Nine Astra Skies

Maynard Hansen planned a luxury birthday cruise for Darlene Thompson, but the cruise ship capsized when a violent storm swept in without warning. Without hesitation, Maynard gave the last seat on the lifeboat to Darlene. As I struggled in the water, my son, Waldo Hansen—whom I carried for nine months and gave birth to—cried out, "Don't let Mom up! She'll push Ms. Thompson off." Clutching nothing but a broken plank, I somehow made it to shore. By the time I collapsed on the sand, I was frozen, exhausted, and done. I had never felt so alone. Shortly after, I found myself clutching a diagnosis of severe depression in my hand. I was ready to bring this wretched life to a quiet end. But when my husband and son realized I truly didn't want to live anymore, they collapsed into tears. They wrapped their arms around me as they sobbed, "Please don't leave us. We really can't live without you."

When is the worst time to tell someone he’s going to be a father? Probably the day of the wedding… When he is getting married to someone else. Well, that is exactly what I did. But my hands were tied. Literally. Matvey Groza is a dangerous man. And nine months ago, he strolled into my shop looking for a custom suit. But when I accidentally walked in on him in the changing room, *I* was the one that ended up needing a new set of clothes. It was a one-time mistake. After that… good riddance. But the pregnancy test I took a month later had other plans. I kept it a secret from everyone. Or so I thought. But when Matvey’s enemies learned that I was pregnant with his child, they kidnapped me and held me hostage. Until I broke free and ran as fast as I could. And I had no one else to turn to but the devil himself. What better time for me to enter the church… … than as the pastor says, “Speak now or forever hold your peace"?

The Moon Goddess has blessed her children with unique gifts. They each have capabilities beyond any creature can handle. Their strength is unparalleled, unquestioned. However, when her children turn against each other, blood will be spilt. What would it take to stop this inevitable bloodshed? – Jordane Samael, the dauntless daughter of the Alpha of the Eastern Werewolf Pack, was plagued by haunting visions of a sinister man with a prominent facial scar that seemed to writhe and pulse with an otherworldly energy. As the visions became more intense and frequent, Jordane realized that she was being drawn into a dark and dangerous world beyond the scope of her imagination. After months of disorder and chaos, the werewolf pack in the West had finally named a new leader: Maverick Lewis, a strong and charismatic Alpha with a reputation for ruthless efficiency. One fateful night, under the luminescent moon shining above the skies, a chance encounter between Maverick and Jordane challenged the balance between the two packs who, from centuries ago, swore never to cross boundaries again. But what if, Maverick, the newly hailed Alpha, was the only person who could protect Jordane from the maleficient being that threatened to drag her into the unknown? On the one hand, Maverick saw that helping Jordane, the daughter of the Alpha of their rival pack, would eliminate the intimidating threat that endangered his position whilst creating new conflicts and disputations among his pack. What will each of them choose? Can love triumph in the end?

Blurb The downpour washed the dark alleys of Ole Keating Village like Jupiter is wrathful towards the small town. Every time the lightning slashes the skies sending frightening thunders everywhere, the little boy’s strides become faster. “You’ve got nowhere to run, boy.” He harshly covered his ears just to get away from the taunting voice. The heavy rain somehow managed to wipe the blood from his body yet the pain unrelenting to grow. He fell on his knees resulting in another painful and ugly scratch to bleed. He looks like a beaten rag. He hasn’t eaten for days and the fearsome encounter he just escapes didn’t guarantee his safety. Even limping, he tried to get on his feet just to stumble and fall on the cold, hard ground again. A loud sound of the honking car filled his ears as the blinding light approaches closer. Surrendering, he lied flat on the ground wishing the pain finally ends. Sounds of boots slapping the water from the road come into his senses but he’s too weak to care. Someone’s checking on him but all that he can think of right now is the girl she left alone in the old warehouse. “S-save her…” he mumbled, tasting blood in his mouth, “Please save her.” The darkness pulled him and he finally gave in.

"Ma'am, you have dengue," Keisha felt extremely weak upon hearing the news from the doctor. She didn't know how she contracted dengue and why. "Doctor, what are you injecting? Is it necessary?" the doctor replied, assuring her that he knew what he was doing. She trusted the doctor and believed she would recover. She allowed him to administer the injection in her sensitive area. In less than a week, she was discharged, and indeed the doctor had done a great job. But as time went by, she felt changes in her body. She often vomited in the morning and felt abdominal discomfort. These were signs that she was pregnant! How could this happen? She was still a virgin! Until she remembered the injection administered by the doctor. She realized that what was injected into her was worse than Dengvaxia, as she now had to endure nine months until she gave birth. But the big problem was, who was the father of her unborn child? She didn't know that she was bearing the Billionaire Heir.

