Santa Puppeteer

I despised Dante Moretti long before he slid that ring onto my finger. Arrogant. Controlling. The kind of boss who could ruin my day with a single clipped order. I hated the way he spoke to me. I hated the way he watched me more. But walking into my hometown with his ring and watching my ex-husband’s face drain of color felt wickedly perfect. The elders wanted to see real love before selling their land. So Dante and I lied. We played the sweet couple. Except Dante didn’t touch me like a man pretending. At the Christmas market, his hand slid down my spine and stopped right where it shouldn’t. At dinner, he whispered against my ear, “If he’s watching, spread your legs a little. Let him see who owns you now.” I should have slapped him. Instead, my body answered him before I could breathe. He kissed my temple too slow and held my waist too tight. When the lights dimmed, he murmured, “Open for me.” “Keep your eyes on me.” “I want you shaking for me, not for him.” Somewhere between hating him and wanting him to wreck me, everything blurred. Because the man who barked orders in boardrooms had me whispering his name in the dark, Christmas lights flickering over his bare shoulders while he swallowed every sound I made. My ex wanted me broken. Dante wanted me ruined, but only beneath him. And the worst part was how easily I let him. Santa didn’t bring me a miracle. He gave me a sin in a three piece suit and I tore the wrapping off with trembling hands.

Harley Gibson is a strictly by-the-book homicide detective with an impressive conviction rate. She is also living a dangerous double life. In the human world, she is respected for her skill at always getting her perp. However, in her native werewolf world, she is on the run, being hunted by the Lycan king, who also happens to be her sperm donor. To Lycan Ian Steel, his only daughter is only a means to an end. Harley doesn't know, but she was destined from birth to become one of the highly sought guardians of Sauther Lake. Ian always had. He killed his mate, Harley's mother, to keep her from taking their daughter back to the lake, where she would be protected from him turning her into his assassin. With divine intervention, Harley escaped Ian's pack. For a while, she stayed under her father's radar by changing her last name and never staying in one place for too long. She became too comfortable in LA after being promoted to homicide detective at the prestigious Santa Monica Police Department. After years of searching for his wayward daughter, Ian finally finds her and pulls out his big gun. Bounty hunter Nicholas Reins is to bring her back. Ian uses his mafia ties to get Nick into the police department under the ruse that he is an FBI agent sent to help Harley solve a high-profile murder case, making national news. Only Ian doesn't know that he also has ties to the syndicate committing the string of murders his daughter is investigating. Nick may be a ruthless huntsman, but the Lycan Princess will soon show him she isn't his usual bounty. Together, they will uncover the truth about her past, their future, solve the 'Anacapa Island' murders, and take down two of the mafia's bosses.

Raquel Aguas is the definition of spoiled. Wala siyang inatupag kundi party, shopping, gala, at pagwaldas ng pera ng magulang niya. Wala siyang pakialam sa negosyo, sa future, o kahit sa expectations ng pamilya niya—basta't masaya siya. Pero nang mapuno na ang magulang niya sa kawalang-direksyon niya, tinakot siyang hindi niya makukuha ang mana niya kung hindi siya matutong magpakatao. Dahil sa takot na mawala ang marangyang buhay na nakalaan sa kanya, wala siyang nagawa kundi tanggapin ang kondisyon—ang pumasok sa House of Aguas at tumulong sa kuya niya sa pamamalakad ng kompanya. Sa kasamaang palad, dala lang ni Raquel ang kalat at stress sa opisina. Hindi siya seryoso, laging palpak, at tila ba wala talagang pake. Kaya nagdesisyon ang kuya niyang bigyan siya ng isang project—isang mission na kapag matagumpay niyang nagawa, malaya na siyang bumalik sa dating buhay niya. Kailangan niyang papirmahin ang mayor ng Santa Monica para sa isang malaking proyekto ng House of Aguas Corporation. Sa una'y inakala niyang madali lang iyon. Pero nang makilala niya si Mayor Caelum Argente ay doon siya nagkamali. Guwapo man ito, ngunit masyadong matigas ang prinsipyo. Paulit-ulit siyang binigo at tinanggihan, tila ba sinasadya siyang pahirapan. Habang lumilipas ang mga araw, lalong nawawala ang pasensya niya. Pero dahil desperada siyang matapos ang trabaho at makuha ang kalayaang gusto niya, pilit siyang naghahanap ng paraan para mapasunod ang mayor. Ang hindi niya inaasahan ay ang kondisyong kapalit ng pirma nito—isang kondisyon na hindi pera o pabor ang hinihingi, kundi ang maging sex slave siya nito!

