Think Like A Monk

By the time I return home from a business trip, it is past midnight. However, my wife, Celeste Beaumont, isn't home. A man's shirt that isn't mine is lying on the couch. When I call her, she tells me that she's working late at the office. "Whose shirt is it on the couch?" I ask, cutting straight to the point. She playfully scolds, "Who else would it be? It's a gift for you, so hurry up and try it on." I skeptically put it on and immediately feel how tight and uncomfortable it is across my shoulders. "This is an L, babe. I've always worn XL." Celeste runs a clothing company. She's the one who handles all my clothes and even uses my body measurements for her menswear line. There's no way she doesn't know my size. The line goes quiet for half a second before she thoughtfully says, "It's from my new menswear collection. "I had pieces custom-made for you and Felix, so I must've grabbed the wrong piece. I'll swap it tomorrow." A beat later, her voice carries a little sob as she continues, "Babe, I've been so exhausted without you these past few days. I've missed you so much…" It's past midnight. As I listen to the undeniable weariness beneath her affectionate, playful words, my heart aches in distress. I can't help chiding myself for overthinking. However, after hanging up, realization hits me. Her brother, Felix Beaumont, and I are about the same build. He's always worn XL.

At nineteen, what does a girl expect? A supportive family, a lively college life, and moments of joy. But none of that happened to Edith. She was forced into a marriage with a man she had barely met once. The struggle was no longer just the marriage—it was the life trapped within it. Her husband did not love her. Her mother-in-law tried everything to get rid of her. And then came the worst of all—her husband slept with another woman. When Edith found out, she tried to divorce him, only to discover that she was pregnant. ★☆☆☆☆ “You slept with another woman… so I slept with another man. That makes us equal,” Edith hissed. “Mind your tongue, woman. You are my wife,” he snapped. “Don’t make me do something you’ll regret. If you tell anyone, I’ll bring disaster to your family. And maybe I’ll chain you to this bed and fuck you day and night.” “You dare, Mr. Anderson!”

On Aliana Harriman's 20th birthday, she was diagnosed with a terminal illness. A few months later, she died. Unexpectly, Aliana got to wake up in her 7-year-old self. Because of what she had gone through in her previous life as the eldest daughter in the Harriman family, she was determined to get strong and stay away from her three annoying brothers in this life. On the day she told her family that she was leaving, however, her three brothers stopped her and pleaded her not to go. Facing this, Aliana only said, "Thanks. I'll pass." After Aliana left her family, a man who always stood by Aliana hurriedly came to her. "Do you want to go with me?" he asked.

She left him after that steamy night, and she was confident he would never look for her because he never saw her face because of the mask she wore. But what if fate suddenly pulls its strings and bring them back together? ----- Autumn Aurello did something three years ago. For the sake of money, she did pole dancing in front of someone she admired, not expecting she would give in to the way he stared at her, and to the way he caressed every inch of her skin. After that steamy night, she left him, moved on from that night and got herself a boyfriend. She became a successful painter in those three years and went to Manila. When she came back, she planned to surprise her partner, waiting inside his room only to witness his adultery. Taking her broken heart with her, she hurriedly left his unit but accidentally broke his flower vase. She didn’t have any choice but hide in the next unit which had its door opened. And it was a decision she regretfully made. Because in front of her is Dr. Knoxx Silva, the man whom she had a one-night stand with three years ago. Now that their paths crossed, fate never separated them from each other, especially when Knoxx asked her to become her date in his parents’ anniversary and things took a turn when the supposed-to-be anniversary turned into their engagement party. Now, what will happen to them? Will Knoxx find out about their steamy night? Or will their sudden wedding make him get his mind off from that night?

We have many perspectives on life. One thing here is about marriage. Throughout Matteo's life he believed in his vision that we should no longer marry or be married, because he had a bad experience with his own parents as well as with his other aquaintances. But, Calix is the opposite of Matteo's view. She is hundred and one percent sure that the married life is happy and genuine, also she sees and witnessed those married couples lead to their 'happily ever after'.

