Smiling Sasuke

At the contract-signing meeting, a major client casually asks our new technician if she can handle her alcohol. She immediately pours a glass of red wine over his head and says coolly, "This sort of socializing is a bad habit. I'm putting an end to it." Leon Langley, a top client who brings the company 300 million dollars in annual revenue, flies into a rage and tears up the contract on the spot. As the project lead, I bend over backward to apologize and drink with Mr. Langley until I'm hospitalized with gastric bleeding—just to salvage the deal. When I report the incident to my boss, he scolds me instead. "As the person in charge, you nearly ruined the project. Forget the three-million-dollar commission we planned to give you. Consider this a warning." After that, I put Hannah Storrie's name on the department's downsizing review list. She sneers. "I'm a top talent the boss poached at great expense. I'm not some cheap hostess who survives by smiling and drinking like you. "Firing me would be throwing the company down the drain. When that happens, you'll be begging me to come back." I ignore her. However, when the review period ends, the name on the layoff list turns out to be mine. My boss seizes the opportunity to announce that Hannah will replace me as the new sales director. "Clients are extremely important to us. You don't seriously think you're capable of landing them, do you? "Hannah's is more qualified, more tech-savvy, and prettier than you. She's clearly the better choice." I simply smile, turn around, and dial a number.

"I, Alpha Kace Thayer of Bloodclaw pack, reject you , Eliora Thayer as my mate and Luna of the Bloodclaw pack." I gasped as I stared at him. He just rejected me! I felt the bond being snapped out of place. The rejection wouldn't be completed until I accepted his rejection. He wasn't in his right sense. We never had any problem that would warrant his rejection, I chanted to myself as I tried to breathe through the pain. "No o. You can't do this to us!" I cried out as I felt my chest tighten. It was worse that I had no wolf to take all or part of the pain. I had to bear it all. I struggled to look at my best friend wondering why she wasn't by my side, urging me to stay strong and slapping my mate. But the bitch was smiling, her arms linked with that of her mate. The pain shot up to another level as I realized what had happened. The bitter taste of their betrayal filled my mouth and I felt the tears run down faster. I turned to the people, no one came to me. No one tried to help me. They just stared and pointed at me, gossiping amongst themselves. These are the people I put before my own happiness. They all betrayed me!! **** Eliora Thayer thought that she had it all in life, a great pack, a good mate and a supporting best friend. Not until, she was betrayed by all of them. Just when she decided to move on, the moon goddess decides to grant her a second chance mate. One she never asked for. What's more? He was a beast who had no intention of letting her go.

"Eyes up here," he said. My gaze snapped to his. He was smiling, causing my heart to skip a painful beat. Before I could respond, the music began, and my body instinctively reacted to the sweet melody. I found myself molded to Lex's will, my feet irresistibly following the dance steps. The crowd gasped as Lex pulled me into a more intimate position, his hands roaming over my body in a seductive manner. The experience was both terrifying and magical, allowing me to feel every longing emotion through the dance. I soon found myself lost in his arms. When the music finally stopped, my arms were wrapped around his neck, his hands resting on my back, our noses almost touching. He gazed deeply into my eyes. The ballroom fell silent. Was he about to kiss me? **** Lilly’s life was never easy; she lost her memory and family in a blazing fire. Angelica found and took her in—only to make her a slave to the household. Years of torment and abuse left Lilly weak, vulnerable, and believing she was without a wolf, but that didn't mean that all hope was lost. At night, in her dreams, he would patiently wait for her—the man who brought sunshine into her darkest moments. They would dance the night away, but as dawn approached, he would vanish into the morning sun. Lilly had given up hope of finding a mate, having a family, and leading a normal life. But things are about to drastically change for her... Secrets, lies, betrayal... and a baby on the way. What if Lilly wasn't wolf-less? What if it was all a lie? What if she had a living family? Would she stay and bond with them or make a run for freedom? ****

