Lingering Antonym

After Hours A Small-Town Forbidden Romance Alli never meant to fall for him. Eighteen, freshly graduated, and slinging drinks at the town’s no-frills dive bar, she was just looking for a paycheck and a way out of her quiet life. But then Johnny started showing up—twenty-five, devastatingly handsome, and haunted by more than just his late-night whiskey. Everyone knows Johnny. The town's favorite bad decision. A brooding mechanic with blue eyes that burn and a reputation tangled up with Layla, the town’s resident scandal—and someone else's wife. But when Alli catches Johnny’s gaze from across the bar, something ignites. Something forbidden. Something explosive. What starts as subtle glances and lingering stares turns into late-night texts, a kiss that ruins them both, and a fire that neither of them can put out. Just when Alli begins to believe there might be more between them, Layla drops a bomb: she’s pregnant. Now, Alli must face the truth—was she just a distraction? Or is Johnny just as trapped in his past as she fears? In a town where everyone talks and secrets are currency, love after hours might be the most dangerous thing of all.

My name is Elaira Wade, the only surviving werewolf of Shadowcrest pack. I'm in love with my homeroom teacher,sold to the cruel Alpha and now my bullies are being protective of me. ****** The Shadowcrest pack was wiped out on their most joyous day that the Luna was confirmed to be pregnant. All in one day, Elaira lost her parents, her unborn sibling and her pack but she was able to escape as she was saved by a huge wolf whom she didn't recognize. Starting over her life again in the human world, Elaira tried to forget everything that had to do with the werewolf world and life her best life as one of the rich kids in school as there was a mysterious good samaritan that was crediting her account with a huge amount of money every month. She had a crush on her homeroom teacher and was bullied by the hottest twin in school for unknown reason and everything was going perfectly well until her eighteen birthday when a man suddenly appear before her and claimed she belongs to him. Finding out that she was sold to Alpha Kayden by her father and Alpha Kayden was also the good samaritan sending money into her account all this years, Elaira's world crumble. And the worst part of it was that her homeroom teacher and the twins that bullied her, were also werewolf. She thought she had left everything that had to do with werewolf behind but had no idea they were still lingering around her. Now stuck in the midst of four Alphas, Elaira tried to escape but found it hard to do so, as the mysterious wolf that killed her pack are now after her again, hunting her down for an unknown reason.

She was born of two worlds… and belonged to none. Wolfless and rejected by her own kind, Freya, the hybrid daughter of a witch and a wolf, was sold by her father to the most feared Alpha in the land—Alpha Logan of the Northridge Pack. Her only purpose? To bear his heir and strengthen his bloodline. But love was never part of the deal. Torn between his lingering feelings for his first love, Lucia, and the bond he cannot deny with Freya, Alpha Logan spirals—cold, cruel, and indifferent. And when tragedy strikes and Freya loses the baby, his words cut deeper than any blade: “You’re just a breeder.” Shattered and betrayed, Freya flees to the human world with the help of a mysterious ally. There, she finds peace… and perhaps a new beginning in Daniel, a kind stranger who sees her as more than just a tool. But fate isn’t done with her yet. A prophecy looms. A war brews. And when Logan’s brother returns to claim the throne, only Freya—his true mate and the key to his power—can save his legacy. But will she ever come back to the mate who broke her heart… or choose a new path, and a new love, forever?

"Say that again, Freya. I dare you to look me deep in the eye and tell me that you don't want me and wouldn't rather want me buried deep inside you tonight. Under this stormy, cold weather instead." He taunted, his gaze lingering on me like an hungry predator as he took calculated steps towards me inside my bedroom. "Come on, say it. Say you don't want my hands roaming up and down your thighs like before, Freya. Tell me you don't want to relive those memories again with me..." The closer he got, the more harder my nipples got. "Screw you, Ethan!" I sneered. "That's not the question, Freya." ~~ Freya Smith, a nineteen year old worked as a maid for the Slades— a well known business Empire in the country. One day, Ethan, the eldest son and future heir of the Slade's empire came home one holiday and their path crossed— sparking the beginning of a forbidden teenage love affair. Freya discovered she's pregnant with Ethan's child after he had left. Freya received a letter from Ethan telling her she was merely a trophy to him and one of the many girls he could have anytime he wanted and that it's better she aborted the child or have it taken care of all by herself and of which he would never be a part of. She was also tagged a destitute who could never amount to nothing in her entire existence and beyond. Now, seven years later and Freya is an independent woman, controlling several popular jewelry businesses and engaged to the country's wealthiest man's son while the Slades drown in bankruptcy. Will Freya's thirst for vengeance be quenched? or will Ethan trying to gain custody of their child now by nook and cranny be her greatest battle yet?

