Cyberpunk Altar

Their naked bodies were shipping against each other. Her sapphire glossy orbs were staring at his brown eyes. "I love you, Cia. I love you to the extent that I will end and taint that life which would even think about taking you away from me," The firmness of his words were evident in his darkened eyes. "Even if it's your life," he rasped against her mouth. They both knew his love was irrational, an obsession for her. They loved each other enough, especially for her to let his love taint her existence. "I love you, Zale," And her words were enough to make him lose everything in her. She beautifully moaned his name as soon his warmth engulfed her deepest depth which made both of them close their eyes in pleasure, but they had never in their worst ever thought that their eyes would have to witness that thing which their future had stored for them. His deep brown orbs were staring at her who was clad in a beautiful white gown. Her sapphire orbs were downcast as she was standing at the altar but the irony was she was not his bride but his brother's. "Do you, Mr Blake Alcazar, take Miss Celia Reyes as your lawfully wedded wife?" The priest's voice echoed, causing him to fist his palm and her heart to turn numb. "I do," A tear slipped from her eyes, hearing that person's answer who was standing in front of her and feeling those brown eyes penetrating her soul. "Do you, Miss Celia Reyes, take Mr Blake Alcazar as your lawfully wedded husband?" Those deep brown eyes turned predacious and her answer turned them voraciously vicious. "I do," she answered. An answer which sealed two destinies, which shattered two hearts and TAINTED two souls.

I'm one of the rare Omega healers in our pack. My soul essence can fix pretty much anything. Alpha Damian promised me: "Give me your soul essence to keep Isolde's soul steady, and I'll mark you. You'll be my mate, my one and only Luna." However, he drained my soul essence for three solid years, all for Isolde, his childhood sweetheart who pretend to have this soul-fading sickness. Until I got pregnant. And the pack's High Priestess told me my soul flame was about to go out. To save my baby, I secretly cut off the essence supply. Damian found it out. He slammed me against a rock wall. "How dare you to pregnant?! Your soul essence is for Isolde! That’s the only reason you’re even here!" When Isolde found out I was carrying the Alpha's pup, her "sickness" got way worse. She even faked falling into an icy river, making it look like her soul was about to shatter. Damian even dragged my ten-year-old brother, Liam, to the Moon Goddess altar, trying to suck out what little soul essence he had. Just because Liam's soul essence was like mine, but purer. And when I wanted to get rid of the baby to save myself, he locked me in a deep cave in the wolf keep, ordered the High Priestess: "Keep her soul stable. Cut the puppy out. I want her to watch everything she cares about turn to dust." My soul stone was smashed to pieces. When I woke up again, I was back on the day the High Priestess told me I had a pup in my belly. This time, I touched my flat stomach and whispered, " I want to abort this child." " This time, I won't let Damien bully me anymore."

Sa mundo ng mga makapangyarihan, ang pag-ibig ay hindi isang pagpipilian—ito'y isang kasunduan. Para kay Klarise Olive, isang mailap at napakagandang ballerina sa Paris, at kay Louie Ray, isang mapagmataas at aroganteng billionaire cosmetic surgeon, ang kasal ay isang tanikalang pilit isinuklob sa kanila. Isang kulungang hindi nila ginusto. Isang sumpaang hindi nila pinili. Isang umaga, dinala sila ng kanilang mga magulang sa isang seremonyang inakala nilang isang simpleng pagtitipon—hindi nila alam, sila pala ang mga bida sa isang kasalang hindi nila alam na kanila. Sa puting bestida at tuxedo, natagpuan nila ang kanilang mga sarili sa harap ng altar, walang ibang pagpipilian kundi ang lumakad at bumigkas ng panatang hindi nagmula sa kanilang puso. At sa simula pa lamang, ang kanilang pagsasama ay puno ng tensyon at pangamba. Si Klarise, na buong buhay niyang inalay sa sining at kalayaan, ay ngayon nakagapos sa isang relasyong hindi niya ginusto. Si Louie, isang lalaking hindi kailanman naniwala sa kasal, ay napilitang pakasalan ang babaeng hindi niya hinangad. Ang digmaan ng mga titig, sagutan, at matitinding emosyon ay namayani sa kanilang pagsasama. Ngunit sa bawat pagtatalo, sa bawat sulyap na puno ng galit at pangungutya, isang pagnanais ng pag-unawa at pagmamahal ang unti-unting sumisilip sa kanilang mga puso. Galit nga ba talaga ang namamagitan sa kanila? O mayroon bang alon ng pagmamahal na higit pa sa lahat ng kasunduan ? O may isang damdaming mas malalim, mas totoo, at mas mahirap ipagkaila? Sa gitna ng kanilang magkaibang mundo at personalidad, magsisimula silang hanapin ang kabuluhan ng kanilang piniling kasunduan.

