Market Cycle

“You will move to the Emerson’s family,” the judge announced, his voice echoing through the cold courtroom. His final words hung in the air, making me jump as he used his gavel to close my argument to move to yet another foster home. My name is Emily. For the past three years, I have been caught in a perpetual cycle of living in between foster homes, on the unforgiving streets The tragic loss of my parents when I was only fourteen left me with no choice but to rely on the mercy of the foster system. Unfortunately, my only living relative, deemed me too much of a burden due to my unpredictable moods. Consequently, I have been tossed from one foster family to another like a forgotten toy. With only four months left until my eighteenth birthday, I find myself being sent to live with the Emerson family. From what I've heard, they have two daughters and a son named Aiden, whose ego supposedly matches his oversized shoes. Aiden Emerson, a name that resonates throughout the Ford Anglia School. He holds the distinction of being the youngest student to become a billionaire at the tender age of twenty-four he had become the proud owner of eight thriving establishments. Will they be able to cope with me, considering my troubled past? Or will I end up running away again, seeking solace on the unforgiving streets where I learned to numb my pain with drugs and temporary escapes? Now, here I am, on my way to the Emerson family, my last stop before I turn eighteen and gain the freedom to decide my own fate. I can't help but wonder what lies ahead. Will my past mistakes and inner demons continue to haunt me, pushing me towards the edge of oblivion?

Detective Casie Blackwood thought she'd left her supernatural past behind when she joined the police force ten years ago, fleeing the shame of public mate rejection and family abandonment. Now, ritualistic murders are forcing her back into a world she desperately wanted to forget. Three human victims have been discovered with surgical precision wounds and ancient symbols carved into their palms—markings that point to forbidden blood magic from before the supernatural communities established peaceful coexistence. When Casie finds a note written in the old pack language reading "The Hunt Begins," she realizes someone is deliberately targeting humans to harvest their primal fear, threatening to expose the entire supernatural world. Partnered with Detective Rick O'Connor, who remains unaware of her true nature, Casie must navigate the investigation while concealing her enhanced senses and knowledge of the supernatural. The wounds aren't from blades—they're fang marks. The positioning isn't random—it's ritualistic. And the killer's scent carries a terror that suggests they're being hunted by something even more dangerous. Forced to break ten years of silence, Casie contacts her estranged brother Elias, learning the symbols are ancient binding marks used to channel supernatural energy across factional boundaries. The killer needs seven sacrifices total to complete a ritual that will shatter the barriers between the human and supernatural worlds. With three victims already claimed and only four days until the next lunar cycle, time is running out. As federal agents circle and media attention intensifies, Casie must choose between maintaining her carefully constructed human life and embracing the supernatural heritage she rejected. The investigation isn't just about stopping a killer—it's about preventing an all-out war that could destroy both worlds she's sworn to protect.

"Do not run, my female. Face my fire. I promise it won't burn you but bring pleasure of... all kinds." He whispers hoarsely his pink tongue sensually caressing his moist plump lower lip, he is hungry for my flesh for my body. "Please let me go." I plead with him a faint whine leaving my lips. He shakes his head in denial a wicked devil's grin on his face. "If you run, I will take it that you want me to hunt you. If I find you after, I will gobble you up." He speaks with a deep aroused growl his eyes keenly studying my ample heaving breasts and my exposed trembling thighs. "Have mercy." I whimper knowing I will be mercilessly eaten by him. "Come here, mate." His tone is innocent as if he promises he wouldn't do anything to me. But I recognise the beast that lurks beneath in disguise just waiting to pounce on his prey and devour it. Deimos opens his arms wide taking a big step forward to capture me and that is all it takes for me to ignore his sinful warning and run. ~~~ Being born an Alpha female came with its own struggles but being mated to a God, the Alpha of Alphas tore me apart to pieces and shoved me into a neverending cycle of pain, betrayal and heartbreak. He wouldn't love me for his soul held a coldness that no heat could melt, his heart unfeeling and empty. He did not understand the true meaning of love or mates and he ruthlessly shattered me with his heartless words and actions yet the cruel beast never let me go for I belonged to him and him alone till death parted us and he made sure I understood that.

