Of Mice And Men George

I’d just wrapped up a short trip with my daughter, Elara. On the way back, I figured I’d swing by the Hale, our family’s casino, to check in on my son, Cassian. Maybe grab dinner together. I didn’t expect to be mistaken for his latest fling. Correction: not mistaken—accused. Violently. “You think you can just waltz in here like some queen?” she hissed. “I’m the woman Cassian loves! What kind of whore are you? And is this your bastard daughter with him?” She locked us in the basement. No phone. No light. Just concrete walls and the stench of mildew and madness. Then came the fists. She slapped me across the face—again and again—until my skin stung and my ears rang. When that didn’t satisfy her, she pulled a gun and aimed low. The bullet tore through my knee. I bit back a scream, shielding Elara with my body. “You need to die, whore,” she spat. One of her men hesitated, “We should at least tell Mr. Hale first. If we are going to kill these two in his casino.” Lila of course said no. But that man brought Cassian anyway. My son stepped into this dark little room like it was any other Tuesday—until he saw me. His whole body went still. The blood drained from his face. And then, in the smallest, most broken voice I’d ever heard from him, he whispered, “Mom? What are you doing in my basement?”

Aria Hale was struggling to make money to cover her family’s growing debts. Xavier De Luca, a powerful and selective billionaire, had a strict preference when it came to women. Aria happened to meet his conditions, and the two made an agreement—she would stay by his side as his lover and stand-in wife, while he would take care of her financial problems.

Savannah Blakemore never wanted to move across the country. New town, new school, and no friends, everything feels unfamiliar. On her first day, she accidentally bumps into Chase Lockwood, the school's star linebacker. One brief moment leaves her heart racing... until his girlfriend turns Savannah into the school's newest target. But fate keeps bringing them together. Through music and unexpected moments, Savannah begins to see the real Chase behind the confident athlete everyone admires. At the same time, the two unknowingly begin forming a connection through an anonymous college chatroom. When they finally agree to meet at the winter masquerade, neither realizes the person behind the mask is the one they've been thinking about all along. Sometimes love appears when you least expect it... and sometimes all it takes is a little Cinderella moment.

It was Emilie's last chance to save her career. She was balancing her folder while knocking the door at the same time. She was supposed to meet Mr. Markov, a single doctor in need of re-furnishing and re-decorating his house. Her boss was itching to date her, saying if Emilie lost the contract she would have to date him to remain as an employee in his company. The folder was heavy, her arms were getting tired. Moments later, the door opened and revealed the handsome single doctor. Emilie was overwhelmed and dropped everything to the floor. ***** He had one appointment before he went to the ER. He needed the meeting to finish early. Max opened the door as soon as he heard the bell. He was not ready for the beauty in front of him. The woman seemed clumsy enough to drop everything to the floor and then cursed colorfully. Well... he was amused by her as he helped the woman with her things. What will happen after their first meeting? And where's the Mafia part in this story?

An omegaverse with a twist. An Omega. An Alpha. Two enemies. One contract. Tyrith is a self-successful omega, who strives to help those around him. Lucian is his opposite. An alpha born with everything. Money. Power. Healthy parents. One past mistake and he lost the one thing he valued most. Both alpha and omega struggled with shared pain. Neither cared to let the other off the hook. Pain led to anger and anger led to hate. Hate led to lust and down the hill they went. The hospital Tyrith built threatened to be demolished. He had to seek help from the one man who despised him. Everything comes with a price, and so was Lucian’s aid. To save thousands, Tyrith signed a contract confining himself to Lucian. No escape route. No redemption. No turning back. Only one way forward. This was the beginning of his hell. Or so he thought.

On the night of my awakening, which was also my 18th birthday, my parents locked me in a silver cage in the basement while my foster sister Emma prepared for her ceremony upstairs. Then, the Blood Moon Eclipse struck, forcing every member of the pack to evacuate. Emma urged our parents to help. My heart warmed, and I thought they would come to save me. However, the only thing my father carried out was Emma’s stuffed wolf doll. They clutched Emma and fled for their lives, leaving me behind in the collapsing basement. When I crawled out of the ruins, they were already in the safehouse, celebrating Emma’s successful awakening as a White Wolf. Ten years later, I became the heir to Blackstone Consortium, controlling half of the werewolf world’s economy. When we met again, the former leader of the Silvermoon Pack knelt before me. “I've finally found you, my daughter.” My gaze was cold as I faced the stranger in front of me. “You’ve got the wrong person.”

Valentina Castillo, 22, never owed her father’s debts—but when her runaway sister leaves a night to her wedding, she is handed over as payment, a bride stolen for a price she cannot refuse. Nikolai De Luca, Miami’s ruthless Don, gave a man three choices: repay his debt, give his life… or offer a bride. When she was brought before him—trembling, unprepared, aware of the darkness in his gaze, he decided in an instant. She would be his. In his world, power is absolute, and a wife is not a partner—she is a possession. And once Nikolai De Luca claims what is his… even death itself can’t take it from him.

On my birthday, my adopted sister, Sophia Norris, frames me for soiling her dress and causing her to not be able to attend the banquet. My older brothers, Gerald and Gary Moore, immediately demand that I give my gown to Sophia. Otherwise, they will cancel the birthday banquet. Furious, I point at them while screaming, "I didn't ruin her dress at all! She was the one who splashed red wine onto it! "Also, I will never give my gown to her! My best friend designed it for me!" As soon as my words fall, Gerald commands the bodyguards to tear the gown from my body. At the same time, Gary picks up a wine glass and dumps red wine onto my face. "It's bad enough that you constantly bully Sophia! Today, her crush, Zachary Green, will be attending the banquet too! Do you have any idea how long she has prepared for this day to come?" Gerald adds, "A vile woman like you doesn't have the right to be born, let alone celebrate your birthday!" After that, a few bodyguards drag me into the basement. Immediately, pitch-black darkness swallows me. I have severe asthma. Breathing becomes insanely difficult for me as seconds tick by. I keep screaming loudly and calling for help, but all I hear is laughter coming from the banquet upstairs. It isn't until the banquet is well underway that Gerald and Gary remember that I exist. But I've already died in the cramped basement.

The day my husband, Lucas Maxwell, helps his childhood sweetheart—Cecilia Brown, who has cancer—lose her virginity, I leave behind a divorce agreement and walk away. Before I leave, I drop a comment beneath a photo of them on his social media. Their fingers are tightly interlocked in the photo. "Let's get divorced. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness." A minute later, he calls me. "How did I end up marrying someone as selfish as you, Fiona Sinclair? Do you really have the heart to let her die without leaving anything behind?" I sneer, "You're no longer my husband. How is that my problem?" That's when he panics.