Barely Tolerable

"Why did you come here dressed like this? I thought I bought a dress for you!!" Ethan's voice rang out, filled with irritation and frustration. Ashley looked around nervously before quickly covering Ethan's mouth with her palm, trying to shush him. "I am sorry, I misplaced the cloth..." she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Grandpa Ben sat in the back, watching the exchange with a stern expression on his face. He had expected Ethan to arrive with his fiancé, and instead he was greeted with this madwoman. Ashley had known that borrowing money from Ethan's company was a risk, but desperate times call for desperate measures. She had two options: either marry the CEO to pay back her debt, or come up with the money by the next day. As she stood in front of Ethan, she couldn't help but feel like a fraud, knowing that the person he believed her to be was just a figment of her imagination. Now, with everything on the line, Ashley must decide whether to reveal the truth about her fake persona to Ethan and risk losing everything, or continue on living this lie.

Crystal Meka, a blind, hybrid slave to the most brutal lycan king alive, lived every day wishing to break free from the people who murdered her mother but everything changed when she found out that the lycan king she hated and feared with every fiber of her being was her true mate. It devastated Crystal so she kept a secret but on her 18th birthday, she rejected alpha King Elyon and paid dearly for it. Elyon compelled her to revoke her rejection but never accepted her due to the undying hatred he had for her kind; dragons and werewolves but he needed her by his side. Pressure as the king of one of the most powerful supernatural races made him take a Luna from his people. It broke Crystal's heart especially since the new Luna was after her life. Elyon however claimed Crystal at every opportunity he got without protecting her from his people. Crystal's status was barely upgraded from royal food taster to breeding slave of the king. With the low, nasty position came more oppression. A ray of hope shone on her when Elyon's younger brother who was an alpha of another kingdom offered her an escape from her prison. Will Crystal accept to leave her mate or will she persevere even with all the heartaches? And will Elyon let her leave even when he hates her?

“I know exactly who you are,” I whispered. He took a step forward and I took one back until my back hit the wall barely leaving any space between us. His eyes bore into mine,“Then tell me.” “You are the Demon wolf.” “And yet you dare to defy me?” His tone was almost playful, but there was an edge to it that made the hair on body stand. “Yes,” I swallowed hard. “I dare.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When Melody stands up to Carmine Moreno, the ruthless mafia werewolf lord, to save her father's life, she never imagined the dangerous path it would lead her down. Bound by a desperate deal, she becomes Carmine's 'pet' for a year, thrown into a world where power, betrayal, and passion collide. Carmine's presence sets her soul on fire, his touch sparking a desire she never knew existed. Yet, as she navigates her new life, she finds herself drawn to Carmine's close friend, Luther a man whose loyalty to the alpha is as strong as his surprising kindness to her. Amidst this confusion, Melody's hidden powers begin to awaken, powers that Carmine's pack has long wanted to use. As she deals with her growing abilities, she uncovers dark secrets that could destroy everything she cares about. The lines between friend and enemy blur, and Melody must decide who to trust in a world where everyone has their own hidden plans. Caught between Carmine's magnetic charm and the comforting strength of Luther, Melody's heart is torn. With danger lurking everywhere, she must harness her new powers to protect herself. In a story where love, betrayal, and survival are intertwined, Melody is forced to chose. Will she give in to the powerful pull of the mafia lord, or will she end up being consumed?

“It’s her I want”. Aurelius, the ruthless alpha of the Crescent Pack was pointing directly at me. His eyes, piercing and intense, locked onto mine in a challenging manner. Seraphine Everhart’s family had been massacred when she was barely six years during a pack war between her pack and the Nightshade Pack. Aurelius Vortigen, the alpha of the most ancient and feared Crescent Pack is cold, cruel and didn’t have a problem living up to his title as the ‘Ferocious Alpha’ even when Seraphine waltzed into his life. Seraphine who was lucky to survive and work as a slave in the Nightshade Pack had everything she needed, a decent boyfriend, a woman that loved her like a daughter and amazing friends but when the alpha plans to form an alliance with the Crescent Pack, everything she had spent 15 years building came crashing down from the storm of Aurelius’ presence. She hated him from their first meeting and when he selected her as a gift, she rejected him as her mate. He also didn’t want her, but he didn’t want to let her go. Suspending on an empty space, that was how he kept her, a pawn in a game she never wanted to play. “I, Seraphine Everhart, reject you as my mate”, my voice was firm and loud. Enough for Aurelius to hear, but not quite enough for him to take me seriously. He let out a cold laugh that made me flinch in fear. Then he finally said, “I, Aurelius Vortigen, alpha of the Crescent Pack, do not accept your rejection.” “Don’t you get it love, you’re mine and you can’t let go of me that easily”. On saying that, he grabbed my chin firmly and smashed his lip against mine.

It shouldn’t have to be difficult, Ashton,” I uttered, my voice quivering as I stared at him. “It was a mistake, Novah,” he sighed, closing the door on my face. “I love you,” I whispered, my heart cracking as I stared at the door. He was never going to see me as anything other than his pathetic step sister. I could never be more. Novah’s life wasn’t as perfect as the world thought. Trapped in a house that felt too cold to be called a home. With a father who barely looked at her, without hatred in his eyes. But the world didn’t know that, all they saw was the perfect daughter, and a great student. All Novah has ever wanted was love, someone who sees her to be just as more than just a nerd. Worlds collide when she realises that the boy she had been crushing on for two years would be her step-brother. Will Novah kill the feelings that she had harboured for years? Or will she act on them and deepen the rift between her and her father? In the toss of family and love, where do morals stand?

