The Brief Bedford Reader 15th Edition

Throughout our seven-year marriage, my CEO wife, Ruby Irving, goes on yet another business trip on Memorial Day once again, so she can't travel back to my hometown with me. But soon, I saw the photos uploaded by her assistant, Wilbur Stork, on his social media feed that featured her sweeping the grave in his hometown instead. The caption writes, "Mom and Dad must be very satisfied with their daughter-in-law because the gloomy weather has cleared up in an instant." I chortle in amusement for a brief moment before liking the post calmly. Then, I comment, "I respect your relationship and wish you nothing but happiness." But my colleagues all go nuts over the latest bombshell. They are quick to form their chat groups and speculate as to how I'm going to cause my next ruckus in the company this time. Ruby soon calls me while sounding very stern. "I know Wilbur does things very brashly due to his young age, but you shouldn't have caused him trouble in the comment section! What will everyone else in the company think of him? How is Wilbur supposed to continue working in this company? "Moreover, Wilbur doesn't have anyone left in his family. What's wrong with me keeping him company just this once? People with happy families like you don't have empathy for others at all! "I want you to delete your comment and remove your like right now. Once the holidays are over, I'll free up some time in my schedule to go back to your hometown with you." As I listen to Ruby making yet another empty promise to me in such a casual way, I let out a soft chuckle. "It's fine." Once the holidays are over, we'll be able to obtain our divorce certificates.

"How could you conspire with them. I trusted you Layla!" He was really mad. "I didn't give them the code Damon, okay? I don't know how they got it?" She said. She strangely felt no nervousness or fear. Only the guilty felt fear. "Why didn't you tell me the truth about him? God! We've been dating for almost a year and you never told me he was a ex-convict", he said a shade quieter. He watched Layla look down for a minute and stare back up at him, tears gathering in her deep blue eyes. "If I did tell you, would you still have fallen for me...?" Working in a coffee shop wasn't Layla's dream. She has a degree in Business Administration but getting a got job in America was difficult for minority groups like her. But her boss, William Grey was wonderful, plus, she did get some pretty awesome customers like Damon Prince, the billionaire businessman and New York's most eligible bachelor and some pretty awful ones as well like Logan West, Damon's annoying and stuck-up assistant. After a brief argument with Logan, Damon comes to the coffee shop to make an apology to Layla on behalf of Logan and offers her a check. She turns both down and demands that Logan apologizes or they can forget about their coffee orders. She wasn't going to be pushed around by some rich folks. This intrigues Damon and he gradually falls in love with her. They begin a beautiful relationship but it's not all roses. They soon meet Damon's ex, Yasmin Kyle and Layla's criminal and terrible father, Dario Hernandez. Their trust and love for each other is tested as well as family ties but will they pull through or are something's just not meant to be?

Tyler never wanted an Alpha, especially not someone like Landon Hayes. At Ridgecrest Academy, Landon is at the top of the food chain—dominant, arrogant, and used to getting everything he wants. But Tyler isn’t like the other Omegas who fall at his feet. Defiant and independent, he’s determined to finish his year and leave without ever being claimed. Landon has other plans. The moment Tyler caught Landon’s eye, it was game over. Tyler’s quiet defiance and refusal to submit ignite something in Landon he can’t ignore. For the first time, Landon is chasing someone who doesn’t want to be caught. At Ridgecrest, the rules are simple: the strongest Alpha gets what he wants. And Landon Hayes wants Tyler. *** “You—” he starts to say, but his voice catches. I see his pupils dilate, his lips parting as he tries to push back against what’s happening. I let the red flash in my eyes, just for a second, enough to show him who’s in control here. It’s not about scaring him—it’s about reminding him of the natural order of things. The way this has always been meant to go. “Submit,” I growl. He whines. It’s quiet, barely audible, but I hear it. His body betrays him for just a second, his knees wobbling as his head lowers, shoulders hunching in instinctual submission. His eyes flick away, and I can see it—the brief moment where his will cracks. And god, it’s intoxicating. That split second of submission is all I need to know that he’s mine. He might fight it, but his body knows. His scent tells me everything I need to know. It’s only a matter of time before he breaks completely, before he’s begging for it.