Amora Rebecca Andrada is the drop-dead-gorgeous woman in the small town of Santa Monica. She's a well-known beautiful and knowledgeable woman. Maraming humahanga sa kaniya. She has been labeled as a goddess. Ngunit sa kabila ng magaganda niyang katangian, hindi kailanman iyon nakita ng kaniyang mga magulang. Her parents were disappointed for her indifferent decisions in life. She's nothing compared to her almost-perfect sister, Natasha. Matalino, maganda at paboritong anak si Natasha. Kaya hindi na siya nagtataka kung bakit mas pabor ang kaniyang mga magulang sa kaniyang kapatid kaysa kanya. Lalo na nang maging doctor din ito samantalang siya ay kumuha ng ibang kurso sa kolehiyo. She's tired for all the comparison and disappointments. Nang makapagtapos at makapagtrabaho, pinili niyang bumuklod agad ng tirahan. Mas gusto niya iyong malaya siya sa lahat ng mga panghuhusga ng kaniyang pamilya. Hanggang sa magdesisyon ang kanilang mga magulang na ipakasal si Natasha sa isang Gazalin. Kilala ang pamilyang Gazalin sa buong San Gabriel. Ang pinakamayaman sa kanilang rehiyon. Dahil sa pagiging sunud-sunuran ng kaniyang kapatid, pumayag ito sa kasunduan. Nakaayos na ang lahat at umaayon na sa plano ang bawat pangyayari nang biglang sa araw mismo ng kasal ni Natasha nagmakaawa ito sa kaniya. Natasha is conceiving a baby. Nabuntis ito ng dating nobyo at ayaw ng tumuloy sa kasal. The almost-perfect daughter is now doomed. Ang pagmamakaawa nito sa kaniya ang nag-udyok na piliin niya ang isang bagay na magpapabago sa kaniyang buong buhay. She has to marry Nicolas Syn Gazalin to spare her sister's life. Siya ang pumalit sa kaniyang kapatid sa araw ng kasal. Now, could love bloom after their sudden marriage? How could Nicolas loves her when she's just his sudden bride? How could love makes its way when they are both forced for this marriage?

Di sebuah dunia penuh keajaiban dan misteri, hiduplah seorang anak bernama Ame Ryusaki yang memiliki kemampuan luar biasa: melihat masa depan dan masa lalu. Bersama lima temannya—Anne Yuma, Ryuzaki Santa Yuma, Kuzaki Daterasu, Inoe Matsu Yuuma, dan Reishi Sumadara—mereka memulai perjalanan epik untuk membebaskan kerajaan mereka yang jatuh ke tangan Raja Iblis Sahamaru.Raja Sahamaru, yang bercita-cita menguasai seluruh dunia dan alam semesta, telah membawa perang ke enam dunia, termasuk dunia naga. Setelah menaklukkan keenam dunia tersebut, hanya satu dunia yang belum tersentuh. Namun, kekuasaannya dihentikan sementara oleh Sang Kaisar Naga yang, dengan bantuan sebelas orang lainnya, berhasil menyegel Sahamaru.Di tengah perjalanan mereka, Ame Ryusaki dan Anne menjadi pasangan tak terkalahkan, melawan kekuatan jahat Sahamaru dan Shinta Shiro Yuma. Nasib mempertemukan mereka dengan Puteri Naga kembar yang bertarung sampai mati, serta melihat perebutan kekuasaan yang menyebabkan kehancuran dunia.Dalam perjuangan mereka, Ame Ryusaki terungkap sebagai Putera Cahaya, yang takdirnya adalah menjadi penerang dunia dan pembimbing jalan kedamaian. Mereka juga menyaksikan kebangkitan tiga Dewi Takdir, makhluk yang ditunjuk Yang Maha Kuasa untuk menjaga keseimbangan dimensi. Namun, dengan munculnya sepuluh makhluk tanda kiamat, perang besar yang menentukan nasib alam semesta semakin dekat.Perang akhir zaman Dewa pun dimulai, dengan kemunculan Tujuh Kaisar Agung Zaman Kuno, Tujuh Belas Dewi Naga Tertinggi, Delapan Primordial Agung setara Dewa, serta Bangkitnya Lima Kaisar Tertinggi Zaman Baru dan Sepuluh Makhluk Akhirnya. Mereka semua memeriahkan perang kolosal yang akan menentukan nasib seluruh alam semesta.Di akhir perjuangan ini, siapakah yang akan berdiri sebagai pemenang? Para Dewa dan Dewi bertarung untuk bertahan hidup, dan hanya yang terkuat yang akan berdiri di puncak. Perang kolosal akhir zaman ini akan menentukan masa depan dunia dan alam semesta, membawa harapan baru atau kehancuran total.

Yo soy Isabela Cruz, hija del primer padrino de la Isla Santa Lucía. Crecí siendo rebelde, y mi padre, temiendo que por un arranque de impulsividad me casara con cualquier don nadie, decidió ordenar mi compromiso con Lucas Marino, heredero de la nueva y poderosa familia Marino. Aunque es un matrimonio político, al menos quería elegir mi propio anillo. Por eso asistí a la subasta privada de las familias mafiosas. Cuando el anillo de joya principal salió a la luz, levanté mi paleta de puja. Antes de que el martillo cayera, una voz femenina, arrogante y altiva, sonó a mi espalda: —¿Tú, una campesinita, quieres competir conmigo? ¡Doscientos mil! Si tienes dignidad, lárgate. El lugar quedó en un silencio repentino, roto solo por el clic sutil de las cámaras. Me giré y vi a una mujer con un vestido dorado de alta costura. Sonreía con desdén, como si toda la sala fuese su escenario personal. Antes de que pudiera responder, el subastador bajó el martillo con prisa. —¡Adjudicado! ¡Felicidades, señorita Sofía Duarte, por obtener el anillo estelar “Estrella Eterna”! Fruncí el ceño, sintiendo cómo me ardía el pecho. —¿Se puede cerrar una puja sin terminarla? Qué falta de reglas tiene este lugar. Sofía se volvió hacia mí, sus ojos recorriéndome de los pies a la cabeza con una frialdad cortante. —¿Reglas? —rió con desprecio—. Cariño, yo soy la ahijada favorita de Lucas Marino. Aquí, yo soy la regla. No pude evitar reír. Qué coincidencia tan divina: Lucas es justamente el nombre de mi prometido. Saqué el teléfono sin dudar. —Lucas, tu “ahijada” acaba de arrebatarme el anillo de compromiso que quería. Dime, ¿qué vas a hacer al respecto?