling with the model. Suddenly, my parents rush in. Mom grabs my arm and cries out, "Amelia! That's your sister in there! How could you just stand by and watch her die?" I gently pull away from her and hold my right hand out in front of them. This hand, which had once created countless medical miracles, is now trembling slightly. "Unfortunately, since yesterday, I've been showing symptoms of essential tremor. Dad, Mom… this hand is ruined."

His eyes darkened as he leaned closer, placing a finger on my mouth. “Uh-uh, what did I say you call me when we're alone?” My body tingled with heat. “Daddy?” “Urgh…” A guttural groan tore from his chest. “Yes, baby?” My mind spaced for a second and Andre took advantage of that, tucking his hands under my legs and carrying me bridal style. “Andre, what are you doing?!” I shriek, dangling my legs in the air. “Finishing what we started, baby.” he chuckled, heading straight for the front door. I shook my head in bemusement. His daughter just found out about us and his brain goes straight to sex? Men… I wasn't any better though as I just waited for him to cross that threshold and pounce on me, instead of dissuading him. He strode over to the loveseat couch, sliding me down his body before pushing me back to the couch. Propped up on my elbows, I looked up at him with hooded eyes, only for the the door knob to flip. My eyes widened and instantly, I jerked up to my feet, coming to stand behind Andre. I had no idea who it was as Claire would have just barged right in. The door opening seemed to take several minutes but in reality, it was only seconds. It swung inwards to reveal Leila, the last person I was expecting to see. She took one look at us and wasn't in the least bit surprised. “So it's true?” Those cold grey eyes moved over to me. “You're the whore that's fucking my husband?”

“Cassie Vaughn. Failed to crawl into my bed, so you started stealing from my casino?” The giant screen lit up. Every inch of it was covered with my nude photos. “Holy shit. A janitor actually thought she could seduce Lucien Moretti?” “She wanted to climb the ladder so badly she started stealing dirty casino money?” I was shaking with rage. The moment I said, “Those are AI-generated,” the entire room burst into laughter. “You think Lucien Moretti would fake photos for trash like you?” The next second, Lucien slid a phone across the poker table toward me. “Thirty million dollars from my casino.” “How exactly are you planning to pay that back?” But only I knew the truth. Lucien himself had stolen that money. I had simply seen it happen. On the screen, my parents hung from chains inside a warehouse, blood covering their faces. A document titled Organ Valuation Agreement was pushed in front of me. “Sign it.” “Or your parents die.” I fought with everything I had. Still, they dragged me toward the crocodile pit. Then I opened my eyes again. I was back at the poker table. Across from me, the butcher himself lazily rolled casino chips between his fingers. And on the giant screen behind him, my AI-generated nudes were still playing. He smirked. “Still trying to seduce me?” I lowered my eyes and checked the time. Forty-three minutes remained before I would be thrown into the crocodile pit. But I smiled. Lucien Moretti. This time—we’re gambling with your life.

"Be mine to own and I'll make your Ex Husband wish he never crossed you....You have four minutes to decide what you want, Little Peach!" ☆☆☆☆☆☆ Olive Anderson's life was shattered when her husband betrayed and divorced her on her hospital bed. The same day, her mother's illness worsened, and the hospital demanded a hefty sum. Desperate, Olive turned to her uncle for help, only to be coerced into sleeping with an investor. Left with no choice but to sleep with the investor to get the money to pay for the medical expenses. There was a mix up and she ended up in the bed of a drunk CEO, that single night marked the beginning of her unending misery and as well fortune. The stranger she slept with turned out to be her cousin's arranged- soon-to-be husband. And when he met her again, he wanted her! He would possess her! He won't let her go! Logan Smith-The Ambitious Tycoon from a prestigious family whose only motive was to get an arranged wife to clear his reputation and stop the rumor of him being Gay, found Olive as a suitable bride because of his Rare Physical contact disorder. He can't be touched by a woman. Therefore, He would do anything to get Olive Anderson who was the first woman to touch him without his illness flaring up. Olive is trapped between her desires as Logan proposes a deal: financial support and revenge on Olive's ex-husband in exchange for her belonging to him. Olive is torn between her thirst for vengeance and the scheming CEO's possessive grasp. She found herself exposed to a world she never bargained for and she was thrust into a world filled with self-discovery-challenging everything she thought she knew about herself.

Aria Bennett never believed in the supernatural. To her, the world was simple… college classes, late-night study sessions, and quiet walks through the woods near her campus whenever life became overwhelming. One night, that walk changes everything. After wandering too far into a forest she has never seen before, Aria unknowingly crosses into territory that does not belong to humans. Within minutes she is surrounded by wolves… massive, terrifying creatures that should not exist. But the real shock comes when the wolves shift into men. Kael Nightfang, Rowan Vale, and Dante Moreau are the three Alpha heirs who rule the territory together. Feared across every pack in the region, the men share power and loyalty. Yet nothing could prepare them for the moment they catch Aria’s scent. Mate. The word slams into their instincts all at once. But the Moon Goddess has made a mistake… because the fragile girl standing in front of them is human. Now the three powerful Alphas find themselves drawn to the same woman, their wolves demanding they claim her while their minds battle the impossible bond between them. Kael, the dominant leader, refuses to share what should belong to him alone. Rowan, the calm strategist, suspects Aria’s presence may mean something far greater. And Dante, reckless and dangerously charming, is more than willing to fight both men for her heart. Caught in a world she never knew existed, Aria must survive pack politics, jealous she-wolves, and the growing tension between the three powerful men who want her. Because loving one Alpha is dangerous. But being the mate of three? That could start a war.

Ajay has been dating Aaron for two years. Their relationship is not perfect, but it meets the requirements of a good relationship. While vacationing at Aaron's aunt's island home, Aaron and his cousin Tyler throw a party. Aaron walks away to grab more drinks from the kitchen, but he has been gone way too long. Ajay decides to find him but is distracted by the mysterious, handsome partier named Jude. Jude had been watching Ajay all night. Unable to find Aaron, Jude suggests they go somewhere quieter, leading her to the guesthouse. Upon entering, they hear voices. Unfortunately, it's Aaron making out with another woman. As a result, Ajay takes vengeance and sleeps with Jude in the bedroom down the hall. Ajay's rendevous causes her and Aaron to break up. And their weekend trip is now a two-week vacation because Tyler caused them to miss their ferry home. With a few dollars in her pocket and nowhere to stay, Ajay asks Jude to help, but Jude has turned nasty and unwilling to accommodate her. However, seeing his cousin Micah's attraction to her, Jude decides to help out of jealousy. Although Jude's family owns the island and he lives alone in a lavish mansion on a hill, he makes Ajay stay fifteen miles away with his family in their Villa. Ajay believes Jude is doing this because he doesn't like her, but her thoughts are the furthest thing from his truth. After Ajay meets Jude, in a matter of minutes, things are not what they seem, and Jude is not who or what he appears to be. Explore Ajay's journey with Jude from lust to love, passion to hate, and mystery to the truth that hides within The Villa.