Sia woke up from a coma after seven months, only to discover that she was the only sister of a Mafia overlord. Due to amnesia, she didn't recall all of her memories, but one thing she couldn't forget was how her father was murdered on her birthday by their enemies. This memory plagued her with nightmares every night, terrifying her. Driven by the desire for revenge, she believed that avenging her father's death might free her from the darkness that engulfed her. Thus, she embarked on a quest for vengeance. However, she was unaware that the four men she killed were not the ones responsible for her father's murder; they were merely pawns. In the underworld, everyone knew the name of the true culprit, but no one knew what he looked like, making it extremely difficult for Sia to find someone who existed only by name. One day, however, he appeared in her apartment like a ghost. He looked at her and said, "Aren't you looking for me? I'm here now, Little vermin.’ ‘Who the hell are you?’ With a sly smirk lingering on his face, he answered. ‘I’m your sweet nightmare, Little vermin. I give both sweet and lethal nightmares your experience every night.’

Maya Rami is a survivor. As single mother in Dubai, she has worked relentlessly to provide the best for her daughter. But when she loses her job at an elite private school due to a scandal she had no part in, her life is thrown into turmoil. In an attempt at stability, she takes on the position of tutoring billionaire Adam Saif's son. Maya expectes that Sami will be just like any other pampered kid, yet he isn't. He's genius, withdrawn, and completely silent. Nobody, not even his powerful father has any idea how to reach him. Then there's Adam himself. Ice-cold, ruthless, and inscrutable, his entire life revolves around control. But behind the hardened facade, Maya senses something else, a man shaped by secrets, not authority. What starts out as a simple assignment soon turns a lot more complicated. The more time Maya spends in Adam's world, the more she sees the cracks in his armor. The late-night conversations turn into lingering looks. The chemistry between them is undeniable, yet Adam has made one thing very clear, he doesn't believe in love. Just as Maya begins to penetrate his defenses, his past comes back to haunt him. The enemies that encircle him close in, targeting everything, including Sami. Now Maya has to make an impossible choice: walk away before she's pulled into the storm or stay with the one man she never imagined she'd fall in love with.

“Five million dollars may have bought my chains, but it didn’t buy my loyalty — and it definitely didn’t buy my heart. I never dreamed my life would come down to a transaction of hundred million dollars. But my father’s betrayal puts me at the mercy of Adrian Costa, the ruthless Sicilian, head of Cosa Nostra whose name makes the mafia world quake with fear. Including me. He bought me in an auction and then made me his wife. Saying no to him is not an option. He is dark and dangerous. I have done underhanded work against him using my hacker identity, CIPHER. I have to escape his gilded cage before he finds out my alt identity. Each of our battles ignites a deadly game of power and lust. As secrets unravel and Adrian’s enemies close in, I find myself faced with the ultimate dilemma: Will I fight for my freedom, or will the king I hate become the one man I cannot live without? ***** “You think you can outrun me, Elena? You're wearing my ring on your finger.” I don’t flinch, meeting his gaze with defiance. “So what? I don’t belong to you.” He leans in, his lips brushing against my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. “You don’t, yet. But I can make you. Do you want that?" I swallow hard, my pulse racing. “Don’t flatter yourself.” Adrian chuckles darkly, his hand lingering on my waist. “Trust me, I’m not the one who needs to be flattered.” ***** # Dark Mafia Romance #18+ #Hacker Female Lead and Italian Mafia Lord # Touch her you die #Marriage contract # He falls first #Fast Paced #Strong FL and ML #A Not so cute Pet (Oh he is cute. Don't go by his looks) #HEA

