Tattoo Venom

For ten years, Seraphina Frostbane was a ghost in her own marriage and the invisible wife to London’s coldest billionaire, Kieran Blackthorne. She was his duty, his mistake, the woman who bore his heir but never his heart. When her father dies and her glamorous sister—the woman Kieran was meant to marry—returns to reclaim everything Seraphina accidentally took, he ends their marriage without hesitation. Broken but unbowed, Seraphina signs the divorce papers, takes her son, and disappears. But fate isn’t done with her yet. At her father’s funeral, an ambush meant to silence her nearly succeeds until she’s saved by Lucian Reed, a mysterious man with a spiral tattoo and eyes that promise danger. Under his brutal mentorship, Seraphina sheds her fragile shell and rises from the ashes as a woman who can bend the city’s elite to her will. But the stronger she grows, the more unhinged Kieran becomes. Realizing too late that his indifference masked a possessive obsession, he launches a ruthless war to drag her back into his empire and his bed. Now, caught between a new love that empowers her, an ex-husband who would burn the world to keep her, and a secret pregnancy that could destroy them all, Seraphina must decide: Will she rule her own destiny… or be devoured by the darkness that once claimed her?

The scent of pine and damp earth clung to the air as the full moon created long shadows across the Ancient Clearing. Tonight, was supposed to be our marking ceremony, a sacred ritual binding Alpha Anderson and his chosen Luna before the eyes of the Frostmoon Pack. “My heart,” his gaze locked on Leah, who stood under the moonlight “has always belonged to another. My first love, the one whose spirit has been weakened by the venom of wolfsbane, is my Luna.” He drew Leah closer, his hand possessively circling her waist. Under the watchful gaze of the moon, he smiled. “Our traditions are clear,” he continued, “Only the woman who stands with me at this altar, witnessed by all, shall be my Luna. Though I had always thought that Irene was my mate which I mistakenly marked a time ago. But thanks to the goddess for making me see clearly before it was too late.” They exchanged vows beneath the trees, witnessed by the werewolves and the Moon Goddess. The silver crowns were placed, the ceremonial kiss sealed their bond. I stood hidden in the shadows of the surrounding forest. For twelve years, from the moment my wolf recognized his at eighteen until my thirtieth moon cycle, my love for Anderson had never changed. But his heart, it was clear, belonged to Leah. If that was the truth, then I would release him. He had never truly seen me, never truly cared. Yet, the act of my departure seemed to unravel him in ways I couldn’t understand.

Dying from wolfsbane, I came back six months into carrying his pup. I went straight to a witch, begged for a potion to slow down the pup's growth. Choked it down. Then every day, I padded my belly with rabbit fur and kept up the act. In my first life, Emily and I went into labor on the same day. She popped out a perfect silver-white pup. Me? A white wolf giving birth to some scrappy mutt. James—Alpha of Ebonfang Pack—looked me dead in the eye and swore I betrayed him. I begged him to test the pup's blood. He did. Results came back: father was from an enemy pack. He called me a traitor, said I slept with the enemy, cut the bond, and threw me out. Five years rogue gutted my wolf. Then he showed up again. Guilt all over his face. "Emily got played by a Darkclaw wolf. She's just an omega—she wouldn't have survived going rogue. I had to swap the pups. Didn't you get the supplies I sent? Whatever, it's over. I'll take care of you now." Emily shot me a look full of venom and passed me a teapot. Didn't even get a word out before the wolfsbane kicked in. I died choking, eyes wide, body frozen. But now? I'm back. I know everything. Let's see how they plan to win this time.