TRIGGER WARNING: This story contains dark themes, including emotional manipulation, psychological trauma, violence, sexual content, abuse, and mature language. it also revolves to mafia/underworld. Reader discretion is advised. This is a work of fiction intended for mature audiences (18+). Please read responsibly. “Choose wisely, baby, because if I'm the one who decides for you, you'll never walk out of my life. Never. Fucking. Again. ” Ako si Diamon. Akala ko nahanap ko na ang pag-ibig na inaasam ko dahil may asawa akong mapagmahal, maalaga at kapiling ko sa mapayapang tahanan. Akala ko lang pala. Dahil dumating ang araw na nagdilim ang tahanang puno ng kulay nang nalaman naming hindi kami magkakaanak dahil hindi ko kayang magdalang-tao. Ang isang payapang tahanan ay naging isang kulungan, saksi ng pang-aabuso at pagkontrol. Pero kahit ganon… Kumakapit pa rin ako sa alaala ng pagmamahalan namin ng aking asawa. Sa gitna ng sakit—dumating si Lazarro. Ang half-brother ng aking asawa. Misteryoso. Tahimik. At… May sariling dilim. Pero tila ba iba ang pakikitungo nito sa akin. At sa bawat titig at pananalita niya’y nakakaramdam ako ng… kapayapaan at kaligtasan. Pero bakit ganon? Tila ba kaya niyang baliktarin ang lahat ng paniniwala ko. Para bang… Kaya niya akong gawing kaniya. Handa ba akong sumugal sa nag-aalab na damdaming ito kung kapalit naman ay pangib, gulo o… buhay ko mismo?

Elena believed that her life was simple. She had a career she loved. A boyfriend she could trust and a future that felt safe. Not until she met Valeria Moretti. Cold, powerful and dangerous. A billionaire queen who ruled from the shadows, where money bought loyalty and betrayal was paid in blood. When her boyfriend, Marcus made a deal he couldn’t afford to keep. Elena became the collateral he never expected to lose. Taken into Valeria’s world of steel dominance and threats, Elena found herself trapped in a cage where luxury had teeth. Valeria claimed she wanted only what she was owed, but that was far from the truth. Her gaze lingered, her words cut too precisely and the line between punishment and desire began to blur. Elena had never questioned her heart. She never questioned her sexuality. Until Valeria began to dismantle her certainty, slowly and deliberately, without laying a hand on her skin. Because to Valeria, she didn’t need to conquer with force. She conquered with presence. As danger and intimacy coil together, Elena must face the truth she had never truly allowed herself to see: some forms of captivity felt like freedom, and some queens didn’t ask for loyalty; they claimed it. In a world of ruled silk temptation, steel authority and sinfully forbidden desire, love may be the most dangerous debt of all. This story contains themes, including power imbalance, captivity, psychological manipulation, emotional intensity and morally grey characters. Reader's discretion is advised. When power demands surrender, and desire refuses to be denied, how far would you fall before you stop fighting it?

🥀🖤🥀 ‎"You're mine, Judy. No one else gets to touch you like this. I will ruin you for anyone else."‎ This is wrong, so wrong. He is married to Eliza, my sister, but the taboo only fuels the fire, the guilt twisting into a dark thrill that coils tighter in my core. ~ "Tell me, Judy," he demands, his grip on my wrists tightening just enough to send a delicious jolt of pain through my arms. "Tell me what you meant back there in the conference room. What bond were you talking about?" The absolute desperation in his eyes shatters my defenses. For two fucking years, I have suffered the agonizing loneliness of writhing in pain on my bed and hiding my true nature. Tears prick the corners of my eyes, the truth clawing its way up to my throat. I can't hold it back anymore. “The bond… I…” “Say it.” He pushes. “You stupid, blind Alpha," I sob, my next words ripping out of me. "The bond is my mate bond with you, Kieran. I am your fated mate." ~ 🖤🥀🖤‎ Warning: 🔞 Reader's discretion is advised. This story is a DARK ROMANCE dripping with the forbidden 🥀🖤🥀, so tread carefully. If you love a weak to strong sassy FMC who finally grabs her power back and an equally possessive filthy talker ML who will burn the world to keep her, then you are in the right place. This is not just a story, this is a dedication to every 'JUDY' out there who has been casted aside for being 'UNWORTHY'. Grab your power back. Also, don't forget to grab your seatbelts too because this ride is not for the strapless. See you on the darker side 🔞🥀🖤🥀

He has made it crystal clear that I’m not to call him ‘boss’ except on certain occasions, like right now, when his dominating gaze carries a hint of playfulness. I can’t help but smile every time he gets like this, all lovey-dovey, but when he whispers in my ears asking me to go on an adventure with him, it is like an invitation to a forbidden feast and the thought sends a shiver down my spine which unlike you would think, is almost painful. Maybe this is because I have been on an adventure with him for as far as I want to recollect. My memories, if you peeked inside, would be overflowing with every moment with him, each one a brushstroke painted with his boldness and my, well, let’s call it a touch of recklessness. I now wear a souvenir, a mark etched onto my soul. It’s like a silent agreement, a reminder that our fates are tangled, intertwined like climbing vines. He’s the puppet master, my very own Mr. Strings, and every twist and turn of his whims gets woven into the fabric of my being. Maybe you find that hard to believe, like something out of a fairytale. But trust me, my darling, as I unravel the threads of our adventure, one by one, you’ll understand. With each turn and twist, you’ll find yourself hooked, a willing captive in the captivating narrative of our lives, possibly harnessed in the labyrinth of our love, where danger dances with delight, and fate is etched in the footprints of a love like no other. So buckle up, dear reader, for this isn’t a mere tale, it’s a thrill ride, a love song made of equal parts fear and freedom.

