Sweets Box Empty

Before the contract was even signed, the client's representative casually said he was craving pancakes with maple syrup. I didn't hesitate. I texted my fiancé, Nigel Cross, and asked him to stand in line and grab some. He came back with the box, all proud of himself. The client took one bite, and within seconds, his face went red. Hives bloomed across his neck. He shot to his feet, furious, and called the whole deal off on the spot. Then he turned around and handed the million-dollar order to Olivia Field, the intern who had rushed to grab him allergy meds. Three months of grinding work were gone just like that. I stood there, my throat tight, trying not to fall apart. Nigel squeezed my shoulder, his voice soft as he said, "It was just bad luck. Don't beat yourself up." I nodded weakly, drained of energy. But the second I stepped away, I heard him laughing in the break room with his friend. "That guy's seriously allergic to mango. Good thing I added mango syrup to the pancakes. Olivia's about to score a huge year-end bonus. Enough for a down payment on her new apartment." His friend hesitated. "Melissa hasn't slept in a month over that deal. She was working while she was sick. She needed that money for her mom's surgery—" Nigel waved him off, already annoyed. "She has me. Isn't that enough? Olivia earned this." My hands curled into fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms. Bad luck? Yeah, right. Nigel had planned every second of it. And now, he thought he could smooth it over by marrying me someday, toss me a few cheap words, and I would just swallow it. I was done with that disgusting man.

Billy had a tough life and had always lived by one unshakable rule. But one fateful night at an elite party, where she worked as a part-time server, everything changed as she caught the intense eyes of a stranger—a man whose allure was impossible to resist. And against her better judgment, she broke that rule of hers, surrendering to a night of passion and desire that left her breathless. But when she woke up in the morning, the bed was empty, and the stranger was gone, leaving Billy with nothing but memories of that night. Weeks later, she discovered the consequences of that night: she was pregnant. With no clue, and no way to find that stranger, she braced herself to face motherhood alone. Months passed, and Billy landed another job—serving at the engagement party of one of the city’s most powerful billionaires. But when she was called to serve a drink at the party, her world tilted as the groom-to-be was none other than the man she had been searching for: Marcus Lorenzo. Marcus, the cold-hearted billionaire with a reputation for ruthlessness, had been haunted by that night he had with Billy. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t forget the mysterious woman who had set his soul on fire. Now, faced with Billy again, he keep finding himself drawing closer to her and this brings out their lust for each other despite the obstacles between them. As their shared desire reignites, the boundaries of their lives blur. But with secret and lies threatening to destroy them, Billy and Marcus must confront the question: Was their night of passion a fleeting mistake, or the start of something far more dangerous?

That night, Liam served me my usual evening tea. I trusted him completely—he was my mate, after all, and a respected healer of Thornpack. I shouldn't have. When I woke up the next morning, my head was spinning. The special safe where I kept the morphing inhibitor—the one I'd spent my entire savings to import from Europe for our daughter Isla—was empty. Racing to the healing center, I found Liam celebrating. He was handing out moon-blessed wine, beaming with pride as Natalie's daughter Anna showed off her perfect transformation. My inhibitor had been used on his first love's pup instead of our own daughter. The shock triggered something in my brain. When I collapsed, they diagnosed me with the rare tumor that plagued our kind. Without inhibitors, I couldn't stop Isla's transformation that came early, her six year old body couldn't handle the massive wolf form and the force ripped through her young body. And I, for one, don't even have enough money to keep her in a treatment center. She died in my arms three days later, her little claws drawing blood as the pain overwhelmed her. Until her last breath, she kept asking why Papa hadn't come. Now, in my cold, empty home, with the white porcelain urn containing her ashes on the table, I touch her and decide to sever our partnership.

