I've Got Thick Skin And An Elastic Heart

Officer Emma Winter is one of the most decorated members of the police force, having successfully solved every case she has taken on. Her commitment and keen instincts have made her a standout in law enforcement. She’s now assigned to investigate the unsolved murder of CEO Franco Gil, uncovering links to the infamous Crimson Brotherhood, led by the ruthless billionaire and CEO Thorne Crimson. To her shock, Thorne isn’t just a powerful mafia boss; he’s the leader of the group that bullied her in college, his name bringing back painful memories from her past. Fueled by a thirst for revenge and the need for evidence, Emma plans to enter Thorne's world by pretending as a seductive woman at a bar. As she gets closer, her quest for vengeance becomes complicated when Thorne grows obsessively protective and captivated by her. Caught between her need for revenge and surprising feelings for the man who once bullied her, Emma must confront her past while dealing with the strong chemistry between them. As their relationship deepens, Emma faces a tough choice: betray the man she’s falling for to uphold her duty as a police officer and expose the Brotherhood’s dark secrets, or risk everything for the love of a powerful mafia leader who could destroy all she’s built. In this intense struggle between loyalty and desire, will Emma choose love over revenge, or will she stick to her mission and break the mafia’s heart?

Hazel's family held a hidden treasure— with the power to reshape the world. The knowledge of this secret led to their demise at the hands of Nikolai, a remorseful killer. But fate brought Hazel and Nikolai together again, as master and servant. Hazel was on a quest for vengeance while Nikolai longs for death and redemption from his dark past. But when her father's shocking involvement in their family's death was revealed, Hazel was faced with a different zeal. A zeal to save Nikolai from himself. With rival mafias closing in and a dangerous alliance forming, Hazel and Nikolai had the entire world against them.......

I thought I was just signing a contract. Six months. That was all. Six months living in a mansion I could barely comprehend, caring for a child I had never met, and following rules I didn’t agree to. Then I met him. Cade Ashford — cold, commanding, and impossibly handsome. The kind of man who makes the world feel smaller just by looking at you… and yet, somehow, larger, heavier, full of impossible expectations. Chloe, the little girl who clung to me with cautious trust, became my reason to fight. And just when I thought I was beginning to find my footing, she returned. Vanessa — flawless, manipulative, and dangerous — a woman who would stop at nothing to reclaim the life she thought was hers… and who had no intention of letting me survive this mansion unscathed. Every day, I am tested. Every day, I must prove I’m strong enough, clever enough, and brave enough to protect Chloe and survive Cade’s scrutiny. But in a house full of secrets, power, and hidden agendas, can I survive long enough to discover the truth? Or will I lose everything — the child who trusts me, the man whose heart is both a fortress and a temptation, and even myself — to the shadows lurking behind the mansion walls? Six months. One chance. One contract. And the question that haunts me: Who in this house can I really trust?

After that night with Travis—a priest who also happened to be her first—she fled the club, desperate for a new life. She hoped she'd never see him again; if possible, she wished their paths would never cross, not even to glimpse his shadow. Her life finally found peace when she decided to go back to her hometown. But that peace shattered when she discovered her sister, whom their parents had sent to a prestigious religious academy specifically to prevent her from turning out like herself, was now pregnant by one of the school's own priests. Just as she was interrogating the board, trying to find out who the father of her sister's baby was, she bumped into Travis. He was the current head of the board, feared for his unusual aura and commanding authority, and notorious as a great womanizer. Her heart suddenly raced, and she wanted to drop everything and run, but it was too late. The womanizing priest had already captured her attention.

In a world full of skepticism and mystery, two hearts of different principles and personalities teamed up to find the justice they yearn for a long time. But when the worst-case scenario came to challenge each other's trust, are they ready to risk their love to fulfill the long-lost justice?

The highly pack can't be possibly mix with the mere lycan. That's the rule within the Moonless Pack, but how can a woman who despise everything surely accept such a rule? Her name is Shallyeah, leave behind the ordinary world with bitterness in her heart. For the sake of her father happiness, she will become someone important in the Moonless Pack in no time. But how can she resist... to break the rules she despise even from the start? Mated with the Lycan is the end of her, and the happiness of his father. But she's tired for all the disappointment to just let the hell loose without grandeur of exit!

