The Lottery By Shirley Jackson Summary

The night before our 17th wedding attempt, my mafia husband, Rafaeal Holloway, looks at me and promises an uninterrupted wedding. He solemnly swears. "Gianna, I promise you. I told Natalia that even if the sky falls, she'll deal with it alone." I am five months pregnant by then. After three years of dating and five months carrying his child, we've never managed to make it down the aisle because he's canceled the past 16 weddings. Every single time, it's for his sworn sister, Natalia Sullivan. The first time, she claims she has a fever. I spend the whole night at the hospital, still in my wedding dress, just to find out she has a mild cold. The second time, she claims her chest hurts. Rafael abandons me mid-wedding and rushes to her side, while she's out laughing over afternoon tea with friends. The third time, she cries for fear of thunder. He bolts mid-vows and leaves me alone in a hall full of staring guests. But everything's different now. Three days ago, a letter arrived from Northern Silenzio. My father, the Don of the Rossetti family, has finally summoned me home. If Rafael walks away for Natalia one more time, I'll leave for good.

“The babies you carry are mine. You're mine, Lyra. And you do not have a choice. He growled, his eyes narrowing. You’re my Luna and you belong to me.” “Don’t talk to me about belonging!” I shouted. “You threw me away the day you chose Eloisa. On our son's death anniversary, Damian!” His face twisted with anger. “You think you can just run off from the Blood Nest Pack? You’re making a fool of yourself.” Damian's voice rang through the tent. I looked up at him, refusing to cower under his burning stare. “You lost me the day you declared Eloisa your partner. I do not belong to you, Damian!” I yelled through gritted teeth. He stepped forward, taking hold of my arm. Rylan sprang forward, baring his wolf fangs. “Let her go now. She is under my protection,” he commanded in a low growl. Damian's grip on me weakened and he stepped back, not willing to tango with the brute rogue who was his enemy, and also, my second fated mate. Damian's eyes stayed on my stomach for a while. “I'll claim my babies, Lyra. You can't stop me.” It was as much of a promise as it was a threat

On the very morning Kari was meant to become Luna, she is publicly rejected by her fated mate. Humiliated and then replaced by her stepsister. She’s cast out from the pack with nothing but a broken heart and mate bond, but she must rise from the heartbreak and into the arms of the man she least expected. Her second chance mate, none other than the lifelong enemy of her first mate, just when she thought it was all over; The Alpha who broke her now wants her back, her sister who betrayed her wants her dead. But Kari must now choose, the mate who rejected her or the one who would burn down the world to keep her safe. Because this time she won’t be the one to beg but make them regret ever letting her go.

Lisa Quinton spent her life at the bottom. Scorned as an omega, and forgotten by a pack that never saw her worth. On the night of her eighteenth birthday, she dared to dream of a mate who would save her. Instead, she was brutally rejected by her mate. There was no way to escape her ill fate, or so she thought…. Lisa would’ve never imagined that a reckless night with a stranger would change everything. Sold to a powerful Lycan Alpha, Lisa enters a new world, one filled with secrets, intense desires, and a bond that defies logic. She didn’t expect to be drawn to the ruthless man with her freedom, but what happens when he’s not the only one who craves her? Lisa had already been rejected once, but what are the odds of her getting four sexy new mates? Four mysterious brothers who share more than just power and a mansion… they share her. Will Lisa reclaim her freedom? Or will we be entangled in a web of passion and unfiltered desire?

Nakakulong sa isang kasal na puno ng takot at kontrol, alam ni Calista "Cali" Montenegro na hindi siya basta-basta makakatakas kay Devin Vasquez—isang lalaking sabik sa kapangyarihan at hinding-hindi siya pakakawalan. Matagal na niyang tinitiis ang kalupitan nito, iniisip na wala na siyang ibang pagpipilian. Pero nang magdesisyon siyang maghain ng diborsyo, natuklasan niya ang isang masakit na katotohanan—hindi siya basta-basta palalayain ni Devin nang walang laban. Doon dumating si Lewis Alcaraz. Mapanlinlang, makapangyarihan, at ang taong pinaka-kinaiinisan ni Devin. Inalok niya si Cali ng proteksyong matagal na niyang hinahanap. Pero ang tulong na ito ay may kapalit—isang kasunduang magdudugtong sa kanilang dalawa sa paraang hindi niya inaasahan. Habang ang takot at galit ni Cali ay tuluyang nagtulak sa kanya na lumaban, natagpuan niya ang sarili sa mas kumplikadong sitwasyon kasama si Lewis. Ngunit sa kabila ng panganib, ang pag-aalaga at kapanatagang ibinibigay nito ang muling nagbigay sa kanya ng pag-asa sa pag-ibig. Sa laban ng kapangyarihan, pagnanasa, at pagtataksil—sino ang pipiliin ni Cali? Ang asawang gagawin ang lahat para maangkin siyang muli, o ang lalaking gumugulo sa kanyang isipan at puso?

