Penguin Classics Thus Spoke Zarathustra

"I'm six weeks pregnant," spoke a woman behind him, caressed her flat abdomen. She looked at him coldly, tried to meet his gaze. "My child needs a father. He needs you, Klaud!" "Abort the baby," he coldly replied and looked deeply into her weary, sullen emerald eyes. He gulped, guilty of everything that had happened that night. "My reputation will be in vain, Dianna. I... I can't bear to lose the company I've built for so many years!" Tears flew into her cheeks as she listened to him. She never thought he was a type of cold-hearted man who was willing to abort his child, his own flesh and blood. Dianna turned her back at him and quickly wiped the tears from her eyes. Her heart shattered into tiny pieces as she walked away from the man who captured her heart since that night. "Forgive me, honey, your daddy is a jerk. We don't need him and he will never see you, never!" She whispered with bitterness in her voice and regretted for sleeping next to Klaud Anderson, an alpha and Dianna's possessive master

I was in the middle of hosting an important international meeting when my younger brother’s sudden call interrupted me. On the other end, his voice was low and trembling. "Matt, someone took my spot for the exchange student program." I rushed to his school right away, only to find him cornered in an office, his eyes slightly red. A cocky-looking boy was pointing at Tim’s nose, his face full of arrogance. "You want to compete with me? I’m the heir of the Smiths in Ardenford. My mom just donated an entire lab building to the school! Who do you think you are?" Even the teacher nearby spoke up in support of him. "Timothy, the Smiths are one of our school’s major benefactors. You’d better be sensible and not cause any trouble." I was about to step forward and confront them when those words—the Smiths in Ardenford—made me stop cold. The Smiths in Ardenford? Since when did my mom have a third son besides me and my brother, Timothy? I immediately dialed her number, a cold laugh slipping from my lips. "Mom, when did you have another son behind Dad’s back?"

At sixteen, Lovely Thunderstorm is told of the promise her father made ten years ago to Alpha Victor of Black Diamonds Pack to marry his son who is rather the younger version of him. Lovely feels hatred the moment her eyes landed on him. But that isn't the only thing she feels for him. Alpha Victor Jr is stubborn, serious and cold hearted. He has dreaded this arrangement since he was ever told of it. His wolf yearns for his mate, yet he refuses to be weak in admitting he loves her. But how long can he hold out when he is married to her? Excerpt: "Love me and I am in your heart, but hate me and I am in your mind." I spoke, unconsciously turning all Shakespeare on him. "So let me get this straight," he gazed down at me, making me feel short. These goddamn tall people around here. "You want to be in my mind." I smack myself in my forehead before looking at his confused handsome face. Well... I was just going to ignore the fact I called him handsome. "I never knew Shakespeare was this crazy." He stated thoughtfully. I could only glare. I really did hate him.

"Don't dream of belonging to anyone else. Your breath, your heartbeat, your body - they are mine, and I will take you by force, no matter what. I am Asher Martin, and I will make you my Luna." Tears streamed down Sage Holton's face as her life and circumstances changed in an instant, turning to ashes as Asher came to claim her by force and make her his forever. --- There was a beautiful scent clinging to me, like marmalade, roses, and honeyed strawberries. I didn’t know why, but suddenly my wolf spoke, saying, "Mate." I responded in shock, "Mate!" Of course, I nearly went mad. I am an Alpha Gamma with hybrid blood, and that little girl is of pure lineage. Even though I don't accept the laws of the Moon Goddess, I know that one of her laws is that mates must be of the same pure lineage, though it is possible to marry and love someone from another lineage. I kept pacing around, and then I remembered—I had thrown her out, naked! I looked out the window at the sky; it was raining heavily, it was late, and I had cast her out. I shouldn't have gone near her, but what happened, happened.

"I'll build you thousands of empires and mansions, adore you with precious pieces of jewelry, you will be the only known queen of this ruthless man," Azrael Thorn Execroz whispered words that marked Andromeda's heart. His minty breath lingers in her senses, particularly in her nose. She wanted to be consumed by the fire of his heart, deep until they can no longer grasp for air. His shoulder shuddered in the darkness, while his body remains to cage the woman who captivated his iron heart. "Azrael..." she said softly with her heart beating erratically. "I...I don't desire your wealth nor your heart," she replied, slightly shivering. She was lying to the young man but mostly to herself. "Then what do you want?" he replied with his eyes beginning to shine as the tears warn to fall. He is breaking. "Let me leave," Andromeda spoke, each word like an arrow piercing through his heart. Sliding her right arm to his chest, she tiptoed momentarily to whisper what ended them. "Free me." And with that, the mighty and dignified Azrael Execroz felt his world crumble into small shards of glass. She tamed him. She was his escape. His solace. And now, she's gone.

