Empty Space Furniture

In the split second when the research lab explodes, my boyfriend, Thomas Bastion, dashes to Melody Harper, who is standing furthest from the blast zone. He shields her from the impact with his own body. When the sounds of the explosion stop, the first thing he does is carry Melody to the hospital. I'm lying on the floor. My body is covered in fresh blood, but he doesn't spare a single glance at me. Thomas has taken care of Melody for the past 18 years. His heart is filled with nothing but her. There's no space for anyone else. I only survived because my colleagues rushed me to the hospital. When I am discharged from the ICU, I call my teacher, Louis Carpenter. Both my eyes are swollen from how much I've been crying. "Mr. Carpenter, I've made up my mind. I'm willing to join you for the confidential research. It's fine if we have to leave in one month. I don't care that I'll be unable to contact anyone for the next five years." The wedding ceremony that I have been dreaming of is supposed to take place in a month's time. However, I no longer want to get married.

Chiara has never been wanted. Everyone thought of her as a burden and waste of space all her life. When an opportunity presented itself to prove her worth, she eagerly grabbed it. Little did she know that her choice would strip her freedom away and chain her to be the wife and property of Adrian, Alpha of the Galway Pack. A loveless marriage and a cruel husband she can't escape away from, finding her fated mate is now a distant fantasy for her. That was until another alpha bulldozed his way into her life and forced her to take the reigns of her fate once more. Lance is a rogue alpha on the run for over a decade. Blamed for the death of his former pack, he tried to start a new life away from the city and other wolves. However, he's eventually caught by the Galway Pack and offered a second chance as a personal bodyguard for the Alpha's wife. It is a sin for him to set his eyes on Chiara, much more to fall in love with the pack alpha's mate, but his wolf and heart have other things to say. An omega in a gilded cage and a rogue alpha chained by his past sins... can Chiara and Lance find the courage to carve their own paths, or will they simply be swept away by the raging river of fate?

Imagine my shock when I found out that my husband, a professor who had proudly embraced a childless life for half of his years, had an affair with one of his own students. She even had his six-year-old son. The day I planned to report him to the university, Zia Thompson came to my door with the child and knelt in front of me. "Maybe you and Zeke were in love once," she said. "But he's over forty now. Who doesn't want to have a child? A legacy?" "I don't need a title," she went on. "I can give up the child too. I just beg you, don't tear our family apart." I looked at my husband, who stood protectively in front of them. I felt terrifyingly calm. "Cut ties with them," I said, my voice flat, "or prepare to be reported to the university. You choose." Without a moment's hesitation, he tore the report letter into shreds. I thought that was his answer. But on the fifty-second night of a bed grown cold and a home echoing with silence, he still hadn't returned. Instead, I received news that Zia was pregnant again. She had graduated by then. The report I never sent no longer posed any threat to them. Zeke didn't bother to hide his fatigue and irritation anymore. "Treat Zia and the kids well," he said, "or keep living alone in that empty house. It's your choice." My heart was already a wasteland. "I have one more option," I said. "I choose divorce."

I was a mermaid from the deep sea. Out of curiosity and playfulness, I was caught by a fisherman and endured unbearable torment. Just when I was on the brink of death, Trevon Chapman happened to pass by and saved me. So, I gave up my identity as a mermaid princess, left the ocean behind, and followed him into the human world. For five years after our marriage, Trevon granted my every wish and showered me with affection. I truly believed I had found a safe harbor I could depend on for the rest of my life—until fate struck with its cruelest blow. Trevon's childhood sweetheart had fallen gravely ill, and only a mermaid’s tail could save her. I begged him desperately, but he responded with chilling indifference. "You're only losing your legs. Corinne is losing her life. Are you really that heartless? You're just going to watch her die?" "Besides, you can’t return to the sea anymore. That tail means nothing to you now. From now on, I’ll be your legs." After the surgery, I sat in a wheelchair, running my hand over the empty fabric where my legs should have been, and calmly demanded a divorce. Trevon pulled Corinne into his arms, sneering. "You're neither human nor fish now—a monster. Without me, the only road left for you is death." Yet in the end, when I transformed back into a mermaid and leapt into the sea, his cries and desperate sobs echoed across the waves.

"I will protect us, you and the baby and we'll live together" Max said with determination, for the very first time, the desperation to have me back was evident in his voice_ but it was too late_ my mind was locked up, my heart sealed; He caused it, every single thing I went through to this day had been because of his ignorance but now, I'm riling with mixed feelings but my decision doesn't change as my mind flashed back with memories_ Everything was at stake, my baby, my Mom. To save them, I had to give up my own feelings, give him an information that would make him not to look for me; it'll hurt, I know but it was for the greater good and I wouldn't mind giving it my all. " I'm sorry Max but I can't stay with you" I almost broke down as I said those words, watching those hard and stern expression he wore on his face everytime dissolve to fear, my heartbeat skipped, it felt completely empty, felt like I was leaving a part of me behind. "But why? I could change Vivian, I could forfeit the gang if you want, just let me__" "I can't Max because I'm not pregnant with your child!" I finally divulged the information and for a moment, a dangerous glint crossed his eyes. " I can't because it's not your baby Max, so let go!"