Extract The thought of Louis stalking me send cold shivers down my spine. Cold sweats formed on my forehead and I could feel my make-up washing off by my sweats. " Who are you?" Austin roared, but the wicked smile on Louis's face never left my mind. Why was he smiling that way? I couldn't help but wonder with my body trembling. " Louis Rusev" Louis answered and the audience gasped. At this moment, the priest had disappeared and everyone was holding their breath. " The alpha of lake pack?" Austin asked with squinted eyes to be sure the person standing before him wasn't an imposter. I didn't tell Austin the identity of my ex-mate, I only told him what happened between us. " Bravo, you know me well" Louis applauded and approached us on the stage. " What do you want?" Austin asked and I felt his grip tightened around my wrist in a protective manner. " I want my mate back" Louis answered calmly with a domineering voice. My heart dropped to my stomach at his response and I felt tears brimming in my eyes. Didn't he reject me? Didn't he send me away? why did he appear suddenly? In a world where people go over the moon when they find their mate, Nora's life crumbled after finding hers. Happy that her long-time crush, Alpha Louis Rusev was now her mate, she offered herself to him willingly not knowing Fate was Tempting her. How far can she survive the cruel action of fate and the partiality of the moon goddess?

It's the tenth anniversary of my bonding with my warrior mate, Owen Chase, and also our son Leo's birthday. A month earlier, I spent $8000 arranging a trip to the Blood Moon Forest. I plan to take my mate and pup to the Moon Goddess' sacred grounds to receive her blessings. This is supposed to be a happy anniversary celebration for our complete werewolf family. I've prepared everything and booked tickets for the Twilight Coach. But on the night before our departure, Owen and Leo suddenly block our mind-link. "Dad and I are having dinner with Ms. Emma on the 24th floor of Moonlight Restaurant. We've cancelled the tickets—we're not going." The call ends there. They promptly block my number as well. I rush back to our pack overnight, only to find that the security system no longer recognizes me. That night, every household locks its doors and activates protective barriers against the toxic mist of the Silver Mines in the nearby Moonveil Valley, while I could only huddle on the stone steps outside our house, inhaling the silver-laden fog all night. The poisonous substances flood my systems. I am sent to the hospital, burning with fever as my wolf grows weaker with every labored breath. Meanwhile, my family is busy touring Central City with Emma Skinner, spending the money I had worked so hard to earn. Owen posts a photo on his social media. In the photo, Emma, my mate Owen, and my child Leo stand hand-in-hand in front of the wishing fountain in Central City, all smiling brightly. The caption reads: "A perfect trip, a perfect family of three." It is only then that I finally understand—this family exists in name only. It's time for me to rebuild my life.

“Nice doing business with you, you can take her” I heard my uncle whisper with a smiling face, drooling over the huge money in front of him. The strict tall looking woman in dark sunglasses, standing by the door, signaled the other two women standing outside, and they stormed into my room and dragged me away, against my will… “No! Let me go! Uncle Lucio! Do something, please! Where are they taking me now? My cry filled the whole house, but no one was there to do anything except the grin I saw on my uncle's face. They're now your new family, go with them and be a nice little girl. He said, and I watched him bang the door in my face. My name is Laura Faris and I was sold by my uncle at the age of 15 to this all-girls boarding school. Not just an ordinary high school, It was a secret school where Omega girls like me were being groomed and trained while they were sent out as sex workers while some as slaves to important people in society. I was bought by the most tyrant and ruthless man I had ever seen in my life. His name is Ricky Mart. He is the Lycan King of the Rainbow Crest Park... I became his slave, I hated him for experiencing all kinds of brutality and forced sex from him, but what I can't explain is when my burning rage of hatred for him turns into a dark night of pleasure. "Will I ever heal from it, or is SALVATION waiting for me?” NB: This story does contain intense topics of kidnapping, forced sex, rape, suicide, violence and strong language. Readers discretion is advised.

Sold like a circus animal. Collared, forced into misery and self-hatred. With a single blow, she hopes to change her life, only to find herself trapped again. Ocean has no idea what freedom means, but she desires nothing more than a taste of it. The secrets hidden from her will unfold before her eyes, no one can escape the truth. ~~~ The book excerpt: "Here, I have a key to your heart," I left the key in my palm, metal, and skin together. I stumbled upon the ancient artwork in the locker rooms. It caught my attention because it resembles a dagger, so I took it and waited for the perfect opportunity. "Silly girl, that is not the key to my heart. Pathetic attempt." Vladimir growls in disgust. If I'm lucky, I'll be free by the end of the night. Taking the first step toward my destruction, I grin and move my hips in time with the slow music in the background. Vladimir swallows, his Adam's apple bobbles in his throat. The vampire's eyes focus on the crook of my neck as I stop directly in front of him. I place my palm on his chest, guide my fingertips down to his abdominal muscles, a corner of my lip twitches in disgust. When he closes his eyes, I take the opportunity to plunge the key directly into his heart, smiling as his eyes shoot open and he looks down at me in horror. "Are you still convinced I don't have the key to your heart?" I ask, grab him by the collar, and pull him closer. My lips nearly touch his ear as I whisper, "It fits."

