Short Story By Nick Joaquin

Rafael DeLuca is a man forged in blood and betrayal. Once the rightful heir to a powerful mafia empire, he lost everything when his family was slaughtered in an act of treachery. For years, he rebuilt his power from the shadows, rising as the most feared mafia strategist in the underworld. Now, the time for vengeance has come, and his enemy’s greatest weakness is within his grasp—Sophia Romano. Sophia has spent her life in a gilded cage, unaware of the sins that stain her last name. Sheltered and untouched by the violent world her father commands, she believes she is destined for an ordinary life. But when she is kidnapped by a man as dangerous as he is captivating, her world shatters. Rafael is her captor, her tormentor, and her only protector in a world far darker than she ever imagined. What begins as a calculated act of revenge soon turns into something Rafael never anticipated—obsession. Sophia’s innocence should make her easy to break, yet her quiet defiance ignites something primal within him. He tells himself she is only a pawn, a means to an end, but with every glance, every forbidden touch, she threatens to unravel his carefully crafted plans. As hidden truths come to light and past betrayals resurface, Rafael is forced to make an impossible choice: will he sacrifice the one woman who has become his greatest weakness, or will he forsake his vengeance for a love that could destroy them both? In a world where love is as deadly as betrayal, Rafael and Sophia will have to decide—will their obsession ruin them, or will it be the only thing that saves them?

Portia Laurent becomes a part of an organization that’s determined to find a werewolf species for a DNA experiment. Their mission has driven her to search for any living werewolf before the full moon rises and before they can attack humans. Portia has spent her life researching about her werewolf fascination, making it easier for her to discern one. But her knowledge hasn’t helped her in their mission, not until one day, she finds out about the luna. Her friend, Valerie, has told her about a significant mark on her back that reveals her fate. Baffled, Portia tries to suppress her skepticism for she thinks that it may just be a coincidence. As much as she tries to shake off the fact that Valerie may be the mate of alpha, the truth has unfolded in front of her when she meets Giofré. *The full synopsis will be in the first part*

Amara never wanted this life, but working under **Leonardo DeLuca**, a ruthless mafia boss, leaves her no choice. He’s obsessed with her—dangerously so. When his enemy, **Dante Russo**, sets a deadly trap, Leonardo falls for it—only to realize *Amara was the target all along*. But Amara isn’t just a pawn. *She’s about to play the player.* As secrets unravel and obsession deepens, she must outsmart both men before she loses more than just her freedom—she might lose herself. ---

Si Ariadne Altavilla ay anak sa labas ng isang dating Gobernador. Nang mawala ang kanyang ama sa posisyon niya sa politika, nagbago ang landas ni Ariadne, at natutong lumuhod sa tukso ng casino. Nabaon siya sa utang, at ang tanging paraan upang maayos ang mga pagkakautang ay ipasok siya sa Dream Fortress—isang Class-A na prostitution house na ang mga kliyente ay kabilang sa pinakamataas na uri ng lipunan. Isang gabing puno ng pagbebenta ng laman ang nag-iwan sa kanya ng isang hindi malilimutang karanasan. Matagal na ang nakalipas, ngunit hindi pa rin mabura sa isip ni Ariadne ang unang lalaking pinag-alayan niya ng kanyang sarili. Sa paglipas ng panahon, nanatili na lamang sa alaala ang lalaking iyon… hanggang sa makilala niya si Adam, na kalaunan ay naging kanyang kasintahan. Masasabi ni Ariadne na tila maayos na ang buhay nila ng kanyang ina, kaya tinanggap niya ang marriage proposal ng kanyang nobyo. Subalit habang papalapit ang araw ng kanyang kasal, muling lumitaw sa kanyang buhay ang lalaking una at huling umangkin sa kanyang katawan, handang baguhin ang lahat ng kanyang pinangarap.

Sebuah taruhan membawa Skyla Liora pada sosok Shael Orlaith, pemimpin kelompok Vortexia. Dari sebuah ciuman mereka menjadi pasangan. Namun, saat Skyla berpikir bahwa Shael mencintainya, ia ditampar oleh kenyataan bahwa Shael hanya menganggapnya sebagai pengganti mendiang kekasihnya yang memiliki wajah yang mirip dengannya. Tidak ingin terus dianggap sebagai pengganti, Skyla memilih untuk mengakhiri hubungannya dengan Shael. "Mau taruhan? Aku bisa membunuh seluruh anggota keluargamu jika kau melangkah satu langkah saja keluar dari pintu mansion ini. Ayo uji aku." Shael Orlaieth. Skyla tidak punya pilihan, ia harus bertahan demi orangtuanya. Namun, masihkah Skyla mampu bertahan saat mendiang kekasih Shael yang dianggap sudah tiada ternyata masih hidup dan masuk kembali ke dalam kehidupan Shael?

