Stray Synonym

In the Philippines, there is a well-known and commonly practiced superstitious belief called pagpag, loosely translated as "to dust-off." One should never go home directly after visiting a wake or a funeral, because the ghost of the deceased might latch on and cause hauntings or attract evil. Now, where can Filipinos pagpag and lead spirits astray? It could be anywhere: a restaurant, a mall, that house down the street where your toxic ex lives… but usually, people opt for 7-Eleven convenience stores and nobody knows why. Follow the story of Akira Basilio: a part-time staff who mans the Luntian Street 7-Eleven on Thursday and Friday nights, which sounds completely normal; except Akira had the ability to communicate with the dead. She maintained a quiet life by keeping her sixth sense a secret from both the living and the departed, until a particularly persistent spirit flips everything into chaos when he entangles Akira in a hunt for a murderer.

'God, I'm late again!' Jane thought as she hurried through the streets. 'Mr. Smith is going to be so mad!' She decided to take a shortcut through some back alleys that she would normally rather avoid. Suddenly, she heard a series of whimpers, thumps, and yelps coming from another alley nearby. It sounded like a dog in pain, being beaten by something heavy 'Maybe if I make a noise, whatever is attacking that dog will get scared and run.' She stopped. She had just peaked her head around the corner and saw not one but two . . . men? . . . standing at the other end of a dead-end alley and overlooking a very large, furry pile of animals that seemed to be twitching. Normally, Jane would have been filled with terror at that moment, but terror was normally reserved for those with something to lose. There was a part of Jane, however, that still clung to the charade that was her life. Her hands began to tremble and her lungs released a scarcely audible gasp. Then the two standing figures turned and faced the end of the alley where Jane was hiding. "I'm going to call the police!" she shouted, lacking anything better to say. One of the figures shook his head and smiled. All his teeth seemed to be far too pointy. "That would be a very . . . terrible . . . mistake," he hissed, his words escaping his mouth like dead air from a pharaoh's tomb. And then both of them headed towards her at an inhuman pace. "No," one of them rasped. "Finish it. I'll get the girl." The other one stopped and snarled some kind of response.

Trigger Warning: abuse, violence, torture, sexual violence. Echo has known only pain for the last ten years. Being treated as a pack slave, she has cooked, cleaned, and worked harder than anyone she knows. Her reward for her efforts? Days without food and non-stop abuse from everyone in the pack. To make matters worse, one of her biggest tormentors is also completely obsessed with her. She has never known anyone in the pack to show her an ounce of kindness. When a visiting alpha from a neighboring pack turns out to be her fated mate, her life may hang in the balance. Will he be her saving grace, or will he reject her for her weakness? Will she ever escape the abuse? If so, can she escape the clutches of the powerful man who believes she belongs to him?

Book #2 Wright-Petrov Series Amelia Stepanov, often referred to as 'Stray Cat', is a medical student with an indeterminate background of wealth and influence. In a world where a powerful origin is deemed vital, she finds herself disregarded and mocked. However, despite the challenges she faces, she remains resolute in her determination to thrive. When her seemingly unimportant existence is endangered, formidable forces unite to protect her, recognizing her exceptional value akin to that of a precious stray cat. She is safeguarded by a powerful guardian who is unyielding in his resolve to protect her, upholding justice even if it means shedding blood. Amidst the perilous life she leads, she finds fulfillment in every moment, particularly in the company of her captivating protector, who had won her heart long ago. For years, she has persevered with unwavering resolve, aspiring to earn her place as the Mafia Queen by the side of a powerful and fierce Mafia Boss, Alek Vasili Wright.

R 18 + trigger warning. This is the sequel to the book. 'His Reluctant Luna' please read the mentioned book first to understand the back story. The updates will be slow. So, please have patience. Lucian and Alice are the Alpha and Luna of the Crimson Shadow pack. After defeating the evil witch Regina they are living a blissful life and on the verge of starting a family. When a stray wolf arrives with new complications. Old secrets are revealed which could jeopardise Lucian and Alice's relationship.