“This is forbidden, Asael….”she uttered, making him clench his jaw. “This is wrong,” once again she repeated those same exact words to him which had destroyed his life 3 years ago brutally. “Why is this wrong, Ezrene? Because I am your fucking stepbrother?” He seethed out at her, slamming her against his sinewy body. “Why is this forbidden because my fucking father is going to marry your mother?” he spat at her. “But as far as I could remember….” He thrusted his face dangerously closer to hers. “You had let this stepbrother of yours get closer to you to that extent where you had fucking conceived with his child,” those words of his numbed her very existence completely. “That same exact child of mine which you killed with your own hands before I even got to know about its existence,” that utterly venomous pain flashed in his eyes which teared her up more, making him press his forehead against hers. “Your dad will kill you for this, Asael,” A lethal smirk formed on his face at her words. “You think I am afraid of him and my death?” He asked her while lifting his hands up to palm her face. “If I would have been afraid of my father and my death then I wouldn't have abducted you from you altar, in front of your fucking would-be husband, my father and the whole world, bella,”wiping her eyes, he pushed his face closer to hers. “Because we both know you're just mine, mi bella,” he pressed his lips against hers, causing her soul to break by finding herself trapped in the arms of her love and…… What brutality this love of hers was going to make her endure because she was in love with HER OBSESSED STEPBROTHER?

Giovanni is being compromised by his beloved mother to become a full pledge priest someday as his mother's promised when he survived from a terrible accident when he was a 4 year old. Being an obedient and only son of his parents, walang siyang nagawa kundi sundin ang kanyang Mahal na ina. Since he started junior high, he serves as an altar boy on their city parish church. "Are you sure that you want our only son enter the seminary after his graduation? Seryosong tanong ni Don Nicolas sa asawa. "And what makes you think na magababago isip ko Nicolas?" alam ni Donya Esmeralda ang iniisip Ng kanyang Mahal na asawa, nag aalala ito na walang magmamana ng kanilang Multi-million businesses at magpapatuloy Ng kanilang angkan Ng mga Ricablanca. Nasa huling taon na sa pagpapari si Giovanni sa seminaryo at kailangan nyang dumaan sa isang Malaking pagsubok bago siya ordinahan bilang isang pari. Kailangan nyang gugulin ang natitirang isang taon sa labas Ng seminaryo. Eksaktong siyam na taon lumabas siya Ng semenaryo upang subukin kung talagang nasa pagpapari ang kanyang buhay. In his mind and heart, he is already decided in this vocation, but fate seems to be playing him around. Dalawang buwan na lang at oordinahan na siya Ng makilala ang kauna unahang tao na hindi mawala sa isip nya, nakapag papapula sa kanyang mukha pag tinititigan siya, at higit sa lahat Parang tinatambol ang kanyang puso sa bilis nitong pagtibok pag nakikita Niya ito. Ito ay sa katauhan Ng isang babae, si Jessica. Ito na yata pinakamagandang babae na nakita nya. Will he able to fulfill his mother's dream or will he able to satisfy his heart's desire? But deep in his heart, he needs to choose one because loving both of them is breaking all the rules.

Si Isabella “Bella” Alcaraz ay halos nabuhay sa likod ng anino ng kanyang “almost perfect” na nakatatandang kapatid, si Marisella—ang glamorosa, walang kapintasan at ubod ng bait na mukha ng Alcazar Luxe Events. Kilala ang kanilang pamilya pero sa likod ng lahat ng ito, unti-unting bumabagsak at nababaon sa hindi mabilang na utang. Pinili ng kanilang mga magulang na ipakasal si Marisella kay Leonardo “Leon” Veyra, ang makapangyarihan, walang awa at nakakatakot na CEO ng Veyra Global Holdings. Halos lahat ng negosyo mula finance, hotels at real estate ay saklaw ng kayamanan niya. Ngunit sa mismong araw ng kasal, naglaho na parang bula si Marisella. Para maprotektahan ang pangalan ng pamilya mula sa iskandalo, walang nagawa si Isabella kundi ang maglakad patungo sa altar kapalit ng kanyang kapatid. Natatago sa belo ng sutla at kasinungalingan, siya ang naging “substitute bride” ng isang lalaking kayang ibaon sa hukay ang pamilya niya sa isang salita lamang. Hindi madaling malinlang si Leon. Alam niyang ang babaeng nasa tabi niya ay hindi ang ipinangako sa kanya. Ngunit imbes na itigil ang seremonya, inako niya si Isabella bilang kanyang asawa. Sa mundo, isa itong perpektong kasal, isang fairy tale. Pero sa likod ng mga pinto, isa itong mapanganib na laro ng sekreto, kapangyarihan at obsession. Sa ilalim ng kasal na nabuo sa panlilinlang, kailangan tiisin ni Isabella ang malamig na galit, nag-iinit na pagnanasa at walang hanggang pagdududa ni Leon. Ngunit habang lumilipas ang mga araw, ang galit at pagdududa ay unti-unting lumalabo. Kasabay nito, patuloy na bumabalot ang pagkawala ni Marisella—runaway bride nga ba, o mas malalim pa? Sa bawat pangakong binibigkas, maaaring nakataya ang pamilya, kalayaan… at puso ni Isabella.

