Since You've Been Gone

Harriet thought the worst thing she’d done this December was surrender to a stranger in a dark room one reckless night that left her shaking, breathless, and certain she’d never see him again. She was wrong. The next morning, she arrives home for Christmas only to learn her parents have rushed off on an emergency trip, leaving her alone to supervise the renovation of their house. Except… she’s not alone. Devon, the boy who grew up in their home like family, the “almost-brother” she hasn’t seen in years, opens the door older now, broader, too handsome for her peace of mind. And when he looks at her, she feels it in her bones. Because he isn’t just Devon. He’s the stranger from last night. The man who took her virginity. The man she swore she’d forget. Now they’re trapped in the same house for the holidays, two people who should never have crossed that line, pretending not to remember the way his hands fit her body, the way she whispered his name without knowing it was his.

Arielle scored the most lucrative deal of her career and decided to celebrate it with a two-week vacation touring another continent. In her plans to let loose for the first time in her life, she has a one-night stand with a fellow tourist. The next day she left him with a simple goodbye note thinking they would never see each other again. __ Thomas finally managed to squeeze a two-week vacation after five years of grueling his ass for his family business. His plans to relax take a detour when he meets a fascinating tourist enjoying herself alone. After they tangled in bed, she left him with the intention of never crossing paths again, which he is more than happy to oblige. Her non-clingy attitude increases his estimation of her. __ But fate has other plans as he turns out to be her employer for her biggest deal yet. They are both contracted to work together for the next six months. As the sparks fly, where would it lead them?

I died on the day I was supposed to receive the Pack’s Distinguished Service Award. Three hours after I died, my parents, my brother, and my mate were just wrapping up the graduation party they’d thrown for my sister. While my sister, Ella, was posting a cozy family photo on Instagram, I was locked in our basement, using my tongue to swipe on my phone and call for help. The only person who answered was my mate, Ryan. All he said was, "Sophie, cut the drama. Ella's graduation party is important. Enough with the tantrums!" This was the ninety-ninth time they had let me down. And the last. I lay in a pool of my own blood, my lungs still. They thought I was just throwing a fit, hiding somewhere. That if they taught me a lesson, I’d come crawling back. But they didn't know. I was home the whole time. I was already dead.

"We are not meant for each other, cause you're not mine and I'm not yours to begin with."- Kseniya "I can surrender everything just for you to be mine. I can do destruction to the heaven and underworld to let them know that your mine to begin with."- UNKNOWN

Emma believed she had it all—a dream marriage to the charismatic and wealthy David Lawson. Life seemed perfect, and their love story felt like something out of a fairytale. But on their second wedding anniversary, Emma’s perfect world crumbled. A shocking discovery unraveled the web of lies her husband had spun, leaving her questioning everything she thought she knew about him. As if betrayal wasn’t enough, the person threatening to destroy her marriage turned out to be her husband’s old flame—a woman from his past who was none other than Emma’s own sister. Torn between love, loyalty, and betrayal, Emma must make a choice: fight to save her marriage and confront the devastating truths or walk away to rebuild her life on her own terms. Dive into Emma’s captivating journey of heartbreak, resilience, and self-discovery in a story where love and betrayal collide.

Cathy is the apple of her family's eye—not only of her family but also of the entire North. Being an omega with a strong inner wolf, his family hid him for protection. In his insistence to get his family to allow him to study at school, his family gave him a condition: to hide the strength of his inner wolf. Because they were studying at school, they met his youth again. The boy he hadn't seen in a long time, and since this man didn't recognize him, will they be able to continue the friendship they have, or will they end up having feelings for each other? Will his family be able to protect Cathy, or will it be put in danger because of his inner wolf?

