Uglies By Scott Westerfeld

Her eyes widened in horror. The sound was unmistakable — the snap of a belt buckle, the hiss of it being undone. Then came the crash of fabric hitting stone. Terror exploded in her chest. She struggled violently, chains biting into her wrists until blood slicked her palms. Her chest heaved, heart pounding so hard it hurt. Ezra pressed harder, his knee locking her in place. One hand clenched her throat — not enough to choke, but enough to remind her she could not escape. His breath was ragged, wild, as if possessed. “You feel it too,” he growled against her skin. “Don’t lie to me, Nova. Your body wants this. You want me.” No. No, no, no. Her body burned, but it wasn’t for him. It was the cursed bond, the fire belonging to another. And that other… Her eyes filled with tears. Her lips shaped a silent prayer: Kilian. The bond within her surged like wildfire. Her chest arched, a gasp tearing from her throat. She felt it — claws raking down her soul, a storm breaking in her veins. He was here. He had come for her. *** Nova is a skilled hunter, fierce and independent, yet unaware of her true nature and the extraordinary destiny that awaits her. Humiliated by her fellow hunter colleagues for refusing to kill innocent wolves, she flees — only to be rescued by Kilian, the feared Lycan King. Thrust into his world, she must prove herself and earn her place within his pack, all while navigating the sharp wit, teasing sarcasm, and growing tension between them. Kilian is powerful, commanding, and fiercely protective, yet finds himself drawn to Nova in ways he cannot explain. Their connection develops slowly, charged with banter, challenges, and unacknowledged desire. But Nova is far more special and powerful than anyone could have predicted. Her choices, and the bond she shares with Kilian, will shape the fate of their world — deciding whether to destroy it, or to revolutionize and transform it for the better. As they uncover enemies deeply rooted in their lives, they must rely on their bond, courage, and love to face what comes next.

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.'

“I, Alpha Jackson Caesar of the Black moon Pack, reject you as my mate!” Rose, a poor and humble slave, enters into a world of power, betrayal and forbidden love. Her life takes a drastic turn when she’s saved by the feared yet kind Lycan Prince Aiden, her second chance mate. As their love gets stronger, jealousy and lies threaten to destroy them. Poisoned, kidnapped, almost killed. She unveils shocking truths. She is the long lost daughter of an Alpha and the rightful heir to a very powerful Pack. With enemies exposed, and love prevailing, Rose rises from a servant to a Luna, uniting two great Packs and reclaiming her destiny. But there’s always a price to pay. Rose must fight to protect everything she loves.

She never meant to become his wife. Aria Hale had only stepped into the marriage registry to deliver her sister’s documents. Yet somehow, she walked out as the legal wife of Leon Mercer—the city’s most ruthless billionaire. One signature. One mistake. One furious husband determined to make her regret it. “You trapped me,” he growls, ice lacing every word. “You’ll pay for this.” But Aria isn’t who he thinks she is. She carries secrets he could never imagine—an identity carefully hidden, a fortune he never suspected, and a strength that refuses to break under his cruelty. He assumes she’s a gold-digger. She lets him believe it. When he insists she stay until the divorce is finalized, she agrees—but only because she has her own plans. And then he notices. The way she never begs. The subtle power in her laughter. The way other men glance at her… and how his chest tightens in ways he can’t explain. By the time the truth comes crashing down—when he finally discovers who she really is—it’s too late. Aria is gone. Now the hunter becomes the hunted. The billionaire married the wrong woman by mistake. And losing her will be his greatest regret.

“Run.” That’s the last thing Lena expects to hear from the man who’s been choking the life out of her. Commander Kai should hate her. Everyone in the clan does. But the moment the hidden mark on Lena’s wrist ignites, everything changes. The council calls her an Echo, a forbidden power that can feel other people’s emotions, steal memories, and uncover truths no one wants exposed. Before Lena can prove she’s innocent, someone frames her for murder. Now the clan wants her dead. Forced beyond the borders meant to kill her, Lena expects the wilds to finish the job. Instead, a dangerous exile named Vance saves her life and offers her a deal. Protection… in exchange for her power. But Lena isn’t the only predator drawn to the awakening Echo. Somewhere beyond the clan borders, Jax, the silver-haired predator has already begun watching her. But as Lena’s Echo awakens, something terrifying becomes clear. The clan didn’t ban Echo bearers because they were dangerous. They banned them because Echoes hear lies. Now three powerful men are drawn to the woman everyone else fears: The commander who should be hunting her. The exiled warrior who refuses to let her go. And the silver-haired predator who understands her power better than she does. But the real danger isn’t the men fighting over her. It’s the truth her power is about to reveal. Because once Lena starts hearing the secrets hidden in their hearts… no one will escape the echoes.

