Seventeen Number

On the day we receive our bonus, one of the staff members of the finance department gives me 500 dollars worth of vouchers for the fast food restaurant downstairs. He tells me that my wife, Jillian Dunn, who is also the company's president, specifically ordered him to do so. In utter disbelief, I seek out Jillian and question her. "Didn't we agree that whoever secures the project will get a 50,000-dollar bonus? Stop messing around! I still need to pay for Freya's cochlear implant!" "I'm not messing around with you," Jillian answers seriously. "These vouchers can last you for a whole month. I wouldn't even give them to you if you were anyone else. "Money is tight right now at the company. Besides, Freya has been deaf for more than a decade now. She can survive being deaf for another decade." The next day, Jillian gives one of the interns a sports car that's worth 50,000 dollars. I look at the photo she uploads of her and the intern grinning widely as they sit in the car and give it a like. Jillian must assume that everything is proceeding smoothly since she has signed the contract. However, she misses the additional condition that's printed on the last page of the contract. I dial her rival's number, asking, "Ms. Swan, are you interested in Project Charlie?"

Shantali Jackson awakens from cryostasis to discover she's been asleep for over 600 years. A working-class woman from the pre-collapse era, she finds herself in a sterile medical facility, where staff address her as royalty and claim she's the beloved of Prince Costa—a man she barely remembers meeting at Le Glow Club one fateful night. As fragmented memories surface, Shantali learns the devastating truth: she and Costa were never willing participants in the preservation program. After publicly defying their arranged marriages to choose each other, they were declared enemies of the state and forcibly preserved by the Emergency Preservation Committee. They've been awakened seventeen times for six centuries, only to have their memories wiped when they refused to comply with the Council's genetic breeding program. This time is different—the memory suppression technology is failing, and ghostly echowisps (manifestations of psychic trauma) guide them through their escape. With the help of Marcus, a resistance member, they flee to the underground networks where Shantali discovers shocking truths: her half-brother Elliot became a resistance leader, Costa's parents have been working to undermine the Council for centuries, and the outside world has been habitable for generations. The couple escapes to Haven's Gate, one of seven thriving Eastern Sanctuaries where humanity has rebuilt naturally. But freedom is short-lived when they learn Dr. Thorne and other preservation specialists are using extracted consciousness data to create a new form of control—artificial minds programmed for obedience. Refusing to remain passive victims, Shantali and Costa make a bold choice: they'll pose as desperate refugees seeking re-preservation, walking willingly into Dr. Thorne's trap to stop his plans once and for all. Their love story becomes humanity's last hope against a system that would sacrifice free will for genetic perfection. A tale of choice, resistance, and the power of love.

I never wanted a mate. Not in a world where power meant everything, where the strong ruled and the weak were nothing but pawns. But fate had other plans for me—dark, twisted, and utterly unforgiving. The Alpha King, Lyran, was a legend among werewolves—a beast in battle and an insatiable conqueror in bed. His touch was both a blessing and a curse, The Alpha King, looked into my eyes passionately, Drew me closer by his side, till I get really wet. He began to advance very quickly by dipping his hands into my drilling wet pussy, that made me squirt crazily and hummed without limits. Oh shit, I was his mate, Alpha Lyran, had so many Lycans, and Omegas as his sexual slaves, but his name alone made Luna queens and Omegas drop to their knees. He was ruthless, powerful, and untamed. But he had never met someone like me. For five years, I hid in the shadows, biding my time, sharpening my hatred. My parents were murdered in the brutal war between Lord Nazgus and the sorcerer king, Maharajah. I was only seventeen when everything was taken from me. And now, in the Greko Pack—a kingdom split into seven districts where power decides who lives and who dies—I am nothing more than prey. Until Alpha Lyran claims me. He believes I am just another Omega, a plaything to be used and discarded. He has no idea the monster he has chained to his bed. Because I am no ordinary shifter. I am the last of my kind—the deadliest of them all. A creature feared even in whispered legends. A Wereraven and a Lycan hybrid. And when I rise, not even the Alpha King himself will be able to tame me.

