Ballet Shoes

“Will you give me your life in exchange for your father's?” He whispered in my ears, as he traced down my face, to the skin on my neck, with the cold edge of his gun. “No… Irene, don't…,” my father begged faintly from where he lay, straining against the grip of Diego’s men. "Yes,” I blurted out, a tremor in my voice. “If that's what it takes, then… Take me!” I surrendered, closing my eyes. *** How far would you go to protect the ones you love? Would you trade your soul to the devil to save theirs? Well, I did. I, Irene Herrera, offered myself to the Mafia Devil, Diego Vargas, in exchange for my father's life. I became his captive bride. He put me through hell, yet… I refused to break. I played his game, but I made my own rules, breaking his. I challenged him at every chance, defying the Almighty Diego. He was captivated by my rebellious spirit. As we drew closer, I started to see the man behind the mask, he was hurt, lonely, and haunted by the ghost of his lost love. I was drawn to his broken heart. Soon, the lines between captor and captive blurred for us, as we lost ourselves in a flaming love affair. But what happens when I learn that my long lost sister was Diego’s ex-lover, involved in a plot to destroy him? This conspiracy arises again and Diego’s life is threatened. I face a choice to either seize this chance to escape, and leave him to die, or stay and protect the man I now love, even if it could cost me my life. Whatever choice I make, Love or survival, am I justified? What would you do if you were in my shoes?

The things we want are so very rarely the things we need. Clifton Heights, a modest Adirondack town, offers many unique attractions. Arcane Delights sells both paperbacks and hard-to-find limited editions. The Skylark Diner serves the best home-cooked meals around, with friendly service and a smile. Every August, Mr. Jingo’s County Fair visits, to the delight of children and adults. In essence, Clifton Heights is the quintessential small American town. Everyone knows everyone else, and everyone is treated like family. It is quiet, simple, and peaceful. But shadows linger here. Flitting in dark corners, from the corner of the eye. If you walk down Main Street after dark, the slight scrape of shoes on asphalt whispers you're not alone, but when you look over your shoulder, no one is there. The moon shines high and bright in the night sky, but instead of throwing light, it only seems to make the shadows lengthen. Children disappear. Teens run away. Hunters get lost in the woods with frightening regularity. Husbands go mad, and wives vanish in the dead of night. And still, when the sun rises in the morning, you are greeted by townspeople with warm waves and friendly smiles, and the shivers pass as everything seems fresh and new... Until night falls once more. Handy's Pawn and Thrift sits several blocks down from Arcane Delights. Like any thrift store, its wares range from the mundane to the bizarre. By daylight, it seems just another slice of small town Americana. But in its window hangs a sign which reads: We Have Things You Need. And when a lonely traveling salesman comes looking for something he desperately wants, after normal visiting hours, after night has fallen, he will face a harsh truth among the shelves of Handy’s Pawn and Thrift: the things we want are rarely the things we need. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Every bonding anniversary, Shawn would bring home a new human girl from the outside—always under the lovely pretense of letting me mentor her on how to serve an Alpha. On our seventh anniversary, he brought back a nightclub girl dressed in a Princess Snow White outfit—cheap satin trembling under the chandelier's light. “She doesn’t have anything appropriate for an occasion like this,” he said casually. “Let her borrow your bonding dress. And the jewelry I gave you last time. As for shoes—what you're wearing now will do.” Then he added, with a trace of irony, “She’s just a young human girl, clueless. Teach her a few things about our world, will you? Especially the part about the bed.” Everyone was waiting for the spectacle—for me to break again, as I always had. And I didn’t disappoint them. I looked at Shawn, my voice steady, and said I wanted a bond-severance. He laughed—short and sharp—and leaned back like he was watching a comedy. “Clara, when are you going to stop with this bond-severance nonsense? I’ve heard it so many times. They’re just human girls, while you are my Luna. How could they ever compare to you?” Then, grinning as if doing me a favor, he added, “Fine. If you really want a bond-severance, I’ll gift you a territory in the south. Consider it a reward for doing your job as my Luna.” The room erupted in laughter. To them, I was ridiculous—greedy, jealous, hysterical. But what they didn’t know was that this was the 365th time I’d asked for a bond-severance. And the first time, I truly meant it. When he found out I wasn’t joking this time, he lost his composure. He searched for me across the world—only after he realized I was no longer where he thought I’d always be.