My name is Christian Thompson, and once upon a time, I was the best striker in European football. That was until he came along—Ashford Ryder, young and carefree, 10 years my junior and the new shining star. I hate him. At least that's what I tell myself. Not just because he's taken my spot, but because he's everything I've struggled all my life to be, and not to be. He's vibrant, he's happy, and the worst of all, he's openly gay. I'm not homophobic, quite the opposite—I've lived in the closet all my life. All my life, I've had to hide who I am to please the people around me. European football hasn't always been this accepting of gay men, and I'd squeezed myself into a box to fit in with what they wanted of me. It isn’t that hard when you think about my family who'd rather disown me than have an openly gay son. So imagine how I feel when the world decides to be more accommodating to people like Ashford Ryder when they shoved me in a box. It's not so easy to hate the happy-go-lucky striker, when he does everything to get close to me, despite my insistent hatred for him. He's like a thorn in my side—a hot, sexy, blonde, 5ft9 thorn I can't stop thinking about. But when one day I lose my cool around the popular striker and land myself in bad press, I end up needing his help. It's supposed to be easy. Spend some time with Ashford Ryder, and show our fans that we can work together—it's what I need to do to save my career. But no one tells you how hard it is to hate someone you spend every waking hour dreaming about.

"Strip, Omega. My wolf doesn't care for your excuses, only your scent." The growl was like velvet over gravel, vibrating through the humid air of the VIP lounge. Samuel Cawson knew he should run. He was a half-blood, a "glitch" in the supernatural hierarchy, and the man looming over him was Adrian Stain—the Alpha King whose name was whispered in fear by boardrooms and blood-packs alike. But under the heat of a Blood Moon, pride was the first thing to burn. One night of feral, bone-deep surrender was supposed to be his escape; instead, it became his cage. Then came the twist of betrayal. When Samuel woke to an empty bed and a branded neck, he realized he hadn't just slept with a CEO—he had accidentally claimed a King. Fleeing across the globe was his only hope to protect the secret growing inside him. But five years later, the past has a way of tracking its prey. Samuel returns with a silver-eyed child who carries the Alpha’s lethal genius, only to walk straight into Adrian’s trap. The man he once feared is now a monster obsessed with reclaiming what’s his. Between the jagged shards of a broken heart and a conspiracy that threatens to bleed the pack dry, Samuel must decide: is Adrian his fated protector, or is he the very predator who will eventually tear his world apart? "You stole my heir, Samuel. Now, I’m going to steal your breath until you remember exactly who you belong to."

Imagine my shock when I found out that my husband, a professor who had proudly embraced a childless life for half of his years, had an affair with one of his own students. She even had his six-year-old son. The day I planned to report him to the university, Zia Thompson came to my door with the child and knelt in front of me. "Maybe you and Zeke were in love once," she said. "But he's over forty now. Who doesn't want to have a child? A legacy?" "I don't need a title," she went on. "I can give up the child too. I just beg you, don't tear our family apart." I looked at my husband, who stood protectively in front of them. I felt terrifyingly calm. "Cut ties with them," I said, my voice flat, "or prepare to be reported to the university. You choose." Without a moment's hesitation, he tore the report letter into shreds. I thought that was his answer. But on the fifty-second night of a bed grown cold and a home echoing with silence, he still hadn't returned. Instead, I received news that Zia was pregnant again. She had graduated by then. The report I never sent no longer posed any threat to them. Zeke didn't bother to hide his fatigue and irritation anymore. "Treat Zia and the kids well," he said, "or keep living alone in that empty house. It's your choice." My heart was already a wasteland. "I have one more option," I said. "I choose divorce."

"I will protect us, you and the baby and we'll live together" Max said with determination, for the very first time, the desperation to have me back was evident in his voice_ but it was too late_ my mind was locked up, my heart sealed; He caused it, every single thing I went through to this day had been because of his ignorance but now, I'm riling with mixed feelings but my decision doesn't change as my mind flashed back with memories_ Everything was at stake, my baby, my Mom. To save them, I had to give up my own feelings, give him an information that would make him not to look for me; it'll hurt, I know but it was for the greater good and I wouldn't mind giving it my all. " I'm sorry Max but I can't stay with you" I almost broke down as I said those words, watching those hard and stern expression he wore on his face everytime dissolve to fear, my heartbeat skipped, it felt completely empty, felt like I was leaving a part of me behind. "But why? I could change Vivian, I could forfeit the gang if you want, just let me__" "I can't Max because I'm not pregnant with your child!" I finally divulged the information and for a moment, a dangerous glint crossed his eyes. " I can't because it's not your baby Max, so let go!"