When Tessa Shoreman read Henry Jennings' cancer report, she immediately paid her hard-earned money of sixty thousand to the hospital. She had saved the money from working part-time while she was in university. However, she was worried the money was not enough, so she held back her fear as she sold a kidney to the black market to get more. As she walked to the ward door with a heavy bag filled with cash, she heard shrill laughter coming from inside. "That cheap woman, Tessa Shoreman, got tricked by us again. Haha!" Tessa's hand gave pause right when she was about to push the door open. What did he mean by saying she was tricked? Tessa looked through the glass on the door to see inside the ward. When she left, the man looked extremely weak, but he was now sitting up lazily in bed. Henry had a cigarette in his mouth, and he was blowing smoke rings nonchalantly. He did not look like a cancer patient at all. "It's been two years, and that woman still has no idea." "If she hadn't beaten Serene to first place, Henry would never have left behind his life as a rich heir and planned such an elaborate scheme to become a working-class man living in a cheap rental home. The way that cheap, penniless woman looks at Henry is so amusing." "We agreed that the punishment ends when Henry and Serene get engaged. It looks like time is almost up. We've probably punished her 108 times in the past two years." "The first time was lying to her that Henry didn't have a suit for a job interview. She worked tirelessly for 72 hours straight before she earned enough money for one, but that suit was given to the domestic help to use as a cleaning cloth. The second time was tricking her into believing Henry had a high fever. She forfeited during the finals of a scientific research competition to race home and take care of Henry in the hospital…" "Sigh. Too bad it's coming to an end. I'm going to miss entertaining myself with her."

“Dek, tolong catat semua hadiah yang udah aku kasih ke kamu. Bonnya ada di tasku!” “Catat lagi?” “Iyalah kita harus menghemat. Pengeluaran dan pemasukan harus ada notanya. Tidak boleh kita pakai berlebihan sehari hanya boleh 70 ribu. Tidak boleh lebih.” Tak ada sahutan dari istriku malah menatap lurus dengan pandangan kosong. Aku mendekat untuk memastikan dia mendengarnya atau tidak. “Kau dengar tidak, Dek?” Baru saja kau ingin menyentuh pundaknya. Prily sudah lebih dahulu berjalan menghindar. “Hmm,” sahutnya tak acuh. Bahkan barang-barang yang kuberikan sebagai hadiah ulang tahun pernikahan kita saja dia abaikan. Bukankah dia pernah bilang menginginkan long dress dengan berwarna merah muda dengan aksen renda. Sudahlah aku repot-repot memesannya diam-diam lewat market place online. Prily justru membiarkan gamis beserta coklat yang kupesan khusus untuknya tergeletak di meja. Ck, kenapa perempuan susah sekali dimengerti. Sungguh membuatku frustrasi saja. Lebih baik bermain game dari pada terus memikirkan hal-hal yang hanya memancing emosi. ~ Di sore hari Prily biasanya akan berdiri di atas balkon. Aku sudah hafal dengan kebiasaannya. Kamar kami mengarah ke lapangan, yang biasa dipakai anak-anak kompleks untuk bermain di pagi dan sore hari. Prily tak pernah melewatkan melihat canda tawa mereka di balik jendela, barang sekali. “Mau sampai kapan berdiri di situ,” tanyaku sembari memakai kaus lengan pendek, lalu mengeringkan kepalaku dengan handuk. Prily segera mendekat lalu tangannya begitu cekatan menggosokkan handuk itu ke kepalaku. “Padahal aku punya hair dryer loh, Mas bisa pakai kalau mau.” “Kamu saja yang pakai, aku tidak perlu lah. 10 menit juga kering.” Mampukah Prily bertahan dalam pernikahannya dengan Arjuna yang serba perhitungan? atau memilih pergi saat cinta pertamanya? Dia Akbar, pria kaya raya, yang ia kira telah lama mati, justru hadir kembali.

