Favorite Vice

Hillary Amelie Marquez is a beautiful and smart-witted woman who has a strong soul and owns a big heart. Despite the rumors attacking her to be an infertile woman, behind her fit and young figure, she has kept an undisclosed secret any person should not intend to know. A secret that answers her mysterious background as the faceless heir of the Marquez Corporation, the infamous 'Yama queen' who wrecked the business world as she was titled the very first woman that succeeded in handling a company better than the articles told about her. Hillary is well-known to have pushed her family's company rankings, where she managed to trample on two of the most influential 'Big five' after two years of her reign that's still a mystery to everyone. And so her title as the 'rising phoenix' begins. Inside the walls of the renowned Marquez's main mansion, a three years old boy was hidden from the prying eyes of the media. A boy whose eyes were like the deepest part of the ocean, its beauty was remarkable than the rarest gem. Nothing was more realistic than the truth she holds, no one not even her parents knew, that the father of her child was a man who is defined to be god's favorite masterpiece. A man whose blood and eyes were considered royal and divine in the race of humankind. He goes by many names, but everyone knew him as, The Grim Reaper. A man who is infamous for brutally slaughtering heads and fiddle over human souls under his fingers. When fate favors their hearts to be one again, will Hillary be willing to attach herself again towards the overbearing, malicious, and coldblooded man who was said to live a life without mercy and is more cunning and inhuman by nature?

I watched in both awe and horror as streaks of lighting escaped my fingers and brightened up the room. It was so beautiful but also slightly terrifying.  I had no idea how I was doing this or if it was even me. Do I have...powers? The word tasted bitter in my mouth and I quickly swallowed it back. No one must know about this. The people here are anything but nice.  The lighting died down and I sighed. I balanced my weight on a stool at the center of the room. I barely had time to relax before a deep voice resounded,  "What did you just do?"  I stiffened at the sound of the voice. I didn't need to turn around before I knew who it was. That voice had chased me up from bed at night.  I turned slowly to face the person. Alpha Perrin stepped into the light, an indecipherable expression on his face.  "You're...the cure." He said, ever so slightly. . . . As the least favorite child of her parents, Quinn was forced to marry a crippled Alpha to settle the war between the two packs, in place of her older sister. She has no idea how her life would soon change.  Despite his disability, Alpha Perrin is well known for his ruthlessness and unforgiving attitude.  Things took a different turn when Alpha Perrin found out that Quinn could cure him of his ailment. He decided to strike a deal with her. As time went by, the two of them started developing feelings for each other, and then disaster struck.  How would the two of them navigate their way through this hardship? Would this tear them apart for good or will they find their way back to each other?

For Gabriel, the nightmare didn't start with a scream. It started with a wedding announcement. The news was a death sentence. My pious mother was marrying the wealthiest man in the city, but the Miller fortune didn't matter to me. What mattered was the monster I would now have to call family. Derek Miller. My campus bully, the guy who spent years making my life a living hell was about to become my step brother. And the most shameful secret of all? I was deathly attracted to him. I thought I could survive it. I had Bradley, the boyfriend I had supported for five years, the guy who promised me the world. But he lied. I didn't get the world. I got a gut wrenching betrayal. I walked into a luxury apartment to find the only person I trusted being ruined by my bully. Derek didn't look away. He pinned me with a gaze of satisfied rage, claiming my boyfriend just to prove he could. Now, I am trapped in the Miller family tree with a step brother who loathes me. Between the holy lies of our parents and a shared bathroom that has become a hunting ground, I am drowning. Derek uses my stolen sketchbook and a leather belt to remind me I am nothing but a toy, his favorite plaything. I was desperate for a shoulder to lean on. I thought I had finally found a savior in a gentle stranger who pulled me from the wreckage of a rainy night. But as the masks slip, I am realizing the truth. I thought Derek was the monster, but my knight in shining armor may be the actual devil.

Carmen Wade thought she had it all—a perfect job, a loyal best friend, and a husband she adored. Everything was perfect! But her world shatters the night she discovers her husband's ultimate betrayal with her best friend, Millie. Fearing Carmen will expose their affair, the two decide to kill her, forcing her into an oncoming truck. She bleeds to death. But when Carmen opens her eyes, she’s no longer in her own world. She’s been reborn as Lady Daphne Vasquez—The infamous villainess from her favorite fantasy novel, destined to meet a brutal end in the hands of her fiancé. Determined to change her fate, Carmen (now Daphne) shocks the kingdom by first calling off her engagement with Lord Michael Ruiz, who bears an uncanny resemblance to her treacherous husband, Cody Wade. Her actions draw the attention of King Rafe Crowe, a powerful ruler from a neighboring land who becomes suspicious of Daphne’s sudden transformation. As Carmen navigates a world of greedy nobles and magic, she must use her knowledge of the story’s end to outsmart those who would see her fall, including her former fiancé and the heroine of the novel—who eerily mirrors Millie. But her greatest challenge may be resisting the charm of King Rafe, whose keen eyes seem to see right through her facade and changing the narrative of the story she once knew it’s end. In a world where allies and enemies blend together, Carmen’s second chance at life becomes a high-stakes game of survival, vengeance, unexpected romance and avoiding a dark prophecy.

