Walking On Eggshells

The biggest mistake I had ever made was falling in love with my Alpha stepbrother, Cayden Gates. I was 12 when my mom remarried, and he was the only one in the new pack who treated me kindly. I fell for him at first sight. When I was 16, I was attacked by rogue wolves, and he fought off ten of them alone to protect me. At 18, he was poisoned by silver. He nearly died. That was when my wolf told me he was my fated mate. Without hesitation, I donated my bone marrow to save him. That night, watching him asleep with a pale face, I couldn't help but kiss the corner of his lips. He opened his eyes at that exact moment, his face flushing red. "Tessa, we're siblings. You shouldn't cross that line." From then on, he started avoiding me, like I was a mistake he couldn't afford to make. His fiancée, Rosie Lloyd, had been diagnosed with a rare blood disease, and I was the only compatible donor. For the first time, he pleaded with me. "If you're willing to save her, I'll agree to anything." But I was already weak from the marrow transplant. Giving blood again might kill me. I said no, and Rosie died in the end. He didn't shed a single tear, like nothing had happened. But at her funeral, he smashed the portrait I'd painted of him in front of everyone and said coldly, "How filthy of you to dream of being with your own brother." Later, I became a disgrace, a walking joke. Humiliation and despair swallowed me whole, and in a haze, I fell into the lake and drowned. When I open my eyes again, I'm back at the moment he begs me for blood. I say yes calmly. I consider it the final debt I owe the Gates family. Cayden, from now on, we're done. There are no more ties between us.

I hear the rumors being spread about me in the pack. The whisper that I'm barren. "Why are you not pregnant yet, Delilah? It's not that hard to spread your legs and lay there, right?" I look down at the two pink lines on the test and smile. It's all going to change now. I went to tell him, and caught my mate cheating on me with my best friend. "He never loved you. We were together before he discovered you, " my best friend says. "He's only with you because he wants an heir," she says quietly. "You're his fated mate. He needed you." "Needed me for what? To play house while you two had your fun?" "To have his baby," she admitted. "Only a child from his fated mate can guarantee the Alpha genes." I was nothing but the tool who was now pregnant with the cheating Alpha's kid. "You're not walking away from this." Castor said, "We have obligations. You have obligations. You don't get just to walk away. None of us do." Tears blurred my vision, but I refused to let them fall. "You're unbelievable." I struggled to pull free, but his grip tightened around my wrist, and I was yanked more each time I resisted. He leaned down, his face inches from mine. "You'll come home with me right now, or I swear, I'll make your life a living hell. You're my wife. My property. And you'll do what I say now." "No, Castor. This is over," I said, backing away. "I'm done being your pawn." "You'll never be done with me," he said, tightening his grip on my waist. "You're mine, Lila. You always will be." "Watch me," I retorted, yanking my arm free. I will leave Castor, no matter the cost.

Merciful Lies Lies can be merciful. It just depends on the why. Anna:I knew the second I saw him, my life would change forever. When my brother offers me as payment to Nico Fury, the king of the Vipers, how can I refuse? Tattooed, built, and tall, he was the only man I saw when I walked into the room. It was like he occupied all the available space, sitting on his throne of blood, sweat, and lies. Nerves assailed me, but I owed my brother too much to let anything happen to him. One night. That was all. But it would leave me wrecked. Actions always had consequences. Six months later, my brother was killed by a rival organization, and now they were after me. There was only one place I could go to keep my unborn baby safe. I just hoped the king would be merciful. Nico Perfect things didn’t exist, at least not in my experience. But she was pretty close. I had her in my bed for one night, and I couldn’t shake the memory. No, I wasn’t meant to keep soft things like Anna Keller. My life belonged to my crew, and we were a vicious group. Hell, we weren’t called Vipers for nothing. But she was different. She made me want, and I loved and hated her for it. Anna was light in a world of constant darkness. She was all warmth and beauty like no other. And I craved her like a drug. Six months had passed since I took her in return for clearing her brother’s debt to me, but that man attracted trouble like honey did flies. It wasn’t long before I learned Sam Keller had gotten himself killed. Less than an hour later, Anna came back to me, on her knees, asking for sanctuary. I knew the moment I saw the swell of her stomach she was carrying my baby. Anna thought coming here would protect her, but she was walking right into the Viper’s nest. Before I was finished, my little runaway would be begging me for mercy.