Mhiya Anne, 17 years old, is a hardworking high school student juggling studies and work in the public market just to survive. Wala na siyang pamilya — mag-isa na lang siya sa buhay. Pero isang gabi, sa hindi inaasahang pangyayari, nabuntis siya ng kaklase niya matapos ang isang gabing di niya maalala—isang gabing lasing siya at walang matandaan. Pinatira siya ng pamilya ng lalaking nakabuntis sa kanya. Sa una, mabait. Pero nang mailabas ang anak niya, nagsimula ang totoong hirap. Pinilit siyang magtrabaho muli dalawang buwan pa lang ang nakakalipas mula sa panganganak, para raw “makabawi.” Ang mas masakit, ang ama ng kanyang anak may iba na — at never siyang pinanindigan. Hanggang sa isang araw, tumanggap siya ng text na bumasag sa puso niya: *“Dinala na namin sa ospital ang anak mo. Mataas ang lagnat. Maghanda ka ng malaking pera. Hindi kami magbabayad pang hospital ng anak mo. Kulang pa ang binibigay mo kada linggo.”* Luhaan siyang tumakbo sa ospital kahit walang-wala. Pero huli na ang lahat. Hindi na niya inabutan ang anak niya nang buhay. Doon gumuho ang buong pagkatao niya. Ang nag-iisa niyang dahilan para mabuhay… nawala. At sa araw ding ‘yon, wala na rin siyang dahilan para lumaban — hanggang sa isang hindi inaasahang babae ang lumapit sa kanya. Si Lorainne Montemayor. At isang alok ang magbabago sa buhay niya **Lorenzo Montemayor**, 30 years old. Gwapo. Matalino. Mayaman. Kilala sa mundo ng negosyo. Pero sa likod ng tagumpay ay isang pusong sugatan — iniwan ng kanyang long-time childhood fiancée, na nag loko pa at hindi kayang panindigan ang kanilang anak. Ayaw ng babae sa responsibilidad, iniwan ang lahat kay Lorenzo. Dalawang magkaibang mundo. Dalawang magkaibang sugat. Pero iisang dahilan kung bakit sila natutong lumaban — **ang kanilang anak.**

Forbidden Passion Bella's life has been a never-ending cycle of exhaustion and stress. She's shouldering the weight of providing for her family's needs, while her ungrateful siblings seem to take her sacrifices for granted. The emotional toll is evident in her worn-out expression and the dark circles under her eyes. Bella decides to let loose and escape the pressures of her life. She heads to a bar, orders a drink, and lets the music and liquor wash away her worries. As the night wears on, she meets a charming stranger who shares her desire for freedom and release. They dance, laugh, and eventually, the night leads to a passionate encounter. Nangamba si Bella nang madiskubre niya ang identity ng lalaking kaulayaw niya, ang CEO ng SBS Investment Corporation na si Alexander Blackwood, kung saan siya nagtatrabaho bilang marketing strategist. Dumistansya si Bella kay Mr. Alexander Blackwood, pero nagulat siya ng mag-offer ng kasal ang CEO sa kaniya. A marriage of convenience for Mr. Blackwood's twisted desire. Bunga ng pangangailangan ng pamilya, tinanggap ni Bella ang offer. Bella and Alexander develop a deep, intense connection. Despite the lack of romance in their agreement, they find themselves drawn to each other. Their relationship becomes a complex web of desire, obligation, and secrecy. Hanggang dumating ang araw na kinatatakutan ni Bella, isang babaeng nagngangalang Cherry Uytiepo ang nagpakilalang girlfriend ni Alexander. When Bella confronted Alexander, the CEO supported Cherry's claims. Betrayed and broken, Bella resigned and find solace alone in a deserted place where no one knew her. But fate had another planned as she meet two years after the twisted CEO Alexander Blackwood in one of the auction or bidding event, kung saan dinala siya ng kaniyang boss na si Mr. Ken Romualdez. Bella realized that she cannot escape from Alexander Blackwood.

