The Brief Bedford Reader 15th Edition

In the future, men are forced to bend to the will of women in order to pay for their crimes of the past. Can one short conversation with a man change Rain's world forever? After the Third World War, women seized the opportunity to overcome the surviving men, creating a new nation in part of what used to be the United States ruled by the Motherhood. From that day forward, all women are raised never to question the new order of things where women have all the power and men are used and discarded like animals. Rain knows in the back of her mind that this way is wrong, but she’s been indoctrinated to believe questioning the Mothers is unheard of. All of that changes one afternoon when she’s fulfilling her duties in the Insemination Ward and speaks to one of the men face-to-face for the first time. Their conversation is brief, but Rain’s life will be changed forever. Now that Rain is aware that the Motherhood isn’t all it appears to be, she’s drawn into a circle of women who want change and are willing to sacrifice everything to overthrow the Motherhood, free the men, and create a world where everyone is appreciated and valued, regardless of gender. The road ahead is full of danger, and with every step, new questions and possibilities are presented to Rain. Will she join the rebellion and work to set men free—or will she continue to be a part of the all-powerful Motherhood? Rain’s Rebellion is book one in a new thrilling dystopian romance series.

Fucking hell,” was the last thing I heard from him before his lips met mine, his hands cooling my skin. But it still wasn’t enough. I wanted more. I needed him to ease the burning inside me. “Inside—” I gasped, turning my head to the side. “It hurts inside of me.” Seth was breathing heavily above me. “Do you know what you are asking for, Camilla?” I swallowed, looking at his face before spreading my legs. “Yes, Beta. I want you inside of me.” Camilla had always lived in the Green Hill pack but hadn't found her mate yet. She started to think she was either mateless or her mate wasn’t in her pack. After an attack with while she was cleaning the Luna’s house , she was taken to the hospital by their Pack’s beta, Seth. But when Camilla opened her eyes and looked into Seth's brown eyes, she felt sparks. She had known Seth, but even with their brief encounters, there was nothing. Camilla’s happiness faded when she remembered Seth was married and had a four-year-old son. Now, what would Camilla do, especially after finding out she was carrying the Beta's child? Would she remain the Beta's dirty little secret?

**Synopsis**: When Claire Mason, a successful but emotionally guarded architect, returns to the small coastal town of Seabreeze after nearly a decade away, she expects nothing more than a brief stay to settle her late grandmother’s estate. But as she strolls through the familiar streets, memories of her first love, Ethan Hayes, begin to resurface—along with the pain of their abrupt and unresolved parting. Ethan never left Seabreeze. Now a local business owner, he’s built a quiet life by the sea, haunted by the ghost of the girl who left him behind. When Claire unexpectedly walks back into his life, the old spark between them reignites. However, both have changed in the years apart, and neither is willing to easily trust the other again. As they are drawn together by the memories of their youth, Claire and Ethan must confront the mistakes of their past and the truths they’ve been avoiding. But with the wounds of their old love still fresh, and new challenges threatening to pull them apart once more, they must decide if they can leave the past behind and take a second chance on each other—or if their first love was always destined to remain just a memory. "My First Love" is a heartwarming and bittersweet tale of love, loss, and the enduring power of first love, set against the backdrop of a picturesque coastal town where the past and present collide. ---

"Does this mean you approached me on purpose?" Lucas asked with his eyes narrowed darkly and pure anger floating around his blue iris. "Fucking speak! Tell me the bloody reason you approached me?" Lucas yelled in her face as he slammed her back against the wall in the process. She stared in his face for a brief moment, looking very deep in his anger filled eyes, then she let out a mocking chuckle. "Yeah, I, Susan Owen approached you on purpose and I swear on everything unholy, I won't rest until I've made you feel every ounch of pain you made me feel" she let out a spooky laugh which sent an eerie chill down Lucas' spine, even her makeup is making her look like Lucifer's bride at the moment. Sophia Owen was once a sweet and lovely lady, just like every sweet ladies out there. She had always dream to graduate with good grades and get a good job, to cater for her family. But sadly, she met him and that was the end of her dream. However she found another dream and that's to make Lucas and his entire generation pay for what he did to her. Will she get her revenge?

He leans his face close to mine, so close that I could feel his breath licks the skin of my face while his fingers wrapped around my chin. My skin tingles at the point of contact. Sparks of electricity traveled from his skin to mine, igniting a kind of hunger I've never felt before. I hold my breath. Unable to move or think, other than let him sucked me deep in his hypnotizing stormy orbs. “One of these days your stupid dreams will get you killed.” I heard him say. And then he's gone and so was the bubble of that brief magical moment. Funny, he is one of those stupid dreams. ••• Meet Victoria Lyn de Cordova a.k.a Sarah Brewer a 24-year-old, hopeless romantic runaway princess from a small hidden Kingdom of Terra. Fueled with fear of marrying a man who was rumored to be an a merciless assassin, she runs away from the place she called home. Meet Alaric Mendez a Hispanic rogue assassin that has only one mission and that was getting his revenge from an unknown enemy that killed his family. A runaway Princess and a broken anger-driven Assassin in a story of love, hope, and healing. Will their newfound love would be enough to heal the wounds from the past or will they let the past hunt them down to wound them apart?