Magkaibigang naging biktima ng pang aabuso sina Cherry Lou at Annika. Inilihim nila sa pamilya nila ang masaklap na pangyayare sa buhay nilang magkaibigan, dahil hindi naman nila nakilala ang mga umabuso sa kanila at tanging tattoo na palatandaan lang ang nakita ni Cherry Lou sa isa sa mga lumapastangan sa kanila. Pinilit ni Cherry na kalimutan ang masamang nangyari sa kanya. Lumuwas siya ng Maynila upang magsimula ng panibagong buhay. Ngunit sinubok pa rin ang katatagan nilang magkaibigan ng malaman nilang nagbunga ang pangwawalanghiya kay Annika. Itinago nila ang pagdadalang tao ni Annika sa pamilya nito at nang makapanganak si Annika ay inabandona ang sanggol. Si Cherry ang nagpakaina sa anak ni Annika. Nagkasakit ng Leukemia ang bata at natanggal sa trabaho si Cherry. Pikit matang namasukan sa club bilang topless dancer si Cherry upang makaipon ng malaking pera para sa operasyon ng anak- anakan. Inalok ng 3 milyong piso ni Anthony Buenavidez si Cherry upang maging bed warmer nito ang dalaga sa loob ng isang taon. Tanggapin kaya ni Cherry ang alok sa kanya ng isang gwapong binatang bilyonayo? Mabibigyan kaya ng hustisya ang pang-aabusong ginawa kina Cherry at Annika?

I had once been the woman Theo Bennett would have risked his life to marry. For six years after our wedding, he treated me like his entire world. He even had a matching tattoo carved into his lower abdomen, identical to mine, as proof of his devotion. But in the seventh year, he coldly demanded that I make a full-body model for his kept woman. "Catherine," he said, his voice sharp with contempt, "this is the price you pay for lying to me about being my savior. You know my tastes better than anyone. Make sure you replicate Hannah's body temperature. She's pregnant. I don't want to hurt her." Hannah Moore lay limp in Theo's arms, laughing so hard her shoulders shook. "How pathetic, Catherine," she mocked. "I'm pregnant, so I can't be with Theo. And yet he'd rather order a model of me than lay a finger on you. Once this one wears out, I guess I'll have to trouble you to make a few more copies of me." Only then did I understand. Theo had mistaken Hannah for the woman who once saved his life. I didn't scream. I didn't cry. I didn't argue. I simply turned around and dialed Sebastian's number. "Sebastian," I said calmly, "Theo is having an affair. I want a divorce."

Hyness worked out a way to get money even in a dirty way and sell herself to save her sister Lily from brain tumor disease. Pumunta siya sa isa sa pinakasikat na bar na alam niya sa kanilang lugar. Pinagpilian hanggang sa tumaas ng tumaas ang naging presyo niya at napatapat sa lalaking hindi niya kilala, she only remembers the sword tattoo on his right arm from the man she had slept with that night. She's second year college at malapit na rin gumraduate and one of a famous heartthrob named Kael James Montefalco dated her. Ngunit nagbunga ang nangyari sa kanila nong lalaki na nakasiping niya. She got pregnant and her parents hated her, dahil na rin sa walang maipakilala na ama ng dinadala niya si Hyness. Kael finds out about Hyness' pregnancy at kung ano-ano nalang ang mga nasabi ni Kael tungkol sa kanya. "Get rid of that child Hyness, if you can, abort him before you come to me and beg again in case you come back. If you hadn't just been flirty you wouldn't have gotten pregnant." However, Hyness also finds out who the real father of her baby, kaya mas pinili niya ang lumayo dahil sa kagustuhan ni Kael na ipalaglag ang sarili nilang anak.

"Custom demanded that Prince Urban get a love mark tattooed to the side of his left eye as an infant, just like the rest of his people, but to him, the stupid things have only brought on the scorn of his father, the misery of his siblings, and caused his entire kingdom to go broke from fighting so many wars over the irritating ink stains. When Urban’s sister must travel to Donnelly, the kingdom within the sand, for her arranged marriage to align two realms, he goes with her. But he no sooner steps foot inside their castle than his mark starts itching like a son of a bitch, telling him his one true love is near. It just figures, though, that the woman meant for him is completely forbidden. Now he must decide if he should ignore the persistent mark, telling him she's the one, in order to avoid a possible war between kingdoms, or if he should discover whether she's worth risking everything for so they can be together. Either way, his life gets sucked into chaos with threats of beheadings, dark magic lurking, castle traitors scheming, and sword fights eminent. Who knew one little tattoo could cause so much trouble? (ONE TRUE LOVE is the author’s first attempt at a fantasy romance. Please forgive her; she might’ve read an overabundance of Cassandra Gannon, Sarah J. Maas, and Eve Langlais books, then gone off to watch too many episodes of Supernatural, Game of Thrones, and Outlander, because this was the outcome.)"

