negative effects of reading

"Bind her up," I heard a woman's stern command. They roughly shoved me to the ground, placing my arms on a bench and tying them with ropes. "It’s an honor for you to be a surrogate candidate for our King! HOW DARE YOU try to escape?! Now you’ll pay the price!" As his partner handed him a pair of pliers, he flashed me a purely evil smile. My heart sank into my stomach. The king? Surrogate?! I had no idea what he was talking about... "NO PLEASE! Listen, you’ve got the wrong person..." They didn't even let me finish before they pulled out the nail on my index finger. "Ah-----" I thought I knew pain, but his actions proved I didn't. I had never experienced such torture; my helpless screams filled the entire dungeon. Tears streamed down my face, and my hands were soaked with innocent blood. The woman sat not far away, legs crossed, smiling at me. Soon, she raised her hand to signal everyone to leave and then crouched in front of me, slowly untying the ropes around me. "I know it's not you, but a she-wolf escaped. We'll use you to replace her. So, if you want to survive here, shut your mouth and do as you're told." Just like that, everything changed... *** Betrayed by my fated mate and my best friend. I, the powerful daughter of an Alpha, was scheduled to be executed on the false allegations of murdering my father and his comrades. Fate had other plans as I escaped but landed myself on an island ruled by a mysterious king, Asher Ludwig... No matter how difficult it is, I will fight my way back and reclaim everything that belongs to me!

Luca let himself be kissed, feeling Scarlett’s skin beneath his hands. He caressed her back, slowly moving his way down. This time her senses were alert and not muddled from the ale. His coarse hands moving through her body made Scarlett shiver with pleasure. ***** In a world where humanity battles to survive the constant attacks of the blood-drinking Hova, the warrior tribe of women called the Karainas fight back. With their fire magic, they have defended their lands for centuries. Scarlett is the first person to become a Karaina without having any magic, and she has the strength, skills, and speed to prove her worth. But her journey partners her up with the most unlikely allies of all: the enemy.

“I'm breaking the mate bond between us.” With one sentence, Nolan Blackwell had Elva’s life crumbling around her. After being mates and lovers for the last three years, he breaks the bond between them just before she was made Luna. With her birth and identity being questioned, Elva makes an hasty decision to end her life. But her life has never lied in her own hands. And the Fates shows her that by giving her a surprise that she would have never expected. When she wakes up, everything Elva has ever known is going to change.

Harper Cole has been preparing her whole life to become her pack’s next Alpha. When her father gives the title to her youngest brother, Harper will proposition a fellow Alpha with a fake marriage, hoping to reclaim her position as heir.Asher Black, Alpha of the Rising Moon Pack, is struggling to lead his Pack and get rid of his controlling uncles when he is offered a strange proposition from a beautiful young wolf. As Harper and Asher fight to secure their positions, their fake relationship will be tested…as will the growing feelings between the two. ***Our lips brush each other’s, and I can taste strawberry. They’re soft, warm and inviting. I hope it appears that sparks are flying around the room. I ignore the little butterflies in my stomach.“Like I said,” Harper smiles wide when we pull apart, “We’re getting married, and I’m leaving tomorrow.”A Marriage of Alphas is created by Chloe Higgins, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

This is a standalone book from one of the stories in the book "The Wild Adventures". Nicole Parker is a girl who can be said to have everything. Money, beauty, and brains. She is the only child of the most successful business tycoon in the capital. But despite having almost everything, she lacks in the most intimate relationship comfort and stability. A reason why she became rebellious toward her parents. She wanted to get their attention by doing things that would require their responses. She started bullying people around her. But what happens when a bully gets bullied? Would love be enough to change her? Find out in Nicole and Mike's colorful and steamy love story. "The Queen of Bullies"

Celine and Franco had been married for a year, but Celine was completely unaware of the true reason behind Franco's decision to marry her. Following the passing of Franco's grandfather, he became more distant and cold towards her. Until one day, Franco shockingly filed for divorce and revealed that he had only married her to secure his inheritance from his grandfather. He even went as far as accusing her of being a gold digger and introduced another woman to her. Driven by anger, pain, and resentment, Celine signed the divorce papers and left without taking a single penny from Franco. She wanted to prove that she was not after his money. Just at that time, she discovered she was pregnant, and she made a promise to herself to protect her child from her ex-husband. After dedicating five years of hard work to building her own business, Celine turn up as a successful CEO, a powerful and influential woman known worldwide. She had risen to power and independently raised her son. However, one day, Franco expressed his desire to win her back and be a father to their son. The question remained: would she allow him to enter her life again?, or would she make him suffer for causing her pain?

“You will always be my epitome of beauty,” –Darren Herrera. Due to financial instability, Claire was forced to act as Darren’s wife, one of the most successful business man in their country who wants nothing but to be the CEO of his Dad’s company.

Scarlett Shaw a born witch of the Scanthin clan witness the death of her sister Sara Shaw killed by someone from the Lauchair clan , while she also sustained an injury on her back trying to save her sister which left a scar running down her back . Even though she was just a child back then , she blamed herself for her sister's death and promise to revenge.This incident led to war and rivalry between the two clans . Her father therefore decided to marry her off to the Mcshane clan so she could procreate more witches as he got scared of the Lauchair's clan overpowering them.While Damon Hunt a born wolf ,the son of the leader of the Lauchair's clan is desperate to prove to his dad that he could lead the clan , he adopts Scar who was the only surviving witch of the Scanthin clan. Scar sought for revenge while at the hostage of the Lauchair's clan but will she be able to survive the power of love for revenge?

Everyone is given a choice in life, but what about the one for whom the choice comes by itself - suddenly and without a chance of refusal? What to do when the road to a dream turns out to be covered in blood, and sometimes you yourself seem like a piece of meat? And what if the dream dies, leaving behind only a void? You can't become a warrior and never get killed. One cannot be a sorcerer without coming into contact with death. You can't train to be a healer without cutting living flesh. In this world, to be a guardian means to know cruelty, dirt and pain. But love will endure everything. Even those that are not able to withstand the mind.

Xeros Romanov. The last Lycan alive and the Alpha king of all werewolves. Fated to be without a mate for all of eternity. He was terrifyingly cruel and vicious and ruled his people with an iron fist. That all seems to change when he sets his sight on sweet and innocent Cassie, The cursed daughter of an Alpha of a distant pack. He had the world in his grasp but somehow the sweet and untainted girl would become his world.