Sucking Own Toes

While we were scuba diving, my boyfriend, Raphael Carlisle, ripped off my oxygen mask and put it on his childhood friend, Lucia Fairchild, whose mask had started leaking. I was left thrashing helplessly in the freezing water. Just as I thought it was over, Raphael's younger brother, Gabriel Carlisle, swam over, breathed life into me, and brought me back to the surface. After he saved me, he presented me with the purple diamond ring he designed himself and proposed, "For as long as I live, I'll never let you face danger again." I believed that he was my one true love, so I married him, leaving my job behind to focus on starting a family. On the day Lucia was given a critical condition notice, I ended up in a car accident. As I lay half-conscious on the hospital bed, I overheard Gabriel talking with Raphael. "Get a doctor to induce labor right away! Lucia's illness can only be treated with a stem cell transplant from umbilical cord blood. The only reason I got Phoebe pregnant was for this very day." "But she's carrying our bloodline! How could you have someone hit her with a car?" Raphael yelled. Gabriel replied, "Lucy matters more to me! As for Phoebe, I can spoil her rotten once she wakes up." At that moment, I realized the love I held on to was nothing but a lie. If that was the case, I'd just leave.

When the flood hit, my husband, Patrick Holmes, who was part of the rescue team, stood between me and his first love, Victoria Clarke, torn with hesitation written all over his face. Without thinking twice, I shoved the only lifebuoy into Victoria's arms. In my previous life, Patrick had handed the lifebuoy to me instead and stayed behind with Victoria, choosing to die alongside her. Just before they both drowned, rescuers arrived in the nick of time and pulled him out, but Victoria didn't make it—she drowned that day. After that, he devoted himself completely to me, taking care of me in every moment of our daily lives. I had thought that the disaster made him cherish me more, but I was wrong—so terribly wrong. While I was hospitalized, Patrick unplugged my oxygen tank himself. He hissed, "If you hadn't insisted on going home to rest that day, I wouldn't have been torn on who to save, and she wouldn't have died. Now, you'll atone to her in the afterlife." I struggled helplessly as my vision blurred and death crept in. Then, everything went dark. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day the flood began.

After graduation, I spend a year interning with my mentor, a healer, out in the neutral lands—no packs, no laws, and no one to protect me. My brother, the Lycan Chairman of all werewolves, nearly loses his mind over it. He's terrified I'll fall for some Rogue and impulsively form a reckless mate bond. As such, he handpicks an arranged mate for me—Falcon Sterling, the Alpha of the strongest pack in Northmere. He's handsome and dangerous, a legendary figure. My brother orders me to come home for the mating ceremony, so I have no choice but to go pick out a Luna crown. At the jewelry shop, my eyes snap straight to a crown made of pure silver and covered in diamonds. Just as I reach out to take it, a sharp female voice cuts in. "I like the one she's holding. I'll take it. Hand it over." Before I can react, the clerk snatches the crown right out of my hands, nearly scraping my skin. I straighten up, forcing myself to stay calm. "Ever heard of 'first come, first served?' I saw it first. Is this how you do things here?" The she-wolf slowly turns toward me, casting me a long, mocking look. "This crown costs 300 thousand dollars. You sure you can afford it, peasant? I grew up with the Alpha of the Silvermoon pack, Falcon Sterling. Around here, I make the rules." I stare at her, almost laughing. Isn't that funny? Falcon just happens to be my arranged mate. I pull out my phone and press the call button. "Hey, Falcon. Your adorable childhood sweetheart just stole the Luna crown I'm supposed to wear for the mating ceremony. What do you think I should do about that?"

The night before the company went public, my wife told me she had a surprise for me and reminded me to dress up for the occasion. I thought she was planning to reveal our secret relationship, and I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep all night. However, the next day, in front of everyone, she announced that I was a creepy obsessive admirer. On top of that, she revoked my promotion and gave my position to her first love who had just returned to the country. Everyone was waiting to see me humiliated. I froze for a moment but quickly composed myself, walking up to her first love with a faint smile. Then, I took off the badge on my chest and placed it on him. “As the new director, you should celebrate, shouldn't you? How about a wedding? I’ll officiate for you two.” Glaring at me coldly, my wife told me to get lost and stop embarrassing myself. What they didn’t know was that I was the key connection holding the entire company together. If I left, none of the investors would back them anymore.

