Smiling Through The Pain

Keeping her safe has become his life's mission. 
 Gage Hendrix is a man without roots. As an MSD Team Leader for the Department of State, he operates in high-threat environments. Serving in dangerous postings around the world, his team provides emergency security support and crisis response. Keeping the US ambassador's daughter safe in Sri Lanka? An unusual assignment for an "action group" used to dealing with evacuations, wars, incursions, and coups. Expecting a spoilt princess, Gage finds a hard-working therapist with a huge heart and sad eyes. 
 Hiding from heartache is no longer an option. 
 Chantal Durant's best friend has gone into hiding with intel that could lead to a nation's upheaval. Enemies have targeted the last person who helped her to escape… Turning a tragic past into a constructive existence, Chantal dedicates herself to helping others. She likes her work, likes her routine, and doesn't like that her safety is now in the hands of a cocky MSD agent. Her undeniable sexual attraction for the ruggedly handsome bodyguard would not only end his career but could get them both killed. 
 As multiple threats close in, Gage is faced with harrowing decisions. Trapped in an unfamiliar landscape, both Gage and Chantal will have to act fast to make it out alive. "If you're looking for the perfect blend of action and steam set against the backdrop of exciting international locales...your first stop should be Louise Dawn." - Janie Crouch.

On the day of Zephyr’s art exhibition, I saw people stand around a portrait of myself. My cheeks were flushed, and I was bare. My posture was the one we used in bed last week for fun. Zephyr even got the mole on my chest right. As people stared at me mockingly, I demanded, “Why did you do this to me?” He was unbothered. “It’s not as if I asked you to sleep with someone else.” But he did let people see how I looked when I was having an intimate moment with my own boyfriend! “It’s just a painting. Why are you being so petty?” I was stunned by the mockery in Zephyr’s gaze. Then, I called my assistant. “I’m attending the international art festival as the organizer.”

My boyfriend said that art held no restrictions, so he used my provocative paintings to enter a competition. Amidst a row of classic ceramic figurines, I became famous. He shot to fame, landing in the top ten of trending searches, while I was humiliated by the entire internet and mocked as a “ceramic influencer.” When I confronted him, he looked at me with disappointment. “They don’t understand art, and neither do you? I thought you would support my work, but I didn’t expect you to stir trouble! You’re so immature!”

Dahil sa pamimilit ng magulang ni Griffin Zale Kellneer na ipakasal siya sa babaeng hindi naman nito minahal ay napilitan siyang pakasalan ang babaeng si Samantha Lagdamiyo.  Isang pekeng kasal kapalit ng limang milyong peso.  Sa loob ng isang buwan na nagsama sila sa iisang bubong, hindi man aminin ng dalawa ay minahal nila ang isa't-isa.  Walang sikretong hindi nabubunyag. Kaya nung malaman ng magulang ni Griffin na peke lang ang kanilang pagsasama ay lumayo si Samantha dala ang perang kapalit ng kasal.  Makalipas ang limang taon nagbalik si Samantha dala ang batang babae, ipinakilala itong anak ni Griffin.  Ngunit sa hindi inaasahan ay ito rin ang naging hudyat ng pagkamatay ng ama ng binata.  Labis ang pagsisi ni Samantha dahil kinamuhian siya ng lalaki at ito rin ang dahilan upang hindi tanggapin ng binata ang pinakilala nitong anak. Ngunit tila mapaglaro ang panahon, dahil isang pagkakamali ang ginawa na paghihiganti ni Griffin kay Samantha. Mapapatawad pa kaya niya ang babae? Maibabalik pa ba niya ang kanyang pagmamahal kay Samantha? O mananatili na lang ang kanyang pagkamuhi sa babae? Gayong kailangan siya ng babae ng magbalik ito sa kanyang buhay. 

I stared at his bloodshot eyes as panic invaded my heart. “I hate the way you smell…it makes me want to sink my teeth into that pretty neck of yours,” He hissed, walking towards me. He took some strands of my hair, sniffing and slowly biting down on his lower lip. “You drive me insane Bri,” His voice was starting to sound hoarse and deep with need. “I want to do unimaginable things to you, He continued. “Things…what things?” I asked in my naivety. I heard his low chuckle. “Anything you think a man could ever do to you,” He said. *** After being cheated on and rejected by her mate… Brianne, an omega without her wolf who thinks of herself as the ultimate damsel in distress goes into despair and depression. But not for long, as she soon got entwined with Jordyn, Alpha of silver-black pack after an accidental one-night stand. Something unexpected happens between them, leaving the entire pack puzzled and in an unsettled state.