Hillary Gate had it all: wealth, prestige, and a future mapped straight to the top of the legal world. Until everything collapsed. Her parents are sent to prison. Her education is ripped away. And one reckless night leaves her pregnant for Lester Dale, the Alpha King of the Crescent Pack. Lester is a rare and powerful breed of wolf, bound by duty and legacy, and unaware of the devastation he leaves behind. Nine years later, Hillary rises from ruin to become a renowned lawyer. Fate, or cruelty, throws her back into Lester’s path inside a courtroom. But while Hillary remembers everything, Lester remembers nothing. Drawn to her, Lester demands a secret relationship. When she refuses, he threatens to expose her secret—never realizing he is the very reason it exists. When the truth finally surfaces, will Lester fight for redemption, or power? And can Hillary forgive the man who shattered her life, especially when he holds her past, her present, and her heart in his hands?

“Benjamin, naging asawa mo ako sa loob ng tatlong taon ngunit ni isang beses ay hindi mo man lang ako nagawang hawakan! Ngayon, ito na ang pagkakataon ko. Ito na ang tamang panahon para bumawi sa lahat ng mga masasakit na pinagdaanan ko sa piling mo bilang asawa mo at bilang babaeng minahal ka ng napakatagal! Pinagsisisihan kong naging asawa kita!” Tumutulo ang mga luha ni Lunabella habang sinasabi iyon sa nakahiga at nakataling asawang si Benjamin Alvarez sa kanilang kama. “Huwag mong gawin ito, Luna. Sinasabi ko sa'yo, hinding-hindi kita mapapatawad! Bakit hindi mo na lang kasi tanggapin na hindi kita magawang mahalin? Na si Astra lang ang tanging tinitibok ng puso ko?!” Walang pusong turan ni Benjamin, puno ng galit ang mga mata. “Humanda ka sa akin kapag nakawala ako rito, talagang mapapatay kita!” Pilit itong kumakawala sa pagkakatali ngunit mahigpit ang ginawang pagkakatali rito ni Lunabella rito. ******* Mula pa nang highschool ay minamahal na ni Lunabella Cruz si Benjamin Alvarez. Wala siyang ibang nais kundi ang makasal dito. Kaya nang ipagkasundo silang dalawa dahil sa horoscope na pinaniniwalaan ng naghihingalong matandang Alvarez ay hanggang langit ang ligaya niya. Subalit ang sayang iyon ay kapalit ng tatlong taong paghihirap niya bilang asawa ni Benjamin Alvarez. Mahal na mahal niya ang lalaki ngunit may iba ito minamahal.

Scott Maynard and I were in love for eight years. I once believed he was my soulmate. We joined Doctors Without Borders together and ventured into war zones side by side. But everything changed the day Piper Ellison appeared. To protect her, he shoved me into danger during a rebel siege, using me as a scapegoat. Then, he fled the country with Piper, and left me to rot in the prison. Three years later, Miles rescued me. Yet upon returning home, the first thing I saw was Scott staging an elaborate proposal, surrounded by nine thousand roses. He twisted the truth about what had happened in Asternis, and those around us believed him. I revealed my wedding ring, and Miles stepped forward to shield me. Despite that, Scott still refused to let go. He became obsessed and relentless, even threatening his own life to force me back. This love, riddled with betrayal and cruelty, finally came to a complete end with his death.

When I was nine, I was hit by the blast of an explosion while saving Simone Scott. From that day onward, I have to rely on hearing aids to get by. Overwhelmed with guilt, she suggests we get engaged and swears to me with teary eyes, "Justin, I'll take care of you for the rest of my life." But at 18 years old, to satisfy a dare from the school heartthrob, she rips off my hearing aid and humiliates me in front of him and our classmates. Disgust fills her voice as she says, "You're nothing but a burden. I've been sick of you for a long time. I wish you'd died back then instead of being saved." I clutch the hearing recovery report in my hand and say nothing. After that, I quietly change my college applications, bring my parents with me, and formally call off the engagement. Simone, this is where our paths split. There is no reason for us to ever see each other again.

My Don husband, just to indulge his little mistress's fantasy of playing Don's wife, pretended to have lost his memory at sea and tried to push me out of the family. By chance, I overheard his mistress teasing him: "Can I borrow Don's wife for a few days? And… Can I borrow the Don too?" My husband, all smiles and indulgence, replied, "Of course. Both are yours for a few days." I froze for a moment, then turned away, pretending it did not bother me. The next day, at the family meeting, he announced that his mistress was then his wife, ordered me out of the family business, and demanded I hand over every ounce of authority I held. The elders all turned to me, silently hoping I would defy his ridiculous decree. I said nothing. I handed over the keys and authority without a word. However, he did not know that our next arms deal was just nine days away, and the other party was Amestia's most powerful mafia, the Romano family. They dealt with no one but me.