L’amour n’est jamais une ligne droite. Il est capricieux, imprévisible, parfois cruel, souvent brûlant. Il naît dans les endroits les plus inattendus, entre des âmes qui n’étaient pas censées se rencontrer, ou qui, au contraire, semblaient destinées l’une à l’autre. Mais que vaut le destin face au désir ? Sophie n’avait jamais cherché à tomber amoureuse. Séductrice par nature, elle savait jouer avec les cœurs sans jamais se laisser piéger. Mais Damien… Damien était différent. Il l’attirait autant qu’il la déroutait. Entre eux, c’était un jeu d’attirance et de provocation, un ballet enivrant où aucun des deux ne voulait céder le premier. Pourtant, quelque chose de plus profond se dessinait sous leurs joutes taquines, quelque chose d’inavouable… quelque chose qui effrayait Sophie autant que Damien lui-même. Elena, elle, pensait avoir trouvé l’amour aux côtés de Lucas. Doux, attentionné, toujours là pour elle. Mais alors pourquoi son cœur battait-il différemment lorsqu’elle croisait Damien ? Pourquoi cette envie dévorante de lui appartenir, même si elle savait qu’il ne lui était pas destiné ? Et Lucas… Lucas, fidèle et patient, se trouvait soudain face à une réalité qu’il n’avait jamais envisagée : l’amour ne suffisait pas toujours. Son cœur blessé allait-il s’accrocher à une femme qui ne pouvait l’aimer pleinement, ou s’ouvrir à l’inconnu, à une autre possibilité, un autre avenir ? Dans cette histoire, les cœurs s’égarent, les corps s’attirent, les âmes se tourmentent. Entre passion et raison, entre interdits et tentations, chacun devra faire un choix. Car au bout du chemin, une seule vérité demeure : l’amour est une flamme indomptable… et personne n’en ressort indemne.

Life is about competition. competition is part of characteristics of living things. Crystal Stallone is a brave, courageous,a beauty to write about as it's name entails "crystal"her cute and shinny face,her black long hair,small waist and her soft and pinks lips,her thick body are features one wouldn't resist to write about.she is the only daughter of a well known fashion magazine "My face,my beauty"she was born into fashion all she loves to do is taking care of her beauty,she puts on the lastest designers,shoes,bag, jewelries. As Fate could have it "Nothing in this world is perfect"same to Crystal as beautiful she is,she is the dullest and dumbest student in her class, No one compete with her in worst grades but Crystal prefers her beauty to her grades. Some of the teacher already accepted her fate,her nonchalant behaviors. Crystal was in love with a person who rejected her confession and underestimate her "Damien" His awards can't be written. "A notable and prestige child of the mayor of New York city. He is rude and grumpy too. Damien,in general was never interested in women,he resent ladies because they thinks nothing other than gushing over pretty boys and celebrities. The school depends on his intelligence and ability. "No other winner than him." Apart from being the school brilliant boy,he is apopular athlete. Damien being a proud jerk had underestimated crystal,the very known dumbest girl in the school,even though she still wanted to love him but really had to give up because of how humiliated she felt. Crystal made her vow to always be his rival by competing with him in everything he has. She made a vow that whenever there's a boy named Damien in every competition,there will be a girl named Crystal as his rival. Moreover,the difference between a boy and a girl is just Biology.

Mia Fernando, A 26 Year old Spanish Woman with Exquisite Beauty, Anywhere she Went, All eyes would turn, She was endowed with Exquisite Black Colored Eyes, Auburn Lush hair, Small and Pointed Nose, Cute Pouty Lips CARL GONZALEZ, a 30 Year Old Ruthless Business Man, He Owned an IT Company which was Responsible for Most Of The Modern Technology we have today Immediately He walks into The Company, Everywhere Goes Quiet and Chilly, Employees Shook and The Mention of Him Name, Peed their Pants at the Sound of His Voice "Why Spend Time Falling in Love when I can make Billions Of Dollars During that time?" These Were His Favorite Words He Hated The Sight of Women but only had a soft heart for..... HIMSELF, His Mom Died Immediately He was Born, His Father joined His Mom When he turned 8 and Ever since then, He had been fending for himself At Age 9, He would go about Each street giving Rich People Shines on their Shoes, He Built what he has today Carl Always thought Women were nothing but Weak, Gold digging Fellas until He Met Her Her Innocence Drew her to him, The way she would scrunch up her face when she was Disgusted, The Way her eyes brow would raise when she was Confused, The way her eyes twinkled when She smiles, He Knew He wasn't In Love with her but He Felt The Monsters within him fall at her foot He Claimed her as His the moment he heard her Voice and When He Saw her for the First Time, He Claimed her as His Bride One Day He Decided To Do Something Ruthless To Get Her, He did something Which got her Wanting to Run Away from Him, What did he do You Might ask He........