“Who would have thought?” I scorned angering Carlos fast. “A mighty wolf like you getting a scum like me for a mate,” Carlos' eyes flashed gold. His Alpha wolf didn't like the challenge. “Is this the part where you reject me, or should I make things easier and do It instead?” I knew rejection was the only fate awaiting me, and I wasn't going to let him think that I am bothered by it. I should be used to the heartaches by now, I thought grimly. “Cam…” he groaned, pinching his nose. “And he knows my name.” I spat venomously. No one in the pack has ever accorded me or my sister the decency of referring to us with our names. We are either termed as half breeds, scums, slaves, or occasionally orphans. Carlos was tongue-tied for a second. He sighed a million times, looking at me helplessly. I didn't like the pity I saw in his eyes. “Go ahead, mighty Alpha, let's get it done with.” I provoked and apparently, it's all he needed. “I, Carlos Stanford, reject you, Cameron Walker, as my mate.” A softly spoken statement, which carried a lot of weight. Though I was only seventeen and couldn't feel the bond yet, I did feel my wolf retreating at the back of my head, howling in pain. Putting on a brave face, I muttered. “Good riddance!” I stepped past him to leave but stopped by the door when I realized I hadn't done what was expected of me. “I Cameron Walker, accept your rejection.” I smiled through the pain, giving a mock bow, and stormed out of the room like my ass was on fire.

As he came closer, she became more tempting. Her beautiful smell and blood attracted him so much. "Are you truly my Luna?" Gabriel mumbled curiously. As Gabriel got closer to Eva, her eyelids started to open. Eva was not in her state of consciousness, and she was confused. "Who are you?" Eva softly moaned under her breath. Gabriel's eyes were getting bigger after hearing her voice. “I'm your Alpha!" He devoured her and kissed her harshly. *** After becoming the Alpha of the Black Canis Pack, a secret billionaire, Gabriel has the responsibility of finding a mate. Over a century, he has been unable to imprint one. Therefore, his Beta arranged an agreement with a human businessman, Micheal to arrange a marriage between one of his daughters and Gabriel. Unfortunately, the next bride runs away and the sister must replace her. Evangeline is then sedated by her father to fulfill the agreement between him and Gabriel. What a fortunate Gabriel found that Eva is his mate. So, he imprints her on the peak of mating season. However, innocent Eva is choosing to run away from Gabriel whilst she has his baby in her womb. Now that Eva has the most precious heir with her, she become the number one most wanted human of The Black Canis Pack. For Alpha Xander, Eva is his Luna whom he's been waiting for a hundred years. Will they see each other again?

Skylar Carter has spent her entire college career focused on one thing: her future. With law school applications looming, the last thing she needs is distractions, especially from cocky jocks who think the world revolves around them. But when her best friend drags her to a frat party, Skylar finds herself in the orbit of the king of them all, Liam Westbrook. Liam is the golden boy of college football, destined to be the number one pick in the NFL draft. He’s used to women falling at his feet, used to getting what he wants without trying. But when he meets Skylar, a girl who refuses to worship him, he's instantly intrigued. She’s smart, feisty, and unimpressed by his status, which only makes him want her more. What starts as a bet soon turns into something deeper, something neither of them expected. Skylar is determined to resist him, but Liam is relentless in his pursuit. As the tension between them simmers and sparks fly, their undeniable chemistry threatens to upend everything they thought they wanted. But love does not come without risks. Skylar has her future mapped out, and Liam is on the brink of superstardom. Falling for each other was never part of the plan. Can they handle the heat, or will their worlds pull them apart before they even have a chance? A sizzling enemies to lovers romance, filled with banter, electric chemistry, and two ambitious souls colliding in the most unexpected way.

