Oxygen Gauge

Surrounded by the darkness, she wasn't sure what was this place. She was lost in this dark abyss and didn't knew the way out. She was tired now, tired of running in different directions yet reaching nowhere, tired of trying to be brave when she was everything but that. After few moments of silence when she thought nothing can go wrong now, she heard something. Sge turned and saw.. Nothing.. No! She was sure she heard that, it wasn't her hallucination. She was terrified yet didn't lose her facade of being the strong girl she is trying to be since the time she landed here. She looked everywhere but she wasn't able to locate the source, releasing a defeated sigh, she wandered her gaze above her and shrieked at the sight. He, with that terrifying yet the most attractive smirk on his face, was watching her from the building above her. He glared at her with those piercing eyes and evil look on his face. She didn't realized she was shivering and sweating badly and suddenly he was there just an inch away from her face. She felt like he snatched the oxygen from the atmosphere leaving her breathless. She started gasping for air. And then... Thud! She woke up sweating and breathing heavily. She observed her surrounding before taking a sigh of relief. It was a nightmare, again! But what's the gurantee it won't be a nightmare the next time? She knew her nightmare will soon turn to reality and this nightmarish reality will make her life hell. ••••••••••

My daughter-in-law cheated on my son behind his back, and I caught her. When I confronted her, she turned the tables on me, accusing me instead. I told my son everything exactly as it happened, but she broke down crying and accused me of bullying her. "Ever since I married into the Simmons family, you've never been happy with me," she sobbed. "If I’d known you’d slander me like this, I would’ve been better off dead!" She attempted to hurt herself to prove her innocence, but my son stopped her. "Mom, how could you accuse my wife like that? You're my own mother, but this is too much!" he shouted. Furious, he moved out with her. Later, I fell gravely ill and begged my son to come see me one last time. When he finally arrived, he brought her with him. To my horror, they removed my oxygen tube. As I struggled to breathe, I heard her smug voice whisper in my ear: "Old hag, if it weren't for you accusing me of cheating, Herman and I wouldn’t have gotten your inheritance so quickly!" She laughed coldly. "Oh, and next time you accuse someone, make sure you have evidence. Did you really think your word alone could ruin me?" I died choking on my final breath. Afterward, they lived happily, spending my money without a care in the world. But then, I woke up. It was the day I caught her cheating again. This time, I went straight to work. I replaced the lubricant at home with industrial-strength glue. She wanted proof? Fine. I’d give her proof.

“Lila,” I began softly, choosing my words. “About last night...” She stood abruptly, cutting me off. “Don’t. There’s nothing to apologize for. It happened.” I frowned, trying to gauge her. “So, what are you saying?” She crossed her arms, steadying herself. “I’m saying I have a deal for you.” “A deal?” “We keep seeing each other—secretly. No one has to know. No strings attached.” I stared at her, wondering if she was serious. But from the look in her eyes, I knew she was. ********** Lila Frost, a brilliant bio-genetics student and the fiercely protected sister of Alpha King Ronan, returns to Silver Lake for a quiet summer focused on her research. But one reckless night changes everything when she shares an unforgettable encounter with Caden Walker—her brother’s dangerously irresistible best friend. Their one-night stand ignites a fiery connection, and they agree to indulge their passion without complications—no love, no strings attached. But when Lila discovers she’s pregnant, her world unravels. Torn between her growing feelings for Caden and the fear that he could never love her back, Lila retreats into her studio, burying herself in her work to escape the truth. The secret she carries threatens not only her heart but also her bond with her overprotective brother. As Caden remains unaware of Lila's internal struggle, Ronan uncovers the truth about their relationship—and his fury knows no bounds. Now, Lila must confront her feelings, her brother’s wrath, and the uncertainty of what her future holds. Can she risk everything for a chance at love with Caden? Or will she lose him—and herself—trying to protect her heart?

Agi never got the chance to breath oxygen that is not generated by machines nor had the chance to ever see and feel the warmth of the sun. After an airborne virus swept all the remaining life forms on earth, they are forced to live underground where newborns are kept in Society Two, acting as an institution dedicated to experiment and test the children, strictly following the order the government imposed. But, as things slowly got out of hand, is the place really safe for them?