"I didn't plan on falling in love with someone else." 'Yan ang salitang hinding-hindi makakalimutan ni Gilliane dahil sa isang pangyayaring nag-iwan ng malalim na sugat sa kanyang puso. Pagkatapos siyang takbuhan ng lalaking mapapangasawa niya sana sa araw ng kanilang kasal, sa harap ng altar at napakaraming tao. Nang nangyari 'yon ay doon niya natutunan na walang kasiguraduhan ang anumang bagay sa mundo. That true love is not measured by how long you are together because in the end, it all just doesn't matter when the person you love the most gave up and find another woman and leave you before your eyes. Pagkatapos ng lahat nang delubyong nangyari sa kasal niya ay napilitan siyang sumama sa matalik na kaibigan pabalik ng Pilipinas para paghilumin ang sugat. Nagtungo siya sa bar gabi-gabi and her bestfriend was aftraid she would self-destruct. Sa unang bar na napuntahan ay nakilala ni Gilliane ang isang napakaguwapong lalaki. They even talk without giving each others name and number. Nang sumunod uling gabi, sa ibang bar ay muli silang nagkita nang hindi sinasadya. Nakailang beses silang nagtagpo kahit na hindi nila pinag-uusapang magkita. Naisip niya na waring pinagtatagpo sila ng tadhana. Pero dahil sariwa pa kay Gilliane ang nangyaring pang-iiwan sa kanya ng kanyang long-time boyfriend, ayaw niya munang mapaugnay sa kahit na sino mang lalaki. She stopped going in the bars and chose to stay at home. Ngunit waring talagang tadhana na ang gumagawa ng paraan para magkita sila ng lalaki dahil muli silang nagkita sa loob ng operating room. The man was Dr. Sebastian Villaraza, isang mahusay na surgeon sa bagong ospital na pagtatrabahuhan ni Gillian. A Ano kaya ang nais ipahiwatig sa kanya ng tadhana sa kanilang muling pagkikita ng napakaguwapong surgeon na ito?

"Cleonne Marie Deigmen, do you accept Ashton Kleid Ditfreid as your lawful husband?" tanong ng pari habang nakatingin sa akin. Nakabibinging katahimikan ang umalingawngaw sa loob ng simbahan. Tila ba lahat sila ay takot na magsalita dahil alam nilang masama ang kahihinatnan niyon kung sakali. "I-I do..." garalgal ang boses ko na sumagot. Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng buong katawan ko habang nakatayo sa harap ng altar. Buong buhay ko, wala akong ibang pinangarap kundi magandang buhay para sa pamilya ko, at mahanap ang lalaking pakakasalan ko balang araw. Iyong lalaking makatatabi ko sa altar sa at kasama kong susumpa sa harap ng maykapal. Pero hindi ko akalaing ang araw ng kasal ko, ang siya ring magiging pinaka-masalimuot na araw sa buhay ko.... "I now pronounce you, husband and wife. Mr. Ditfreid, you may now kiss your bride." Ang panginginig ng buong katawan ko ay mas lalo pang nadagdagan nang sabihin iyon ng pari. Unti-unti ay humarap ako kay Ashton na seryosong nakatingin sa akin. Iniangat niya ang veil mula sa ulo ko at doon ko nakita ang mga mata niya. Hindi pagmamahal ang nakikita ko sa mga iyon, ang tanging nakikita ko lamang ay galit, poot, at paghihiganti. "You are mine now, Cleonne. At ito ang tatandaan mo, habang nabubuhay ako, hinding-hindi mo mararanasan ang salitang kaligayahan." bulong niya sa akin bago niya tuluyang ilapat ang labi niya sa mga labi ko. Magmula nang araw na iyon, alam kong ang buhay ko ay hindi na sa akin. Dahil magmula nang araw na iyon ay nakatali na ako sa lalaking hindi ko naman mahal, sa lalaking walang ibang gustong gawin kundi ang makapaghiganti sa akin, at iyon ay walang iba kundi si Ashton Kleid Ditfreid.