"Doesn't it bother you?" I blurted out right there and then, having been asking myself that question since the night we slept together. I was curious, but I'd been obviously avoiding him. "What? That you're the heir to the Siren-" "That I'm trans," I said. I could care less about what he think of me being a Sirenio by blood. "T-That I'm a trans...man," "Does it bother you that I'm bisexual?" he asked me. I hadn't expected that response. Not when I'm having mixed feelings about all of this. "Does it?" he probed, closing what's left of the space between. His scent and warmth envelopes me as I'm caged between him and the sink. I shook my head. "Use your words, Miles," he said running his finger over my bottom lip. I shuddered at the sensation it brought to my body. "You were so good with those, that night," I sucked in a sharp breath. I looked away, and his touch disappeared immediately. "It was a mistake," I whispered, my heart racing. "What...happened was a-" "I don't do mistakes, Miles," Mr Stark said guiding my eyes back to his. "You should know that by now," I let out a shaky breath when his thumb found my bottom lip again. "Does it bother you that I want to fuck you right now?"

Billy had a tough life and had always lived by one unshakable rule. But one fateful night at an elite party, where she worked as a part-time server, everything changed as she caught the intense eyes of a stranger—a man whose allure was impossible to resist. And against her better judgment, she broke that rule of hers, surrendering to a night of passion and desire that left her breathless. But when she woke up in the morning, the bed was empty, and the stranger was gone, leaving Billy with nothing but memories of that night. Weeks later, she discovered the consequences of that night: she was pregnant. With no clue, and no way to find that stranger, she braced herself to face motherhood alone. Months passed, and Billy landed another job—serving at the engagement party of one of the city’s most powerful billionaires. But when she was called to serve a drink at the party, her world tilted as the groom-to-be was none other than the man she had been searching for: Marcus Lorenzo. Marcus, the cold-hearted billionaire with a reputation for ruthlessness, had been haunted by that night he had with Billy. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t forget the mysterious woman who had set his soul on fire. Now, faced with Billy again, he keep finding himself drawing closer to her and this brings out their lust for each other despite the obstacles between them. As their shared desire reignites, the boundaries of their lives blur. But with secret and lies threatening to destroy them, Billy and Marcus must confront the question: Was their night of passion a fleeting mistake, or the start of something far more dangerous?

That night, Liam served me my usual evening tea. I trusted him completely—he was my mate, after all, and a respected healer of Thornpack. I shouldn't have. When I woke up the next morning, my head was spinning. The special safe where I kept the morphing inhibitor—the one I'd spent my entire savings to import from Europe for our daughter Isla—was empty. Racing to the healing center, I found Liam celebrating. He was handing out moon-blessed wine, beaming with pride as Natalie's daughter Anna showed off her perfect transformation. My inhibitor had been used on his first love's pup instead of our own daughter. The shock triggered something in my brain. When I collapsed, they diagnosed me with the rare tumor that plagued our kind. Without inhibitors, I couldn't stop Isla's transformation that came early, her six year old body couldn't handle the massive wolf form and the force ripped through her young body. And I, for one, don't even have enough money to keep her in a treatment center. She died in my arms three days later, her little claws drawing blood as the pain overwhelmed her. Until her last breath, she kept asking why Papa hadn't come. Now, in my cold, empty home, with the white porcelain urn containing her ashes on the table, I touch her and decide to sever our partnership.

Hana I was never meant to be a free soul that could drift through the world with no responsibilities. I was born into the world as the heir to the Shadowlands, a witch and the granddaughter of the High Witch. One day, the High Witch sent me on a mission. It was only supposed to be a simple task, and I knew it was a test. But then he found me, or maybe I found him. Cael. A wolf shifter, eyes like ice, and my soul sang out to him. I know that being around him, and the way my magic hummed. I knew what he was; he was dangerous. Cael I came into this city with blood on my hands, revenge carved into my bones, as old as time. I swore I had only one goal, and that was it. Not power, not money, and most of all not love. But fate played a cruel game. The witches I loathe and see as a means to an end; the second most powerful witch to set foot on this planet is my mate. Hana is a temptation who has the mouth of a sailor and the body of a goddess. To claim her is a risk that I will have to take, while fighting this world for a deep-rooted revenge. Together Their bond is a curse yet fated by the Moon Goddess herself. Every stolen touch burns like coals deep and powerful. Every denial and space only pulls them together. As a rebellion simmers in the dark, and ancient enemies who longed to be awakened, stir in their slumber. Hana and Cael are brought together and have to decide: Will they seek revenge, love, or will they burn the world on fire, and make it crumble at their feet?

“It’s fine,” the stranger said to Anna. “You can go home and cry over your ex, or you can come with me.” Anna swallowed. Her heart thudded hard in her chest. “I’m not asking for anything you don’t want,” he added. “But if you want to stop thinking about him, I’ll help you do that.” “Okay,” she replied. The stranger moved closer to Anna, slow but sure, closing the space between them. His hand came up, firm and unhurried, gripping her jaw. His fingers were warm, slightly calloused. He tilted her face up, making her look at him. “Are you sure about this?” he asked, voice low and commanding. Anna swallowed, her pulse racing as she replied. “Yes. I want you to fuck me so hard that I forget about my dickhead of a fiancé.” *************************************** Anna Hawkins was never meant to fall into the arms of a stranger. But after walking in on her fiancé having sex with her best friend, pain dragged her into the shadows of a nightclub and into the arms of a man with cold eyes, inked skin, and a body that ruined her. Their night was supposed to mean nothing. But unforeseen circumstances throw Anna into a brutal world of power, crime, and possession. She’s no longer just heartbroken. She’s owned. And the most dangerous part? She doesn’t know how to escape.