Afam hunter kung tawagin, sugar baby para sa iilan. Nilulon niya ang pride at kumapit sa patalim para sa pera, para mabuhay sila. All for her dreams and her family. Pakiramdam ni Xylca Romero ay siya na ang pinakamalas na nilalang sa buong mundo. Ang ama niya ay lasenggero at ang ina ay dakilang sugarol sa kanilang lugar. Nakapisan naman sa kanila ang dalawang may-asawa ng mga kapatid karay-karay ang mga anak at mga ka-live in nilang palamunin din sa kanilang bahay. Sa murang edad niya ay naatang na sa kaniyang balikat ang responsibilidad sa mga nakababatang kapatid at ang pagbabayad sa mga pinagkakautangan ng kaniyang mga magulang. Gustuhin man niyang makawala sa lahat ng ito pero hindi siya binigyan ng mapagpipilian ng tadhana. And so she entered the world of dating foreigners online for her dreams. Sapat na ang lahat ng pasanin niya sa buhay to last her a lifetime. The burden is too heavy for her alone. Kaya mas nainis siya nang umentra sa buhay niya ang guwapong adik na tricycle driver na may dinosaur na tattoo sa katauhan ni Pierce. He stalked her, swoon over her, and made her fall in love with him. Is love enough for the two hungry souls? Or will reality only slap them hard in the face? In the end, their choices will define if they will choose love or goodbye.

On the day of the mating ceremony, a crazed witch bursts in and points straight at me, shrieking, "Six years later, your Alpha will betray you!" Troy Hudson, my soon-to-be mate, turns livid. He swats the purple-glowing crystal ball from her hand, shattering it on the floor. "Nonsense! Estelle is my fated mate! I'll only ever love her in this lifetime!" After that, he becomes even more devoted to me. At the Moon Goddess' altar, he drapes the Luna shawl over my shoulders. He marks me with his scent so the entire pack knows I belong to him. Every full moon, he deepens the mark on my neck, whispering that I am his forever. I believe his love is unbreakable until our sixth anniversary. A box waits at our front door. Inside lies a pair of lace panties and a photograph. In the photo, Troy is pressed over his foster sister, Rue Youngblood, the wolf tattoo on his body glowing faintly. His hand grips her waist, his eyes burning with the same heat I've dreamed of a million times. And Rue? She's wearing that same pair of panties. On the back of the photo, written in ink as red as blood, is a line of pure provocation. "The Alpha's heart may belong to you, but his body belongs to me." Agony ripped through my chest, yet not a single tear fell. Instead, I rest my hand on my belly and quietly send word to the Witch Association. "I accept your invitation. Please help me vanish."

The night before our wedding, word spread like wildfire through high society that my fiancee had thrown herself a bachelorette party with ten virgins. When I storm into the villa, I find her nestled in the arms of my chauffeur's son, her skin blotched with fresh red marks. "It's just a wild night before the wedding. You get that, don't you?" Melissa Young says. She looks up at me with indifference, not bothering to explain herself. I catch the smug challenge in the eyes of the man holding her. My eyes burn red as I hurl the wedding invitations to the floor. "The scandal is everywhere! Have you even thought about what tomorrow's wedding will look like?" I yell. "This isn't just about you and me. It's about the future of both our families' businesses! Call a press conference and explain yourself." She frowns, irritation flickering in her eyes, but gives a grudging nod. Yet the next day, the internet explodes with a new bombshell—the Zucker heir is impotent, leaving his fiancee unsatisfied. When I demand answers, Melissa puts her foot down, her voice dripping with venom as she says, "All I see now is Nicky." She snaps, "No matter how many times you threaten to pull your investments, my mind's made up!" In that moment, the last ember of love I feel for her goes out. I call my dad, my resolve steeled. "Cut off all funding to Young Group, and buy out every one of her partnerships at triple the price!"