Penguin Classics Thus Spoke Zarathustra

When my colleagues find out that I'm pretty good at cooking, they start organizing dinners at my place. Lucy Holt, one of the junior accountants, suggests that we split the groceries evenly between us. As a result, I don't think I can reject their request without being rude. On my last day of work, the group gathers at my place for one last meal. "You're such a good cook, Jess! We'll all be transferring you 500 dollars later. It's just a token of our appreciation," Lucy declares with a bright smile. But the very next day, she sends me a message. "Hey, Jess. You know it's illegal to operate an unlicensed catering business from your home, right? Your house will get sealed off for further investigation. More importantly, the value of goods has passed the threshold of 10,000 dollars, which means the fine you'll have to pay is probably going to be about 20 times that amount. "Since we worked together, we decided not to report you to the authorities. We'll just settle this matter privately. All you have to do is give us the fine you would've had to pay instead." This is how I realized that, combined with yesterday's meal, the total amount they've given me for groceries thus far is exactly 10,001 dollars.

Samantha had been with her husband Alex for 12 long years, dutifully raising his child from a previous relationship. Yet as the years dragged on, the deep resentment she felt could no longer be ignored. Alex took her endless sacrifices for granted, never expressing an ounce of appreciation for all she did to keep their family afloat. His domineering mother only fanned the flames of drama, inserting herself into every aspect of their lives. And their once passionate marriage had become a sexless, loveless obligation. Samantha's only solace was her job at the local hardware store, a seeming world away from the suffocating doldrums of her home life. It was there that she met Jack, her new boss - a charismatic man whose radiant charm and flirtations slowly but surely began chipping away at Samantha's resolve. At first, she dismissed the growing attraction as a harmless crush. But as the weeks ticked by, the chemistry between them became undeniable, an all-consuming force that made her feel truly alive for the first time in years. One fateful night, passion overcame reason, and Samantha surrendered to her desires in Jack's arms. The guilt was searing, but it paled in comparison to the euphoria of being wanted, needed, desired again. Thus began a torrid affair, one built on lies and deception as they stole away for clandestine rendezvous. Samantha was playing with fire, but she couldn't bring herself to stop.

"I, Orion Knight in front of my pack and Mighty ancestors take this moment to announce the future Luna of this Pack." He spoke with confidence and certainty. "From this moment on, Lily Wintersong is your Luna and will my Wife." I heard him address the crowd in front of me but my body and mind were tangled with each other, it was hard to believe. It wasn't right!! Happiness was not meant for me. "Stopp…." I shouted out loud but in sadness. "I can't…I..I reject you as my mate." I said and ran out of the place leaving everyone behind. I rejected the one who made me feel warm. ~~~ Lily had to face nothing but pain as she grew up. Her mother died when she was young, she was accused of ripping her step mother's heart and called a monster by her Pack. Losing hope in everything she was sure the heavens wanted nothing but pain but Destiny had something more planned for her. She gets mated with the most feared Alpha who seems to be waiting for her since he turned eighteen and he is 800 years old but there is this rumour that says he is immortal. Will Lily accept him? Will Alpha's love her? Will she find the love she actually deserves? Will Alpha break her chains? Read to find out.

Cursed at birth and rejected by her biological mother, Aria found herself lost and suffered gravely in the hands of her peers as they saw her as an outcast. She was betrayed by her sister, rejected by her boyfriend and chastised by her peers for being an omega. However her life came turning for what seemed to be good, when she finally found her Mate Xanthea Darkhaven but because of her curse, their love was already doomed to bloom. ~~ “You and her have nothing in common. Let Aria be killed at once before things get out of hand. The moon goddess will only curse our land because of her” The alpha spoke aggressively as he told off Xanthea. Xantheas unwavering face made it clear he wasn't ready to listen any time soon. “I have vowed and spilled my blood to keep Aria as my mate. And whosoever lay a hand on her will have me to deal with and trust me, I will literally do anything just to keep her alive” Xanthea replied in a low growl, sending chills down my spine. “Get ready to leave the position of the next Alpha or let her be killed” The Alpha threatened before walking away. Will this love ever stand? Will I ever get the chance to fall in love for the second time? Will my curse cause more trouble for Xanthea or should I let myself be killed?

Ezmira Franchild was adopted at the age of eleven. No one knew where this silent little girl originated from, all they knew was that she was found under an old broken-down bridge, curled up into a ball and trembling with fear. It took her an entire year before she began to speak again but once she did, she never spoke of where she came from or who her parents were... she simply clutched to the dirty old bag that she was found with and never allowed anyone to search it or take it from her. Years later, Ezmira is still a quiet child, living in a small town with her sister, Liza Franchild and trying to make the best of her life. Little did she know that her past was not something she could run from or ignore. Once a witch, forever a witch. “I'm afraid to live. I'm afraid to let people in again because I'd never know when they'd leave. My existence is a curse.” ~Ezmira “I've been cursed for many years, but you're the first curse that I've ever willingly accepted. If you're afraid just hold onto me, we can face our fears together.” ~Axil Book 1 of the Divinity Series.