After getting betrayed by people she thought she could trust, Lyra must now find a way to help her dying brother.

One night, one impulsive signature, one life turned upside down. Nina Grant never expected to be trust into the world of Victor Hale, billionaire heir and ruthless tycoon. Overnight she becomes his wife, a target of rivals, socialites, and corporate enemies. But as danger closed in, she discovers strength she never knew she had and a man who challenges her in ways she never imagined. In a world of high stakes, cutthroat boardrooms, and public scrutiny, Nina must navigate enemies, family secrets, and unexpected passion. One wrong move could cost her everything or just lead to the love she never saw coming.

He never knew how hungry his heart was until he had the taste of her love. He is infernal. She is angelic. Marcello Colombo, the third in command in one of the biggest crime families in New York, is well known for being relentless, cruel, strategic, notoriously violent when it comes to getting what he wants—and for having absolutely no interest in love and commitment. Not until he met Mariana Anderson and suddenly he found himself thirsty for her with an unquenchable desire. As the eldest and unfavourable daughter of her father, Mariana Anderson, was oblivious to her father's crimes until the day she met Marcello, the devil himself. She knew getting involved with a man like him would be dangerous. But who would have known that what fate had in store for her was different and shocking? Not only did he kidnap her and take her as his hostage, he was also going to marry her, and she had no say, but that is not even the worst of what she was going to experience as the wife of a Mafia consigliere. As Marcello began the quest to seek his parents' killer, he was forced to accept a horrible truth, one that would unfold more and more secrets along the way.

Devin King was my first—well, everything. They say you never forget your first. Whoever said that was right because no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get him out of my head or my heart. I foolishly thought my heart wouldn’t miss what it couldn’t see, but I was wrong because I never forgot, not for one moment. You’re not supposed to kiss your best friend. You’re not supposed to give your virginities to one another, either—but we did. We were kids, teenagers, full of hormones and mixed emotions, but it felt right. He was the first boy to kiss me, the first boy to touch me and taste me in a way only a lover would. “Say you want to be mine….” He whispered while I shook in his arms. And I did. And then he wrecked me. After I trusted him and gave myself to him, he disappeared, left me in my , the scent of him still lingering on my skin, the taste of his kiss still fresh on my lips. He left me after the amazing night we shared after we became one another’s and disappeared without a word. Until one day ten years later he pops up like a rash as the newly appointed CEO of our firm. Was I shocked to see him standing in the office after a decade? Yes. Did I almost faint? Hell yes. My heart may have melted a little when he smiled right at me, but he wouldn’t ever know that—because I hated him. But here I am, the VP of an established publication firm standing in the CEO’s office handcuffed to the pompous face. Why are we handcuffed you ask? Well, that's a funny story...

Lyra Vale has always lived a careful life in a world where humans share uneasy truces with supernatural beings. But when the mysterious crescent-shaped mark behind her ear begins to burn, she’s drawn to Moonmark Ink—a tattoo shop in the dangerous, supernatural-controlled town of Ashridge Hollow. Her plan to cover the mark quickly unravels when she meets Ronan Bane, the magnetic, alpha werewolf who has been haunting her dreams for months. Ronan knows exactly who Lyra is: his fated mate, caught between two worlds as a rare half-human, half-wolf. Their connection is undeniable, but Lyra is unaware of her heritage or the pull of her first moon heat. As desire intensifies, Ronan must protect her from rival packs, prowling vampires, and the political dangers tied to her bloodline—especially if she’s connected to the powerful and dangerous Duskfang Pack. Torn between fear and an attraction that defies logic, Lyra is forced to confront truths about her lineage, the supernatural politics of the Hollow, and the primal bond tying her to Ronan. In a world where trust is fragile and predators lurk in every shadow, surrendering to their connection might be the most dangerous choice of all. Marked by Moonlight is a steamy, suspense-filled paranormal romance about fate, secrets, and the burning pull of a love written in the stars. It is also a four-part series telling the tale of not just Ronan and Lyra, but of the people they trust. Each book blends into the other as they find a way to survive the war to come.