Once Upon A Booktok Scholarship

My girlfriend and I were reborn, returning to the cramped basement apartment we rented right after graduation. We silently walked out the door together, neither of us mentioning staying together. She went abroad with her childhood sweetheart to further her studies while I stayed behind, grinding away at my company. Seven years later, she became a rising young designer with a bright future and a happy family. I was still grinding away at the same company. When we met again, she clung to her childhood sweetheart's arm, looking down at my slightly disheveled state with a mocking smile. "Long time no see. How did you end up looking like a beggar?" I ignored her. However, later, when the powerful, world-renowned CEO of a top design firm clung to my arm, acting sweetly, her face twisted with panic. "Alex Prescott! How can you be so close with another woman?!"

The music made the speakers tremble, the floor vibrated with the rumble of the sound and the jumps of the crazy people. Each one in their own world, dancing together, dancing separately. Enjoying music, company and alcohol. I danced alone, with a drink in hand. Gliding, moving my hips to the rhythm of the music, not paying much attention to anything or anyone around me. Just enjoying that moment of inner peace that I was needing and he was giving it to me. It was a respite, a window that I opened myself in my own cage to let in air and I knew that as soon as I left the club the window would close and I would lock myself back in my world without fresh air. Therefore, he enjoyed everything he could. Alone. With eyes closed. Sweating the bad energy that others left me and breathing the good vibes that I had to give myself. They were approaching me. I drove them away. They invited me. I rejected them. they spoke to me I silenced them. I just wanted to dance and they were going to have to respect that. It was amazing how loud music could be my oxygen tank. It silenced my thoughts, freed me from tensions. There was nothing more relaxing in my life than dancing with my eyes closed and the volume turned up to a thousand. I twirled, I jumped, I wiggled, I hummed, and I sang. The brightly colored lights flickered making it difficult to see, but it was what I liked the most, going blind for an instant, forgetting that I had the ability to see the world, a false, disastrous and difficult world.

Have you ever heard of this secret, mysterious cruise? On a cruise ship that traverses the expansive ocean on New Year's Eve, rows of beautiful yet blind masseuses wait to be selected. To search for my sister, I pretend to be blind and think of a way to sneak onboard that cruise ship. A bigwig selects me and takes me back to his suite. He tilts my jaw and waves a hand before my eyes. "Are you really blind? Let's try something different, then…"

He was not a hero. And he wasn't aiming to be one. It just happened that he was born in this kingdom. The moment their kingdom falls, as a part of the royalty, he had to die—and he has no plan of dying for the second time. Ainsley Doherty, born from royalty, was given another chance to prevent the destruction of his kingdom. Armed with the advantage of possessing his memories before he died, he was determined to prevent the surrounding kingdoms from successfully capturing his homeland. However, as he ventures on the dreary path to achieve his goal, he realized that the future he was walking towards was not the same as the future he knew from his previous life. [date started: 7/12/21] [date ended:] | English

When I was two months pregnant, the Alpha, Lucas, asked me to give blood to his childhood friend. She pretended to have been injected with wolfsbane by a rogue werewolf and required the Luna's blood to recover. “Jessica, your physical constitution is good; hurry and give Lilith a blood transfusion!” “A real Luna wouldn’t just stand by and watch her die!” Lucas and his friends pushed me into the operating room. “It’s just a blood transfusion; it won’t harm the fetus. Even if we lose it, we can have another, but Lilith must survive.” I gave up struggling, watching my blood being drawn and transferred into Lilith's body. After waking up, I dragged myself home, only to be pushed to the ground by Lucas. I ended up with a miscarriage. That was the moment I decided to give up on this relationship.

Amber Celeste Starling offered herself payment to her father's debt. Her sister Victoria was supposed to be payment enough, but seeing her sister's bright future, Amber simply cannot let her sister suffer. Thus, she offered herself. A 'Word of Honor', a promise that one day, one of Alpha George's daughter will be Kevin Black Eclipse's property. Another female to bear his child. But what if Cena Black, Kevin's mother said otherwise and had a beta claim her instead? Marking her as the pack's bitch. Will Amber accept her fate? And simply accept all the punishment she doesn't deserve? Or would she fight back a destiny that isn't hers to begin with.

Emilia Rossini, a stunning 22-year-old, is kidnapped by the ruthless Mafia don, Marco "The King" De Luca, as leverage to ensure her father's cooperation in a high-stakes business deal As Emilia is held captive in Marco's lavish estate, she finds herself drawn to his charismatic and calculating nature. Despite the danger, she begins to see beyond Marco's ruthless exterior and glimpses a complex, vulnerable man. Marco, too, is captivated by Emilia's spirit and determination. As their relationship evolves, he starts to question his own morality and the legacy of his family's Mafia empire.

Amanda Urduja, a jack-of-all-trades, was paid handsomely to seduce an underground broker who was pretending to be a regular customer in an illegal casino to obtain information and report it to the authorities. She had to do it overnight. Sleep with him and steal all the proofs he has hidden in his possession. It seems impossible, but not for Amanda. Given her experience, charisma, and intelligence, this task is a piece of cake. Everything was supposed to go smoothly except that Amanda mistakenly seduced the wrong man, who turned out to be the most menacing person in the room—the mafia leader. The mission was aborted, but the madly fallen savage continues to chase the sly woman and is determined to claim her.

Zoey is hardly what you’d consider princess material. Born in flyover country, she never learned how to curtsy, let alone walk in high heels. And when she literally trips into the arms of a handsome stranger at her friend’s wedding, she thinks she’s finally found love. Freddie Prescott is a charming prankster. Despite his carefree attitude, he pursues Zoey with an intensity that shows he can be serious when he needs to be. And with those rock hard abs and rippling biceps, his pursuit of Zoey is a satisfying one. Without realizing it, Zoey finds herself falling in love. There’s only one problem: Freddie is a prince. Spending a week without Internet access or phone reception has left Zoey in a weird predicament. He certainly left enough hints that he was rich and famous, but he never outright said it. And when the time comes for him to leave their vacation getaway, he asks her to come with him to the kingdom of Paradisa. But Zoey can’t use the right fork, put her pinkie up for tea, or any of the things expected of a princess. Plus, there are those in the kingdom who don’t want an American close to the throne. How can she hope to keep Freddie’s love if she’s a stranger to his royal world? NYT Bestseller Krista Lakes brings you this brand new sweet-and-sexy royal romance. This standalone novel will have you cheering for an American princess’s happily ever after.

The world is divided. Tensions between different species and governing hierarchies lead to bleak cities full of crime and distrust. Violence is common and life is hard, even for the seemingly superior Shifters. A Lycan rogue rejected by his own people helps a human woman. Either the best or worst decision in his life. Together, they find that misleading truths have led the world for too long. Together they question age-old traditions and force a new path forward. With the changes in power brewing and questions of equality beginning to rise, the old guard awakens to face this new ideological threat. Will this unlikely pair have the strength to survive in a world that is ever more hostile? Love can do many things, but it cannot bring back the dead.