Thanks To Myself

My Needs. My Demands. Your Pleasure. You're Welcome. She had one year left of college when our parents got married. And thanks to being raised in poverty, she needed help with her expenses. My dad, being the benevolent billionaire, stepped up without question. But there was a catch. She had to intern at the firm for a year. With me. As her boss. Poor sweet little thing. She has no clue what she’s up against, but she’ll figure it out soon. I don’t play typical games, but the ones I do play, I always win. And regardless of how taboo our relationship might become, I’m all in. The reward is worth the risk. I just hope she can keep up with my many demands.

I met the Alpha who I vowed to never ever see again. I hate this world. I hate myself for being an Omega. I hate nature. I hate myself. I hate this Alpha who's looking at me like he owns me. I do not belong to anyone.

I am not just a werewolf. I am more. And I could die for it. A series of death befalls my town and it pushes me to confront secrets about myself that I would be killed for if it ever came to light. This is my story and I hope I survive to tell it.

Lara Dela Cruz was a normal girl—well, normal in the sense that she was an overworked call center agent who hated her boss, loved iced coffee, and had mastered the art of sarcasm to survive the horrors of capitalism. But one night, while rushing home, she slipped on a puddle (thanks to her horrible luck) and hit her head hard on the pavement. When she woke up… she wasn’t in her world anymore. Instead, she found herself in a medieval kingdom, in the middle of a chaotic slave auction. And before she could even scream in protest, she was bought by the most feared man in the entire empire—Duke Alistair Von Nacht, also known as the Tyrant Duke. Now, instead of dealing with rude customers, she had to deal with an emotionally constipated warlord who could kill her with a flick of his fingers. But what’s worse? She might be falling for the grumpy tyrant.

Jack Cooke—my husband, who'd never so much as scrambled an egg—suddenly went full kitchen freak. He bought a ton of pots and spatulas, then spent all day just... polishing them. When I called him out, he shrugged. "I like things clean. That a crime now?" Behind him? A mountain of dirty socks. Then it got weirder. He dragged all the kitchen stuff into our bedroom. At night, he'd get weird with a dishcloth. Like, disturbingly weird. I was done. I asked for a divorce. Jack stormed into a private dining room and shredded the papers right in front of our investors. "You're seriously ending our marriage over this? Kinda dramatic, don't you think?" I didn’t blink. “I gave up my spot for your pots and pans. A little thanks wouldn’t kill you.”

The very first thing I do after I come back to life is find a pig and get married to it. In my past life, I was on the brink of getting engaged to my lover of ten years, Anthony Warner, who was a regimental colonel. In order to celebrate my engagement, Hannah Larson, my cousin, gave me a bracelet, and since it was a thoughtful gift from her, I wore it all the time. Yet, on our engagement day, Anthony didn't just call off our engagement, but he also berated me, calling me a tramp and a homewrecker who destroyed his relationship with Hannah. I was completely at a loss and tried to defend myself, but Hannah suddenly stepped forward and burst out crying. "I know my family and educational background surpass yours, but you can't just ruin my relationship with Anthony out of jealousy, Natalie! Anthony and I have already made a lifelong commitment to each other, so please just let it go!" Anthony turned and led Hannah away. They then got engaged shortly afterward. I was left standing there, becoming the subject of gossip from my relatives. They called me a shameless home-wrecker, and their scorn extended to my parents, who were shamed for raising such a child. They eventually took their own lives from all the rumors, and I couldn't bear the pain of losing them, so I ended myself, too. I suddenly open my eyes and find myself returning to the day Hannah presents me with the bracelet.

“You are more willing now. And Carly, I’ve always wanted you. I wasn’t joking when I said it before.” He smiled, and then brought his finger up. The same finger that I was sure he used in my sex. He placed it inside his mouth and his tongue rolled over it. It was messed up. Everything was messed up, yet my stomach twisted, wanting more. ***** Arthur Wilder was once an apology I thought was sent to me, but he turned out to be a calm before the storm, a storm that almost cost my life and led to darkness, which still lingers in my soul. Years later, when I thought I was finally in control, powerful and unstoppable, he was back to take charge of my life. In marriage. I should run away from him, to protect myself, yet I found myself lending to his dark desire.

Normal is overrated; that’s what my mom always said. My mom didn’t know the half of it. For 23 years, I thought my biggest problem was being an adopted child of a single mom in a tiny house, then I burst into flames. My first thought was mental breakdown, but that didn’t explain the fact that real flames were put out by real firefighters, so I fled to the city. The plan had been to check myself into a mental hospital, but I’d been too afraid, so I looked for a temporary job while I worked up the courage. My first interview is where things really went off the deep end. I found myself submerged in a world of monsters, and I was one of them. By my 24th birthday, I would supposedly be set into my immortality, with supernatural powers and all. With not one, but two handsome immortals watching out for me, hatred and hostility still lurked around every corner.

Before I knew he was my stepson, he was my one-night stand — the man whose touch I couldn’t forget, whose way of making love branded itself into my memory. I wanted him from the start. But he resisted. He’s someone I’m supposed to guard, yet when I’m with him, he makes me feel like I’m the younger one and he’s the one in control. When he walked away, I told myself I’d forgotten him — moved on, tucked myself into a safe marriage that promised stability. But our secret affair has lasted longer than it should. No one can know. Now, things are getting riskier. He wants me to leave my marriage — he’s certain we belong together. What do I do when everything I’ve worked for — my reputation, the school I’m trying to save from collapse — is on the line?

I dislike vampires because they killed my parents. I called them with different kinds of names… monster, scoundrel, devil and creatures that deserved to be in hell. Nevertheless, I didn’t foresaw myself falling for a vampire- a creature’s ancestor who was the reason behind my loved one’s death. "Listen to me, woman," he muttered in terror. "You should stand now and clean my room to pay for your debt and as a sign of respect to your master. Now that you're in my possession, all you need to do is follow what I say, never oppose me, and refrain from digging or talking back until I say so. Did your tiny, little brain get it?" I told myself I’d kill him, but those dreams I awaited to execute began slipping off my mind as the anger I had to their origin turned to a poisonous love which shouldn’t have existed. All of these started the moment he uttered the words, “Mine…”