Black Water Joyce Carol Oates

In a time when humans have the power to control the four elements: fire, water, air and earth, a child with no element is born- a child with royal blood who will become the strongest of them all. Evolet. It was the Water Celebration when the war started. The Water King, Kai, took the life of Uri and Cyra Cyrus, King and Queen of Fire Kingdom, accusing them of the murder of his wife and unborn child. But the child survived. Being raised by Aaron and Erin Wood, she became the best warrior of the Earth Kingdom even if she wasn't an elemental. She is Evolet Wood, Head Warrior and Princess of the Earth Kingdom. She is the only one that can stop the war, being connected to all four Kingdoms in a way or another.

"You're a fucking monster,” I spat, looking him dead in the eye with my tear filled ones. “You’re right chica bella, but this fucking monster is your husband,” he yelled, slamming his bloodied hand on the mirror. “And that’s the only thing keeping you alive till this point.” He threw the knife into the sink, the splashes of blood staining the white ceramic. I held back a gag when I saw what looked like a piece of torn flesh on the tip of the blade. In a world where every deal has a price, Nazlynn's life is auctioned off to the most dangerous bidder. Bound by an unwanted marriage to mafia boss Luca. Can she navigate this treacherous path and reclaim her freedom?

Athdal, a hybrid, after he was betrayed 3 centuries ago and lost most of his park, decided to live hidden amongst the humans away from the conflict of the supernatural world. 3 centuries later, he attend collage drawn by a subtle feeling from his wolf, there he meets Lisa a young girl unaware of her heritage. With the incoming conflict brewing in the supernatural world and Lisa's involvement in it, will Athdal decide to reveal himself to her and the world again so he can protect his friends?

Because of my negligence, Leo's precious darling Sophia had choked on a mouthful of seawater. He flew into a rage and locked me in the dark water dungeon. "Catherine, whatever Sophia suffered, you'll repay double!" The instinct to survive forced me to shift into wolf form. I slammed my head against the iron cage again and again, begging for his mercy. But Leo bound my limbs with iron chains and ordered his subordinates to keep flooding the chamber. "A jealous wretch like you will only learn obedience through suffering." "Stay in there and repent for what you've done." He sealed the iron door of the water dungeon himself and forbade anyone from coming near. Over and over, I craned my neck to gulp in the thin air, howling in desperation. But the rising ice water swallowed me whole. I kept struggling until I had no strength left. A week later, in his great mercy, he decided to end my punishment. What he didn't know was that the water snakes had already gnawed my body beyond recognition.

THE ALPHA KING AND HIS PRISONER Ashina never thought she would be captured by the rival pack, let alone become a bargaining chip in their alpha's quest for power. As the daughter of her own pack's alpha, Ashina was raised to be strong and independent, but now she finds herself at the mercy of her captors. However, Ashina soon discovers that the rival pack's alpha, Draco, is not what she expected. He's not the ruthless and heartless leader she imagined, but rather a complex and conflicted man with a troubled past. As Ashina spends more time with Draco, she begins to see him in a different light, and a forbidden attraction starts to grow between them. Caught between loyalty to her own pack and her growing feelings for Draco, Ashina must navigate a dangerous and unpredictable world of werewolf politics and power struggles. But as she gets closer to Draco, she realizes that he may hold the key to ending the conflict between their packs and bringing peace to their World. As the tension between their packs reaches a boiling point, Ashina and Draco must decide whether to follow their hearts or their loyalties. But when a common enemy threatens them both, they'll have to rely on each other if they want to survive. Will their love be enough to overcome the odds stacked against them, or will they be forced to choose between their families and their happiness?

Nate caught her hand as she turned away. “Say yes, Dahlia.” She didn’t look at him. “To what this time?” His smile was slow, dangerous. “To letting me eat you tonight” Her breath stilled. “You don’t take hints, do you?” “Only the ones that sound like maybe.” His thumb traced her palm, his voice low enough to make her heartbeat trip. She pulled back, just barely. “Goodnight, Nate.” He grinned, unbothered. “Night, wife. I’ll ask again tomorrow.” *********** When ruthless CEO Dahlia Reyes discovers her boyfriend and her best friend in bed together-and plotting to steal her inheritance—she does the most un-Dahlia thing imaginable. She drinks too much and wakes up married to a sex worker. Her “husband,” Nate, is charming, infuriating, and far too comfortable calling her wife. Dahlia’s ready to annul the whole disaster-until she learns she legally can’t for a year. Desperate to save face (and maybe twist fate in her favor), Dahlia decides to use the fake marriage to her advantage. What she doesn’t know is that Nate isn’t the broke drifter and he's watching her with equal parts amusement and admiration. Now, between public appearances, the plotting of the evil people ready to ruin their lives, staged affection, and the slow burn of something too real to fake, Dahlia’s carefully built walls begin to crack. And Nate? He’s determined to make sure she falls-for him, for real, and hard. A story of betrayal, accidental vows, and the slow, intoxicating fall between a woman who doesn’t believe in love and a man who plans to prove her wrong.

How much did I lose for knowing my husband had many girlfriends outside our marriage, yet staying silent out of fear of losing him? Everything! Rose was served divorce papers right after discovering her husband’s affair with her own friend. The betrayal nearly drove her insane, and to make matters worse, she was accused of infidelity herself. She never imagined her lowest moment would be realizing that no one truly cared for her. Consumed by misery, she walked away, until one accident changed her life forever. Now, she has no intention of ever going back. But years later, her husband wants her back. Will Rose give him a chance to prove his sincerity, or will she hold firmly to her decision and never return?

Isabella Collins discovers the most painful betrayal: her husband never loved her, stole her inheritance, was unfaithful, and took her child away, making her believe he had died. Now, stripped of everything and out on the street, Isabella is determined to reclaim her life and her child. In her quest, she encounters Sebastian Ashford, an arrogant man who despises marriage and sees women only as objects of pleasure. However, a scandal forces him to quickly find a wife, and Isabella, with her persistent presence, seems to be the perfect candidate. What begins as a marriage of convenience becomes complicated when Isabella discovers that her new husband's child might have an unexpected connection to her. Can this arrangement full of secrets and distrust transform into something real?

Kayla is a shy female Alpha and when she meets one of the most famous boys who’s also an Alpha at her new varsity school they don’t have a meet cute that she was hoping for when she finally meets a guy she likes. Of course she tells him off. Alvin usually gets what he wants because people usually kiss up on his ass because of who his mother is and his rank in his pack. But when this girl tells him no he can’t stop thinking about her. Of course he feels pathetic. Alphas don’t feel pathetic.

At the annual company banquet, the boss had the tables and chairs from the logistics department removed, leaving only a stainless steel dog bowl in the center of the stage. "Logistics is just the company's watchdog," he said coldly. "Since when do watchdogs sit at the table and eat?" The top sales champion laughed as he dumped leftovers into the bowl. The boss casually slipped a black garbage bag over my shoulders. "From now on, you're the company's living trash can. Catch it properly." Laughter erupted across the room. Amid the jeers, I silently tightened my grip on the universal access card in my hand. What they didn't know was that the building's special approvals for water and electricity—and all its property management connections—were maintained by this very "dog face" of mine. I tossed my ID badge into the dog bowl and turned to leave. Let's see how long you last once the new year passes—without logistics there to hold everything together.