18+ Warning!!! Listen, this book does not play nice. Expect explicit sexual content, bursts of violence, and enough emotional chaos to make your head spin. The characters? Oh, they'll frustrate you, make reckless choices, and probably leave you yelling at the page. Reader discretion is advised… but let's be real, you're still going to read it just to see what these beautiful messes do next. ★★★ He left her in the flames… never knowing she carried his child. Elowen Thorne was once a forgotten maid in Morvain Pack, until Alpha Alaric Veylor of Dravenmere Pack made her his mate-- but love turned to ashes when betrayal struck. Accused of a crime she didn't commit and replaced by her envious stepsister, Tazira, Elowen vanished... burned, broken, and pregnant. Five years later, she returns as the long-lost daughter of the noble Velmira Pack Queen, known for their healing ability. Her power was feared, and her heart locked away. Her only focus is to retrieve the Drezova Moon Relic to stop the Vampires and Witches before war consumes them all. But fate is cruel! To find the relic, she must work with three powerful Alphas. One is her ex-husband, Alpha Alaric, who betrayed her… another is Sylion, the mysterious guardian of the relic who once saved her life and wants her now… And the last is Alpha Drazien Veythar, the calculating political leader whose alliance she must secure, even if it costs her freedom. Claimed by the three Alphas, bound by duty, and fated only to the Alpha King-- her greatest battle will be choosing which heart survives the war.

Trigger Warning: This story explores difficult themes including emotional and physical abuse, coercion, non-consensual drugging, obsession, and trauma. Reader discretion is advised. Love. Lust. Obsession. Three very different men, but they all have one thing in common... Me. I was just a waitress. A woman with burned bridges and a dream of starting over. I thought I was finally free. A clean slate. I was so close... so close to gaining the independence I fought so hard for, until darkness came again, only this time… tenfold. One’s lust wants to own me. Another’s obsession seeks to break me. The third... I’m drawn to. He treated me like no one else did. I thought I could trust him. Then something shifted. Something terrifying. Hope fades when your body is not yours, your voice is silenced, and freedom is denied. --- As my fingertips brushed the smooth metal surface of the handle, claw-like fingers sank into my fleshy hips. I cried out in pure terror, the wind knocked out of me as my back slammed against his chest. “You’re really not leaving without saying goodbye to me, are you, sweetheart?” he growled. His eyes glowed an eerie garnet. “Remember, you belong to me now, Laura. If you ever dare run, I’ll lock you away where no one will find you,” he snarled, his coarse face scraping against mine. --- I’ve survived everything up to this point... Now, I’m not sure I can. They say I belong to them... Yet what if I was never meant to belong to anyone?

⚠️ Content Warning ⚠️ This book includes themes of homophobia, including discriminatory language and behavior. These elements are included to reflect certain real-world attitudes and experiences, but they do not reflect the views of the author. Reader discretion is advised. If you find such content distressing, please take care as you proceed. — Gunner took the job thinking it would be easy: keep an eye on the Floros’ only son while his parents were out of the country for a business trip. Follow and carry out the rules the Floros' had given him—watch the kid, keep him out of trouble, and collect a generous paycheck. But Layland Floros is anything but a kid. Beautiful, bold, and entirely too provocative for his own good, Layland isn’t interested in being watched. With a bratty attitude that dares Gunner to break every boundary he’s set for himself when he's on the job, Layland turns a simple assignment into something far more dangerous. Gunner's never been with a man. Never even thought about it—until Layland. Now, every moment in that house is thick with tension, with heat that hums just beneath the surface. The more Gunner tries to keep things professional, the harder it becomes to ignore what he was really feeling towards the young man. Soon, duty gives way to desire, and Gunner finds himself crossing lines he swore he wouldn’t. But when the chemistry between them explodes into something real and raw, he’ll have to face the truth: babysitting Layland and carrying out the young man's parents' rules was never the hard part. Staying away from him is. And if Layland's parents find out what really happened behind the closed doors of their home, Gunner could lose more than just the job.