Still Breathing

Mate. I froze mid-step, Venom has never said that word before. I've suddenly forgotten the Rogues I was chasing, my whole attention now on the emotions I was feeling. My vision sharpened, focusing on the faint sound of labored breathing just ahead. My heart hammered in my chest as I walked closer, the bond pulling me forward with an urgency I hadn’t felt in decades. The first thing I saw was her hair, a messy dark bun with strands of white, unusual yet unique. She sat curled up against the base of an old tree, arms wrapped tightly around her knees, shoulders trembling. Her thin, tattered sweater barely shielding her from the cold air. She looked... fragile, a word I never thought I’d associate with my mate. Ariel’s life has been anything but easy. Orphaned as a child and left in the care of a cruel stepfather and stepbrother, she’s endured years of emotional and physical abuse. Despite her circumstances, she’s always felt something stirring beneath the surface—an unexplained restlessness, vivid dreams of running under the moonlight, and a deep connection to the forest around her. Zayn, the alpha of the Shadowcrest pack, has spent years searching for his fated mate, the one who would complete him and stand by his side to no avail…he had finally given up on ever finding her. His pack thrives under his leadership, but his heart has grown weary, doubting the Moon Goddess’s promise of a mate. When a chance encounter leads him to Ariel, he’s stunned to discover that the fragile, broken girl is his destined partner—and more than that, she’s a wolf completely unaware of her true nature.

The day I finally secured an investment worth over 20 million dollars, I walked into the office and immediately caught sight of that calculating assistant wearing a smug look as she spread gossip around. According to her, my husband, the CEO, was planning to strip me of my position and exile me to some forgotten branch in Northreach. Contract in hand, I headed straight for the CEO's office. I stood behind my husband and rubbed his temples while joking casually, "You won't believe what I just heard. Apparently, you're sending me off to a branch office. If only they knew we've been married in secret for seven years and are about to make it public." He didn't look surprised at all. He gently pushed my hand away and smiled. "It's not a rumor. Andrea messed up the last project, and the board is breathing down my neck. They want someone sent to Northreach, and they picked her. That place is brutal. She wouldn't survive it. She's not like you. She doesn't have the luxury of failure. If she goes there, her career is finished. She was my junior back in school. I can't let her life fall apart." He paused, then added softly, "Once you come back, I'll announce our marriage. And I'll make sure you get what you've always wanted. A child." I smiled, but it held no warmth. I turned around and walked out without another word. Before I reached the elevator, I made a call to his biggest competitor. "Looking for a vice president? I'm bringing 20 million dollars of funding with me. I only ask for one thing: Don't send me to Northreach."

Enzo Romano, what you do to me means nothing to you. But to me, your touch burns, Enzo Romano. It hurts! In a month and a few days, this round will be over, and we will each go our own way. You will go back to your stable life, to your lover who was always there. And me? I will go back with a huge emptiness in my chest, with a hole in my heart that aches like I am cursed! Who is going to pay the price in the end, Enzo? Huh? ********* "Enzo!" I breathed heavily, the heat burning in my throat. Damn, what is he doing? "Shhh. Stay like this for a moment, Celine. Please." He whispered with a faint voice, mixed with a strange madness, while I felt his chin rest on top of my head, his hot breath sneaking into my hair. "Enzo, what are you doing?" A tremble crept into my voice, and the heat rushed through me, making me feel dizzy! It was like my stomach tightened hard, as if I had suddenly caught a deadly disease! "Let me see it, Celine." He whispered, leaning his head more, his panting breath touching my bare shoulder, hitting the sensitive spot near my neck! "Enzo." I whispered his name like I was breathing him in, my eyes closed, and all the walls I built around myself started to fall without any fight! "Do not say my name like that, Celine." His voice shook just like mine did, as if we drowned in the same whirlpool, but why? He has a whole life. He already has a lover. A perfect woman, steady in his world, someone who does not shake and does not break. So why then is he playing with me?

