Oranges By Gary Soto

Everyone in the Titanus region would have heard the older generation tell them this—during sky burials, the vultures wouldn't eat the corpses of people who'd committed heinous crimes. My husband is the sky burial practitioner who buries me. The vultures circle my corpse in the air above the burial site, but they don't prey on me. My husband frowns at the sight. "It looks like this person must have committed crimes when alive. They deserve this." Suddenly, I remembered him pointing at me, his eyes ablaze with flames of rage as he shouted, "Nancy wouldn't have lost her baby if not for you! Someone like you doesn't even deserve to get a sky burial!" It looks like his words are coming true. But later, he falls to his knees before my grave and weeps. He begs me to forgive him.

Akala ko tapos na ang gabi. Tahimik na ang buong bahay, pero hindi ang dibdib ko. Kagagaling lang namin sa isang party—hosted by his mother. Ang daming tao. Ang daming mata. Pero kahit na ipinakilala niya akong secretary lang, ramdam ko ang pag-aangkin sa bawat sulyap niya. Lalo na nang may lalaking lumapit sa akin. Lalo na nang ngumiti ako, kahit sandali. Doon ko siya nakita—yung paninigas ng panga, ang lalim ng tingin na parang babagsak ang langit. Kaya hindi na ako nagulat nang may kumatok. Malakas. Walang pasintabi. Pagbukas ko ng pinto, naroon siya. Si Cayden. Nakatayo sa dilim, may halong galit at silakbo sa mukha. Hindi siya nagsalita agad—dumiretso siya sa loob, isinara ang pinto, at hinila ako papunta sa kama. “Cayden, what are you—stop!” Nagpumiglas ako. Umiwas. Pero hinigpitan niya ang hawak sa braso ko. Lumuhod siya sa kama, pinilit akong mapahiga. At saka siya bumulong, malamig ang boses, pero parang nasusunog ako sa bawat salita. “Tonight, whether you like it or not… I’m going to claim you.” Nanlaki ang mata ko. Hindi ito tanong. Hindi ito pakiusap. Ito ang utos ng isang lalaking hindi kailanman tinanggihan. Hindi siya aalis. Hindi siya titigil. At ngayong gabi— Tatatakan niya ako ng pangalan niya. Kahit hindi ako handa.

18 year-old orphan, Rose Cintilar, wants to fulfill her father's dream of becoming a stylist. She's talented but has the worst luck. When the senior stylist stole her design again, Rose decided to change her fate and apply for a new job: the assistant to singer, songwriter 'Rum'. But why would an international superstar pick a zero for an assistant? Maybe something isn’t right with Rum. Something about him feels superhuman…and Rose is pulled into the world beyond her own; a world of werewolves, the dark whims and the Moon Goddess; and as the Alpha King's mate, Rose must save him from clutches or the dark whims, or the Moon Goddess would fall and plunge both world into darkness. But why would an Alpha king need the help of a mere human? She's not a werewolf... is she?

Clara Shawn wasn't one to regularly attend parties, she was a simple human girl that preferred to stay in and read a reasonable romance novel. However her roommate, Lydia, was quite the opposite and when she dragged Clara to this mysterious party outside campus, it brought Clara to the extremely handsome Nicholas Young, a 200 year old vampire with an ego as huge as there can be. Nicholas saved Clara when no one else even noticed that she needed help, but they soon discovered that they were immensely attracted to each other in a way that was beyond explanation. At first Nicholas was just curious as to what was so special about this human girl so he pursued her, little did he know that they would end up falling hopelessly in love with each other.