Malam sebelum aku seharusnya menikah dengan pewaris Keluarga Moro, aku mendapati rentetan 99 pesan teks mesum di ponsel Leo, tunanganku. Seorang wanita bernama Via Cokro, memberi tahu Leo bahwa dia mencintai Leo. Sangat mencintainya. Tanpa tahu malu sama sekali. Dia memohon pada Leo supaya membatalkan pernikahan kami, mengancam akan bunuh diri jika Leo tetap melanjutkan pernikahan ini. Aku langsung bereaksi. Aku menyodorkan ponsel itu ke wajah Leo untuk menuntut penjelasan. Keheningan terasa abadi sebelum Leo akhirnya angkat bicara. "Kakaknya itu Alan, wakilku. Dia kena tembak demi aku. Aku sudah janji padanya akan menjaga adiknya." "Jeny, kita tumbuh bersama. Kamu tahu cuma kamu satu-satunya di hatiku. Aku janji bakal urus ini, aku akan memutus hubungan dengannya." Aku mencari kebohongan di mata Leo. Akhirnya aku menelan rasa getir dalam tenggorokanku dan memilih untuk memercayai Leo. Pernikahan pun tetap dilanjutkan. Pernikahan ini bukan sekadar tentang kami berdua. Ini adalah perjanjian yang ditandatangani dengan darah antara dua keluarga. Dan, Tuhan tolong aku, aku masih mencintainya. Namun, di hari pernikahan kami, saat kami berdiri di altar dengan janji yang hampir diucapkan, Leo menerima telepon. Itu dari dia, Via. Dia sedang berada di jembatan dan mengancam akan melompat. Menuntut supaya Leo segera datang sekarang juga. Cincin berlian yang hanya sejengkal dari jariku, jatuh berdenting ke lantai batu gereja. Tidak ada sepatah kata pun. Tidak ada satu pun penjelasan. Leo pergi begitu saja. Meninggalkanku, keluarga kami, masa depan kami... Meninggalkanku berdiri sendirian di altar. Dalam kabut air mata, aku berteriak padanya, "Leo, kalau kamu keluar dari pintu itu, kita putus!" Jawaban satu-satunya dari mulut Leo, diucapkannya sambil berjalan menjauh, "Dia butuh aku." Leo tidak pernah menoleh ke belakang. Aku pun menghilang dari dunia Leo dan tidak pernah menoleh ke belakang sambil mengandung anaknya.

En la manada hay una regla de oro: el heredero Alfa nunca debe tener a una humana como compañera. Pero César Oliveira, el Alfa, rompió ese juramento y me marcó. Para estar conmigo, desafió al Consejo de Ancianos sin pensarlo, recibió noventa y nueve latigazos y fue condenado a arrodillarse frente al altar durante tres días y tres noches. Aunque su camisa estaba hecha trapo por la sangre, me sostuvo la mirada y me regaló una sonrisa. —Alicia, no tengas miedo, solo te quiero a ti. Al final, el consejo cedió y aceptó que nos fuéramos, pero a cambio, César debía dejar un heredero de linaje puro para la manada. Desde ese momento, la palabra que más escuché de su boca fue: "Espera." La primera vez, me pidió que esperara porque necesitaba que otra loba quedara embarazada. Así fue. Se acostó con Gloria... hasta que ella esperó su primer cachorro. La segunda vez, me pidió que esperara una vez más, porque esa vez fue una cachorra, y el consejo se empecinaba en que tenía que ser un cachorro. Así que volvió a acostarse con Gloria innumerables veces, hasta que ella quedó embarazada de un cachorro. Justo cuando pensé que, por fin, la espera había llegado a su fin, esa cachorra, recién bautizada, ingirió acónito por accidente. Todos asumieron que yo había sido la culpable. Cuando me metieron en esa cámara de congelación, a veinte grados bajo cero, César estaba en la puerta, con los ojos inyectados en sangre. —Te dije que esperaras... —me lanzó una mirada fría, tan helada que me quitaba el aliento—. Sabes lo que significa el veneno de lobo para nosotros, ¿por qué le hiciste daño a mi cachorra? ¡Qué locura! Sentí un tirón en el pecho, como si me hubieran arrancado el alma. Mis uñas se hundieron en la palma de mi mano, y no sentí dolor. Cuando la puerta de la cámara se abrió de nuevo, abrí mi mano, que estaba bañada en sangre. Esta vez, no esperaría ni un minuto más.