Present Flowers

On the night of the Benedetto family's Harvest Festival, my Mafia husband, Salvatore, told me to bring our son, Giuseppe, to the family gathering. He said his madre had finally accepted us into the Benedetto bloodline. I was trembling with excitement in our little cottage as I dressed Giuseppe in his finest little suit. He had carved a single wooden rose by hand, a project he'd saved for over five years. He said he would present it to his grandmother at the celebration, a plea for her to accept our place in the family. But the moment we stepped into the stone manor, I saw Carmela. Salvatore had her pinned against an oak barrel in a deep, searing kiss. In the moonlight, her hand was undoing his tie. In front of everyone, Salvatore smiled and gently pushed her away. He walked toward the family members gathered in a semicircle and raised a crystal glass. "Tonight, in addition to celebrating the harvest, I have an important announcement." "I would like to introduce you all to the woman I have married in the eyes of God and the Church." "Miss Carmela Torrino." Before I could even process his words, Giuseppe tore his hand from mine and rushed forward. "Papa, what are you saying?" "Isn't my mother your wife?"

She said, "Fate is nothing but a question which the Deity throws, the answer... is the choices we make..." He looked at the small figure in front of him and said, "What you are saying is known as Destiny, because Fate is something… that you cannot avoid.” .... Yoon Su Yeon is a simple-minded, focused and nerdy girl, living an average life until things suddenly started to change when she meets a doctor who happens to be part of the underworld. Things started to get more complicated when some mysterious people from her past life starts emerging in her present life. They desperately want to change something monumental that happened in the past which left a lasting impact on them. But without any recollection of her past, she doesn't know whether she was even connected to it or not. If she helps them altering that fateful event, what would happen to her current life? . . Excerpt: He was standing in the corner, looking at a girl who was enjoying with her colleagues, for whom he was waiting for more than 4 years. he whispered, "I think it's enough of waiting now, it's time for us to be together. Little Bunny, will you accept me this time?" The cover page is not mine, credit to the owner! I will make a cover page soon!!! No major misunderstanding, no rape but an exciting and mysterious plot!!

Nathaniel Hemlock was once one of the most feared pirates to ever sail the seas. His endless quest for gold and power claimed many lives but never concerned him since his heart had long hardened. That is until one day that desire took a dark turn. For power and gold he traded not only his own soul but that of his crew. Now he is cursed to sail the seas until the end of time, unless 1000 more souls are given, one a year...all must be children which was one of the only things he would never do. Present day. Lloyd has always scoffed at the legends that bring visitors to his town near the sea, and with the arrival of a movie crew it's gotten worse. Returning home one evening he sees a strange, old fashioned boat docked and curiously decides to board it. A decision he soon regrets. Once onboard he cannot leave. Nathaniel is not best pleased but there is little he can do and decides to use Lloyd as a cabin boy to make himself useful while he continues to search for another way of breaking his curse and freeing his crew. Their lives will soon become more entwined and perhaps Lloyd is the one who can warm the frozen heart.

"Your sister has already been through so much, why can't you let her have this?" "But today was supposed to be my wedding! How can I just stand aside and let her have my mate?" •••••• After four long years, her awaited wedding finally arrives. What Tamara Vladis expected to be a pivotal moment in her life remained so but for all the wrong reasons. Her mate, the future alpha of Crestwood Pack, publicly humiliates her, firmly stating that she cannot be his mate because she is wolfless. In the same breath he shares a deep kiss with her twin, Tiana, declaring her as his luna. Tamara turned to her parents for support, but they had her flimsy excuses, firmly backing the union of her longtime mate and sister. Tamara no longer has a place in Crestwood, she is pressured to leave and accidentally trespasses into Phoenix Dawn territory, the moment she locks eyes with their Alpha her entire world tilts on his axis as the mate bond between them sparks to live. But unfortunately between their families lies a checkered history painted with blood and betrayal. Will this fresh flame that burns them to their core wiping off any rational thought in their heads survive a past fault that birthed present scars? Or will it couple with the overwhelming power awakening within Tamara and consume both of them?