My boyfriend, Tom, promised a grand mating ceremony for my twentieth birthday. But at my banquet, he publicly requested a mate link with my stepsister, Lily. While the whole pack roared and cheered, I just stood there like a fool. The betrayal hit hard. Before I could even breathe, Sam—the Obsidian Pack's Alpha heir—said he'd secretly loved me all along and asked to claim me. I said yes. For five years, he spoiled me. Memorized my favorite runs, my wolf's quirks. Then I overheard him with his Beta: "Sam, Lily's Luna of White Rose Pack now, just like she wanted. You still gonna fake it with Any?" "I can't have Lily. Doesn't even matter who my mate is anymore. As long as I'm with Any, Lily's safe and happy." Later that night, I found his safe in the study. Inside? Every single thing she ever gave him. Handmade wolf fang pendants. Letters sealed with her paw print. His prized chest armor, every single scale etched with her name: [Lily, my dearest love. I'd shred through every thorn for your smile.] [Lily, rip out my wolf heart if you needed it. ] [Lily! Hell, I'd steal the whole damn world if you asked.] Five years. Five years of lies, shattered in seconds. I filed my request to leave the pack. In two days, I'd be out of Sam's life for good.

Merida was a certified black sheep of the family. She loves to hear her grandmother's story about fairies, dragons, pirates and princesses and her favorite was the tale about the legendary pirate named Escarial, and a Princess called Athalia. Listening to her grandma’s folktales was her routine all throughout her eighteen years of existence. That’s why when her grandmother died without having at least a last talk with her, she turned badly depressed. She didn’t go to school at all, and just stayed in her grandmother’s room to lock herself away from the rest of the world. Three days after her grandmother’s funeral, strange things happened in her room. The painting her old woman often gazed on suddenly moved and glowed. She succumbed to it, helpless, and had nothing to do to save herself because of the force that was beyond overwhelming. The next thing she knew, she was in North Sonnenfield. What’s more shocking to her was the name she’s called as by her servants; Princess Athalia—the heir of the throne, and the only daughter of King Eldar of North Sonnenfield. She was in awe, because she remembered that King Eldar was the character in the story. The palace where she found herself lost was the same place where the brave princess who ventured the dangerous sea had lived. She loves being in a Sonnenfield. However, she knew to herself that the day will come when she would wake up from a dream. But life always has a twist because Captain Escarial came to the scene. She expects that he will be gentleman just like pirate captain in the book. But to her horror, this Captain Escarial is snobbish, rude and proud. Oh, how she hates him!

Marriage is sacred and must be because of love…but in our family it is all about business and connections. I don’t want to get married and the last time that I let cupid in my heart I was left alone, like a girl who lost her favorite doll. Miss Michin. Ang bansag sa pinakamasungit sa mga apo ni Don Leano—si Frederica Liora Leano, panganay sa pamilya at sa mga magpipinsan, strikta, mahigpit, at prangka kung magsalita. Parang walang pagmamahal sa katawan. Matandang dalaga kung umasta at manamit. Hindi gusto na magpakasal, dahil hanggang ngayon ay may mga nakabaon pa ring tinik sa kan’yang puso mula sa nakaraan. Ngunit…sa isang iglap lahat ng iyon ay nawala. Aksidente. Dahil sa isang aksidenteng halik ay magpapakasal siya at kanino? Sa estrangherong hardinero nila na si Noel. Si Noel, palasagot, matapang, at hindi siya inuurungan. Napunta si Frederica sa sitwasyong iniiwasan niya. Gusto niyang tumakbo at umalis sa buhay na iginuhit na ng kan’yang Lolo. Pero paano kung sa gitna ng pagtakbo niya ay madapa siya sa maiinit na bisig ng kanilang hardinero? Anong mangyayari kung unti-unti na niyang pinapapasok si kupido sa sarado niyang puso? Panibagong sakit? Panibagong tinik? O mas babaon ang tinik ng kan’yang nakaraan? Paano kung sa mga maiinit na bisig ay may madiskubre siyang malamig na katotohanan? Makakatakbo pa kaya ang kan’yang mga paa? O tulad noon ay magiging batang nawalan ng manika?