Renee Whitley caught her husband cheating. What should someone in her position do? Well, she didn’t hesitate. She took photos, gathered evidence, and tipped off the press. On the day she got her divorce papers, Adam Graham, her now ex-husband, got down on one knee and pleaded during a livestream packed with reporters. “Renee, I swear you’re the only woman I’ll ever love. Please just give me one more chance. This time, I’ll love you with my life.” Renee barely glanced at him. “Is your life worth more than money? Wire me five billion, and I’ll marry you again right now.” Adam shut up, and Renee walked away confidently. - But what was up with that one bigshot, Jasper Zeller? After the divorce, Renee planned to focus on her career. However, someone just had to keep getting in the way. Frustrated, she snapped, “Mr. Zeller, our partnership is over. Kindly stop telling people I’m your wife.” Jasper’s face fell. “Okay." But from that day on, anyone who met him heard the same thing. “My wife ran away.” “My wife doesn’t want me anymore.” “If you see her, please tell her I’m waiting for her to come home.” It wasn’t until much later that Renee realized… Had she been tricked?!

She has a debt He needs a bride; They hate each other, but they will marry; Harper Ross's life has never been easy. Raised by an absent mother and a violent stepfather, Harper knew pain before she even understood what the feeling meant. However, even in the face of all the difficulties, the talented and determined pastry chef never gave up on achieving her goals. And when everything seemed to be falling apart, an arrogant and powerful man entered her life and radically changed her fate. Liam Specter is a wealthy and powerful businessman who runs one of the largest construction companies in the country. He is an arrogant and unscrupulous man who is willing to do anything to maintain his empire, even if it means marrying a woman he barely knows to keep up appearances. At first sight: hatred, contempt, and incompatibility define the relationship between Harper and Liam. But living together will make them see each other differently. However, a lie will put everything at stake. If love can endure all, is it capable of overcoming rejection?

Olivia’s heart was shattered by her boyfriend Luke's betrayal. She witnessed him cheating with another woman in his apartment and was devastated. To numb the pain, she drowned herself in alcohol, seeking solace in the bottom of a bottle. It was during this haze that she met Antonio. Despite barely knowing him, Olivia felt a powerful pull towards him, a connection she couldn't explain. That night, she surrendered to the stranger, and despite the circumstances, she didn't regret it. The night held a strange, bittersweet memory for her. Olivia was determined to forget that night, to escape the pain and the man who had taken her innocence. But fate had other plans. They met again in their hometown, and despite trying to deny it, Olivia found herself falling for Antonio. He pursued her relentlessly, and she couldn't fight the feelings that were blossoming within her. She accepted his kisses, his embraces, and his promise to marry her. But fate seemed to be playing a cruel game. Olivia discovered that Anton was involved with Sandra Cervantes, the woman who had brought them together. She also learned that Anton was planning to buy a large portion of land in their province, a move that would displace many workers. Despite her own heartbreak, Olivia, driven by her love and trust in Antonio, convinced him to abandon his plan. He agreed, but only on the condition that she marry him, which she couldn't refuse. Their relationship blossomed, and they eventually married, with the majestic Mayon Volcano as a witness to their love.

A year ago, my life was simple. I was just Ariel Anthony…a regular college student, cheerleader with decent grades, daughter of a struggling baker, and recently appointed step-sister to a guy I barely knew. Nothing special. Then came the storm. Not just the thunderstorm that trapped me in Professor Grayson's apartment that night, but the storm that followed. The one that's still raging around me, that I created. They don't warn you about men like Luther Grayson in freshman orientation. They don't tell you how a single glance from the right person can make you question everything you thought you knew about yourself. About what you want. About what you'd risk to get it. They also don't warn you about guys like Ethan Cross, with his perfect smile hiding something dark. The kind of guy who's used to getting what he wants and doesn't understand the meaning of the word "no." And no one, absolutely no one…prepares you for what it feels like when the person who's supposed to be your brother looks at you with something else in his eyes. Mom once said I had a gift for making complicated situations worse. If she only knew. My phone buzzed beside me, and I glanced down to see Luther's name on the screen. My heart still jumps every time, even when I'm aware of what could happen if people learned about the two of us. I should ignore it. I should block his number, focus on my classes, help Mom with the bakery, and pretend none of this ever happened. But I'm already reaching for the phone. That's the thing about crossing lines… once you step over them, it's almost impossible to step back. And I've crossed so many lines now, I can't even see where I started.

Title: The Alpha’s Luna and the Bloodmoon Amulet Genre: WEREWOLF Trope: HIDDEN HERITAGE AND BETRAYAL Theme: MYSTERY AND THRILLER Setting: MYSTICAL WORLD, CRIMSON CITY, MID 20TH CENTURY Blurb: Her legs had barely stretched as she stood when the hairs on her neck stood on end. An instinctive sense of awareness creeping through her. It wasn’t the usual eerie silence of the room, it was something more. A presence loomed behind her, dark and predatory. “Thought you could steal from me?”…. Lycia, a thief who never knew she was anything more than human, was sent to steal a magical artifact from a mansion. She was captured by Cove, a cold-hearted Lycan alpha. She had to take up the quest to receive a pay to afford the medication of her guardian, Jack. She’s thrown into a dark world of secrets, where she learns she’s far from ordinary. Hidden powers stir within her, and the truth behind her parents' death comes crashing down. Trapped between revenge, betrayal, and a destiny she never asked for, Lycia must face her fears, fight for survival, and scream out for the power that calls to her. What dark secrets about her past will Lycia uncover as she delves deeper into the world of Lycans? Can she trust the ruthless alpha who captured her, or is he hiding his own deadly agenda? What will happen when her brother, the merciless werewolf hunter, learns of her true identity? Will Lycia embrace her hidden powers in time to stop the war brewing in the shadows or will her enemies destroy her before she can reclaim her destiny as the true Luna?