"Thirty million" I heard a male voice echo round the walls of the hall which silenced everyone. Who would bid that high just to buy me? "Thirty million dollars" the male voice spoke up once again, a young man striding confidently forward like he owned the very building with his bidding card raised up. He was eighty percent taller than everyone in attendance. I sucked in breath at his refined but cold appearance. His tuxedo hugged his body and showed of his impeccable muscles. His dark long hair was slick and let to fall, not a single strand out of place. He had the profile of a greek God but his features lacked warmth and empathy. His brown steel eyes burrowed into mine, a look of disgust on his face for me. "Sold!" the chairman hit the gavel on the table after a brief moment of silence since no one else was willing to bid higher. A wave of ovation took the hall, men chattering amongst themselves and whistling. "Get her ready and bring her to me" he pivoted and sharply ordered one of the armed bodyguards standing close to the podium. He owns me now. **** When a ruthless mafia lord bids for an innocent girl, can her innocense survive in the abyss of his darkness?

“Why do you suddenly want out of this marriage? Who the fuck are you screwing, you dumb bitch?!” “I'm not screw-” I tried to explain, but he was already on me and I screamed as he dragged me up by my neck, his hand so tight on my throat I couldn’t breathe. “Who is it?!” he growled. “Who the fuck would dare!” ---- In a world absent the mate bond, alliances were formed through blood, power, and betrayal rather than fate. Makena Blackwell was born into the mafia's lowest-ranking position, promised at birth to a powerful heir in exchange for her family's survival. She was ready to marry him. But he was ready to destroy her. On the night she was meant to die, however, something impossible happened. A man rose from the icy steel trays of her father’s morgue. He was a stranger, with no memory, no name, and no pulse. And when their gazes met, fate spoke the word they never expected to hear in their lifetime, echoing so loudly in their souls it shook the very fabric of their being. “Mate!” The man the world left for dead wasn’t just anyone; he was the dread every mafia house feared, and he was hers. She was promised to a prince of power… but fate gave her the king of the dead.

"He didn't show! Alpha Damon has spat on our pack's honor! He must be refusing the alliance!" A glass shattered, and I nearly collapsed in terror. "Rumor says he hasn't found his mate. Perhaps he needs more... options," my father's voice slithered in. A heavy silence followed. I held my breath, praying not to be discovered-until Blake's father spoke again, turning my blood to ice. "Alysia….. your daughter is quite beautiful, isn't she?" What?! What were they implying? Were they planning to offer me to that powerful Alpha?! My father hated me—he'd agree in a heartbeat. *** Accused of killing their mother by her sister, Alysia is despised by the whole pack. Running away immediately she turned 18 felt like the breakthrough she needed but things didn’t go as planned as she stumbled upon her formidable and powerful mate who despised her and dashed her new found hope as he rejected her on the spot. Alysia is in a dilemma as the past catches up with her, secrets of decades were exposed. With a deadly trap set by her sister, it’s up to Alysia to navigate her life through all the life-threatening dilemmas.

I shook my head as a dark chuckle escaped my lips. “I’m not her, Dimitri, can’t you see it? I will never be her,” My voice shook as I spoke, tears threatening to spill. Dimitri ran his fingers through his hair in distress. His usual cold demeanor slipping away as he walked towards me and grabbed me by my shoulder. I felt his fingers on my chin, forcing me to look at him. I swallowed. “You don’t understand, Dimitri,” My voice came out as a whisper. “You are in love with that woman. Not me. It has-it has never been me,” “I know who I want, Val and that person is you,” *** For years, Valeria Moore had lived her life as a substitute lover to Dimitri. She believed one day, he would see her for who she is and not as his lost mate who had the same face as her. But when Dimitri announced his engagement to Summer Wood, Val knew she couldn’t take it anymore. She wanted to cut all ties with him but now, Dimitri wasn’t ready to let her go. Not when he just realized she was pregnant for him.

"Mom, I don't get what's happening? Wedding?" "But darling, you already accepted the St Daniels' offer," Melissa said sweetly to her daughter. "I didn't know what I was accepting," Mari protested. "She pleaded with me to help her son Raymond." "Of course, honey, you're helping Raymond by marrying him," Melissa said. Her tone is filled with sweetness, trying to damp her daughter's fury. "And besides, this arrangement is crucial to your father. Tell her, Cullman, she needs to know." Mari's gaze shifted to her father, her eyes narrowing. "Catherine, my businesses are crashing and I'm on the brink of bankruptcy," her father admitted. "I couldn't bear the thought of my competitors gloating over my downfall. I had to strike a deal with the St Daniels. They were looking for a suitable bride for their eldest son, and...I'm afraid you're the price I had to pay, Catherine." Mari sighed, her mind still reeling in confusion. "But Raymond St Daniels is still in a coma, how is it possible for me to marry him?" Both parents exchanged a secret glance. Her mother was the one that spoke up. "Raymond St Daniels has awaken from his coma. But the doctors said he'll be crippled for the rest of his life."