“Kael…please…make it fast. I want you.” ungol ko. At ginawa nga ni Kael, mabilis siyang gumalaw sa ibabaw ko, at sa sobrang bilis niya gusto ko na siyang tumigil lalo na’t mabigat ang paghawak niya sa baywang ko habang binabayo ako. “Kael…stop, ” Hindi natapos ang sasabihin ko nang bigla siyang tumigil. Tumayo siya, mabigat ang bawat galaw. Nakatitig lang sa sahig. “Kael?” mahina kong tanong. Tahimik siya at saka dahan-dahan siyang tumingin sa akin. “Solene,” sabi niya, kalmado. “Let’s get a divorce.” Parang may sumabog sa tenga ko. “Ano?” halos hindi ko marinig ang boses ko. “Ano’ng sinabi mo?” Tuwid ang tindig niyang sumagot. “I already talked to my lawyer.” Huminga ako nang malalim, pilit na pinapaklam ang sarili ko. “Bakit?” “She’s sick.” Tumigil siya sandali bago tumingin sa akin. “Si Natalyn… she only has six months left.” Namilog ang mga mata ko. “So?” “She wants to spend her last days as my wife.” Walang pagbabago sa tono niya. “After that… I’ll come back to you.” Napangiti ako. Mapait. “Babalik ka?” bulong ko. “Para ka lang aalis sa bakasyon.” “Please, Solene.” Mahina pero mariin. “She’s dying. Don’t make this harder.” Natahimik ako. Ang hangin sa pagitan naming dalawa ay mabigat. Ang mga kamay kong kanina’y nakayakap sa kanya, ngayo’y nakalapat sa kama, nakakuyom. Anong kahibangan ito? Hindi pa kami tapos sa ginagawa namin pero bigla nalang siyang titigil at isang nakakagulat na balita ang sasabihin sa akin?

“Wendy, are you absolutely sure you want to sign this document?” The Elder’s voice rang in my ears—cold, distant. “Once your bond with Alpha John is dissolved, you’ll lose everything tied to the Blackthorn Pack.” I gripped the pen so hard my knuckles turned white. “Yes. I’m sure.” But just as the tip touched the paper— BANG! The door was kicked open with a violent crash. Alpha John stormed in, eyes bloodshot, and wrapped his hand around my throat. “You dare?!” Blood slipped from the corner of my lips… but I laughed. Because I knew—he would never discover the truth. That his dear uncle, Alpha Vincent, was hiding in my closet at this very moment. And the fresh bite mark on my lower belly… still burned from last night. As if fate was mocking me, my sweet little sister Penny sent a message right then: “Sis, wanna know a secret? That miscarriage you had? John planned it. He made it happen.” Then the TV flickered to life with a breaking live broadcast— There she was, Penny, gently stroking her swollen belly as she smiled into the camera. “John and I are expecting our baby next month,” she announced proudly to the entire Pack. And Alpha John—my “husband”—stood beside her, lovingly kissing her forehead. Like I never existed. Like I wasn’t the Luna written in law. “Miranda,” my wolf snarled in my head, “Rip those traitors apart—now!” But I didn’t. I wiped the blood from my mouth, and dialed the number I hadn’t called in five long years. “Vincent,” I said calmly, “Come get me.”

Grant, the heir to the Bennett family, had been my protector for over a decade. He taught me how to fire my first shot and saved me from every attempt on my life. After someone slipped drugs into Grant's drink at the family gathering, he stumbled into my room, and his icy control shattered. His hands found my waist as he pulled me close, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered my name. A single night of drugged passion left me pregnant with his child. When my twin sister, Claire, found out, she left a note and disappeared, heartbroken. After that, I was cast as the cold-hearted villain who drove her own sister away. Grant personally forced the contraceptive potion down my throat and exiled me to the lawless territories beyond our family's control. To make me atone, he abandoned me to fend for myself in that desolate land. I was eventually killed in the crossfire of a mob war. As I lay dying, my mind was flooded with memories of Grant. The troublemaker he always called me was finally gone. He must have been relieved. When I next opened my eyes, I had returned to the morning after that disastrous night. This time, without hesitation, I drank the contraceptive potion myself.

I'd loved my childhood friend, Colleen Decker, for ten years, until a car accident changed everything. She loses the ability to walk and never stands again. Her fiance, Ronald Coleman, and other self-proclaimed admirers disappear overnight. Even the Decker family turns their backs on her, cutting her off as the heiress. I'm the only one who stays by her side. I drop out of school and spend two years caring for her, doing everything I can to find the best specialists in the country. However, the moment she gets back on her feet—during the proposal I'd prepared—she announces in front of everyone that she's continuing her engagement to Ronald. When I confront her, Colleen grabs my hand, her voice soft and earnest. "Lucius, I'm not doing this because I want to. I'm marrying him to get back at him for walking away from me back then. You have to believe me. I only love you." But during a game of Truth or Dare, Ronald draws the King card. He points at me and says, "Lucius, choose any girl here and kiss her for one minute." I look to Colleen for help, but she turns her head away. "Don't look at me. I belong to Ronald now."