The Heart Beneath the Thorn — A Modern Beauty and the Beast Retelling 💔 In a glittering city of fortunes and façades, The Heart Beneath the Thorn reimagines Beauty and the Beast through the broken glass of betrayal, redemption, and forbidden love. Emilia Grace, a fierce yet quietly bruised soul, is just trying to survive. Between juggling hospital shifts, family debts, and the ghosts of her past, she’s never had the luxury of dreaming. But fate has a cruel sense of humor when she’s assigned to care for Max Carter—the cold-hearted billionaire who once made her school years a waking nightmare. Max was the golden boy with the cruel smirk—the privileged heir with everything, except peace. Years later, a tragic accident leaves him scarred, not just physically but emotionally. Isolated and emotionally exiled, Max is now a man haunted by his past choices and a legacy wrapped in barbed wire. When Emilia walks back into his life, she's no longer the girl he mocked—she's the woman who might just be his undoing. Forced into each other’s orbit, what begins as a war of words slowly melts into lingering stares, late-night confessions, and an unraveling of everything they thought they knew. Max, the beast of her memories, begins to reveal the tender man beneath the mask—a man who collects poetry he never shares, who builds gardens no one sees, and who might have always loved the girl he couldn’t protect. But trust doesn’t bloom easily in thorn-covered soil. And when old enemies, buried secrets, and a scandalous inheritance come to light, Emilia must decide: can she love the man who once broke her, now that he’s the only one trying to piece her back together? A tale of enemies-to-lovers, second chances.

"What would you do if you were given a second chance—not just at life, but at revenge?" When Paula Whitney watched her husband, Orlando Gilbert, introduce another woman as his lover in front of their entire family, her world crumbled. To make matters worse, Jeany Rosalia—the other woman—not only flaunted their affair but also brought along a child she claimed was Orlando’s. Humiliated and crushed under the weight of her family’s scorn, Paula did the only thing she could think of: she ran. But fate wasn’t kind. A tragic accident robbed her of everything—including her own body. Yet destiny had other plans. Paula awoke to find herself in the body of Vanessa Khiel, an up-and-coming singer on the brink of fame. Disoriented and reeling from the shock, she heard one final plea from the dying soul within—Vanessa's voice whispered through her fading strength: "Protect my little brother. And in return, I’ll help you get the revenge you deserve." Now, Paula lives as Vanessa. With Vanessa’s beauty, charisma, and growing influence in the entertainment world, Paula begins to orchestrate her revenge—determined to destroy Jeany and Orlando for the pain they caused. But just as her plan takes shape, Paula uncovers a secret behind Orlando’s betrayal… a truth that shakes the foundation of her hatred. And she begins to wonder: Is revenge ever enough… or does an old love still deserve a second chance? “You remind me of someone,” Orlando murmured, his eyes lingering on Vanessa with a longing that felt almost too familiar. “Who?” Vanessa replied with a faint smile, carefully hiding the irony behind her words. “Paula,” he whispered. “She was my wife.” Or will she drag Orlando down with her… into the depths of ruin?

"What are you doing?" Alpha Albrecht's voice was low, almost a growl. "I… I'm doing what you want," I replied, my voice trembling. "I'm not resisting." He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "Why the sudden change, Catriona? You've never been this… obedient." I met his gaze, my heart throbbing aggressively. His eyes scanned my body, lingering on the bruises and marks. His hand reached out, fingers brushing against a particularly dark bruise on my arm. I flinched but held my ground. "You're different," he muttered, more to himself than to me. "Yes, Alpha," I whispered, lowering my gaze. He tilted my chin up, forcing me to look at him. He studied me for a long moment, his expression stern. Finally, he nodded. "Get dressed!" "Huh?" I blinked, surprised by his command. If I remember correctly, he actually forced his way into me on this day. What has changed in 2012? ---------------- Catriona Barclay thought her life was over in Berlin when the ruthless Alpha Albrecht Conrad of the Shadow Pack killed her in 2021. Betrayed by those she trusted most, including her secret lover Finlay, and her best friend Greta, her world ended in tragedy. But, a mysterious force pulls her back in time to 2012, where she awakens nine years younger and armed with a chance to rewrite her fate. Determined to avenge her family's massacre and avoid her doomed future, Catriona devises a cunning plan against everyone who wronged her in the future. In the process, she uncovers truths about her family's true murderers and her rare special ability. She also discovered that Alpha Albrecht, the man she had hated her whole life and swore to bring down, is her fated mate chosen by the moon Goddess. Will she follow her quest for vengeance, or embrace a future she never imagined?