Smoke Screen

“What do you mean? What cyst?” Sebastian blinked, staring at the small screen on his phone, feeling his heart beat faster. The emergency information he had just received made him pause in front of his door, but then he ran to the car without thinking. He knew that something serious had happened to his wife. He had to get to the hospital immediately. His voice was hoarse as he spoke to the hospital operator, trying to get a grasp of the situation as quickly as possible. “This is a complication… You need to come to the hospital immediately and sign the consent form for surgery as soon as possible.” The voice was flat but urgent.

It was finally here; the one day of the year that always filled me with excitement and anticipation: our third wedding anniversary with my beloved husband, Alpha Andrew Wright. The sharp, insistent beeping of my phone sliced through the quiet room, halting me in my tracks to find my husband. On the screen was a picture that struck me like a brutal kick. It was Andrew, lying naked and clinging to another woman whose face was blurred. My eyes widened as I stared at the screen, this was not what I wanted on my marriage anniversary. -------------------- Alicia has known her Alpha husband Andrew for years and they got married three years ago. She has tried hard to win her husband’s heart. But her husband cheated on his stepsister and dropped a bomb on their marriage. Cried and heartbroken, Alicia left her pack with her daughter and went to a new pack. She found a new secretary job here, and unexpectedly her new sexual Alpha boss Brian was her second chance mate. And soon Brian told her that they were going on a business trip to her ex-husband’s pack. The ex wanted her back but Alicia would never allow that.

I stare at the email on my screen, unable to move my fingers. Tomorrow is our company's crucial product launch, and I just learn that the patent for the algorithm I spent three years developing is now filed under Matthew Ashford's new assistant, Sophie Bennett. I storm into Matthew's office to confront him. Sophie sits on his desk with her legs crossed, looking completely innocent. She claims that she filled out the form by mistake. "It's just a clerical error. The patent still belongs to the company. What's the big deal?" Matthew stands up from his chair, positioning himself in front of Sophie. I can't believe what I am hearing. "Matthew, this is my research!" "Emma, you're thirty-five. Why are you picking a fight with a twenty-three-year-old intern?" He frowns. Then, he turns to Sophie. "Starting tomorrow, you're the new CTO. Emma needs… some time off." I'm utterly stunned. A decade of marriage and five years dedicated to building a company together have been shattered by a few casual words from him. Thirty minutes later, Sophie posts a photo on social media of herself sitting on Matthew's lap. They are both clinking champagne glasses. "So lucky to have the best boss ever. I'll make sure to be his loyal kitten." Below that, Matthew leaves a comment—three red heart emojis. I shut my laptop and pick up my phone. "Hello. Is this Mr. David Langley from Novara Group of Sundale Valley? This is Emma Whitmore. I've changed my mind. I'm ready to join you." I pause. "And by the way, about that unreleased algorithm upgrade, I have the complete technical blueprint. Make me an offer." Later, I fly to Tallisport with an eight-figure check in hand, while Matthew goes frantic trying to find me.

"Buzz… Buzz…" Alexia's cell phone vibrated as she sniffed then reached out for her phone which was in her side pocket and when she took it out she realized it was an unknown number. She furrowed her eyebrows. "Who in the world is this?" she soliloquized then swiped her thumb across the screen taking the phone to her left ear. "Hello… am I speaking with Alexia Chaney?" A deep male voice came through the phone as Alexia sat upright. "Yes, this Is Alexia Chaney," She clears her throat. "I heard you can play the guitar and I hope you will like a day's job, you will be paid handsomely for it. Are you interested?" said the man again over the phone as Alexia blinked. "Okay, I am interested. What is the occasion and venue?" She asked. "SBE wine corporation will be launching a new wine tomorrow alongside the birthday celebration of the CEO, Richard Robertson, and there will be a night party at his Estate," The man said as Alexia's eyes popped wide open and she parted her lips. She couldn't believe she just accepted an invitation to perform for a man who just wrecked her show. "I will text you the address, first thing in the morning. Get prepared because it is a big party and Richard loves something exceptional," said the man as he hung up.

Outside the wrecked world of the Alphas, one could see the Neverseen, the light that spread about, form by the civilized world that far prime of the Alphas. The Neverseen have long been awake and far knowledgeable than the Alphas. They height above one can ever imagine. So tall that even the Alphas and its subject could comparable to nothing, not even dots. There, one could see the march of Neverseen, or what could be called as giant in the Alphas World. Amidst the march, there's this tiny planet that surround with smoke that distorted about in the outskirt of the way, and comparable only as the dots in the Neverseen's eyes. So nothing that even they were the threat if discover, they able to overcome the changes. Strangely, this dots of a planet connected, by the use of the white strand, to the tiny being that almost seem a dust that vibrated about. This tiny being as a whole that scattered around could fit at the hands of the giant, and can even form a city there and new system. Only if they were awake that they will realize everything. In this time and age, their eyes have never been once open since the beginning of time. They as if sleep for all eternity, or was curse to never awakened! But they have the blood of the Alphas, and even the curse that stop them to realize the Origin, they will to awake in no time!