Book Two of the Fatebound Trilogy Born of prophecy. Forged in pain. Chosen by the Moon Goddess—whether she wants it or not. After surviving her father’s brutality and discovering the truth of the white wolf within her, Zahra Larkin thought the worst was behind her. But evil doesn’t die—it waits. Beyond the borders of the supernatural kingdoms, a dark god stirs. Monvar, Lord of Shadows, feeds on fear and faithlessness, twisting hearts and turning packs against one another. As belief in the Moon Goddess fades, his power grows, and Zahra’s very existence becomes both a beacon of hope and a target for destruction. When Zahra is taken by Monvar’s followers, her world shatters again. Tortured, broken, and isolated, she must find a way to survive long enough to escape—and to face what she’s becoming. Because the blood of Selene runs in her veins, and if she falls, the Goddess’s light could die with her. Haunted by trauma and hunted by darkness, Zahra must learn to trust the four fated mates bound to her soul. Together they hold the key to awakening her Lycan power—and saving the supernatural world from annihilation. But love and destiny demand sacrifice. And the girl who was once marked by fate must now decide whether to embrace her divine power… or let the shadows win.

Series One: On her wedding day, Isabella Hernando stared into the mirror and wondered— how could she possibly marry someone she barely remembered? Miguel Martez, the man she was arranged to wed, was only a childhood friend who had long since disappeared. But just before the ceremony was about to begin, Miguel vanished without a trace. To save the family’s reputation, Maximilian Martez, his elder brother, was forced to take his place at the altar— without anyone knowing, not even the bride herself. But when Isabella finally stood before the man, she was shocked. That face, those eyes… that voice… Series Two: Adeline Martez is a quiet, introverted girl who grew up cherished and spoiled by her parents. Marriage was never something she worried about—until the day her parents announced her arranged match. Her groom-to-be? Jason Castello—the man she despised most. Her senior. Her tormentor. The shameless bully who had made her school days miserable. Adeline fought with everything she had to escape the engagement. But the harder she pushed him away, the tighter Jason held on. One stubborn cat. One relentless dog. When hatred sparks, tempers clash, and neither is willing to surrender— how does a battlefield turn into a marriage?

When a shy and selfless Sophia Carter agrees to a contract marriage with Alexander Blackwood, her father’s friend's son and ruthless billionaire,she affirms that she is laying her freedom for her family's survival.. However, the arrangement became a web of deception and betrayal. Sophia discovered that Alexander not only married her to secure his inheritance but also to gain control of her late father's company. Sophia faces constant humiliation from Alexander’s manipulative ex-fiancée, Victoria Hastings, and his estranged cousin, Julian Cole who has developed affection for her for so long, seeks to destroy Alex. Despite her initial weakness, Sophia begins to change, seeking the truth about her father’s business downfall and challenging the forces that seek to break her. During the challenging times, Sophia and Alexander suffered with their relationship through different schemes of betrayal from Julian and Victoria that threatened to set them apart. When Sophia becomes the target of Julian’s final, dangerous scheme, her courage and recent strength turn the tide. Alexander admits his own flaws and fights to win Sophia's life and affection.

In the electrifying world of Formula 1, Alex Dupont and Marco Bianchi are more than just fierce rivals; they're each other's obsession. As they race towards the championship, their secret passion off-track intensifies, threatening to unravel their careers. When a devastating crash brings their hidden feelings to the forefront, they must decide if their love is worth the ultimate risk. "You know, I can't stand how you're always pushing me on the track," Alex said, frustration lacing her voice. Marco leaned in closer, his eyes locking with hers. "I can't help myself when l see you out there, Alex. You bring out the best- and sometimes the worst- in me." "Driven by Desire" is a captivating story of forbidden romance, high-speed rivalry, and the perilous balance between ambition and desire.

One night of forbidden passion. Three powerful Alphas. And a secret that could change the fate of every pack. Born the weakest daughter of the Ironclaw Alpha, she was an Omega that no one valued, until the reckless night with three powerful Alphas changed everything. When she discovered she was carrying their children, fear drove her to the human world, far from the cruelty of her father and the dangers of her pack. For five years she lived in hiding, raising her twin daughters in peace. But when their abilities began to manifest, the fragile safety she built collapsed. To protect them, she is forced to return to the world she fled. The three Alphas of Moonveil never forgot the mysterious woman who vanished after one night of passion. They are ruthless, gentle, and fierce, leaders bound together by loyalty and strength. What they never expected was that the mate destiny promised them had been in their arms once before… and that she returned with children who carry their blood. Now hunted by the pack that cast her out, and bound by a prophecy that marks her family as the key to survival, she must step into the role she never believed was hers, mate to three Alphas, mother of their heirs, and the Omega destined to change everything.