Pressure Expendable

Nukea Winters is a poor, pathless Omega. She is nothing more than a thief and a disappointment to her family. She is used to being mistreated, humiliated and rejected in her own pack, by her own people. The only expectation she has for her future is for it to get even worse... but Fate has another plan for her. One that no one saw coming. Nukea is destined to become Luna of the very pack that has humiliated and rejected her for the past five years. Theodore Heiden is next in line to become Alpha of the Greyhound Pack. Theo has it all: power, billions of dollars and a beautiful girlfriend who just told him she's pregnant. So now he also has a huge pressure on his shoulders to make things right, no mistakes allowed. The last thing he needed was to get robbed by a wild, rebellious girl...a girl who happens to be his Fated Mate. His Fated Luna. So, what about his girlfriend? And what about the baby they're expecting?

Two paths crossed on a rainy night at the bar. Lorie was seeking space from an abusive boyfriend when she met Asher, who despite his emotionless eyes and cold aura, dripped with everything sinful. In the heat of the moment, they shared an intimate night, one that was etched into their memories. They parted ways not expecting to see each other again until Lorie was shocked to see Asher arrive at the company she worked as the new CEO who she was to be his secretary. Ten hours working together everyday, the memories of that night haunted them till an unexpected love story was born. But before they could welcome it, they were faced with obstacles in the form of themselves, people they knew and didn't know. Personal trauma, Abuse and manipulation embedded in their past and present tried to pull at their budding love. Amidst the pressure from family, Asher proposed a contract marriage with Lorie which she accepted to save her from a financial crisis. Their marriage brought them closer and at the same time increased their enemies. Will their love be strong enough to face the opposition?

Allison Claire's world crumbled when her father, consumed by the despair of bankruptcy, ended his own life, leaving behind a family suffering from both financial ruin and emotional devastation. Her mother's grave illness further strained their life. Forced to work countless part-time jobs to make a living, Allison found rare peace in moments she could share with her boyfriend, Alex. However, mounting medical bills and relentless pressure from gangsters left her helpless. Then, she met Damien Ravenclaw, a billionaire who offered to financially support her if she became his mistress. Seeing it as her family's only hope, she agreed. Forced to break up with Allison, Alex was desperate to win her back, while Damien's obsession with her seemed to intensify. Caught between Alex and Damien, Allison faced a tough choice. Would she return to Alex or stay with Damien? Sold to the Bossy Billionaire is created by Lyra TaleSmith, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Sheena Woods finds out on the day of her wedding that Jake Cross, her exhilarating and unforgettable one night stand, is one and the same person as Jake Rollins, her soon to be husband's illegitimate son. ‘.....Sheena, I can't stop thinking about that night and I can't seem to stay away from you no matter how hard I try. Yes, I know you're my father's wife and many will call what we share a forbidden romance, but it's a romance nonetheless……one that I intend to explore with you…….’ Jake confessed, walking slowly and gingerly towards Sheena, his mind set on claiming her luscious lips in his……. Will Sheena give in to Jake's demands and engage in a forbidden romance with her husband's illegitimate son? What happens when Sheena gets caught up in the iron web of the Rollins family's many dark secrets? Can forbidden love save her and withstand the immense pressure that comes along with it? Find out in this thrilling book of love, betrayal, family, resentment and revenge.

One of my roommates at the dorm was a competitive person. Whenever I studied, she would be anxious. If I opened a package, she would ask me what I was buying. She would also pressure me to tell her my whereabouts. There was even a time when I turned in my bed, she suddenly opened my divider curtain and asked me if I was secretly studying. I was literally going to go insane, but our nonchalant counsellor told me that I was overreacting. After that, I failed to secure a postgraduate position, but she managed to study overseas. When she returned, she became my supervisor. She told everyone she met that I was a very competitive person, and she kept assigning a lot of tasks for me to do. In the end, I died from overworking. When I opened my eyes again, I saw her get into my bed. I recorded the sound of pages flipping and turned on the night light. I played the recording for the entire night. If she wanted to be anxious and lose her sleep, so be it!