Our wedding anniversary also happens to be our son's birthday. A month in advance, I carefully plan a family trip for the three of us—me, my husband, and our son. But right before we're supposed to leave, both of them suddenly disappear on me. I'm left standing alone in the pouring rain, dialing their numbers. On the other end, my son's young voice comes through, sounding cold and impatient. "Dad's having dinner with Ms. Moore. We don't want to go anymore." The call ends, and I'm blocked. Later that night, they intentionally lock me out of the house. I'm left standing in the freezing cold all night long. Soaked from the rain, I come down with a high fever and develop pneumonia. Meanwhile, my husband and son are off vacationing with Sophia Moore, smiling for a happy family photo with just the three of them. And in that moment, I know this marriage has truly come to an end.

“This is wrong. My husband…he…” I whispered, my voice trembling as I forced the words out. My protest sounded weak even to my ears, I tried hard to grasp the loose edges of my resolve. Deep down, I knew it was futile. He wouldn’t care. A low menacing chuckle rumbled from his chest. ‘Why was he laughing?’ He lifted his head, his dark eyes locking onto mine with a piercing intensity that made my knees weak. His gazed burned with a mixture of amusement and undeniable hunger… a raw feeling that stole the air from my lungs. “I don’t care about that,” he said, his voice a rich, velvety growl that sent heat straight to my belly. Before I could react, he leaned in, his lips brushing my ear. “You’re too damn sexy for him,” he murmured, his voice dripping with confidence and sin. That was all it took. My resolve shattered like a fragile glass, my body betraying me in ways I couldn’t control. My skin tingled, and the moist between my legs told me everything I didn’t want to admit. ****** Celine thought the mate bond would bring her the love and safety she always dreamed of. Instead, it became her prison. Bound to Lucien, the heir to the emerald forest pack, she finds herself trapped in a cruel and loveless marriage. But…everything changes when she meets Kaine, the Alpha king of bloodfang pack. From the moment their eyes met, an electrifying connection ignites between them. Kaine sees her pain, her beauty, the fire buried beneath her despair…and he wants her. As the Alpha king, Kaine gets whatever he desires, and so he sets his sight on Celine, determined to claim her as his own, no matter the cost.

I had everything planned a month in advance for our holiday. I was going to take my wife and daughter on a trip to see the country's beautiful landscapes, but just before we were supposed to leave, they both disappeared. I ended up standing alone in the pouring rain, trying to call them. My daughter's voice came through over the phone—it was cold and impatient. "Mommy's having dinner with Uncle Skyler. We don't want to go anymore." Right after that, the call was cut off. I had been blocked. They locked me out of the house on purpose and left me to freeze out there all night. The rain had already drenched me, and I was running a high fever that turned into pneumonia. Meanwhile, the two of them were off enjoying a vacation with Skyler Shire. That was the moment I knew—this marriage was well and truly over.

It was him. The man I had just been accused of murdering in cold blood. The man whom I've been forced to consume poison because of. Or, had I seen a ghost? Why was my supposedly dead husband standing in the midst of those people, smirking in accomplishment. As the venom of the poison spread through my body and like I was going to rip apart because of the pain, I gave in to the paralysis that rushed me and then closed my eyes shut, tears finding their way out of my closed eyes regardless. “P…please, G… God,” I mumbled with the final breath in me. ~~~ And, suddenly, my eyes were opened, and I was standing in front of him. And he was smiling widely at me, asking what I thought of the wedding dress. But, this was weird because this was from three years ago. Then, my eyes dropped on the calendar. Was I hallucinating? I… I have been reborn?!

As you know, angels are at the head of the good mortal world, and demons rule the ball in hell. But the angels are not as kind as the people of the church have always made them out to be. The human race is not so important to them. And now, in their wars for our souls, they have completely forgotten about us. But people like me don't consider themselves to be ordinary people. We live twice, and sometimes three times more than ordinary people are allowed to live. Our society is called the priests of Ultima. That's all we want to tell about our world...