When Maya's world is turned upside down by a surprise pregnancy, she's forced to make a choice: marry the father, Elijah, a mysterious and powerful man with secrets of his own, or face the dangers that have been lurking in the shadows of her life. As Maya navigates the treacherous landscape of her new marriage, she begins to uncover the truth about Elijah's past and the reasons behind his proposal. But the more she learns, the more she realizes that Elijah might actually be the evil she has been running away from, all her life ... An evil that had already stole her heart. Will Maya be able to uncover the secrets that Elijah keeps, or will she become the latest casualty of his ruthless ambition? Dive into this gripping tale of love, power, and deception to find out. “What are you doing?” I asked, my body shaking in fright. “That's not me” he said, smirking. “They are here for you, Maya. Your past have finally caught up to you. You move one inch, your beloved best friend goes down for you… another innocent blood smeared on your dainty hands” he said smiling wickedly. Slowly I walked towards him. I couldn't let Tiffany go down for me. I couldn't let another innocent soul die for me. This was my fate. My happy ever after was all a fairy tale after all. I took the pen, signing my name across the thin black line. Tears went down my cheek, dripping on the contract, the ink smudged on the paper. I could feel his warmth spread over me, his nose trailed delicately on my ear, wet sparks over it. “Welcome to your hell, Astrid Grey” he said, my real name rolling out of his lips like a curse.

"No offense but you are always so grumpy, it's actually kind of cute." I bluntly say to him and watch him throw me a nasty glare, I just giggle at that. "I'm not." he defends himself in a calm yet stern voice keeping his face emotionless. "sure." I find myself saying sarcastically. I think I'm too drunk  because there is no way a sober River will have the courage to hold a conversation with a very grumpy Killian. I expect another scary glare to come towards me but instead I meet with a soft gaze that stares at me with an unreadable expression. "I'm not." This time he says softly, I see him biting back a small smile and , he smiles. I've never seen him smiling before, not this way. Standing on the edge of life, River breathes in and lets himself adjust into a new life, into a new family. After a horrifying past he finds his life wrapped around a shaggy orphanage and several foster homes which makes it hard to believe that he is actually being adopted. Having a family was always a desire of him but to his burnt luck, he doesn't feel like he belongs in his adoptive family. Everyone and everything around him make it clear that he wasn't born to be happy. River is waiting for another push, one last push to end it all and fall from the edge and that's when a grumpy looking Killian Price steps into his life. River can't decide if Killian is the saviour or the devil himself. River's life meets with unexpected secrets mixed with burning desire, adorning the melancholic attire. Soon, he finds out he isn't the only one standing on the edge of the cliff, or he realises he is far from the edge.

Eric Clapton never expected his ex-wife would move on overnight, and be living her best life. His friends have always mocked him for marrying such an ugly woman. When his mistress showed up, he couldn't exercise the smallest patience to stay married to Liana. "My mind is made up, Liana. Let's get a divorce. $90 million and the penthouse in Rochester will be compensation for your mental damage. Is that enough?" Eric put down the envelope and pen on the pillow beside her. Liana sat up, eyes glued to the man she has dedicated three years of her life to. "Is that all you have to say and offer?" She asked, her eyes holding a trace of detachment. Eric was stuck in thoughts. This was unlike the fragile and indecisive woman he married. Liana smiled as she gazed at his unreadable expression. "I can see you're really prepared for this, you know. This is obviously the first time in three years since you returned home before 11:00 pm, Eric." She added, her lips curling up into an enigmatic smile as she decisively scribbled her signature on the papers. The next morning at the courthouse, she held the divorce papers, her fragile heart tearing apart as she watched her ex husband smiling when he walked away, his hands carefully wrapped around another woman's waist while they strode to his car. Seeing him replace her so quickly was really heart wrenching, but right there, she saw another man who just got dumbed by his fiancee at the crucial hour, and without hesitation, she walked up to him and proposed to replace his fiancee. Now, what will Eric do when at the moment of his regret, he realised that she didn't only move on, but she's now his boss's wife?