Today is the death anniversary of Jordan Willis, the Alpha of the Moonshadow Pack. He's also known as my dead mate. My name is Sasha Calhoun, a she-wolf who descends from a family with a weakened bloodline. I'm also the current Luna of the Moonshadow Pack. In a world where the bloodline purity determines the status quo of werewolf society, I seem to exist solely to enter a marriage alliance with Jordan, the Alpha who comes from the most elite family with a pureblooded heritage. This is a political trade meant to strengthen Jordan's position in his family as well as reassure the Elder Council. A year ago, Alpha Jordan sacrificed himself in a blazing inferno while on a mission. I become the most pitied she-wolf in the pack who has to keep the only light on in my empty home. At the same time, I need to protect the only flicker of hope in this pack. As I carry a bouquet of white lilies, which were Alpha Jordan's favorite flowers when he was still alive, I approach his grave. The pup in my womb seems to have picked up on my emotions, for it kicks me gently. I can feel the hum of a powerful and pure-blooded lifeform from the movement. It's the lifeblood of a pup destined to become the future powerful Alpha. Even though I'm still carrying the pup, I still feel reassured and proud. But the next thing I know, I spot a wolf sinking down to one knee far away on the horizon. He appears to be proposing to my younger sister, Winnie Calhoun. Even though there's more than 300 feet between us, I can still smell the Alpha's familiar scent, which seizes me by my heart. After all, I had once immersed myself in that particular scent for countless days and nights in the past. That Alpha… is actually Alpha Jordan, who supposedly died one year ago! I instinctively clutch my belly, my palm caressing the newly-developed heartbeat of my unborn pup. Then, I call the pack guards.

Dad is famous for being a total simp over Mom in the elite society. Naturally, he views Callie Archer, the stepdaughter whom Mom has brought with her, as his own. But Callie is afflicted with a severe case of walking phobia. Her feet couldn't touch the ground at all. Only when she's stepping on my back can she roam around in the house freely. So, whenever Callie looks in a certain direction, Mom will press my head down and force me to crawl toward Callie to serve as her doormat. The doctor issues a warning to my family that my spine is severely contorted. So when Callie wants to admire the flowers in the yard while wearing a pair of spiked shoes again, I can't endure the pain anymore, so I shiver slightly out of instinct. Callie ends up losing her balance and falling to the ground. She bawls like a baby afterward. Mom rushes over immediately before kicking me in the gut, her high heel lodging into my flesh. "It's extremely rare for Callie to be willing to leave the house! Why must you ruin her mood? Can't you just be more understanding and play your role as a doormat for the sake of your sister's illness?" Meanwhile, Dad scoops Callie into his arms, his heart bleeding for her plight. He coaxes her gently, telling her that he'll buy her new dresses later. I can only curl up on the ground while hacking up blood. But Dad just thinks I'm playing the pity card. He commands his men to throw me into the basement. Apparently, I can only be released once I've learned to stay stationary when I'm supporting Callie. As I clutch my broken ribs, I feel my tears flowing down my face as well as the blood from my injuries. I'm sorry, Dad. Next time, I will definitely not move a muscle, just like a corpse.

