Shrugged Shoulders

When I was young, I saved a fae—charming and extremely handsome. In return, he offered me one wish, and I, lost in romantic fantasies, asked for the strongest wolves to be obsessed with me. It sounded dreamy—until it wasn’t. Obsession, I learned, is a storm disguised as a dream. First up, my stepbrother—his obsession turned him into a tormentor. Life became unbearable, and I had to escape before a mating ceremony that felt more like a nightmare than a love story. But freedom was short-lived. The next wolf found me, nearly made me his dinner, and kidnapped me away to his kingdom, proclaiming I would be his Luna. He wasn’t as terrifying, but when he announced our wedding plans (against my will, obviously), his best friend appeared as competitor number three. “Great! Just what I needed,” I thought. This third wolf was sweet, gentle, and truly cared—but, alas, he wasn’t my type. Desperate, I tracked down the fae. “Please, undo my wish! I want out of this romantic disaster!” My heart raced; I really needed him to understand me. He just smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “Sorry, you’re on your own. But I can help you pick the best one out of them!” How do I fix this mess? Facing three intense wolves: “Marry me, I’ll kill anyone who bothers you!” the first declared fiercely. “No, marry me! I’ll make you the happiest ever,” the second pleaded. “I’ll destroy every kingdom you walk into. You’re mine!” the third growled, eyes blazed. “Seriously, what have I gotten myself into?” A long sigh escaped my lips. Caught between a curse and a hard place, I really just wanted peace and quiet…but which one do I choose?

IN BED WITH THE CHOSEN ONE I am the rejected one in the pack. The one without a wolf. The one everyone wonders how I live because of my lack of a bond with the Goddess Luna. I don't mind it, it means I could be friends with the normals. Humans they were. In a world where shifters, witches, fae and vampires exist, I am an anomaly.  Until one full moon. My life changed drastically. I was bonded to him. Alex Lister. Alpha of the Dark Path, the strongest wolf pack to exist. Even his name strikes fear in the hearts of other Alphas. And I was his mate. Now, with the fate of shifters resting on my shoulders, an over possessive alpha mate and fights coming from our worst enemies, I have to tip the balance of the universe again. I have to be in bed with the Alpha.

Josh Carter, a beguiling wealthy person known for his costly occasions and laid-back manner, is at crossroads. At the point when his dad dies suddenly, he is given a horrendous predicament framed in his dad's will: wed to acquire the Carter family riches, or watch everything deteriorate away. The Carter realm's past weighs intensely on Josh's shoulders, yet the idea of surrendering his unique lone fierce way of life feels like detainment. Josh makes a dangerous arrangement to get away from this unexpected circumstance. He moves toward Amy Wesley, the contemplative and bashful proprietor of a little bookstore in the downtown area, with a fascinating proposition: a contract marriage. Amy, who is lowered under water and fantasies about reestablishing her valued yet monetary striving bookstore, takes Josh's deal. They start their contract marriage, what starts as a ploy changes into considerably more. Josh's unbending facade starts to break, finding scars from a difficult past he's for quite some time tried to neglect. Amy, with secret stores of force, shrewdly directs Josh through the complexities of their bogus marriage. Their lives become weaved surprisingly, and the limits between what's valid and what's only for show get obscured. Amy finds a secret note tending to her, covered in the dusty profundities of the bookstore, similarly as they have faith in the possibility of certifiable love. The note implies a labrynth of foul play and covered thought processes that causes some qualms about Josh's real goals. Amy starts on an excursion to find the purpose for Josh's inspirations, driven by encoded hints from the note, and the plot takes an unexpected bearing. The novel closes with a strained excursion through the city's complex roads, leaving Amy's life in risk, and a dark message implying towards a perilous plot squeezing to swallow them both.

