The Lottery Short Story

After the real son, Asher Vale, was brought back, everything in our house became tied to drawing lots. The chef of the day, who would have to cook a particular person's preferred dishes, had to be decided by drawing lots. Even our parents' kisses and hugs were chosen the same way. I always drew the short stick. The long stick, by default, belonged to Asher. He never had to do anything to receive our parents' love. Whenever I felt it was unfair and wanted to cry, Mom would scold me sharply, "I bought the lot-drawing box because I was afraid you'd feel hurt. I wanted to be fair to both of you. If you want something, decide it yourselves. Your father and I won't interfere. If you can't draw the long stick, you can only blame your bad luck." So I began practicing every day, shaking the box diligently, over and over, in hopes that one day, it would help me earn my parents' love. Unfortunately, for ten years, I never once drew the long stick. Until my birthday. Asher wanted to go to the amusement park, and Mom once again told us to decide by drawing lots. I secretly glued the two short sticks together and handed them to Mom, hoping to keep her with me. She slapped me hard across the face, screaming that I was cheating and disobedient. Then she stormed out of the house with Asher. When I fell to the ground, the short stick stabbed deep into my neck. 'I'm sorry, Mom. Next time, I'll work harder. Next time, I'll definitely draw the long stick.'

Mates! The one person created solely for you. The other part of you, the missing piece of your soul. They say that a mate is there to cherish and protect you. They say that nothing is stronger than the bond between mates. And they say that it’s always love at first sight… Well, let’s test that theory, shall we? Preview: Lesley’s POV His voice got deeper and more menacing with each word that left his lips. “But if you for just one second think you’re getting out of this by getting me to reject you---” He pushed me so hard against the wall, I’m sure my ribs broke! “You’re. DEAD. WRONG!!!” His enormous body was pressed against mine, trapping me between him and the wall. His hand gripped my throat – not cutting off my airways, but enough to let me know, that he was currently in control of my life. “You’re. MINE!” My heart dropped. His threatening growls were getting closer and closer until I could feel his breath on my skin. His wolf was in control. His alpha wolf… “And I’ll bend and break you before I’ll EVER let you leave! Do you understand?”

Some love stories are destined to be destructive. In this gripping collection of short dark romance stories, explore the blurred lines of desire, betrayal, and forbidden passion. Each story delves into the chaotic world of an affair, where star-crossed lovers make dangerous choices and confront the fallout of their reckless hearts. From stolen moments to shattered lives, these characters learn the true cost of a love that can wreck everything. Brace yourself for a journey into the shadows, where secrets fester, and the most intoxicating love is often the most tragic. _____ Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. The characters, relationships, and events depicted are products of the author's imagination and are intended for entertainment purposes only. The author does not condone, romanticize, or encourage the toxic behaviors and actions of the characters, such as infidelity or harmful relationship dynamics. These elements are used for dramatic storytelling and do not reflect the author's real-life values or advice. This book is rated 18 and not suitable for young audiences.

Warning: explicit sexual scenes ahead! (all acts are consensual) Not all cravings are gentle. This erotica short story collection dives into untamed, forbidden, and dangerously magnetic pull between people, peeling back the polished mask of control to reveal something raw, reckless, and impossibly intoxicating. In these pages, desire doesn’t whisper; it claims. Indulge in a world where passion is the plot, temptation is the language, and satisfaction is only ever a page away. (The stories can be read in any order as long as they have the same title)

Content Warning: This is a collection of dark, steamy age-gap romances centered on marriage, possession, and angst. These are stories where vows are a transaction, love is a battlefield, and the only happy ending is the one they fight for. He is always the other father—the guardian, the protector, the older man forced into a role he never asked for. She is the complication, the temptation, the younger woman who disrupts his carefully controlled world. Their unions are never simple. A marriage contract for protection. A vow sworn in desperation. A wedding to secure a future for a child. But behind every practical arrangement lies a dangerous, simmering tension that vows alone can't contain. This collection delivers standalone stories where passion is a privilege earned only after "I do." Expect charged glances across crowded rooms, kisses that feel like claims, and the slow, angsty burn of a man who believes he doesn't deserve her, fighting the overwhelming need to make her his in every way. For readers who like their romance dark, their heroes possessive, and their happy endings hard-won.