PLEASE DON'T READ (Under major editing*) He stepped closer if that was even possible at this point. "I want you, Melanie." He rasped beneath his breath, his gaze falling to mouth. I hated the way I shivered visibly at his words. "So much." He ran his thumb along the inside of my elbow, closing his lips over mine again. One minute we were trying to kiss slowly. The next he was parting my lips and we were back to devouring each other. Our lips stayed locked even as he moved his fingers higher and higher. **** Melanie Steele and Damon Trent were practically the two opposite poles of a magnet. They had almost nothing in common. She liked her solitude, he liked being in the spotlight. She loved living for herself and being comfortable. He was in a constant competition with nobody. She hated attention, he craved it like the oxygen he breathed. They could never work... Or could they? When Damon finds out that he had to be married to get possession of his late father's properties, he let his friends talk him into putting up an ad in the News Paper and making a public spectacle to look for his future wife. What he didn't see coming was Melanie signing up for the competition. Somehow along the way, lines are not just crossed they're being completely erased. He's broken all his rules with her and she's thrown way her sanity when it comes to him. They find themselves battling an attraction that was slowly becoming something more. What happens when Damon's secret gets out? Would Melanie be able to forgive him? Or will their story end before it even has a chance to begin?

(Bxb) Eric Valence thought finding a job as an editor for a well-known author named Draven H. Malcolm was the beginning of his writing career. He had no idea that it would also be the beginning of his love story. *** "You're so clueless, it bothers me." He frowned, "What does that mean-" "You never wondered why I gave you all the best things on my floor - the closest desk, drinks from my office, my newest project. I even went to your house and picked you up to make sure you weren't late." "My portfoli-" "There are twenty three others with the same experience as yours, that was an excuse," he admitted, peering into Eric's eyes and daring him to look away. Eric didn't. Draven sighed, "The reason I got mad that day..." he paused for a moment, hesitating again but deciding to let it all out, "the reason I got mad is because I heard you kissed Jason, which I wasn't too pleased about but then seeing you and Justin together..." He never finished his sentence, and Eric raised an eyebrow, "What about Justin and I?" "I feel like you're doing this on purpose," Draven chuckled, examining Eric's confused face. "I'm not sure what you're talking about-" "I like you," Draven said clearly with his entire diaphragm, expression it as loud as he could for Eric to understand. Eric felt his throat squeeze itself shut, no oxygen coming in or out. "I like you, a lot more than I thought, Eric," he breathed. Eric was unable to believe it, shook his head and looked away for moment, before meeting his gaze again. "Why me?" he asked quietly. Draven shrugged his shoulders, eyeing Eric with adoration and admiration, "I'm not sure either, but I want you to be mine."

I struggle with all my might, but Dad restrains me, and Mom breaks my limbs. Then, my sister seals me into the concrete. "Concrete is only brought to life with an actual person sealed inside. It looks so much more defined! It's not like you'll die after being sealed in there for a few days. How can you be so insensible?" The pain of having my limbs broken and my oxygen being cut off leads to me dying within that block of concrete. My body rots and festers inside, but my soul sticks around to watch how my parents dote on their adoptive child. They seem to be happy without me. Finally, I lose all hope in them. But when the liquid from my body seeps out of the concrete, they all lose their minds.

Once again the oxygen from my lungs was stolen at the sight of her. I cursed my night vision and knew I was going to be punished when I got home for what I was about to do. Just a kiss. One little kiss wouldn’t hurt, would it? I took a deep breath as I moved closer to her. She shifted nervously. “I-” I pulled her against my body, silencing her words with a passionate kiss. She gasped and I took the opportunity to thrust my tongue inside of her mouth. When she melted against me, I lost control. This was not the plan, but I couldn’t resist her. I picked her up before pressing her against the wall behind her. I know I had been warned against pursuing her, but it was too late for that. I had claimed her first kiss, and now I wanted all of her firsts. My hand moved under her short skirt to brush her wetness. I closed my eyes as she spread her legs. Fuck. I was screwed. I knew it was wrong. She was just a freshman who deserved her first time to be somewhere better than a closet full of musty coats with a junior who had a girlfriend. I pulled back to look into her eyes, trying to resist temptation. She touched her lips, and her eyes closed. Fuck. I was so screwed. I knew at that moment that she was going to be my first, too. ******** Sequel to Hunting Her Hunters. This is Osprey's journey to finding his mate. Follow his path that is full of twists and turns, misunderstandings, and a love so deep that it transcends the normal bounds of a mate bond from day 1.