“Shut your fucking damn mouth!” Zach’s voice echoed through the room, raw and sharp with anger. Madison didn’t flinch. If anything, the fire in her eyes only burned brighter. She had been pushing his buttons for days—emotionally, mentally. And it tore at him, deep down where no one could see. “I thought you liked it open,” she said with a wicked smirk, sauntering toward his desk like she owned the place. His body betrayed him, twitching at her dirty words. Of course she knew exactly what to say. She always did. “I’m not quitting!” she snapped. “I am a doctor. A damn good one. Who do you think you are to tell me to give that up?!” Zach rose from behind his desk, calm yet dangerous. His hands moved to open his suit jacket, revealing that familiar tension in his shoulders—the one that made her heart race. “Wha—what are you doing?” He closed the space between them in two strides. “I’m your Daddy,” he growled, low and close, “like you cried out last night. And you… you’re mine.” And then his lips crashed into hers before she could breathe another word. ~~ Darly Madison—respected surgeon, focused, disciplined, and just a little stubborn—had her world under control. That is, until her best friend dragged her to a luxurious night party at one of the city’s most exclusive hotels. One night. One mistake. One man who turned her world upside down. Zach Westley. Mafia boss. Dominant. Dangerous. Possessive to the core. She thought it was just a one-night stand. He had other plans. Now her life as a surgeon collides with a dark underworld she never saw coming. And whether she likes it or not… she’s been claimed by the Mafia.

With a shift, I let my dress slip from my shoulders and fall to the floor, revealing the lingerie beneath. Nathan's eyes darkened, as closing the small distance between us, his lips claimed mine in a possessive kiss. His tongue tangled with mine, both hungry and tender. Then, slowly, oh so tantalizingly slowly, he backed me toward the bed, his kisses travelling down my neck, across my collarbone, before they moved lower still… ~~~ FBI Agent Brianna Hart had always wanted Nathan Pierce, her stepbrother, and for several years they had been lovers, but circumstances forced them apart. When Brianna returns to her former job within the FBI, she finds Nathan married. When he once again becomes her team leader, Brianna tries to maintain a professional relationship with Nathan. But after a tragic accident takes the life of Nathan’s wife and unborn child, Nathan seeks solace within Brianna’s arms. Old feelings flare to life between them, and both struggle with the undeniable sexual attraction between them. Brianna's heart is torn over her love and need for the newly widowed Nathan, while he grapples with the loss of his family and his re-awakened feelings for a woman he never quite let go of.

“You like it when you’re being watched, don’t you?” Alex grunted, making Ivy have goosebumps. “Should we give them a show?” Alex breathed against her neck, causing her nipples to ache and harden against her bra. She made a mental note of the guards scattered around the property, who were trying hard not to look. Ivy gulped as she felt Alex’s mouth on her neck, one of her weak spots. He sucked on it as she hissed, placing her hands on his shoulders for support. Alex knew what he was doing to her; he could feel himself getting hard and could sense her arousal. He stopped, raised himself out of the pool, and stretched his hands for her to grab, which she did. He pulled her out of the pool with one hand. Without a pause, he carried her over his shoulder, her bare bottom exposed to the air. “Alex, let me go!” Ivy struggled against his body, receiving a spank from Alex that quieted her down. --------- Ivy Queen meets Alexander Donatello, CEO/ mafia lord of the American syndicate at a party. She is intrigued by his presence as he is drawn to her. Alex schemes up ways to get Ivy to marry him as she is in debt after the loss of her family in a ghastly car accident. Alex's childhood friend and business associate, Ryan Smith was smitten by Ivy when he first set his eyes on her. He followed her everywhere, obsessed with the way she moved, talked, but had no guts to ask her out. Ivy's best friend, Tim Rumble, was also in love with her but he was satisfied with being her friend as long he got to be with her.