"You're going to take it, aren't you, little lamb?" Dominic's voice is low, teasing, dark. A hand grips my throat, just enough to make me gasp, make my pulse hammer beneath his fingertips. I whimper as Dominic's fingers slide between my thighs, teasing, parting, finding me already soaked. "Fuck," he groans, rubbing slow, torturous circles over my clit. "She's dripping. You feel that, Ash?" My body trembles, caught between pleasure so intense it borders on pain. "Cum for us, little lamb," Dominic commands. **** Caught between two brothers... One my best friend, the other my deepest desire. Dominic was everything I dreamed of-hot, charming, and completely unattainable. Especially with a girl like Cassie already by his side. Then there was Ashton-my childhood best friend, my safe haven, the one who had always been there. But one reckless dare changed everything. The night I was dared to kiss the Alpha, marks the beginning of my ruin. And just when I thought things couldn't get more complicated, Ashton confessed his feelings for me. Now, I'm trapped between two brothers-one who's always been my heart, and one who might just break it. How do you choose between love and desire when both could destroy you?

My husband of five years, Eric Vale, came home drunk again. As I laid him in our bed, he murmured, “Don’t worry, my love… I’ll take care of you and our baby.” My heart stopped. Baby? We’d been on birth control since the day we married. There was no baby. I shook him lightly. “What are you talking about, Eric?” He blinked at me, confused, then smiled like nothing had happened. “Hey, babe… did I say something?” The next morning, I checked our joint account. Every month, ten thousand dollars had been wired to a woman named Bella Evers. Yesterday, he sent two hundred thousand more—with a note: I can’t wait for our baby to be born. Bella was Eric’s mistress and was now six months pregnant. So I made one call. “Papa,” I told the most feared Don in the South, “I’m getting a divorce.” I glanced at my sleeping husband. “I want him gone. And I want him broke.”

Elena Stone endured years as the invisible wife of Alpha Jackson Stone—unmarked, unloved, and replaced by his first love. When her son vanished during a brutal pack attack while her mate vacationed with another woman, Elena knew she could only rely on herself. Venturing into dangerous territory to find her child, she was captured and enslaved by the ruthless Alpha Dwayne Dawn, a leader cursed to remain mateless and merciless. But as Elena discovered, the most dangerous wolves sometimes guarded the deepest secrets and the cruel Alpha who now owned her might be the only one who could lead her to her son, her destiny, or destroy everything she had left.

Calista Arden has tried to seduce her husband, Theodore Montclair, for the 999th time, only to fail in consummating her marriage with him as always. Afterward, she calls her older brother, Elijah Arden. "I'm planning on getting a divorce, Elijah." Elijah remains silent for three whole seconds over the line. Finally, he speaks up in a deep, gravelly tone, "I already told you before that it's impossible for you to drill through Theodore's stone-cold heart no matter how hard you try." With reddened eyes, Calista can only chuckle quietly. "Yeah. I'm the overconfident fool here." "Come to Nordland," Elijah says lightly. "There are plenty of hunks here who are as good-looking as Theodore. Since that idiot doesn't know how to cherish my amazing and adorable sister, he can just spend the rest of his life as a devoted man of religion who has no family of his own."

After I've completed 98 tasks for my fiancee, Cheryl Landeau, she finally agrees to marry me once I've completed the 99th task for her. For that task, I'm required to pick her up outside her company. On the day I stand outside Cheryl's company with a huge flower bouquet in my arms, I don't see her at all despite having waited till late night. Soon after, I get hospitalized due to a high fever. When I tap on my phone, the first thing I see is a photo of the marriage certificate belonging to Cheryl and her assistant, Jason York. Jason even includes a caption with the photo. "My mom is very satisfied with her daughter-in-law. Please take good care of me from now on, my dear wife." The next day, I hang a banner outside the company. "May Ms. Landeau and Mr. York grow old in harmony and be blessed with children." All of my colleagues are stunned, to say the least. At that moment, Cheryl quickly pulls me into her office. She then explains, "Jason's mom is severely ill. Her death wish is watch him get married. What's wrong with me fulfilling her wish? Can't you show more kindness toward Jason? "Now, stop throwing that tantrum of yours and get rid of the banner. Once Jason's mom passes away, I'll file for a divorce from him." I just smile as I set off more fireworks at the doorway. "Oh, you don't have to bother with a divorce. I'm worried that his mom might come back to life soon. Let's just end things here."