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In the coastal quiet of Baler, a studio is born—not of architecture, but of intention.* Founded by Yam, a poet whose words cradle pain gently, and Franc, an artist who paints tenderness into walls, the studio becomes a refuge for those learning to stay—with grief, love, longing, and themselves. As visitors arrive, they leave behind more than footprints: a sigh recorded in bamboo, a poem tucked into the “Found Letters” shelf, a mural painted in crooked lines. Through zines, tea, silence, and sketchbooks, the studio teaches softness as revolution. Ren creates the *Window of Soft Returns*, an installation of anonymous voice recordings—each whisper forming a community of echoes. Drew builds the *Staircase With No Wrong Turns*, inviting people to walk through emotions without shame. Franc offers brushstrokes as brave work, and Yam curates writing circles that map healing in half sentences. Together, they host festivals that feel like hugs, and they begin traveling their archive, letting softness cross oceans. Even those who once left—like Miguel—return, discovering that some doors never truly close. Others, like Tala, capture the studio’s sound and turn it into a podcast of breath and becoming. Over seventy chapters, the studio transforms into something larger than itself: a mural of memory, a sanctuary for second chances, a place where return is sacred and voice is proof of survival. In the final bloom, the studio stands not as a monument—but as a reminder: > *“Staying isn’t easy. > But chosen together, > it becomes home.”*

"Fuck.." I moan as my feverish skin makes me dizzy with lust. [Yes.] "Evet, Mila. You make me want to ravage you when I should be disgusted by the thought of even touching you." He mutters. "But I'm not. Instead, everything about you makes me mad with desire and I can not control it. God's, I tried to but I don't want to anymore." He removes his hand from the wall, wrapping his fingers around my jaw and he forces me to stare up at him. "You've already had a taste of me and one taste is all you get." I swallow loudly, throwing his words back at him. >>> When it comes to my prince charming, my life has been anything but a fairytale. The Esposito family robbed me of all I held dear to my heart. From the depths of my dignity to the depths of my son. I was living in continual terror; my body, as well as my trust and beliefs, were being exploited. Until one fateful day, I gained the strength to flee, dashing into an Irish bar and meeting a Turkish man. I stayed with him for the night before being compelled to return to the house of terrors. After being thrown down a flight of stairs 37 weeks later, I gave birth to my son. I knew who the father was the moment my son's gaze met mine, but I opted to keep it to myself. However, destiny had other plans for me, and I begged my son's biological father for protection as I fled the Italian mafia. We will work together to rescue our son and demolish their network, all while finding love along the way. My name is Mila Starkk, and this is my Screwed Up Love Story.

*Book 4* Isolde's life was full of love and joy. She was set to be High Priestess of the makkari, but everything changed in a single night when she lost everything at the hands of someone she thought she could trust. For centuries she has been on the run, helping the supernatural community under the cloak of anonymity while she works to clear her name and save the very people after her, from destruction. Enemies are closing in, but an unexpected complication befalls her when she realises she's been fated to someone who wants her species exterminated. After all, an evil chance seldom comes alone. A Queen Among Darkness is the fourth book in the Queen Among series. Each story is set up in the previous book, so reading the books in order is recommended. Here are the books in the series: A Queen Among Alphas - Book 1 Bite-Size Luna - A Queen Among Alphas Prequel A Queen Among Snakes - Book 2 Runaway Empress - A Queen Among Snakes Prequel A Queen Among Blood - Book 3 Whole Again - A Queen Among Alpha's spin-off A Queen Among Darkness - Book 4 Dark Invocation - A Queen Among Darkness spin-off A Queen Among Tides - Book 5 Valor, Virtue, and Verve - A Queen Among Tides Prequel Spin-off A Queen Among Gods - Book 6 A Queen Among Tempests - Book 7

After leaving an abusive and mentally draining relationship Brittany decides to dedicate her life to her and her daughter Aria, but what she didn't expect was to meet Jazmine Johnson a self-made billionaire who has spent her life rebuilding her community despite the many challenges that were set in place to restrict her. When they meet Brittany decides to dodge Jazmine like any other person, but Jazmine's persistent nature makes it hard to do so leaving them to build something that would change their lives forever. . . . "It's you" She announced softly "So I did do something?" I asked thinking back, trying to figure out what exactly. "You're doing everything right" She confessed leaving realization to stand in my mind. "And that scares you?" I asked but it sounded more like a statement, nonetheless, she still gave me a small nod to confirm my words. "What's your fear when it comes to us?" I asked softly. "That you'll hurt me, lie, cheat, change" She replied her voice small and I could tell each word she said held a memory. "I won't, and I know that's hard for you to believe because of past experiences but I'll prove it, we can move at whatever pace you want to,"

Regina Murghan had always been treated like an anomaly among the witches. Compared to others, she had insignificant powers. On top of that, no one had any idea who her parents were. She had been abandoned on the doorsteps of Vivian, her loving guardian. All these made her subject to criticism for years until she left Witches Academy in Coven Community, where she stayed with Vivian, and transferred to Neutral Academy, a school for the three supernatural species that existed in Mistworld; Werewolves, Vampires, and Witches. Regina finally settled into a life of peace and meeting friends who genuinely cared about her, but unfortunately, things began to go awry when news of people being brutally killed began spreading. Not only that, strange things started happening to her after her sixteenth birthday, and secrets about her began unraveling. To top it all, two deliciously gorgeous alphas were fighting over her for the first time ever. But there was only one literally made for her. In order to protect those she had grown to love, MistWorld, and the human world above them, Regina had a lot of work cut out for her. Now, the question is, with her seeming lack of power, will she be able to overcome the monster from her past, whose motive was to bring the end of everything she knew and loved? Or she would fail, dooming her world, her loved ones and the human world?