Catherina Hanshaw Dalton has spent six years believing she lived a fairytale, married to billionaire Xavier Dalton, cherished by him, and building a life rooted in devotion, even amid one heartbreak she cannot control: their inability to have a child. Though Xavier assures her she is enough, Catherine senses his quiet disappointment, a wound deepened by the venomous hostility of his mother, Lydia Dalton. Lydia never misses a chance to insult Catherine’s infertility, idolize Xavier’s sister Mia and her children, or imply Xavier married beneath his status. Catherine endures it all, clinging to the one constant comfort, Xavier always defends her. Or so she believes. This Christmas, however, Catherine’s dread of another humiliating Dalton family gathering turns into confusion. Lydia is gracious….kind, even. The manor is full of relatives, business partners, and esteemed guests, including Hunter Powell, Xavier’s ruthless business rival. The brief moment when Cathy’s eyes meet Hunter unsettles her, but nothing prepares her for Lydia’s “special Christmas gift.” During the toast, Lydia presents Caroline Turner…a beautiful young woman who is allegedly four months pregnant through surrogacy…with Xavier’s child.

A hell-recycle world within the modern world, designed for death or near-death individuals. With the greenhouse effect resulting in instability in hell, access to hell becomes restricted, and the game keeps the new souls busy while offering them a second chance to return to their lives before death, depending on their performance. A six-digit cash prize is awarded to the winning participants, with rewards ranging from reversed choices and time manipulation to wealth and more. The 100 Doors Challenge System was designed purposely for this world, to keep the growing audience (already existing souls) entertained. Chosen participants must die beautifully at each door. The fancier and more tragic the death, the higher the views. The story alternates between real-world broadcast control rooms, digital death arenas, and fragmented dreamlike worlds designed from Author Willa’s traumas, fears, and regrets and those of the participating ghosts. 100 Doors: Die Fabulously for the Audience. This story contains graphic adult themes, including explicit sexual content, psychological tension, dark humour, trauma, and scenes of coercion and moral ambiguity. It explores mature, disturbing, and emotionally intense situations within a fantasy-system setting. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

⚠️ This story includes dark romance elements, explicit sexual themes, power imbalance, and morally grey characters. Reader discretion is advised. 18+ only *** From cursed and cast out… to the unbreakable obsession of three Alpha brothers.” After seven failed engagements and finding out that my Alpha fiancé was f**king with my sister, I was permanently banished from the pack. I left everything behind and started a completely new life in the city as a lawyer. I thought I had finally escaped the cruel games of fate. Turns out, life has a very twisted sense of humor. I ended up getting the most complicated case of my entire career—reconciling three Alpha brothers who hate each other so badly. Then, the mating bond hit me with all three of them! They became completely obsessed with me, protected me, and claimed me as their mate. I’m caught right in the middle of burning desire, jealousy, and intense passion between three equally dangerous Alphas. Where the hell is this RELATION-SHIT going to take me? Who’s my true mate? Or maybe… all three of them are the fate I never asked for?

WARNING: THIS NOVEL CONTAINS EXPLICIT CONTENT INTENDED FOR THE MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY (18+). IT INCLUDES STRONG LANGUAGE, GRAPHIC SEXUAL SCENES, AND THEMES THAT MAY TRIGGERING OR DISTURBING TO SOME READERS. READER DISCRETION IS STRONGLY ADVISED. PLEASE PROCEED ONLY IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH ADULT THEMES AND MATURE STORYTELLING. “You’re not my Luna. You’re my prisoner. And I’ll ruin you for what your family did to mine.” When Aria Vale is forced into a blood-bound marriage with Alpha Kael Blackthorn, the cold, feared warlord of the North, she expects pain—not passion. The ruthless Alpha doesn’t believe in love. He believes in vengeance. Years ago, Aria’s pack betrayed his. They orchestrated the slaughter of his parents. Tortured and murdered the woman he once loved. Now Kael holds their daughter in chains—his wife by law, his prey by choice. On their wedding night, he throws her onto the bed and growls: “I’ll make sure you know hell on earth.” Used. Humiliated. Punished. He wants her broken. She’ll make him bleed. And when the bond awakens, neither will survive the craving.

🔥 THIS STORY CONTAINS EXPLICIT SEX SCENES, POSSESSIVE ALPHA ENERGY, AND INTENSE EMOTIONAL TENSION. READER DISCRETION IS STRONGLY ADVISED. When Liana Rivers fell into bed with her brooding, dominant, dangerously irresistible stepbrother, Killian Wolfe, she gave him everything, her heart, her body, her virginity. But when she discovered she was pregnant and found out he was engaged to another woman, she ran quietly, carrying a shattered heart and a baby he would never know. Now, seven years later, she’s a struggling single mom working as a hotel janitor, doing everything she can to hide her past, and her son from the ruthless Alpha who broke her. Until one night, he finds her again. Richer. Darker. More powerful than ever. And he wants her back. Killian isn’t just here to play house. He wants control. Of her life. Her body. Her son. And this time, he's not asking. She ran from him once. But now that he knows the truth… He’ll burn the whole damn world to keep what’s his.