I, Gianna Johnston, am born into a family of prodigies. My dad, Henry Johnston, is a computer science professor from Hafford University. My mom, Naomi Liddell, is a medical professor at Starvard University. And my brother, George Johnston, is an international math olympiad champion. Meanwhile, I'm barely passing my math classes at school. George gets so mad at me that he immediately writes down three full sets of math exam questions and exclaims, "You're so dumb that you're nothing but an embarrassment to Mom and Dad and me! "Don't you even think about leaving the house and embarrassing us again without completing all these math questions!" Mom then forces a few pills straight down my throat. Those pills are one of her inventions, called "smart pills". However, she doesn't care that I'm choking so hard on them that my eyes roll to the back of my head. "Stop using excuses, saying that you're tired or sleepy. These pills will keep you up for 24 hours without sleep. That should be enough time for you to complete all those math problems!" Dad then turns on "Strict Mode" on the smart house system, Domi. He says to me, "And don't even think about escaping the house to look for help. I will lock the door and cut off every signal going in or coming out. If you don't finish your work in time, nobody will even care if you die here!" After that, the three of them leave me behind and head off for their vacation in Hervaii. While shutting the door behind them, however, the vase of flowers full of water suddenly crashed into Domi's control panel. I'm choking so hard on the pills that I feel asphyxiated. I keep banging my fists against the front door for help. However, Domi, who has now short-circuited, keeps repeating, "Please complete your math questions, Gianna. Study hard and be a good student. "Study hard and be a good student. "Study hard and be a good student." I grip the sheets of math problems in my hands in agony. Will Mom, Dad, and George finally be happy when they see that I'm giving up my life for this?

My name is Drexton Blackthorn. This is my story. Twenty-one years ago, I witnessed the birth of a girl, born not in innocence but to fulfil my deadly quest. Her cries were a testament to the hate and fire burning inside me, a reminder of blood spilled... and blood owed. Her body was smeared with the sinful blood of her mother. She was born into the same family that annihilated mine. Ixora Castellan. Two years ago, she walked into the trap I spent decades designing. Then my game of torment began. It was supposed to be a simple game of hunt, predator and prey. I ruined her physically, twisted her mentally, but I failed to shatter her heart, and that failure ruined me. I fell for the woman who was born for my destruction. The truth was supposed to stay hidden forever, but someone else had to interfere. Secrets spilled. Blood followed, and I lost my Ixora. Eighteen months later, she returns, but I know she's not Ixora, my firefly. She is a shadow, wearing her face, body and identity. I don't know where my obsession is, dead or alive? For the first time, I am weak and powerless. I want her back. As long as she is alive, I will burn the world to find her. She is not just a part of my past; she is my present, and I will make her my future. She is a sin that I want. My Nemesis.

Anita," her angelic voice calls to me. Thunder rumbles in the distance. Her soft, delicate hands caressing my face, sparkling green eyes grounding me from the dark past I wish I could forget. "You're safe, it's okay." I bring my hand up, running my finger over the mound of scar tissue. The constant reminder of that night. The raised bump covers the bullet fragment embedded in my sternum. She takes my hands as more thunder rumbles and tears roll down my cheeks. "Breathe Anita," she says in a soothing whisper. My lungs were burning with the need for air and it was then that I realized I'd been holding it. I take in a gasping breath and recall the first time my eyes met her green eyes. My sister had been lifted off me and my eyes opening had startled her. The first time she touched me gave me strength to hold on. I held her hand tight, trying to tell her what happened, but couldn't get enough breath to form words. Sitting in the present going through the same as I had five years ago. "They were all found, Anita. They can't hurt you anymore. It's just a storm. All the doors and windows are locked, the alarm is set. It's just you and me." "Will you keep the light on tonight, please?"

"You are trembling right in front of us, Beau, so you need to tell us exactly what you want," Dean whispered while adjusting my collar. "I need you to step back before I kill all three of you," I warned him while trying to ignore the heavy ache in my body. "You are producing slick right through your trousers, so I highly doubt you actually want us to leave," Seth murmured. "Get on your knees and let us take care of this heat," Rhett commanded. ~~~ I am the boss of the Southside Syndicate, and I have spent my life hiding a biological condition that would ruin me. I present as a dominant Alpha to the criminal underworld, but my body violently forces me into submissive heats. I survive by taking dangerous suppressants to hide my physical cravings from the men who would overthrow me. However, a violent territory dispute forces me to negotiate a merger with the Northside Triad, requiring me to live inside their secured estate. Rhett, Seth, and Dean are the most lethal Alphas in the city, and they immediately notice my medication failing. When my suppressants completely stop working during an attack, my greatest fear is realized. I expect them to destroy me when they find me begging for release. Instead, the three men decide to claim me, forcing me to balance my public role as a ruthless boss with my private reality as their submissive partner.