Sirius remembers being born. He knows who he is. He knows the Commander will come. He remembers before. He knows the future. A hybrid dog/wolf serving the British Military? Look closer. He will pay the debt he owes humankind. Then he will take his rightful place. The first book is his history. The Lycanthrope. The King who needs a Queen. The second book is his future. He will make many sacrifices and face many battles. Sirius must win For the sake of the Immortals, For the sake of humankind For the sake of the Earth.

Her one act of compulsion resulted in a total transformation. To pay for her mother's treatment, she needed money. A friend of hers convinced her to sell her body for one night in exchange for money to help pay for her sick mother's medical bills. But it horrified her to learn that the person who had hired her for one night was her friend's boyfriend. She vowed never to see him again after that night but was baffled when, a month later, he asked her to marry him and bear his child. Is she going to accept the loveless marriage or look for another method to help her sick mother? Dive into the story to learn more about Scarlett Neve's decision.

Alice is a werewolf nerd who loves and thrives in knowledge, but she lives in a pack called the Dauntless Pack, where strength is more cherished than knowledge. To be initiated into the pack as a full member, one must be a warrior. After being defeated in a duel ceremony,* Alice is rejected and humiliated publicly by her mate, Alpha Clark, for her lack of strength. *The rejection coupled with the defeat, rusticates Alice out of the pack. Left on her own, Alice goes in search of the Genie Pack, a werewolf pack heard is a citadel of knowledge. She hopes to be accepted there since she also heard that the pack values knowledge over strength. When she reaches the Genie Pack, her hope is fulfilled when Alpha Jay, the Alpha of the Genie Pack, her and makes her one of the teachers in the Pack's college. As time goes on, Alice and Jay become friends, bonding over their love and obsession for books. Their friendship grows into something more as they begin to realize their sizzling feelings towards each other, sizzling feelings that friends aren't supposed to be having for each other. However, a possible rift threatens their blossoming love as Alpha Clark, Alice's former mate comes back to reclaim Alice. The stakes are raised even higher when Jay's runaway mate returns, pleading and doing everything in her power to have Jay back. Will the blossoming love between Jay and Alice win over these challenges? Or will it be snuffed out before the both of them even get the chance to be together?

When Italy's Most Dreaded Capo discovers his true identity, the world is thrown into disarray. A bloody war erupts between werewolves and the Mob. The dice has been cast, and the Capo must decide whose family he actually belongs to. The werewolf clan (where he was once a Beta) or the Mob clan (where he is now a Capo)? Is he his Alpha or his Don? His Mate or His Moll? His past life or the one he has grown to love? It's a conundrum with no way out without spilling a lot of blood and losing loved ones. ************************************************* Ryder's eyes were partially closed as he held a pistol to his head. That was the end of it. He's probably finished. He was not afraid of death. But this was a particularly painful time since it was his Beta who was holding the pistol to his head. Jason, who used to be his wingman, was now going to be his assassinator. "Do it," Don Carianno urged, irritated by his tardiness. Jason pressed the gun's point harder on Ryder's temples, but his fingers wavered around the trigger. He couldn't pull it off. "Remember what we've gone through, man. Jason, you and I have a long history. You're not going to be able to accomplish it. You can't get rid of your Alpha..." ****** This is the second book of ONCE ABUSED, NOW LOVED. Although it may be read as a stand-alone, it is highly recommended that you first read the first book to have a better grasp of this one. BOOK 1 - ONCE ABUSED, NOW LOVED. BOOK 2: ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA.

Maxine A. K. A Max John's is a senior at St John's. She doesn't believe in love nor in mysteries or fate. Her spiritual being feels threatened. For some reason she sometimes dreams about a mystical girl she has never met. She is abused at home, she fights for survival and dignity, but is oblivious of who she really is and where she comes from, or what she'll become. Her existence was declined eon years ago. What if she has a bigger purpose....what if her past caught up with her long ago but never realized it? Until….. Maya is a known kindergarten teacher, she has to start teaching at St Johns. She is a princess in a land oblivious to mankind. Her people are escapees of descendants of a world one can wish to be part of. A city where no man lives. She was chosen to lead her people but doesn't want to. She runs away to live amongst humans. She always wanted to be free and choose her own life, and lover. She dreams about a young girl. She never questioned why? Until...... All calls they return to their homes, humanity is at stake, and they are the only ones to fight who was coming, what had been going on eons ago? What will they do? Duck, or dive?