BLURB: He's a grief counselor who lost his own family. He's an immigrant fighting for permission to stay. When Owen meets Lucas at a small restaurant called Roots, neither expects what happens next. Owen is isolated after his family abandoned him for being gay. Lucas carries the weight of an entire family his disabled brother, struggling sister, and the constant pressure to prove they all deserve to stay in the country. What begins as a chance encounter becomes something real. Between stolen moments at the restaurant and late-night conversations, Owen and Lucas find each other. But as they fall deeper, the world closes in. When Owen's boss discovers their relationship and forces him to choose his job or Lucas everything shatters. Owen can't afford to lose his income. Lucas can't bear to be the reason Owen loses everything. They're trapped between love and survival, belonging and rejection. Because sometimes permission to stay isn't about immigration. Sometimes it's about whether love is worth fighting for.

Isla, a young woman who is in dire need to pay off her mom’s medical bills, thinks that she’s scored her dream job at a big fancy jewelry company. But when the company’s charismatic CEO, Victor, secretly hires her to be his personal assistant with ulterior motives of his own— he’s trying to free his wrongfully imprisoned grandfather by following the breadcrumbs of a dangerous secret with her help— her world is turned upside down. When Isla becomes closer and closer to Victor and his enigmatic life, she starts feeling an undeniable attraction towards him. But her feelings become complicated when she learns the truth about Victor’s original intentions. Isla has some soul-searching to do, torn between betrayal and love, because she was only ever a means to an end for Victor. Meanwhile, Isla faces challenges from other women who vie for Victor's attention, adding further pressure to an already delicate situation. Isla must decide whether to trust her heart or seek justice for herself and her mother.

Marriage is a Sacred and Safe Haven. But in Business Traditions, it is a merge deal between two families wanted their wealth to become secure. Both parties agreed upon merge marriage, except those people who will be involved and will be continually granted each family's will. Carly, a 24 year-old aspiring Geographer doesn't really get and agree upon the idea of arranged marriage. Even as a nerd, she wanted a social life outside of the box that she never had when she was studying. A geek by appearance, an adventuress at heart. And Calvin, a 28 year-old full time and successful Business man. But the company he worked so hard in his whole life time will never be on him unless he will agree upon this deal. A hard worker and doesn't have time to socialize and doesn't know how to take a break. These two people meet and agreed that they both don't agree at this marriage. They both wanted to escape this situation but how? By mere pressure and desperation, it came up an opportunity. It wasn't really planned nor an idea but they unexpectedly had an Accidental Escapes.

“I don't care if she’s human,” Alaric growled, his golden eyes flashing with a predatory light. “She is mine. And I will tear down anyone—wolf or man—who tries to take her.” Juniper didn't believe in monsters. As a simple herbalist living on the edge of the Iron-Wood, her biggest worry was making rent and keeping her plants alive. But when encounters a midnight-black wolf in the forest, her quiet life is shattered. Alaric Sterling is the Alpha of the Iron-Wood Pack. Cold, powerful, and under pressure to choose a high-ranking mate, he has spent years resisting the council’s demands. He didn’t want a political match. He wanted a miracle. He found it in Juniper. The problem? Juniper has no idea werewolves exist. To her, Alaric is just a mysterious, possessive stranger with eyes that seem to see right through her. One bond. Two different worlds. As rival packs scent a weakness and a jealous she-wolf plots her downfall, Juniper must decide: Can a human truly survive the kiss of a wolf? Or will the shadows of the Iron-Wood consume her?

As panic sweeps through the city and everyday streets collapse into chaos, Ciprian is driven by one unshakable instinct: protect Adam at all costs. When an unexplained catastrophe turns the urban landscape into a pressure cooker of fear and survival, nothing matters more than keeping his best friend alive. In this fast-paced short story, a sudden crisis forces two friends to confront more than danger. As tension rises and the city descends into disorder, buried emotions, unspoken attraction, and complicated feelings come to the surface. What begins as survival quickly becomes something deeper, binding their fates together in ways neither of them expected. Set against a backdrop of urban collapse, panic, and uncertainty, this emotional short fiction explores friendship, loyalty, and love under pressure. Perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven stories, disaster scenarios, slow-burn emotion, LGBTQ+ themes, and intimate moments set during world-altering events. A gripping short story about connection, courage, and the fragile line between friendship and something more—meant to be read in one sitting, but felt long after.