My superior, who attains his position through connections, turns out to be the high school heartthrob I once pursued—Jack Montgomery. Back then, I gave up on studying literature despite being good at it to study science instead. As a result, my grade point average dropped from 3.9 to 2.1, and I ended up attending a community college. Jack, on the other hand, earned a Master's degree in business in Ezelia. He became the director of the investment management department at a company upon his return. He mocks me for being a lovesick fool who chose to study science for his sake and now has to work for him. His words successfully provoke me into action. I work as a low-level analyst while staying up late every day to prepare for the Graduate Management Admission Test. I plan to turn my life around with this, but I end up dropping dead from overwork. When I open my eyes again, I'm back at the critical moment of course selection in my sophomore year. This time, I decisively choose to study literature and kick that scumbag, Jack, aside. "Nobody is allowed to hinder my studies!" He claims that I'm playing hard to get, and all I think is that he's ill in the head. Let's see who gets the last laugh when I make it into the prestigious Hareford University!

I had just won the Hawthorne Scientific Laureate on the international stage when my father called me back home. "Bring the betrothal gifts to the Hayes family. That childhood engagement should finally be fulfilled." Afraid of getting stuck in traffic, I took my modified motorcycle, carried the national heritage porcelain obtained through generations of the Keane family's military merits, and headed toward their house. Just as I arrived at the community gate, a Porsche suddenly cut across the lane, nearly knocking me over. A heavily made-up woman, Zoey Mercer, stepped out of the car, raised one sharp high heel, and kicked the top box off my motorcycle. "You rode this junk motorcycle yet dared block my way? If you dent my car, your whole family won't be able to afford the compensation!" My heart sank. I quickly opened the case, only to see the entire box of celadon porcelain shattered. "So you’re just some delivery guy. Think this pile of trash is worth even one of my shoes? "You even know whose neighborhood this is? It belongs to Kingshore's Hayes family! My best friend’s family developed this place! Believe it or not, I can have you thrown out right now!" Right then, my fiancee, Lauren Hayes, called me. "Where are you? My friend just messaged me saying there’s a delivery guy causing trouble at the entrance."

On the Island of Niapachad, there are rumors and mystery that would bring you back in time as the inhabitants of this island is a blast from the past. They talk strangely, dress strange and the community is strange. They still acquaintance themselves with the old ways, having gentry as the social hierarchy. There is so much to learn and discover when you're here. The wonderstruck balls, the dazzling operas, and spectacular views from all over the island. But beware, for you don't know what's lurking the shadows and something might be more than just a beautiful dream that you wanted. ***** Lady Rebecca 'Becca' Davis thinks that she was up for sale when her family decided that she will be marrying with a gent from the Higher Court. She wanted to rebel on the night of the ball but something caught her eyes when she met someone at the ball. His allure was catching Becca into his web of deceit. Would Becca sacrifice herself or would she turn away from her new captor? Duke of Belikov, Niklaus Dragomir, has wanted nothing in his life for he was a man that has everything. Until he met Lady Rebecca Davis. Her sassy mouth and rebellious nature were stirring something dark inside him. Something that wanted to take control of her body as she begs for his mercy. What happened when Becca found out about his secret? Will she stay or would she run away for her only instinct was to survive against such legends?

Calista Maximoff was the daughter of the Alpha of Ridgewood pack, and she mistakenly killed her Father, the Alpha. Realising the consequence of her unintentional action, with the help of her best friend: a dark witch, she fled for dear life, and she unfortunately ran into a group of slavers; she was captured and reduced to a slave. While under the protection, of her new owners, tragedy struck again, and Calista was on the receiving end of this one. She was viciously attacked, and a blind werewolf, Malik Brooks tries his best to save Calista, but unfortunately, Calista eventually died. Calista had no idea, that she would live to see another day, after being brutally murdered. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers herself back in a teenage body. Calista tries to make sense of what is taking place, and she discovers that she has been given a second chance at life. Calista must face the mistakes of the past as she navigates the perilous world of the supernatural, but she finds herself torn between a love triangle, that threatens to tear her apart. Who will she choose in the end, and will it be the right decision? Will Calista even be able to survive long enough with foes hiding around every corner? In conjunction with her new allies, will she be able to fend off a greater force that poses a great risk to the werewolf community? Well, only time will tell in this dramatic tale of betrayal, heartbreak, love, redemption, and of course romance!

The Mother That Fed the Dark is a study of inherited guilt, ritual, and the long reach of a mother's choices. Amahle, a woman who practices the old rituals in secret, believes that her younger son , Sipho, was born as a spiritual "door" to be sacrificed for the sake of power and protection. During the ritual she performed , she got interrupted by the older son, Thando, who died instead. While the community believes Thando's death was accidental, Amahle knows better: it was the wrong son who died, and the ritual was left unfinished. Drenched in fear and resentment , Amahle raises Sipho as if he is the love of her life, while at the same time working to destroy him. Behind closed doors, she feeds the supernatural force from the failed ritual, which weakens Sipho, making him fearful and dependent. As Sipho grows, so do the misfortunes that follow him, and an unseen entity begins to present itself-first in dreams and whispers, then in the physical world . What we see is that the ritual did not bind to the house but to Sipho's bloodline. When Sipho leaves home, the haunting grows stronger. After Amahle's death, Sipho finds her secret notebooks , which reveal to him the shocking truth: that his brother's death was a mistake and, in fact, Sipho was never meant to die but to be the vehicle for the ritual, which he indeed is. Setting the family home on fire brings only temporary relief , but the curse does not break. In the final revelation, Sipho realizes that he is not the offering but the keeper, the living portal through which harmony, hardship, and magical power flow. Unlike his mother, he comes to the realization that he has a choice.