My name is Ember Haiven. I’ve been alone and on the run my entire life. Everything changed when I became Kieran’s surrogate in exchange for his protection. I had no idea that I would fall in love with this dragon shifter and enter a world that I believed existed only in my dreams. “Is that what you want?” he asked. “Yes…” I said feeling myself go breathless in his arms. “I never thought I’d be able to touch another person like this and now, I just don’t want this feeling to end.” He kissed me sweetly, pulling me closer and then rested his forehead against mine. I could see the color drain from his face and his shoulders sag like I’d ripped the heart from his chest. And maybe I had. It felt like my own was trying to claw its way from my skin. He moved to take a step forward but then thought better of it. Surrogate of the Sleeping Dragon is written by Claire Wilkins, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Valerion turned back to the witches, “So you just expect me to stand here,” he said, his voice filled with rage, “And watch my daughter suffer in pain until she DIES?!” A heavy silence settled over the room. Lilith breaks the silence. “In order to end Princess Azrael's pain and save her life, there's only one solution.” All eyes were on Lilith now, waiting for her to continue. Then, she spoke the words that would change everything. “The princess has to mate with the Lycan Alpha.” For centuries, Vampires and Lycans have been locked in an endless war, their hatred written in blood and history. Azrael, the fierce and calculating princess of the vampire kingdom, has spent her life proving her worth in a court that favors her twin brother. As the daughter of the ruthless King Valerion, she knows power is never given, it must be taken. But when fate binds her to Draven, the brutal and feared Alpha of the Lycans, everything she has fought for is threatened. Draven is a conqueror, a warrior who bows to no one. When he discovers that his fated mate is a vampire, his greatest enemy. He resists, knowing that such a bond could destroy everything he has built. Yet the pull between them is undeniable, and as war looms once more, their connection may become the spark that ignites a far greater conflict. With enemies lurking in the shadows and the weight of their people on their shoulders, Azrael and Draven must make a choice, fight fate or embrace it. But in a world where loyalty is fragile and betrayal is deadly, surrendering to the bond may be the most dangerous risk of all.

Ivy Bernard always believed she was the chosen one, destined to save her pack from a terrible fate. Born with mesmerizing blue eyes and hair, she was supposed to marry the alpha, the man she loved. But on the eve of their union, Ivy was heartlessly rejected and betrayed by the very man who was supposed to protect her. The alpha found another woman who looked just like Ivy, claiming her as his mate. Crushed, Ivy fled—only to be saved by the mysterious and powerful Ryan Klein, a man battling a terminal illness. He claims they're mates, but Ivy has lost her memory and believes him. Her life becomes a twisted web of lies and deceit, as Ryan’s secret intentions to protect her mask his own desperate need to live out his final days with someone he loves. But what happens when Ivy remembers the truth? "Am I your Luna, Ryan? Or did you lie?" As Ivy uncovers Ryan's betrayal, she decides to play along. She feigns ignorance, biding her time, planning her revenge. Derek, the dangerous second male lead who betrayed her in the past, is also lurking, determined to reclaim Ivy for himself. With the prophecy's weight on her shoulders and enemies closing in from all sides, Ivy must confront her deepest fears: Can she forgive Ryan’s deception? Or will revenge consume her? Will Ivy reclaim her power, or will the lies tear her apart?

Jada prayed and asked God to provide a miracle that would be a solution to her family’s problems. They had always been poor, but this was the worst situation they had ever been in. Her father had to be taken to the hospital two weeks ago, and she had become the sole provider for their home. Marilou had given them what money she had that she could to help, but she wasn’t exactly rolling in money herself. The young girl had a huge responsibility placed upon her shoulders, but she was determined not to lose their home or have the children sent to foster care. She had been waiting tables and using her tips to buy gas and groceries, but it was barely enough most days. Her paycheck had not been enough to pay all the bills since her father had let them get so far behind. Mrs. DeRoya cleared her throat, signaling that she would answer the girl. “Miss Pence, I only had one child, my son Brayden here. My husband was also an only child. So, unless Brayden produces an heir, our bloodline here in the United States is lost. What we need is a surrogate to carry the child. If you sign the contract, when the child is born you will receive one million dollars to take your siblings and go have a good life,” she said, staring at her without emotion.