The wedding had barely started when the lights went out. Then came the moans—from the giant screen behind the altar. Hailey froze. Her skin went ghost-pale. Her whole body shook. A beat later, the doors slammed open. Leading the charge? Nolan. Cold eyes, sharp suit, and bodyguards in tow. He stormed the stage. The groom tried to stop him. Big mistake. Nolan's guys dropped him in seconds. Nolan grabbed a fistful of the groom's hair and yanked his head back. "Heh. I've slept with Hailey hundreds—maybe thousands—of times. Used condoms alone could fill your house. Wanna see the HD vids?" Hailey's eyes locked on Nolan, pure hate. She'd been his kept woman for eight years. He loathed her family. He loathed her. Swore she'd never know peace. Then she disappeared—and he lost his mind.

Rielle, a popular web-novel writer, got caught up in a scandal that ruined her life and everything she ever worked for. Jumping down the towel was all she thought about as she walked down the street leading to the tall building. What gain would it be if she dies and allow her enemies live to enjoy staring at her down beneath the ground? She shunned ending her life and decided to move on but then, seeing the created image of her female lead character displayed on the screen, she felt so jealous of her perfect life. Her character got everything she ever wanted. A perfect life, a perfect world, a position that commands power, her perfect mate, and a powerful villain obsessed with her. Such a perfect, pathetic life! Rielle thought in disgust. She did the unthinkable........ She ended her perfect female lead character. Killing her for no reason. The next morning when she opened her eyes, she was in her own web-novel world and was brought in by the villain. He vowed to be her protector if only she does one thing. "You killed my lover Keisha, and now, you are going to bring her back, or I kill you." he declared, staring at her menacingly. She shivered at the sight of his eyes and knew at that moment that he is the DARK WOLF. The villain of her novel. Not the kind of protector who threatens her, she wanted. But then, she was ready to make him be at her service when she calls. Is danger and destruction lurking with her in her novel world and her with the villain? How far would he go to protect her when everyone would want to take her?

Penelope Rivera's little boy toy, Theodore Schneider, is throwing another tantrum. She slides the divorce papers across the table toward me. "Just sign them for show. It's to keep Teddy happy." I clench the cuff of my suit and nod in silence. I sign my name in one swift stroke. As I'm walking out, I hear one of her girlfriends teasing, "Samuel's way too easygoing. Does he actually do everything you say?" Penelope takes a graceful sip of red wine and smirks. "Wanna bet?" They bet that I will quietly go through with the divorce at the courthouse, even if my eyes are red with tears. Listening their laughter, I rub my thumb over my phone screen and reply to the message I've just received. "Will you marry me?" it says. "I will."

In the eighth year of our secret office marriage, Marvin lit up every LED screen in Ocean City, just to make his little assistant smile. Amidst the well-wishes from everyone, the assistant cheerfully handed out gifts to the entire office. I casually tossed my gift into the trash. The assistant immediately ran to Marvin's office, tears streaming down her face, to report me. Moments later, Marvin, furious, suspended me from my position. As I walked out of the company building, Marvin's voice echoed from the loudspeakers on the top floor. "Celebrating Wendy's successful completion of her work, the gift is ready!" Wendy—was the assistant's name. As I watched the crowd rush past me, I calmly cut all ties with Marvin. This hidden marriage had come to an end.

“Be a good girl for me and come fucking closer.” Alfred’s voice was husky, and angry. It made me dizzy with sinful lust. I gulped as I obediently closed the distance between us. He inched even closer and I felt my breath hitch when his hands found my thighs and I was hosteled up, back plastered against a wall in an instant. “Who am I?” “My- my husband.” I whispered, mouth quivering. His fingers tangled in my hair, a kiss against my arched throat. “That’s right. You belong to me, and not my fucking idiotic brother. I own everything– your body, your heart and your soul. They’re all mine.” ~~~~ Bella had her life mapped out. Go to med school, graduate, make enough money to get her father and brother a better life, and fall in love. Her plans were destroyed when she found out she had been promised to a Mafia Don as a collateral for a debt. Alfred Winston was someone no sane person wanted to mess with– he was ruthless, filthily rich and very powerful; he wields authority like second nature. How is life as the wife of a Mafia’s Don going to be for Bella? It sure as hell won’t be a bump free ride when Alfred’s younger brother– Damien, was smoking hot and hell bent on heating Bella’s curvy body up with that smoke, and let’s not forget the amount of dangers lurking at every damn corner, ready to consume Bella at the slightest opportunity.