Sneak peek: "W-what are you doing?" I asked, my breathing getting heavier as his warm fingers inched towards my bikini bottom. "You called me a coward earlier, remember?" He asked, his other hand wrapped around my throat and lips torturingly brushing over mine "So let's see how much you can handle if I break the boundaries." "I haven't said anything wrong," I breathed out, the collision of the heat of our bodies made the wetness between my thighs build more "Oh really?" He hooked my legs around his waist leaving me surprised I opened my mouth to say something but before any sentence could leave my mouth, sliding past my bikini bottom his fingers were there on my bare clit and the next second they thrust inside the very tight hole of mine leaving me to scream. But everything went silent as he pressed his hot lips upon mine just as I had been wanting since the first day I had ever seen him. **** I always knew the things I felt for Jacob Adriano were wrong in so many ways. He was my dad's best friend, totally out of bounds but I couldn't stop wanting him. And once in the event of my dad's destination wedding, I came across him after years...I lost every one of the boundaries I had and surely I planned to make him lose his ones too. After all Jacob Adriano, the sinfully attractive Italian was not unaware of my obsession with him. But little did know that forbidden relationships always bring havoc and demolition.....

Married to her father’s business partner’s son, Gertrude gave everything that she could to make their marriage work. Unfortunately, she was still not enough for the man. Shameful scandals scattered over the internet with his lover and Gertude felt like trash inside the marriage she had with Dane but still didn’t want to give up. She was secretly in love with him. Divorce. After a month of marriage, Dane was asking for his freedom but that was something that she didn’t want to give at first. But when she was ready to file the divorce and start anew, Dane didn’t show up. He would always find a reason not to make it to the courthouse. What did the man want from her? Was this just a game for him? What else did he need from her?

Joseph Eero Chua is living his best life for he married the girl of his dreams—Mireille. He couldnʼt wish for anything because heʼs living life anyone could want to. He doesnʼt have to overwork. He knew that he married a rich woman. Just when he thought that everything is already perfect, Mireille suddenly handed him a paper which shows to be an annulment. Eero was shocked, thinking that their marriage is fine, so what could be the reason why Mireille would suddenly want an annulment? He doesnʼt want to sign the paper. He want to save their marriage despite of Mireilleʼs sudden decision to get them annulled. Can he still get Mireille back? Can he still fix their marriage? Or will their oath would become vows of unfortunate?

Andrea Collins is done with love after her first boyfriend's betrayal shattered her on her twenty-fourth birthday, she's determined to rebuild her life on her own terms—no distractions, no complications, no men. Then she meets Henry Moore. The cold and ruthless CEO who's used to getting exactly what he wants. Andrea is the first person who refuses to be intimidated by him, and Henry quickly realizes she's the one thing he cannot control. The more she resists, the more he wants her. But Andrea's heart is still broken, her walls are still up, and Henry Moore is the last person she should let in. Now she has to decide: keep running from love, or risk everything with the one man who refuses to let her go.

Dmitri is still being haunted by the tragedy he caused his twin brother, Drake, even after so many years, and he’s pretty much aware that no amount of apologies could ever forgive him. He left the country and lived abroad alone for years just to punish his self. Alison, Drake’s girlfriend, is willing to help him get over that nightmare, but how can she possibly help him when every time he looks at her it reminds him of his brother? Truth be told, he’s still in love with her after all these years, but his Drake’s ghost is what’s stopping him. Will he ever find forgiveness and give his self a chance to live again and love Alison, or will he just continue punishing his self and push her away?

Becky was born and brought up In Amarillo Texas, she thought she has become an orphan at the age of nineteenth when her stepmom referred to Becky as an illegitimate child, and threw her on the street, but her childhood friend named Frank was always by her side, despite that professor Daniel took advantage of her, and use her for a surrogate, Frank was still loving and Protecting her, despite that, a billionaire widow came seeking her hand In Marriage, Frank was still defending and protecting Becky's Interest, Becky didn't know Frank's worth In her life until she got encountered with the billionaire's son, let's read on and see what later transpires between Becky, Frank, and a billionaire named Harrison.

Blurb: For her to go to Scandinavia, Daphne marries a man she met on a dating app. She can only fulfill her desire by marrying the handsome, hot billionaire named BK. They married even without love for each other. For BK, his marriage with Daphne turned out well. He can still do everything he wants. He can date the woman he likes. Because that's what they agreed on, not to interfere with themselves. BK's mind and heart were confused when something heated up between them. As with BK, Daphne starts falling in love with her husband. What will he do when he finds out that Daphne has given up on their marriage? Can BK still save their marriage?