Penguin Classics Thus Spoke Zarathustra

My Alpha mate Kieran’s new assistant was his childhood friend. She kept using work reports as an excuse to flirt with Kieran. Kieran yelled at her and said that if it weren't for their childhood friendship, he'd kick her out of the pack immediately. I was his one true mate. But just days later, he put his childhood friend Meredith's name on my life's work - my breakthrough research on silver poisoning treatment. When I confronted him about it, he just brushed it off, telling me to think about the bigger picture. At the annual Healer Excellence Awards ceremony, Meredith wore a designer gown and walked on stage as the chief healer to accept the award. Kieran sat in the audience, leading the applause for her. All the camera flashes and congratulations became a joke at my expense. The next day, as I was about to board my flight overseas, Kieran rushed to the airport like a madman to stop me. His eyes were bloodshot as he gripped my wrist: "I was just having fun with Meredith. You're the only Luna of this pack. But if you really leave like this, I'll have you removed from the pack healer registry." His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I spoke each word deliberately. "Kieran, you're way too full of yourself." After landing, I dialed another number: "Alpha Garrett, let's begin the plan to establish the new healing center."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Mist inquired. Carnation bit her bottom lip and looked down at the papers she was holding. "You can't back out once you sign the contract." She remained silent, so Mist spoke up again, "think about it twice." "It's still possible to quit," Mist suggested. She shook her head repeatedly. "No. . . I've made up my mind." "You're pretty desperate, aren't you?" "My family is in serious debt, and this is the only way I can pay it off." "You're so lovely. You don't belong here. But what options do I have? People like you are exactly what our business requires. Desperate women willing to cling to a knife's edge." Carnation placed the paper on the wooden table. She took a deep breath and quickly signed the contract before returning it to Mist. With a melancholy look, the woman accepted the contract and said, "you can no longer revoke what you have already signed. From today, you are now Mr. Lust's property." Carnation's heart was torn apart by the news. She traded her freedom and pride for the sake of money. When Carnation's father was admitted to the hospital after being diagnosed with lypmhoma. Their family's small business went bankrupt. Carnation had to drop out of college and work to support her family. In serious depth, she had no choice but to work in Casa de Lujuria, an exclusive nightclub owned by Luca Lindenhurst, a Seven Sins Association member.

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.

Confused, shocked and petrified Eva asked that man why he wanted to kill her. She didn't even know him."W-why d-do you want to k-kill me? I d-don't even know you." Eva choked, as his hands were wrapped around her neck tightly. "Because you are my mate!" He growled in frustration. She scratched, slapped, tried to pull the pair of hands away from her neck but couldn't. It was like a python, squeezing the life out of her. Suddenly something flashed in his eyes, his body shook up and his hands released Eva's neck with a jerk. She fell on the ground with a thud and started coughing hard. A few minutes of vigorous coughing, Eva looked up at him."Mate! What are you talking about?" Eva spoke, a stinging pain shot in her neck. "How can I be someone's mate?" She was panting. Her throat was sore already. "I never thought that I would get someone like you as mate. I wanted to kill you, but I changed my mind. I wouldn't kill you, I have found a way to make the best use out of you. I will throw you in the brothel." He smirked making her flinch. Her body shook up in fear. Mate is someone every werewolf waits for earnestly. Mate is someone every werewolf can die for. But things were different for them. He hated her mate and was trying to kill her. What the reason was? Who would save Eva from him?

"We should just kill her, Kathrina. I can sense she has a wolf counterpart," My father, Alpha Fredrick, quietly demanded so that the other wolves wouldn't hear. "What the fuck are you saying!? No! She is still our daughter, Fred. Your own flesh and blood!" Mother defended and shielded herself in front of me. Alpha Fredrick gripped her arm. His claws elongated as it dug into her skin while he sneered, "We are always going circles, Kathrina!" Alpha Fredrick yanked his mate towards him to furiously whisper those words. He then stared at me as he spoke, "Well, since it has come to this, we might as well kill her now and just deal with her mate later on." He growled ferociously and was about to slash me with his thick claws. I instantly braced for impact and defended myself with my arms out front, but then I felt warm hands wrapping me up in a tight embrace and jumped from the ground to the branch at once. "Why don't you just deal with me right now?" A low and deep voice loomed over the forest. I can feel his breath and his sweet, intoxicating scent. It made my heart pound so loudly, and I felt shivers and tingles all over my body. In that instant, I knew I was already his. "MATE!" Kath yipped, and I felt her happily rolling around in my head. "Mate," I whispered, and our eyes met. I gasped when I saw how beautiful his eyes were.

When Erin run into her high school boyfriend, who now is a billionaire, at a restaurant, he cornered her against a bathroom stall "Behavior yourself." She warned him "Be a good girl if you don't want to be heard. " -- "Are you ladies bothering my girlfriend?" "Gavin?" One of the girls spoke up, her voice suddenly shrinking to a whisper. Gavin Pierce. He was the Alpha of the Darkmoon Pack, renowned as one of the most formidable and ruthless Alphas in our universe. And he also happened to be my ex-boyfriend. The same one that I had left behind in high school. Without any regard for my soaked shirt, Gavin casually draped an arm around my shoulders. The girl and her friends gaped at us, speechless and unsure of what to say next. "You two got back together?" She finally managed to ask, her voice almost a hollow echo. "I had no idea." "My personal affairs are none of your concern, Cassondra," he replied, sounding disinterested and nonchalant. "Of course, they're not..." Cassondra stammered, bowing her head in our direction. "I'm very sorry." -- “You owe me for saving you out there,” he said in a deep and threatening tone. I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat, staring into his gorgeous eyes. “What is it you want?” I asked, my tone low and breathless. “Don’t you remember the last time we were in a bathroom together?” He asked, that smirk appearing on his lips again. “It was in a stall… just… like… this.”