Jasmine Vargas accepted Mark Morelli's proposal because he was a good man who she believed would make her always happy. But everything took a different turn when she crossed paths with Tristan Morelli once again. Tristan Augist de Morelli, Mark’s older brother, is a stark contrast to his brother. Tristan, Italy's wealthiest billionaire and the president of the Cassa di Morelli. She remembers him as a deceitful mobster who took her innocence and callously left her the following day. His arrival five years ago caused havoc in Jasmine's life. It was Tristan who leaked her identity to the 'Lopez', leading to her bestfriend being murdered. Now all Jasmine wants is to avoid meeting the man who has ruined her life because she knows Tristan wants to complete his unfinished mission of destroying her family's cartel. A true hedonist, Tristan Morelli is wrapped up in all the splendor of nature. Unlike Mark, Tristan is darker, colder, and more intoxicating. His confidence is powerful, and his undeniable charm and irresistible attraction make him a dangerous temptation. Jasmine finds herself grappling with his irresistible charm and the destructive cycle he drags her into. Every attempt to push him only strengthens his obsession. Her resistance seems to fuel his desire even more. Tristan's relentless nature awakens a deep darkness in Jasmine, a side of her she never knew was there. In the midst of struggling with her demons, Jasmine is determined not to let him be her ruin. Will she find the strength to break free from Tristan's grip, or will she give in to the darkness he brings into her life? Moreover, he’s the catalyst for all the chaos that destroyed her life five years ago. Will Jasmine once again lose herself and let Tristan wreak havoc on her life? 

Sa edad na siyam, naging kapalit si Anastacia ng malaking pagkakautang ng kanyang ama sa isang mayamang ginang. Pumayag din ang kanyang ama dahil sinabi nitong pag-aaralin siya sa ibang bansa at magkakaroon ng magandang buhay. Pero lingid sa kaalaman ni Anastacia at ng kanyang ama na ipagbibili pala siya nito sa isang Black Market. Sa Black Market na 'yon pula ang mga mata ng mga nanonood. Para 'tong mga halimaw na nagpapanggap na tao. Sa ibang lengguwahe at kurensiya ipinagbili si Anastacia sa isang subastahan. Mag-asawang bampira ang nakabili sa kanya at may dugong Royal. Ang buhay na tila isang bangungot ang inaasahan ni Anastacia sa piling ng mga 'to, pero hindi 'yon nangyari, lalo at iniregalo siya ng mag-asawa sa anak ng mga ito na kaedaran niya, si King. Si King ang bampirang itatangi niya at suwerteng katugon ng kanyang damdamin. Nagmamahalan silang dalawa at maraming pangako sa isa't isa nang nasa wastong edad na. Pero ang pangako na 'yon ay mabibigo dahil ang lalaking minamahal niya ay pinatay. Katumbas ng kamatayan nito ang kanyang kalayaan na kahit kailan ay hindi niya hinahangad. Pinatay raw si King ng isang organisasyon ng mga bampira. Kung ano man ang dahilan, hindi niya 'yon masasagot kung isa lamang siyang tao at isang alipin. Sa paglaya niya sa lugar ng mga bampira, binago niya ang sarili at naging isang kilalang Vampire Hunter. Ang layunin niya'y maubos ang nasa organisasyon na pumatay sa lalaking minamahal at malaman ang dahilan bakit 'to pinaslang. Bago siya lumagay sa tahimik kasama ang bagong nobyo, papatayin niya muna ang mga kalaban niya, para sa ikatatahimik niya. Pero paano kung ang inaakala niyang namatay ay magbalik?

I died... and then I died again. “Vale,” I moaned, my voice fractured. He met my gaze, his heart racing. “Yes, baby.” I whimpered softly, my breath hitching as his name escaped my lips once more. “V–Vale–!” “You want to make a mess in your pants again, don’t you?” He asked, locking his gaze with my watery eyes as he pulled my face down to meet his by my throat. “Such a naughty vampire, you were so messy and sticky all over your thighs just earlier, and now you want to do it again,” he murmured hoarsely, watching as I cried out in response. Where had all that macho boldness disappeared? He wondered. Just moments ago, I was ready to drive him insane with my teasing, and now I was a mess, a puddle melting away in his hands, completely at his mercy. The power dynamic shifted, and he reveled in my surrender, eager to push me further into this wild desire. **** Talon/Virgil faces an agonizing cycle of deaths. In his first life, his love was crushed, and he was murdered—only for fate to repeat its cruel game in his next existence. How many more deaths must he suffer before he can find the happiness he's been relentlessly pursuing? Just when Talon believes he’s finally found peace, fate spins him back into chaos, casting him into a void once again. This time, he awakens from a coma to discover he's inhabiting the body of a stepbrother he never knew existed until, of course, he awakened in his body—a married man with a family. As Talon grapples with his new reality, he must balance the façade of being a devoted stepbrother, husband, and father while yearning for the one true love that has haunted him through the ages.