His right hand left his pocket and made its way to my face. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. He moved even closer, his face a few inches away from mine. His finger left my hair and gently drew invisible lines down my cheek. I felt a wave of electricity course through my being, my eyelids flickered shut and my lips parted slightly in anticipation. “Ingrid?” the softness in his voice made my knees tremble and when I felt his arm wrap securely around my slim waist, I leaned into him mindlessly. “Be mine.” ----------------------------------- To Ingrid nothing is more important than her job, not until Kareem stepped into that elevator and made his way into her life. She is in for the ride of a lifetime as Kareem brings with him, scandals and his vicious ex, who would go to any length to get him back, even if it means ruining Ingrid. Will Ingrid decide to take the risk and give love a chance? Or will she turn her back on what might be a ride to happily ever after?

What was even more humiliating than discovering her fiancé’s affair was hearing him claim he’d lost interest in her, and that he had gotten another woman pregnant. In the world of adults, it’s never about right or wrong—only about leverage. Heather Jenner couldn’t afford to lose the status she was so close to achieving as a wealthy wife. Let him have his fun, she thought. If he could stray, why shouldn’t she find another man to father her child? And so, she set her sights on his younger brother—the one who outshone him in every way.

Bonnie Walton had a crush on Jude Ashford since the first time she saw him when she was twelve and he was twenty-two. Jude is her brother’s best friend. He was always indifferent towards Bonnie until the summer she turned fifteen and he caught her reading a smut book and promised it was their little secret. Over the years, her feelings for Jude developed from a crush into a burning, heart-wrenching desire.  After years of not seeing each other, she can no longer hide her feelings for him on her eighteenth birthday, and their attraction ignites. They have the most lustful and sinful that leads to Bonnie losing her vCard to Jude.  Jude Ashford is the synonym of perfection, CEO of Ashford Publishing. He never steps out of line, being the most respectful man on the face of the earth. Jude always tries to be away from the spotlight his name brings.  What will happen when the woman that broke his heart ten years ago reappears in his life engaged? Will Jude be able to fight the jealousy he feels and allow her to find happiness with another, or will he fight to be with her?  Now that Bonnie is back in New York and living with her brother, Will Jude, and Bonnie be able to keep their hands to themselves? Or will their red-hot scorching desire for each other to get them to be together and reveal their attraction? Even if it means losing their best friend and brother’s support?

'I will give you no time to decide, Amore' Luciano said 'It's either you do it my way, or do it my way. Both ways, it's still my way'. Staring at the man she had stolen from, Amara regrets her actions. If only she had not been too picky, if only she had worked her and not want to make fast money, she won't have gotten into this mess. Now here she is, standing half naked as the man accessed her body. Accessed how useful she would be to his club even if she doesn't know how to strip. A faint gasp escaped her throat as Luciano stood up and walked toward her. She flinched as he brushed stray hair off her face then smirked. 'I see we are doing it my way after all' he muttered 'Someone will get you what to wear, make sure you are not late!'

On the night of our ninth wedding anniversary, my husband—Damian Grant, the man who ruled the mafia by day and once ruled my heart by night—did not bring me roses. He gave the bouquet that should have been mine to Serena Lane, his personal assistant. Beneath the chandelier where we once danced on our wedding night, he turned to me with that same cold charm he once used to whisper sweet nothings in my ear. “She's pregnant.” Finally, everything fell into place. “She's a picky eater. From today onward, you’ll cook three meals a day for her. And no repeats. “She’s sensitive and hates sleeping alone, so you’ll need to move your things into the guest room.” The room fell silent. I did not raise my voice, nor did I shed a single tear. I simply picked up my packed suitcase and walked to the door. The butler tried to stop me, but Damian did not even blink. “She’ll come back.” He lazily swirled the wine in his glass. “She’ll come back crying and begging within three days.” Our guests burst out laughing. They placed a million-dollar bet right in front of me. They were betting on whether I would be back before the night was over, begging Damian to let me back in like a pathetic stray dog with my tail between my legs. However, they did not know I had already received the family heirloom from my real father. I booked my flight to get far, far away from everyone I used to know. This time, I really left.