WARNING: This book is dripping in sin. It contains unapologetically explicit smut—raw, steamy, and wildly taboo. If you're not into filthy fantasies, solo indulgence, beast x human, wolf x wolf or human heat, dominant billionaire bosses, fae seductions, or lust-fueled encounters with no strings attached, turn back now. But if you're craving a no-holds-barred ride through 170 explosive, pulse-pounding steamiest stories that will leave your body aching and your imagination on fire, welcome, my daring guest. Everything here is pure fantasy, purely mine. Read at your own risk... of intense arousal.

Every Christmas Eve, the heir of the Marco mafia family—Adrian Marco, must follow the family tradition: Draw a name to decide whether he’s allowed to marry me. Because I, Irene Cast, am not mafia-born. Unless he draws the slip with my name on it, he can’t take me as his wife. For four years, Adrian has drawn four times. And not once did he draw my name. I always thought he fought with his family because of me— that he was willing to risk losing his position as the Don, just to choose me. Every time he failed, he held me so tightly and whispered, “It’s okay. There’s always next year.” And I loved him so much it hurt. Hurt enough that I was willing to wait, year after year. This year, I told myself: If he still doesn’t draw my name… I’ll secretly switch the result. I sneaked to the door of Adrian’s study, and heard his younger brother ask: “Don… every year you do draw Irene's name. Why do you pretend you didn’t? Is it because you still can’t let Sera go?” But he simply said, in a flat voice, “Sera needs me for something urgent. Do what you always do: swap Irene’s name for a blank one.” He walked out without looking back. Instead of swapping, he tossed the blank slip into the trash, left the one with my name on the table, and hurried after Adrian. I went inside, picked up the blank slip from the trash, and replaced the one with my name. Watching my own name fall into the garbage. Adrian…I don’t want to wait and marry you anymore. I’ll grant you your choice.

Her sixteenth birthday became her worst nightmare. The instant the clock struck twelve, all hell let loose and her life flipped into jeopardy. She was to lose her virginity that same day or welcome death with full arms. The school's rebel, Jordan Hill, doesn't believe in love, he thinks all romcoms are cringe and so are his parents whom he couldn't find even more pathetic when they brought fought a ridiculous offer onto his plate. Turns out it was a lottery, after all, a chance to take the prime Minister's daughter virginity is an opportunity that comes in a lifetime. But why is it that after that one boring night, his soul never departed from her? Wanting no more than to avoid Jordan like a total plague, she succeeded but only for a year. She unfortunately caught his attention again and this time, Jordan is sure to make the rest of her school years miserable than it already was. She refuses to leave, he refuses to back down.

After winning the lottery to be Zavier Cross's wife for 30 days, Raini gets herself involved with the rich and famous Billionaire, Zavier Cross. Having lived a boring life for so long, the last thing she would have ever suspected was her husband to be a Werewolf. Zavier Cross is not ready to lose his mate just yet. He makes a decision to keep the secret of who he really is from Raini for as long as he can and pretends to be 'human'. However, with death threats for Raini on the line and a bouquet of wild dandelions in exchange for her head, that little quest proves to not only be impossible, but extremely deadly.

He had everything—power, wealth, and her unconditional love. Until the night she opened his office door… and saw him with another woman. Aria Black was the perfect fiancée—graceful, loyal, and hopelessly in love with the city’s most powerful CEO. But one betrayal shattered the fairytale. She vanished without a trace, leaving behind nothing but the engagement ring that was supposed to mean forever. Months later, she returns as Lia Hart—a woman reborn, untouchable, and determined to never love again. Now she works under Lucien Hayes, a mysterious billionaire who sees straight through her carefully built walls. But when Ethan Black discovers she’s alive—and thriving without him—regret becomes his obsession. Between a past that refuses to die and a future that tempts her to risk her heart again, Lia must choose: the man who broke her, the man who could heal her, or the woman she’s finally learned to become. > He shouldn’t have broken her. Because now, she’s the one thing he can’t have back.