The Science Of Trust

Shantali Mae Cross, a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Ancient Arts, encounters an impossible phenomenon during her night shift—smoke from the heating vents coalesces into the form of a cobra near ancient Egyptian canopic jars, showing her visions of possible futures. She sees herself accepting a promotion, arguing with a dark-haired man in a hospital, wearing a wedding dress, and standing at a graveside in autumn. Shaken by the experience, Shantali becomes obsessed with understanding what she witnessed, diving into research about serpent smoke divination practices. Her investigation reveals that others throughout history have experienced similar visions at crucial crossroads in their lives, but those who became consumed with interpreting and controlling their prophetic glimpses inevitably destroyed the very relationships and opportunities the visions had shown them. As Shantali spirals deeper into her research, she begins shutting out her boyfriend David, a fellow security guard who loves her deeply. When David witnesses the cobra phenomenon himself, he helps ground her in reality rather than obsession. Through her studies, particularly the warnings left by Dr. Amelia Thorne—a researcher who died alone after chasing similar mysteries—Shantali realizes the cobra's true message: choose love over fear, presence over obsession. The visions weren't warnings of tragedy but glimpses of a life fully lived with all its ordinary struggles and profound connections. When David proposes, Shantali chooses their real relationship over her pursuit of supernatural answers. She completes her research by writing a fictional novel about her experience, transforming obsession into art while helping future cobra witnesses understand that some mysteries are meant to guide rather than be solved. The story explores themes of choice versus destiny, the danger of sacrificing present love for future certainty, and the wisdom of embracing life's uncertainties alongside those who love us.

"Run little she-wolf, as far as you can because if I ever catch you, your worst fucking nightmare will become your reality.” He whispered dangerously, his grip on me painfully tight. A smile curled the corner of my lips, and I raised an eyebrow, running the tip of my nail down his chiselled jaw challengingly. “Oh but you’re wrong Blue-Eyes because I am the stuff of nightmares, and I'm here to create hell in your life. Not scared, are we?” Icy blue eyes met my unblinking bright blue. “I'm warning you, don’t mess with me.” He growled. “Oh? But the thing is, I always do what I'm not supposed to.” ----- Azura Rayne Westwood. Known for her devilish ways and wild personality, was the youngest child of the renown Westwood couple. From her days at the Academy, word of her antics spread far and fast, yet there was far more to the young nineteen-year-old woman. The skeletons of the past are never left buried, and life isn't all as carefree as Azura portrays it to be. When demons from her past begin to make life difficult, she ends up making an even bigger mistake. Spending a night of intense passion unknowingly with the infamous stone-hearted Leo Rossi, changing her life forever. When Leo finds out that the woman he bedded was from none other than one of the packs he resents the most, he turns away from her, but he forgot one very vital detail; Azura was no angel, and when you mess with the Westwood Devil, you're tied for life. In a journey of passion, fire, strength and rejection, who will triumph? The young girl with the heart of fire, or the Alpha who yields nothing but hatred and resentment? Follow me at author.muse on IG!

Jackson is an heir to the fortune built on the suffering of enslaved werewolves. Angry at the injustice of it all, he has no choice but to play along with his father's wishes and bend to the society's pressure. Until one day he is ordered to purchase a werewolf 'worthy of standing by his side' at the market. So, maybe he obeyed his father's wishes, but to him it's the first step in his one-man rebellion, a spark that will kindle the flames, when he chooses a werewolf who is needier than the rest. Now Jackson must stoke those flames, while nurturing the traumatized wolf to health, before the world crushes his soul for good. Check out the artwork from chapter ‘Date’ on my Instagram (willowwrites1994) here - https://www.instagram.com/p/CIgP2PQFF8W/

What will happen when a two Consorts from the ancient era was reborn in the modern times. Bai Xiu Lan. A graceful and alluring Imperial Noble Consort of the Emperor of White Empire. She was supposed to be crowned as the Empress but died on her coronation day because of assassination. Ming Yue. The cold yet kind Princess Consort of the Crown Prince of Black Empire. Died by sacrificing herself for her husband. Join the two woman of great beauty and strength on their adventures in modern times.

