Sinister Smile

Seven days before our wedding, Danny Wagner—my childhood sweetheart—got down on one knee for Mia Kant, the broke girl he'd been sponsoring. Right in front of me and his buddies. I didn't cry. Didn't lose it. Just slapped a smile on my face and said, "Wishing you two a lifetime of happiness." His buddies? Oh, they had the nerve to tell me to be generous and let Danny help Mia finish her "wish list." Danny, unsatisfied and ticked off, said I was overreacting and demanded an apology. Dismissive, he sneered, "I said I'd marry you after Mia's wish list was done. Stop being so unreasonable." I knew this was the last item on her list. I opened my notes app, scrolled to my wish list, and deleted all thirty-three bullet points. Done. Then I made a call. "I'm willing to marry you."

Something happened between us last night…I bit the pillow. I couldn’t really believe that I was in the same unknown room with him. Am I still dreaming? If yes, please wake me up!“I want to wake up from this nightmare!” I screamed mindlessly. I heard Rhio laugh.“You aren’t dreaming Jasmin,” he said with a big smile, “And this isn’t a nightmare…for me.”I threw him the pillow, “Do you think I’m glad with what happened?”“We’ll there’s nothing we could do about that,” he smirked, “for all I knew, I have deflowered you.”Rhio Zel Cantheliz, the sole heir of Multi-Billionaire Zel Cantheliz Corporation, were his clan died in tragic event namely, Zel Cantheliz Massacre. Rhio, who really hated woman, needing one to save his family hierarchy.

When a young girl named **Emilia** moves to an isolated, fog-drenched city in search of a fresh start, she quickly discovers that something is terribly wrong. The streets echo with silence, residents vanish without a trace, and time itself begins to twist and collapse. As doors appear in places they shouldn’t, and her own reflection begins acting on its own, Emilia realizes she’s trapped in a place that is not just haunted — it’s alive. Each chapter peels back a new layer of horror: shadowy watchers, eerie apparitions, underground tunnels, and ghostly echoes of past inhabitants. But the real terror lies within — the city seems to feed on fear, loneliness, and the feeling of failure. It reflects Emilia’s own anxieties back at her, warping her reality into a trial of the soul. As she searches for meaning, and later for escape, Emilia uncovers the city’s sinister purpose: it traps those most vulnerable and forces them to confront their darkest selves. With the help of other survivors — some real, some echoes — she must navigate psychological mazes and make impossible choices to survive. But survival isn't enough. Emilia must transform — not by escaping her fear, but by embracing it. In doing so, she becomes something more than a victim of the city. She becomes a guide, a witness, and eventually, a keeper of the door. *Trapped in the Hollow City* is a suspenseful, haunting exploration of inner demons, resilience, and the eerie beauty of choosing to become — even when the world seems built to break you.

"Little bunny, little bunny. Wolf is HUNGRY!" The voice taunted me, followed by an evil cackle. * "Run, rabbit. RUN!" A monstrous bellow boomed through the night sky and crashed into my soul like a sledgehammer. I could feel a chill sweeping across my body and my heart pounding in my chest. The echoes of howls and laughter followed me from behind as I ran for my life. ** Elisabeth's life had been harder than most since she was a child--a distant and often cruel mother and her never-ending cycle of addiction that had taken over her life. But on this fateful night, something far more sinister was lurking in the darkness, ready to take her away from it all. Massive figures appeared out of nowhere, growling and taunting her. She tried to scream, but nothing would come out; before she knew it, she was waking up in a world where Viking werewolves ruled with mysterious faeries at their side. Every five years, they traveled to the human realm, collecting ten girls for their mate run--and tonight, Elisabeth was one of them. With only a white dress and her bare feet, Elisabeth stood beside the other nine girls as the beasts prowled around them menacingly. A silver dagger pierced each of our wrists, signaling the start of the hunt! “We honor the moon goddess; let your blood lead your mate to you!”

My name is Ada. I never expected that saving an injured stranger would thrust me into a world of danger, heartache, and the discovery of my fated mate. When I stumble upon a wounded man in my family's herb garden and bring him home to heal, I have no idea he is on a quest to uncover the truth behind his mother's murder, which he believes is tied to secrets harbored by my pack. Despite my parents' warnings against getting involved with the mysterious stranger, I find myself inexplicably drawn to him, even as our bond is tested by pack politics, jealous rivals, and his initial rejection of our fated connection. Plagued by vivid dreams that seem to foreshadow an ominous fate, I am compelled to follow my mate and aid his investigation, praying to the moon goddess that the truth can be uncovered before it's too late. As we delve deeper into the shadows of the past, my mate and I must confront dark secrets, untangle a web of lies, and fight for our love against those who would seek to keep the truth buried. With danger lurking at every turn, we find ourselves in a race against time to expose the shocking truth behind his mother's demise before we too fall victim to the sinister forces at play. Whisper of the Alpha is created by Claire Wilkins, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Photo by Anastasiya Doborvolskaya via Pinterest A hundred years had passed since the war against witches reached its conclusion, leading the Kingdom of Londeve to a century-long peace. Everything's all well either for the young village baker boy, Tristan who lives a simple life with his two younger siblings not so far away from the country's capital. As ordinary as he might seem, it is not to be expected that he's actually acquainted with the only living royalty residing in his homeland, Crown Princess Anne of Londevè. Even so, their decade-long friendship never brought any significant change in each others' lives throughout the years, and for the humble young man, it is something to be relieved for. However, fate seem to have its own mischievous way of twisting the humble orphan's life. It was a remarkable encounter that turned his seemingly normal life into a dangerous rollercoaster ride as he got involved with the epitome of misery herself — the manipulative and mysterious lady, Serina Lourdemayne, who has been ironically keeping the peace at the Kingdom as a substitute Queen despite being a witch herself. Will this accidental and unwanted engagement ever reward him? Will they be able to work progressively despite their obvious and huge differences with their loved ones, responsibilities and aspirations in line? Dive into the world of magic and witness the journey of Tristan and Serina together with the noble Paladins as they protect the Kingdom from the coming calamities and from the new enemies that could possibly be more powerful and sinister than the wicked witches the human race had faced before.