In my previous life, my brother took his sugarbaby to see a meteor shower because she said she wanted to. He drove to the countryside with all his bodyguards to create a perfect stargazing night for her. Unfortunately, business rivals whom my brother had bankrupted saw this opportunity and broke into our estate seeking revenge. My mother fought desperately to protect me, suffering severe injuries that left her fighting for her life. I called my brother repeatedly, begging him to return quickly and help us. He finally had to come back with his security team. The intruders were captured, but then terrible news came from the countryside. His sugarbaby had left a suicide note, her fate unknown. In her letter, she accused me of deliberately drawing my brother away, causing her to be tortured by his enemies before she took her own life. My brother coldly burned her letter and told me not to worry about it. Afterward, my brother was blamed for what happened, and my father promised to put me in charge of the company. However, after the celebration dinner ended, my brother brutally murdered me in my bedroom. His face showed no emotion as he coldly said, "Someone as treacherous as you should have died long ago. "You should have been the one to die, and the family inheritance should have been mine!" I died with my eyes wide open in disbelief, and when I opened them again, I could hear our enemies breaking down the front door of our mansion.

a girl with a dream to study in Harvard as an architect, applies for a private school in order of increasing her chances of gaining admission in Harvard. Unknown to her she was roomed with three boys. she promised her parents that she wouldn't be involved with relationship, but what would happen when she falls in love with her three roommates, and the three of them are in love with her, would she be able to keep her promise? and who would she choose among the three of them.

Ryleigh didn’t remember being taken—only the cold bite of night and the blur of snarling shadows. Now she was locked in a cell beneath an unfamiliar pack house, her wrists sore, her memories foggy, and her heart pounding with questions. Her parents were dead, she’d just learned she was adopted, and now this—kidnapped by creatures that shouldn’t exist. Werewolves. Real ones. And someone with the initial D had left her a single note: You’re safe. Trust me. – D But safety felt like a lie. Especially after she witnessed a man shift before her eyes. Especially when the Alpha of the pack, Damien—arrogant, powerful, and dangerously charming—claimed ownership of her fate. Her only comfort came from Dr. Derek Blackthorn, the Alpha’s estranged brother, a healer with kind eyes and secrets of his own. In a house ruled by strict laws, bloodlines, and bitter alliances, Ryleigh must survive a world she was never meant to know. One where love could be her only weapon—or her greatest downfall.

“What the fuck, Jace?!” One dinner. One secret. And suddenly, the boy I’ve loved for three years is staring at me like I’ve betrayed him. Because the man my mother is finally happy with–the man who treats her like she matters—just happens to be his father. Now Jace is furious. Obsessed. Unforgiving. He thinks I knew, that I kept this twisted truth hidden from him. I didn’t. But try telling that to the storm in his eyes, the rage in his voice, the way he corners me and demands answers like my heart isn’t already breaking. For my mom, I should let go. She deserves her fairytale, and if that means cutting Jace out of my life, then I’ll do it—even if it feels like tearing my chest open. But Jace? He refuses. “Walk away from me, Jae,” he swears, “and I’ll burn it all down. Your mom’s happiness. My dad’s engagement. Every ounce of peace you think you’ll have.” Because to Jace, I’m not just his girlfriend. I’m his obsession. His possession. His everything. And he’ll set the whole world on fire before he lets me go. … An obsessive boyfriend who would rather destroy everything than see the girl he loves as his stepsister. And a girl who wants nothing more than to protect her mother’s happiness, even if it costs her own. However, is the sacrifice worth it?

Leonor is a strong and empowered woman, with a businessman and ambitious husband. After one of her companies goes bankrupt, the only solution her husband finds is to accept a proposal from a mobster, who wants a night with Leonor. The attractive and intimidating mobster, Hard, surprises Leonor with a night that brings her many mixed feelings, and the fate that she insists on bringing them together while her husband Call tortures himself for giving her up to save his ego.

“Go down on your knees and show me you can be a good little student for me.” My heart rate and my breathing became labored. “N-now?” I stuttered. “Class is about to start.” Damon smirked, uncaring that we could get caught. “I guess you’d have to be fast then.” Dahlia Carrington cuts off her parents and runs away from home and she has to survive somehow and pay for her education herself. When she isn’t granted a student loan because of her rich background, she has to resort to other means to get herself through school, which lands her in a complicated relationship with her professor. Damon Valentino knows any kind of sexual relationship with his twenty year old student is immoral, but he can’t help himself, not after having a taste of her. BOOK TWO IN THE VALENTINO SERIES CAN BE READ AS A STANDALONE AND DOES NOT CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST BOOK