“Are you being nice because of the pup?” I asked. He breathed out. “I’m sorry how I acted before, no words can justify what I did. I just want to be there for my pup,” he said. “What about me?” I asked, looking down at the food. “I am not promising you anything Maeve, let’s just live peacefully while taking care of the thing that joins us together, I promise to be your friend, probably a shoulder for you to lie on,” he said and immediately he said that I burst out in loud laughter. After her family and pack died the night before her 18th birthday, Maeve is thrown into a world filled with confusion, anxiety, a world filled with guilt. Her mate rejecting the bond and getting pregnant for him. Maeve's life is an absolute mess but she will do anything to get her mate back and make him accept the bond. What Maeve didn’t know is her life was just about to become more confusing, a world full of betrayals, unexpecting attacks, full of mysteries, will Maeve survive or will she go down just like her parents?

Aria Anastasia was working under Zaiden Storm for two years. One day when she was given to work overtime, she got into the cabin of her boss only to find him sitting on a chair while two other men were taking a dead body. Zaiden had a gun in his hand and Aria learned that he was in the mafia. Zaiden threatened her to keep it a secret, which she found hard since she never hid anything from her mother or her best friend. She tried to keep the secret of her boss, and later starts to know Zaiden personally, learning more of his secrets, including his donation to the orphanage, old-aged homes, and hospitals built where free treatments were provided. He was a nice person under the facade of his cold, mysterious self. She started to fall in love with Zaiden while he also started liking her, realizing he was habituated with her presence. Soon, a villain entered, who would try to harm Zaiden in the office, but Aria would save him every time. Zaiden learned that the person he killed for the mafia purpose, Jack Levi, his father Luke Levi was trying to kill Zaiden and an office employee was helping him. Later Luke tried to harm Aria, but he felt a fatherly affection for her. When he implanted a bomb to kill Aria, Luke saw Amora, Aria’s mother, and realized that Aria was his daughter. He felt guilty and tried to stop the bomb along with Zaiden. Aria was rescued by Zaiden and they express their love for each other. Amongst the cute love scenes between Aria and Zaiden, one-day Zaiden proposed to Aria, and she accepted his proposal and they live happily ever after.

Jasper Cole’s first love accused me of kidnapping her on my anniversary with him. I was mute—I couldn’t even defend myself. He held his "damsel in distress" and demanded I donate my blood to her. "If you still want next month’s tuition and living expenses, you’d better cooperate," he threatened. I obeyed in silence. Later, I met a police officer and ran away with him. Jasper lost his mind.

Anerix's weekend holiday in the resort with his friends turned into the worst nightmare of his life. When he woke up from his hour-long nap in the pool, he eventually realized that his friends have left him alone. After hours of searching, his anxiety worsened after realizing that there were no humans in the entire resort but him. When he thought things couldn't get worse Anerix heard a bizarre noise enough to terrify him. He wanted to escape this ominous place. All he wishes is to escape this sinister place and reunite with his lost friends.

"As you walk out of that door, walk out of my life as well." I told him as I looked him straight in the eye. All the love was gone. All the good memories faded. In their places were anger, hatred and disgust. He looked at me as if he couldn't believe what I was saying. "I'm sorry, please give me a chance to be a father to Dah-" "Leave!" I said in a dangerously low tone. He didn't deserve to be called a father. He didn't deserve to live at all, you know why? Because he took away everything from me. My virginity, my happiness, my education, my teenage life and my family. Everything. He was a monster and my daughter would never call him daddy.

"Shadows of the Past" is a story about *Natasha Fernandez* (26),the daughter of a billionaire who never enjoyed her childhood due to the loss of her mother and her father's busy schedule. She struggles with health issues and finding true love until she meets *Jamal smith* (29) who rescues her from a robber and becomes her friend, and eventually her husband. Years later, Natasha hires her childhood friend *Imade Martins*(25) a home tutor for her adopted daughter *Tessa* (3). However, Natasha is heartbroken when she discovers Jamal's affair with Imade, and she uses her power to frustrate Imade's business life. Unbeknownst to them all, Jamal is the biological father of Imade's daughter, whom she lost in the hands of a matron to an orphanage some years back. Imade leaves for another city where she falls in love with her boss, Mr. *George Henry,*(34) an influential business tycoon and a single father. Twenty years later, *Roy Henry,* George's son, falls in love with Tessa, Natasha's daughter. However, their love is jeopardized after a family introduction takes place, and complicated truths unravel, putting Tessa's life at stake. The story explores the drama and chaos that ensue as the characters confront their past and navigate their present relationships.