An anonymous girl is seen running away from men who are behind her like wolves, amidst the darkness of the valley and the gleaming moon. Panting, gasping for breath she reached for her shield huffing. As she saw his silhouette she felt relieved and started to run to him to find warmth in his embrace. As she stepped closer to him, the men stopped. Suddenly she heard his voice which made her steps stall and her heart crack. "Stop! Don't come near me" She felt her bleeding heart slashed by his stern words. She expected his comfort to surround her and his love to transcend her plight, but neither happened. Eventually, her demons overcame her as her feet began to give way. Her bruised body started to feel twice the pain as before. "You don't trust me" she muttered and let the darkness lull her to sleep. It's difficult to say what led her to give up: the same distrust from her loved ones twice, or the fact that she was the favorite victim of all the bad luck. ****** Hailey is a nerd, anti-social and awkward. Her striking orbs were hidden behind rimmed spectacles and her curvy figure was hidden behind her oversized hoodies. During high school, she was the most famous person in college. What changed? Enter Mark Anderson, the hottest guy in college. Girls swoon over him and boys envy him but does he give a damn? Naa! He isn't a playboy or a bookworm. He is just the man of dreams. His plan is simple. He is saving himself for the queen of his heart. His parents were his role models. Their love was the ideal example for him and he wanted something like that. Magical. What happens when they meet? ******

The night Enzo was made boss of the Moretti family, I gave him my virginity. He was the heir I'd been promised to since before I could speak. We kissed against the floor-to-ceiling windows, tangled in the humid, twilight heat... His rough, urgent hands hurt me, but I didn't pull away. Even the pain felt sacred, a sacrifice I was willing to make for love. Lost in the heat of the moment, he promised me a pair of the most beautiful crystal shoes, so I could dance the opening waltz with him at his coronation ceremony the next day. The first dance is always reserved for the new boss and his future bride. I cried with joy, believing my years of secret pining and patient waiting would finally culminate in a fairytale ending. But I was wrong. So terribly wrong. The next morning, I dragged my aching body out to get his favorite espresso, only to overhear the guys joking as I returned: "So you finally popped the family cherry, huh? How was Vivian on your first night as boss?" Enzo's voice was lazy, mocking. "Face of an angel, body of a devil. She's a hot little viper in bed." The room erupted in sleazy whistles. "So, you really gonna marry her, young boss?" "Are you kidding me?" Enzo scoffed. "Vivian's just a warm-up. Once I get some practice in, I'll go tame the Falcone ice princess. When I get bored, I can always circle back and put a ring on her." I stood frozen in the doorway, my vision blurring, the coffee cup trembling in my hand. Before the world faded to black, I sent a coded message to the Don: "Uncle Romano, for the promotion in three days, get me a transfer. As far away from Enzo as possible."

A Dark Paranormal Romance | Fated Mates | Slow Burn Obsession He came to her in chains. But it’s her rules he’ll beg to obey. By day, Ronan Thorne is an Alpha shifter - commanding, ruthless, untouchable. By night, he's something else entirely: a feral beast cursed by a vengeful moon goddess after he dared to seduce her sacred virgin. Every sunset splits his soul, forcing him to live half a life—and leaving behind blood and desire he can’t remember. Desperate for control, he seeks out Eidolon, the most exclusive underground dominatrix club in the city. But he doesn’t expect Talia, a woman with a voice that stills the storm inside him and eyes that see too much. Talia doesn’t do emotional entanglements. Her clients submit. They don’t haunt her dreams. But Ronan is different. Dangerous. Addictive. And when she touches him, something ancient stirs inside her a legacy tied to the very goddess who cursed him. He wants to surrender. She was born to command. But what begins as a game of control quickly spirals into obsession, forbidden lust, and a choice that could destroy them both. Can she tame the beast without losing herself… or will she awaken a hunger no one can contain? --- Author's Note Welcome to Marked by the Beast — where dominance is delicious, secrets are deadly, and the line between pleasure and danger? Paper-thin. This story contains mature themes, dark romance, and explicit scenes that may not be suitable for all readers. If you're into primal bonds, forbidden heat, and a heroine who doesn't just tame the beast—she owns him— Then, darling, you're exactly where you need to be. Read responsibly. Hydrate. And don’t say I didn’t warn you. From your favorite dark romance author Elle Targaryen😉