Regrets Collect Like Old Friends

Anne Jacobs hears what others keep hidden—their fears, their fantasies, their lies. It’s how she survived high school. It’s how she stayed invisible. Until Victor Blackwood decided she shouldn’t be. Victor is handsome, brilliant, and frighteningly attentive. He claims to love her, to protect her. But the thoughts behind his perfect smile are darker than anything Anne has heard before. And when those around her start to fall—bullies silenced, enemies destroyed—Anne realizes she’s not just loved. She’s owned. Now she must decide: expose him and risk becoming his next fixation… or stay close and try to control the monster who claims her heart. In a world where thoughts betray, love is the most dangerous lie of all.

“You maybe my Don, but you will not control me in this room,” he growled against her lips as he held onto both of her wrists above her head. She stared up at him, his words, his actions; all made her more turned on. “Do you understand?” His voice turned huskier and she moaned. “Yes Damian.” “What?” “Yes sir,” she whimpered. “Good,” and with that, his lips roughly crashed against hers. -*-*-* Angel Bellalini was to be the head of the family once her dad retired, and there had never been a female to lead. And like every leader before her, she needed someone to ground her from the job of Boss. But she didn’t expect to find it in the form of her sister’s fiancé, Damian. But she had; now she’s forced to navigate that road, along with the others that come with being The Boss.

"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?

"'Do you seriously think I would kill my own aughterday?' My eyes went wide as I slowly........." Naomi has been living a lie her whole life. The people who she thought to be her parents aren't who they say they are. She has to accept who she actually is and take on some responsibility. Will she take on that responsibility or will she run away from her fate like her grandmother did?

Aleana Rae is the 18 year old daughter of the beta to the Sahara blood moon pack. Aleana had just turned 18 and for 17 years she had avoided being center of attention but for some reason her Alphas son had started to watch her every move being cruel and sometimes cold. What happens when she gets left alone one night at her school formal on the full moon only to find out her mate is none other then Shade Andrews the son of her Alpha Eric Andrews. Will she be able to fix his cold cruel heart or will he end up being her undoing?

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.

Sabi nga ng iba, ang pag-ibig ay hindi nabibili ng pera ngunit nakakasilaw ito ng ibang tao. Si Semphil ay Isang babaing ubod ng Ganda ngunit sa kabila nito ay hindi niya maikukubli ang kahirapan ng buhay niya. Ang Ina niyang mukhang pers ay pinilit siyang pasalihin sa Isang auction na dadaluhan ng mga mayayaman. Sa kabilang Banda si Vleen Cen Santibañez na Isang Mafia lord ay Mula sa prominenteng pamilya, mataas ang tingin sa sarili at may pagka arogante Ngunit paano kung Ang Isang katulad niya ay umibig sa Isang tulad ni Semphil? Gaano kalaking halaga ang handa niyang igugol para lamang makuha ang dalaga?

Maltreated and abused by her step-father her whole life, Sophia’s life is turned upside down when she is sold to pay off a debt. Believing that she is in for the worst, she braces herself for a life of slavery. Darien Gray, a drop dead gorgeous CEO, doesn’t want the slave he has been gifted. But as the boss and alpha of BlackMoon pack, he cannot reject. At first he does not really notice nor care for Sophia, but when he learns that she is innocent and refuses to bend to his will, he makes it his mission to break her and make a sex slave out of her. The only problem is, Darien finds himself wildly attracted to Sophia who has grown to resent him. When he finds out she is his mate, what will he do? Between steamy encounters, strict parents, and a vicious soon-to-be ex, what does fate hold in store for Darien and Sophia?

Lucy was sold to Antonio Martinelli, the former boss of the biggest Italian mafia when she was 14 years old. After spending years in the "safe house," Lucy is delivered to his son Luca Martinelli, the new leader, as a birthday gift. Luca fights the urge to fall in love with the ebony beauty as Lucy attempts to keep a promise she made and regain her former self. Will they endure all the deceit, lust, murder, and betrayal committed in the name of love together?

Losing her grandmother, Lea was betrayed by her Aunt Estrella. Instead of introducing her to a work like what they talked about, she was sold in the underground auction. "Five billion dollars going thrice, Sold!" And with that amount of money, her life now belongs to that man. Aiden Lazarus, a person known for his cold personality. Not giving any hint of care toward his surroundings. Raising her chin to meet his face, he let out a smirk that soon disappeared after his words. "So, if you cherish that head of yours, don't let me down. Be the best bride you can ever be"