The Ghost In The Machine

As soon as I kissed him, he pushed me aside, got up from the bed and walked over to the other end of the room. He suddenly seemed angry but I didn't understand why. Was it the kiss? Was it me? "You know what? Maybe we should do it some other time instead." He suggested. He began to sweat and was acting strange; like someone who was afraid of something but what he was afraid of, I couldn't tell. "Some other time?" I asked frustratedly because it wasn't the first time he was rejecting me. "I'm tired of hearing this bulshit over and over again." I wasn't going to take a no for an answer again, not this time. So, I walked over to him and claimed his lips for the second time. "Stop! He yelled at me in anger as he fell to the ground. He started groaning, rolling around in the floor like someone in pain. I was terrified by the scene and didn't know what to do. Next thing I knew, i heard the snapping of his bone and right before my eyes, he transformed into a creature; a creature I had seen before. The same type of creature that saved me on that fateful night. He stood before me with a raging red eyes and seven-inch long teeth. My mind was in distress and my knees gave way as I fainted from the shock.

It was New Year's Eve. We were streaming live when my brother called. I spoke first, "I wish you peace and a happy, long life." He gave a cold laugh. "Yeah, well, I don't want you to have any of that. I hope you spend the rest of your life in misery." I'd cut him off the year he was flat broke. Now that he was successful, this was the first thing he did—get back at me. I kept my tone calm. "I wish you peace and a happy, long life." He sounded annoyed. "Cut it out. There's no way I'm wishing you well. If I have to say something, then I hope you stay miserable forever." The host hesitated, then chimed in, "Ben, that was just a recording of Hailey's message. And yes, when she left… she was in a lot of pain and quite miserable, just like you hoped for."

He married her to bury a crime. She married him to burn it all down. Trained to seduce and destroy, she enters the marriage as a weapon. But in their snowbound mountain estate, secrets ignite-and lust turns dangerous. As passion blurs the lines between love and betrayal, they'll both learn the deadliest lies are the ones they tell themselves.

Arche Harrison, the man doesn't care about the world he lives in. He is always in trouble until he meets Haru, and he falls in love with her, and he learns how life is important. Haru Sandoval was a girl who had a dark past until she met Arche, and she learned how to smile. What if Haru finds out that she has a serious disease. What will she do? She will try to hide it from the person she loves to not get hurt, or she will just let her loved ones know it?

On the snowy mountain, Shawn Foster's neighbor, Susan Taylor, suffered from altitude sickness. He blamed me for not bringing supplies in time. He tied me up and left me on the mountain, five thousand meters above sea level. "You should experience the pain Susan went through." I rushed up the mountain to find them, completely forgetting that I was already exhausted. Without an oxygen supply, I gasped for air desperately. He held Susan in his arms and headed down the mountain. I begged him for mercy, but he did not even glance at me. I struggled, but I could not break free from the Prusik knot he tied himself. The same knot I once taught him. Three days later, he asked his colleagues about my whereabouts. "I would never have forgiven her so quickly if it's not Susan's kindness." But he did not know—I had long been buried beneath the snow.

Felicity is a 23 year old known photographer and a hiker. One of those days when her company had a hiking campaign, she joined. One night in a dark forest when her team was playing she was concious of the presence sorrounding her. It's not normal. She decided to looked for it but she got lost and the rain starts to pour. She was left unconsious and she woke up in an unfamiliar place. What's she gonna do?

**EXCERPT** He rasped, his teeth grazing my earlobe. "I'll make sure you're addicted to the way I fúck you until you can't breathe without wanting me inside of you." Jesus Christ. He was going to kill me at this rate with his words... ⫷◍◍◍◍◍◍◍◍◍⫸ Lilith has perfected the art of disguise. She is an ambitious college student balancing her family’s needs by day. By night, she transforms into Raven—a mesmerizing dancer in a club where secrets reign, and the most feared man in the room, Giovanni, watches her every move. Giovanni's ruthless reputation is undeniable, but beneath his icy demeanor lies a deeply complex soul. When he hires Raven to uncover his rivals' darkest secrets, Lilith seizes the opportunity. The payout could change everything for her family—if she can handle the risk. One reckless night intertwines their fates in ways neither expected. As she ventures further into his world, every lie and secret draws her closer to disaster and a desire she never saw coming. If Giovanni uncovers her true identity, he’ll claim her in ways she never imagined—or destroy her in the process. *MATURE CONTENT AS THE CHAPTER PROGRESSES*

Admired and envied by his peers because of his superb qualities and for being handsome. Everyone wanted to be close with Pedro Lassiter but he was aloof to anyone except for his mother. He couldn't trust anyone else near him...except for his family. Unknown to the ordinary humans, Pedro Lassiter was the Alpha of the Vagabond Warriors but they were considered as the Lost Pack. He was the only surviving heir of the most feared Vagabond Warriors but Pedro has a different plan; expanding the family business. Unfortunately, things turned differently for Pedro, when he crossed paths with Adrienne Mcbride. He fell in love with her, but their sweet love turned into sour when he discovered about her secret. Adrienne's parents and ancestors has been their enemies for years. Love conquers all...but how?

He drew her close to himself and at that moment, she could swear her heart stopped. She looked into his mesmerizing blue eyes as she watched his hands run through her skin slowly. Karen never knew love could be this addictive.

Keanna woke up not remembering what had happened to her. She woke up living with a man she barely knew, who seemed to know her but was always expecting her to do different things. What’s worse, he calls her by a different name. The weird dreams, tiredness, voices in her head and forgetfulness. Would they be able to adjust to this reality? How will they coincide with each other?