While I'm patching up the injured wolves in the pack, I overhear a few young Omegas muttering among themselves while sharing a photo to each other in a corner. Apparently, it's a post that has been uploaded by a social media account named "True Love Above All". "He told me that the she-wolf by his side only needs a title. As for me, I need his protection. This is the amulet he has obtained from a witch after visiting the forbidden grounds." In the photo, the amulet can be seen emitting a magical glow. I know that he's the only one in the entire pack who's capable of obtaining this amulet. I look down at my empty wrist. Today is the Christmas Eve. According to the pack's tradition, mates must exchange tokens of love with each other. When I return to the pack house at night, Alpha Ethan enters the house while smelling like another she-wolf. He pulls out a cheap-looking bangle—that still has half a price tag stuck onto it—from his pocket before tossing it onto the couch casually. "This bangle is for you, Maya. It's the most popular style this year." As I pick up the mass-produced bangle that can be found in any accessory store, I feel the coldness of my fingertips seeping into my heart. It turns out that Alpha Ethan thinks he can easily fool me with a random gift despite me being the Luna. Yet, the she-wolf—whose identity he refuses to give away—gets to enjoy the protection he has risked his life obtaining for her sake.

I was a mermaid from the deep sea. Out of curiosity and playfulness, I was caught by a fisherman and endured unbearable torment. Just when I was on the brink of death, Trevon Chapman happened to pass by and saved me. So, I gave up my identity as a mermaid princess, left the ocean behind, and followed him into the human world. For five years after our marriage, Trevon granted my every wish and showered me with affection. I truly believed I had found a safe harbor I could depend on for the rest of my life—until fate struck with its cruelest blow. Trevon's childhood sweetheart had fallen gravely ill, and only a mermaid’s tail could save her. I begged him desperately, but he responded with chilling indifference. "You're only losing your legs. Corinne is losing her life. Are you really that heartless? You're just going to watch her die?" "Besides, you can’t return to the sea anymore. That tail means nothing to you now. From now on, I’ll be your legs." After the surgery, I sat in a wheelchair, running my hand over the empty fabric where my legs should have been, and calmly demanded a divorce. Trevon pulled Corinne into his arms, sneering. "You're neither human nor fish now—a monster. Without me, the only road left for you is death." Yet in the end, when I transformed back into a mermaid and leapt into the sea, his cries and desperate sobs echoed across the waves.

After their wedding, Phoebe woke up next to an empty bed. She couldn't find her husband. Alam niyang hindi siya iiwan ni Pierce. They even made love last night. She tried to find him, but to no avail. She even hired private investigators to find her missing husband but the investigation would always fail. There's no lead, no clue, no reason at all why would Pierce left her like that! After two years of living in pain and self-blame, Phoebe has already decided start over. She has to work for her family since her Dad passed away. Ngunit tila pinaglalaruan siya ng tadhana. Because Pierce suddenly shows up! She couldn't believer her eyes. Akala ng lahat ay naglaho na ito, ngunit mula sa kung saan ay bigla na lamang itong bumalik. Her heart was filled with hope again. Finally, she saw him again! But it seems like Pierce couldn't remember her. He treated her cold and heartless. Hindi na niya makilala ang bagong Pierce na nasa kaniyang harap. The Pierce she knew was loving, clingy, and thoughtful... not this one who's rude, ruthless, and cold. Nasaan ang kaniyang asawa? Bakit hindi siya nito maalala? Bakit bigla itong nawala? How could they make their marriage work when Pierce couldn't even remember her? How would she deal with him? How could she endure more pain after the two years of living in pain?