On the day of the mating ceremony, I'm supposed to be marked by William Ernst and become the Luna of the Shadow pack. However, Annie Denver, my younger twin sister, suddenly comes back from abroad. Dad, Mom, and William end up abandoning me, choosing to pick her up from the airport. While Annie posts a family photo on Facebook, flaunting how everyone in the family loves her, my family cuts me off whenever I try to contact them through mind-link. They end up closing the mind-link. After calling countless times, William finally accepts my call and asks me to stop rushing him. He tells me that today's mating ceremony is canceled and will be rescheduled on another date. My dearest parents, brother, and the man I love the most all turn me into the laughingstock of the entire pack—and the most ridiculous bride of all. Despite being laughed at, I didn't cry or make a scene. After taking care of everything, I write a number in my journal—the 99th time. This is the 99th time they have disappointed me. From this moment on, I won't beg for their love anymore. I fill out an application for Arcetic expedition, ready to leave them. They all think that my silence and constant compromises with Annie mean I've matured. They fail to realize that I'm disappointed to the core. I am leaving for good.

Freddie Ashford is a famous New York hockey player living the dream. He has money, fame and a serious long-term relationship until someone decided his life was too good. One night out with his teammates changed his life, turning it upside down. Freddie has been accused of a crime he didn’t commit, he lost his friends, his girlfriend, sponsor deals, and he is on the verge of losing his career. Tatum Reid escaped from a controlling and abusive relationship with a hockey player. The only good thing she got from that relationship was her eight-year-old daughter. She promised herself never get involved with a hockey player again, but she finds a new in New York as a PR for a very famous Hockey Team. Her is to make sure the players behave on social media, and she is making her number one priority clearing Freddie’s name. What happens when Tatum’s past comes knocking on her door? Her ex comes to play against the team she works for, and Freddie Ashford tries saving her the same way she is trying to save him. Will Tatum keep her feelings to herself, or will she allow Freddie to penetrate her icy heart and make her happy once more? This is the fourth and final book of The Ashford Brothers Series. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but for better comprehension, it is better to read the other three. The Big Shot, The Joker, The Strong and finally The Jock.

"This realm is your only chance of coming back to life in the mortal world, and if you attract those consequences, take note that you will die.” “Death?” I ask, mostly to myself. And to the voice, “What do you mean by 'I’m on my way to death'?” ~~~ Nova was having a bad day, and all she wanted was for the day to end already. But the universe seemed to have misunderstood her wish, because not only did her day not end, but she met with an accident that left her in a coma. As if that wasn't bad enough, she became trapped in a dimension between life and death, where she had to face a series of trials that would determine if she wakes... or fades from existence. Enter Zephyr, the spirit assigned to guide her to the light – her recovery. The spirit who never tried to disguise his want for her failure. The spirit she should've never fallen in love with. But in a world where survival is determined by the number of challenges a soul can conquer, the heart still found its way around love. With her complicated feelings in an already complicated world, Nova must decide what she's truly fighting for – her life, or the one being who's capable of ending it. *** In a short time, the remaining one hundred and twelve souls are pushed out. When we’re complete and standing, a voice – different from on the bus – greets us. “Welcome, Souls, to the survival games.”

Lena Hale promised herself she would never see Adrian Vale again—the boy she once loved, the man who ruined her life without ever knowing he did. But fate doesn’t care about promises. One night. One borrowed dress. One harmless dinner with an elderly millionaire to keep her bills from crushing her. That’s all it was supposed to be… until Adrian walks into the same hotel and looks at her with the cold, cutting eyes of a man who thinks he already knows the truth. He thinks she sold her heart for money. He thinks he finally caught her in the act. He thinks she has a price. And Adrian Vale is a billionaire who always pays what something is “worth.” A raised eyebrow. A silent gesture. An envelope she never asked for. A number she can’t ignore. Suddenly Lena is trapped in a slow-burn collision of power, obsession, old wounds, and the kind of chemistry that burns hotter after eight years apart. He wants answers. She wants freedom. But the past they share is a loaded gun—and Adrian is done pretending he doesn’t want to pull the trigger. He was the love she lost. Now he’s the danger she can’t escape. And the more she fights him, the more he decides she was always his. If Lena can’t match him move for move… she won’t survive him.