"I believe we spoke on the phone today. I hope everything is in order?" As smooth in person as on the phone I turned and was met with the full force of his good looks. Just have me right now my inner wolf screamed. Dark rich hair, just long enough for a few curls to tease his forehead, coffee-coloured eyes, and olive skin. Several inches taller than me and was built like a Greek statue. Perfection. The crushing disappointment of his good looks hit me. He was definitely a shifter and therefore totally, immediately and forever off limits. Human’s just never look that good. Selene doesn't want a mate. She's ambitious, determined and independent. To end up shackled to a man who won't support her dreams like her sisters is her worst nightmare. The mate-bonds monthly heat, overwhelming lust-fuelled insanity terrifies her control-freak nature. Rocco doesn't want a mate either. Running a buzzing casino gives him ample opportunity to sleep with all the beautiful human women the city has to offer. Shifters are a hassle. Even beautiful, blonde haired wonders like Selene. Yet when their paths cross sparks fly. However the local Alpha loves taking proud women down a peg, his head Beta desires Selene and Rocco wants to kill them both. They are fighting against the very thing that may keep them alive as the cruelty of the pack's leadership turns against Selene. Her trick of hiding in a hotel and lying to her family every full moon can only last for so long...

“No! Please, Santiago--” I whimpered, as his hand seized my wrist with an iron grip, yanking me forward, dragging me effortlessly toward the chair he had pulled into the center of the room the night before. The symbol of my humiliation. He stopped right in front of the chair, spinning me around, facing him. "You want me to be your monster, mi ángel?" His hand grabbed my throat, tilting my chin up until my eyes locked with his dark gaze. I flinched from the sudden movement. "Cause I’ll be your favorite monster — just say the word, cariño." Santiago’s face hovered only inches from mine. His lips so close, I could taste the sweetness of his breath — once making butterflies take flight in my stomach, now curdling my insides into a cold, suffocating fear. Slowly, his free hand rose toward my face. I held my breath. His touch was deceptively soft and gentle, caressing my cheek. His thumb lingered against my lips, tracing them slowly, his eyes fixed there as he spoke — his voice soft, yet heavy with menace. "Divorce is not an option, mi amor. We took a vow five years ago. Remember?" He finally lifted his gaze to meet mine, catching every flicker of fear before he delivered his last words like a verdict: "Till death do us part."

"What do you want? I thought I warned you to stay away from me the last time we talked on the phone?” I said, with my hands across my chest. “Alexandria! What did I do wrong? Please tell me, if it's something I can fix, I will gladly do it! Why all this coldness towards me?” He said, moving closer towards me, and I did not move. Looking at his cute face, I sigh softly. “Fred, you did not do anything wrong, okay! We just had fun, and nothing more!” “Fun? Was that all it was to you?” He asked, his eyes turning red at my words. “Yeah! What else? I asked you out myself, didn't I?” “Yeah, but I thought we were dating? Alex, please don't do this to me! After what I have been through, I thought, I have finally found someone who is genuine, and sincere to fall in love with!” He said, with so much passion that I felt it a little bit. But then, I wasn't the type to love someone. "Can't you see? I have fallen in love with you! I'm head over heels for you, Alex!” He spoke softly, holding my hands again, and looking into my eyes. I could see the truth in his eyes, I could tell that he really does love me. But then, it's a pity that I can't feel anything for him.

"You are my mate, Sarah," he confessed, his voice trembling with pain. "I knew it before I even spoke to you that night at the club. I lied when I said it was a joke because I was hiding who I really am, and because I’ve always believed having a mate is a weakness..." His voice dropped to a whisper, his gaze locked on mine. "Until now."   I should feel excited to eventually meet my mate, but confusion clouded my mind.   ******     Sarah’s life is already in shambles. At 26, she’s a teacher struggling to survive as an ostracised witch. As if that's not enough, she was betrayed by her fiancé, hated by her mother, haunted by a dark past, and plagued by a mysterious illness only a mate’s mark can cure. The last thing she needs in her life is Anderson, a cocky and arrogant 18-year-old student.   But what begins as forbidden attraction turns dangerous when lust gives way to something deeper, while her life becomes entangled in a series of murders and disappearances that all lead back to her.   As their connection deepens, so does the danger as a prophecy surfaces—one that has tied their fates since childhood.   Pursued by a power-hungry Alpha, Anderson's uncle, and a deadly cult determined to kill them to prevent the prophecy from coming to pass, Sarah and Anderson must confront their pasts and unravel the secrets binding them together.   In this dark and gripping supernatural romance, fate and choice collide as two unlikely souls discover that some bonds are worth dying for to make the prophecy come to pass.