Our daughter, Luna Woods, developed a high fever. Her body was burning hot. I immediately dialed 911 for help. The dispatcher on the other end kept repeating his questions. He spoke slowly, as if deliberately stalling for time. By the time I finally heard the ambulance siren, Luna was already turning cold in my arms. In less than a year, my wife and I separated. We were consumed by endless grief and blamed for each other. Afterward, I merely existed for the sake of it. I was a hollow shell of a man. Then, one day, I received a wedding invitation from my ex-wife. The moment I played the audio invitation, a chill ran down my spine. The groom’s voice was identical to that of the slow, dawdling dispatcher from that year! I rushed out, utterly distraught, only to be hit by a roaring train. When I opened my eyes again, I heard Luna crying in the next room. Her forehead was burning hot. My wife hurriedly handed me the phone. “Quick, call 911! I’ll get a wet towel.” My hands trembled as I took the phone. When it was answered, I heard a familiar male voice through the receiver. “911, what’s your emergency?”

"What do you think that I won't be able to find who you are?" Krish strangles Ziva horrifying her "Please let me go...I didn't do anything, I promise that I will leave your place and go away from your life" she spoke with trembling lips, crying in pain "Tsk...tsk...You are late for that, I gave you a chance before but now I am gonna make your life a living hell and you will pay for everything...I will make sure that you suffer the way my family did" Krish whispered ferociously pushing her on the bed, starts smooching her in process bites her neck "Ahhh...it hurts, Please no...please, listen to me once" Ziva tries to get away from his hold "I will make sure to destroy you and your family, be ready for that, Ziva Parker... ******************************************* How it feels when you are ignored by your own family and later on abandoned in your own house ?? A feeling of anxiety, frustration takes over that ends in depression.... maybe or maybe not. When a feeling of loneliness takes over and you require attention, what will you do?? You would be rebellious, listen to everything they ask..so that they start to love you or you will choose to go with the flow and ignore them, making them repent for their deeds... ****************

My parents were branded as "traitors" within the Lucchese family. To show the family's mercy, I was taken in as their "sacrificial lamb" to atone for my parents' sins, and I lived with them for 12 years. Those 12 brutal years would have been unbearable if not for one thing: the Don, Antonio Lucchese, had twin heirs who became my only protection. Until that night, when they believed Martina Browne's lies about me and handed me the execution poison known as "The Vow of Silence." "Drink it, Chiara Colombo." Dante Lucchese's voice was cold, his eyes fixed on me. "Prove your loyalty to the Lucchese family." I drank the poison, and it burned through my throat like acid. Through my blurred vision, I watched as his twin brother, Enzo Lucchese, pulled the real traitor close to him. He said coldly, "Take Chiara to the infirmary. Don't let her die in the banquet hall." The day I was released from the hospital, I made a phone call to the Lucchese family's deadliest rival. My voice was hoarse as I spoke each word slowly. "I have evidence that could bury the entire Lucchese family. Marry me, and I'll help you destroy them."

In my previous life, after I got divorced, the court awarded me custody of our newborn son, as he was still nursing. On the other hand, our daughter would live with my ex-husband. I raised my son to be humble and polite. He was admitted to MIT. On the day the results were announced, various media outlets rushed to interview me to ask about my parenting secrets. Meanwhile, my daughter dropped out of school and eloped with a hooligan. She got pregnant before she was even sixteen, becoming a negative example of teenage delinquency. At thirty, she was still sponging off her father, having achieved nothing in life. My ex-husband's dream of having a successful daughter was shattered, much to his shame. He came to confront me at my son's college acceptance party. He insisted that I had passed on bad genes to our daughter, which caused her failure. During the argument, he stabbed me in the chest and then jumped to his death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the courtroom on the day of the child custody ruling. This time, my ex-husband spoke before I could, asking the judge to grant him custody of our son. I immediately realized he too had been reborn.

This is a dark mm romance with dub-con/CNC, blood play, knife play, robe play, light bdsm, kidnapping of MMC, torture, murder and possessive behavior. If you have any of these triggers, please do not continue. This book is only suitable for readers over 18. Contains graphic sexual scenes, bad language and unprotected intercourse. The last place expected to see my last hookup was at my mother's wedding and worse, he's my new stepbrother. My mother and his father hoped we would get along, how do I tell them we have gotten along just not in the way they think? Extract: “Fratello,” he murmured, his lips curling into that maddening grin. “What?” My chest tightened. “That’s your safe word,” he said. “Say it once, and everything stops. I won’t touch you again. From that moment, I’ll only ever treat you as my stepbrother.” Even as he spoke, his hand gripped me, and I gasped, trembling. My body betrayed me, responding in ways I hated and craved all at once. “Until you say that word,” he whispered, eyes dark with something between amusement and hunger, “you’re mine. Mine, brother.”