In a world where the moon's gaze reveals the hidden truth, two extraordinary women embark on a forbidden love that defies all odds. Anya, a fierce and mysterious werewolf, has concealed her true identity from everyone she holds dear, including her lover, Maya. Unbeknownst to Maya, Anya has been chosen by the alpha of her pack to be her soulmate.  As Maya uncovers the shocking secret, fear and astonishment collide within her heart. But love, relentless and unyielding, compels Maya to delve deeper into Anya's world, discovering the true essence of her soulmate and forging an unbreakable bond. Their love becomes a beacon of strength and defiance against the confines of their society. However, destiny has another surprise in store for Anya. Hidden within her lies the key to unlocking her primal powers, destined to make her the first alpha female of her pack. Yet, how can she ascend the throne when a ruling alpha stands in her way? And what of her supposed soulmate, who walks the path of humanity rather than the moonlit realm? Now, Anya must navigate the treacherous waters of power, love, and prejudice, as she strives to claim her rightful place as alpha. As two opposing factions despise her very existence, she finds herself at the centre of a war that threatens her kind and challenges everything she stands for. With courage as her armour and love as her guide, Anya must unravel the secrets of her power, unite her fractured world, and defy the odds stacked against her. In this breathtaking tale of forbidden love, mystical forces, and epic battles, the ultimate question remains: can Anya and Maya triumph over hatred and forge a future where their love and acceptance can reign supreme?

My fiancé leaves me jilted on our wedding day and marries my sister. As I stand there, feeling humiliated, William Sterling gets on one knee before me and asks me to marry him. Everyone in my city knows of him—he's an elite bachelor and every woman's dream. Yet now, he slips a wedding band onto my ring finger and confesses his love for me. "I've always loved you, and I thank the heavens for giving me the chance to spend my life with you." We get married, and he treats me well. Everyone knows that he won't fall for anyone other than me. Everything changes when I accidentally enter his studio in the seventh year of our marriage. I see that he's painted thousands of portraits of my sister, Ivy Winslow. Each one is a tender confession of his love for her. The man I love with all my heart earnestly prays to the heavens and utters his wish. He's willing to sacrifice anything for Ivy to be happy, including his life. It turns out what I thought was seven years of love was nothing but a lie. Ivy is the one he's loved all along. If that's the case, I'll back out. I'll leave in three days, and I hope he and Ivy can be happy together.

For years, no one had been able to activate the last dragon's heart. No one except a poor young thief. ___ She only had one job–stealing a precious stone. Yet it landed her with an overbearing dragon. ___ Locked and chained, Scar suddenly awakened when his heart palpitated for the first time in decades, coming face to face with a young girl cradling his heart. In his vengeful attempt to get it back, they activate the spell binding him to her. Now not only was his heart stolen, but he was also enslaved. Scar vowed to kill the girl once the bond was broken. The only problem is no one had ever successfully broken a dragon bond, nor would it allow him to harm its new master. ___ "Oh... um ... sorry. I didn't mean to…um.. pry. I'm... gonna go now." I stuttered, inching backward from his penetrating gaze, glancing around for a way out. "I don't know who you're, but I do know you're not here willingly. Seeing as you're chained and all." Silence. "How about I set you free, and in return, you get us out of here?" Silence. Maybe he couldn't talk, so I did the only thing I could. Grabbing the keys, I fumbled with the heavy chains of his cage. His gaze finally shifted to the wooden box I dropped on the floor. "Fancy, isn't it?" I said. "I've never seen anything like it before. But then again, I'm not familiar with expensive stuff." A deep rumble rattled from his throat, freezing me in place. I glanced up at him wearily. "Run." And then he was charging towards me. ___ Tropes: Enemies to lovers. Hidden identity. Reverse harem. Betrayal. Revenge. Arranged marriage. Contract. Escape with pregnancy. Forced proximity. ___

After his boyfriend broke up with him because he was too conservative, Harris decided to go on a dating site to find a guy. Harris and a mysterious man have a one-night stand, then, to his astonishment, Harris discovers that that person is his new boss! The boss raised Harris' chin, threateningly and provocatively: "Aren't you looking for a man to have sex with? I will satisfy you!"