I thought I was signing a job contract. I didn’t know I was signing away my freedom. When desperation forces me into the office of billionaire CEO Adrian Blackwood, I accept a six-month personal assistant role that feels too perfect to be safe. The money is good. The rules are strict. And the man watching me across the table feels like he already knows how this ends. Adrian Blackwood is cold, powerful, and terrifyingly composed — a man who doesn’t make mistakes. And he didn’t hire me by accident. As lines blur between professionalism and possession, I begin to realize the contract isn’t the real danger. It’s him. And the truth I was never meant to find — not yet.

"Tonight, is the coronation ceremony of the Alpha King's sons. Rather than presenting you as an option for their mate choice, your twin sister will be presented, instead.” My father spoke coldly to me. Every fiber of his being expressed hatred for me, and while I was a little used to being treated that way, it was painful that as the older twin sister, I was skipped for an opportunity like this. When the ceremony started, we all stood as a family, with my sister dressed really pretty, and waiting for the Alpha King's sons to meet us. But the moment I noticed them walking towards us, my heart skipped a beat and my whole body charged up with adrenaline as I realized one thing. They were my mates. Not just one, but triplets. Alyssa is an omega in the family and pack of betas, and was treated as a nobody by her father, sister and the pack, when her mother died. But as vibrant soul, she endured all she went through in their hands until she met her mates who were triplets. While she was happy to have finally met the ones whom she felt would show her love and care, little did she know that it was the beginning of worse misery in her life that led to her desiring revenge. As time goes on, she would find secrets that would break her soul. Would Alyssa torture every single person that made life worse for her or would allow love to ease her grieving heart?

Three days after his first love Mandy's death, my husband locked me in a steel cage and sank me into the ocean. "You vicious woman," he spat. "Stay here and repent to Mandy!" He didn't know I carried his child. I thrust the pregnancy confirmation toward him, but he walked away without a backward glance. Yet when he later saw my corpse—bloated and decomposing in the seawater—he went insane.

Betrayed by her own sister, disowned by her father, and abandoned by the family she once called home, Julia carries the name “criminal” like a scar she didn’t earn. After three months behind bars for a crime she didn’t commit, Julia walks out of prison with nothing - no family, no friends, and no place to go. Imagine as the biological daughter of the family, but being cast aside and replaced with the adopted one. That was where Julia found herself. But fate wasn’t done with her. The powerful family that adopted her from the orphanage before the Reynolds – her biological family, came to claim her, now opened their arms wide to welcome her back. Now, as the truth began to resurface and the lies start to crumble, Julia’s chest burned with rage, ready to clear her name and bring the Reynolds down to their knees. The Disowned Heiress is a story of betrayal, second chances, and a woman’s quiet war against the people who disowned and framed her for a crime she didn’t commit.

At the five-star hotel where the blind date was set, leftover takeout was complimentary. I liked their Australian lobster and Poule de Bresse en Vessie. I packed my own portion and even helped box up what my date hadn't finished. Just as I picked up the bags to leave, he grabbed me with a dark look and demanded, "Jennifer, we agreed to split the bill. What gives you the right to take all the food?" I explained that he wouldn't be able to finish it anyway, and if we didn't take it, it would just be thrown away. He let out a cold laugh. "I paid for that food. Even if I toss it, that's none of your concern. Looks to me like you've been waiting for a chance to take advantage. I didn't expect you to be this kind of person. "I'd rather feed these leftovers to a dog than give them to you! And don't bother contacting me again. That petty, small-minded behavior of yours is disgusting." I pressed my lips together, at a complete loss for words. After all… this five-star hotel belonged to my family.

"You’ve faded, Anna. No other man will ever want you."After six years of marriage, my husband didn't just ask for an open arrangement—he dismantled my soul. He thought I was trapped by my mother’s medical bills and my own shattered confidence. He thought I would stay quiet while he played with other women.He was wrong.One night of rebellion leads me to Anthony Jeffery—a man more dangerous and powerful than my husband could ever imagine. I thought it was a one-time escape. I didn't know Anthony was my husband’s billionaire boss. I didn't know he was the only man who could help me reclaim the jewelry designs my husband has been stealing from me for years.Now, I’m playing a double game. By day, I’m the genius designer taking over the industry. By night, I’m the CEO’s secret obsession.Jake wanted an open marriage? Fine. But by the time I’m done, he won’t just lose his wife—he’ll lose his career, his freedom, and his crown.The game is open. And I’m playing to win.