The Moon Goddess has blessed her children with unique gifts. They each have capabilities beyond any creature can handle. Their strength is unparalleled, unquestioned. However, when her children turn against each other, blood will be spilt. What would it take to stop this inevitable bloodshed? – Jordane Samael, the dauntless daughter of the Alpha of the Eastern Werewolf Pack, was plagued by haunting visions of a sinister man with a prominent facial scar that seemed to writhe and pulse with an otherworldly energy. As the visions became more intense and frequent, Jordane realized that she was being drawn into a dark and dangerous world beyond the scope of her imagination. After months of disorder and chaos, the werewolf pack in the West had finally named a new leader: Maverick Lewis, a strong and charismatic Alpha with a reputation for ruthless efficiency. One fateful night, under the luminescent moon shining above the skies, a chance encounter between Maverick and Jordane challenged the balance between the two packs who, from centuries ago, swore never to cross boundaries again. But what if, Maverick, the newly hailed Alpha, was the only person who could protect Jordane from the maleficient being that threatened to drag her into the unknown? On the one hand, Maverick saw that helping Jordane, the daughter of the Alpha of their rival pack, would eliminate the intimidating threat that endangered his position whilst creating new conflicts and disputations among his pack. What will each of them choose? Can love triumph in the end?

Heloise, the Brook family's adopted daughter, was merely a pitiable tool they used to shield their biological daughter, Coral, from harm. She suffered abuse in the Brook household from a young age and was eventually discarded and left to fend for herself in the harsh and hellish slums of BlueWolf Mountain, teeming with mentally ill, disabled, and sinister individuals. Then one day, Reginald Wordsworth, the enigmatic and domineering CEO of the PHOENIXFELL Empire's first conglomerate, Reginald Wordsworth chose her, and brought her out of the slums. Her fate took a dramatic turn as she embarked on a quest for revenge. She pretended to be a mental patient and engaged in a battle of wits with Reginald, unraveling the mysteries surrounding the enigmatic head of the first financial conglomerate. At the same time, Reginald also discovered that she was not an ordinary person. ******** she had ever been penniless, but Reginald, the big cheese, was irresistibly drawn to her and highly pampered her. ******** " Heloise, an abandoned baby, a dirt poor!" Someone said before he saw Heloise signing dozens of real estate agreements, while dozing off. " Heloise, has no backing. Why is she so arrogant?" Someone said, and then he saw Phoenixfell's first conglomerate's tycoon Reginald Wordsworth publicly announced his marriage to Heloise. "Heloise, I know, she couldn't give birth a long time ago!" Another person said, and then he was beaten by Wordsworth's little young master, "Mommy can't give birth, so where did I come from?"

”What are you doing here, Ashton?” Megan asked angrily, and she hated herself because even if she was angry with him she can't deny he has still the same effect on her. ”To win back your heart, and claim what is rightfully mine.” He replied, and his intense gaze is driving her crazy. "You have nothing to claim because you lose your chance eight years ago." She answered coldly. Megan was shocked to find the man she hated the most, standing on her doorstep, who became more attractive and still wears the same smile that always melts her heart. Her first love, Ashton, can she kept her promise never to forgive him? Can Ashton convince Megan to give him another chance, and make her believe that he is now a different man and he regretted everything he had done to her?

“What’s wrong, doctor?” Elena’s worry etched onto her face and various thoughts roamed her mind while her chest tightened and became heavier. “Do you believe in God and miracles?” The doctor’s smile softened his words as he looked at Elena. Elena narrowed her eyes, shaking her head dumbfoundedly. “No, I don’t believe in anything like that.” The loss of her parents had shattered her faith long ago. “Then maybe you should, because a miracle just happened,” the doctor’s grin widened. “What do you mean?” Elena’s confusion mingled with the lump forming in her throat, tears pooling in her eyes. Her chest felt both relieved and heavy with emotion and the bright and shallow ambiance of the lights added to her tension. “You’re not dying anymore,” the doctor announced, his excitement changing the aura in the room.