Alpha Ethan's first love, Sarah, died unexpectedly just days before their marking ceremony. His grief was so profound, it sent shockwaves through the entire Duskrend pack. I spent my youth walking beside him, helping him crawl out of that darkness. And finally, when he was ready to love again, he chose to mark me. In the first two years after he marked me, I got pregnant twice. Both times ended in miscarriage. Ethan, heart aching, told me he couldn't bear to see me suffer through childbirth again. That he didn't want me to endure that kind of pain anymore. But in the third year, I conceived again. On the way to see the pack healer for a routine checkup, I was attacked by a wild beast. My wolf, desperate to protect me, burned through most of her life force holding the creature off. Ethan arrived just in time and carried me to the pack hospital himself. But the healer shook his head. We had lost too much time. The pup couldn't be saved. Worse, my ability to bear pups would be permanently damaged because my wolf was too injured to ever carry life again. My mother clung to me, sobbing. Ethan stood in the corner and smiled. "Joy just can't have pups anymore," he said. "But Sarah—Sarah lost her life because of people like you." Then he looked at my mother, his voice edged with contempt. "You were the one who forced Sarah to abort. You watched her—an Omega without a wolf—scream herself to death. So now, your daughter shall feel that pain too." Five years after severing our mate bond, Ethan had become the most powerful Lycan Chairman the region had ever seen—courted, admired, endlessly celebrated. And me? I was working at an underground club. I was dressed in scraps of fabric, smiling until my cheeks ached, bowing and pouring drinks for whoever walked into the VIP room. There shouldn't have been any reason for our paths to cross again. But Ethan held me tight, eyes red and refusing to let go— “Say it,” he whispered, voice breaking. “Call me your mate.”

Si Xavier Echiverri ay isang napaka-cold, matangkad, napakagwapong bachelor at perfectionist na CEO ng Heaven Shipping Inc.. Siya ang perpektong halimbawa ng isang CEO na parang refrigerator— ‘di basta-basta lumalambot, kahit sa harap ng mga magagandang empleyada. Para sa kanya, ang pag-ibig? Wala sa business plan! Ngunit ang tahimik niyang opisina ay biglang nagka-brownout sa presensya ng bagong empleyada, si Antonette Pinagpala. Si Antonette ay maganda, sexy, at mabait, ngunit isang certified walking disaster! Palaging may natatapong kape (karaniwan ay kay Xavier pa!), nalalaglag na folders, at minsan, siya mismo ang natutumba! Pero kahit laging epic fail, hindi siya nawawalan ng ngiti o ng lakas ng loob na bumati ng, “Good morning, Sir!” kahit na obvious na bad trip si Xavier sa mga bloopers niya. Ang akala ni Xavier, matutuyot siya sa stress ng mga epic fails ni Antonette. Pero sa bawat engot niyang hakbang, natatawa siya—sa umpisa, pilit na tawa lang; kalaunan, hindi niya na mapigilan ang tawang natural na natural. At unti-unti, nadidiskubre niyang ang “perfectionist” niyang puso ay kayang pakiligin ng isang disaster queen na gaya ni Antonette. Ngunit sa gitna ng kanilang nakakakilig na harutan, biglang lumitaw ang matagal nang nakalimutang bahagi ng buhay ni Xavier—si Isabella Maharlika, ang ex-fiancee niyang iniwan siya sa mismong araw ng kasal! At ngayon, bumalik siya upang kunin ang atensyon at pagmamahal ni Xavier, na tila nais niyang mabawi mula kay Antonette. Kaya ba niyang isantabi ang kanyang prinsipyo na "business-only" para sa masaya at nakakakilig na buhay kasama si Antonette?Pero kung magkakaalaman na ang lahat, sino nga ba ang pipiliin ni Xavier—Si Isabella o Siya?-ang perpektong pagmamahalan na minsan nang nagtapos, o ang bagong love story na puno ng epic fails pero walang kapantay na saya?

My family hates me for causing my brother's death. From then on, I become a child no one loves. Meanwhile, my cousin, Evelyn Green, who looks like my brother, becomes the apple of my parents' eyes. From the age of ten to 18, my days are a cycle of beatings and forced apologies. On my 18th birthday, Evelyn wears a gorgeous gown and basks in everyone's adoration, while I'm shoved around in a maid's uniform and hit like I'm not even human. In my darkest moment, Morgan Oakley, the mafia boss, saves me. He takes me home, and step by step, wins his way into my heart. Because of him, I learn what love can feel like. He treats me like a treasure and promises me forever. However, on the day we're supposed to register our marriage, he keeps me waiting for a whole day and night. He never shows up. As I'm about to leave, my phone starts buzzing. A text from Morgan pops up. "Jasmine, I'm sorry. I ran into an enemy and couldn't make it to the city hall. A storm's coming, so make sure you get home quick!" My heart clenches in panic. I'm about to text back and ask if he's okay when Evelyn's message comes right after his. "Jasmine, I'm the one he loves. He skipped marrying you today because of me. You must be devastated, right?" Then, she sends a video. In it, Morgan holds her gently, his voice soft as he comforts her. "Evie, don't cry. You once saved my life, so I'll do anything for you. If you don't want me to marry Jasmine, then I won't. I love you. I only took her in so I could keep her close. That way, she'd be right there when you needed blood." My parents were off to the side. They chimed in tenderly, "Don't cry, Evie. Morgan loves you. He only pursued Jasmine because of your condition. You have a coagulation disorder and need transfusions of Rh-negative blood whenever you get hurt." I stagger back when I hear that, dropping my phone to the ground. So, Morgan's sudden passion is laced with poison. He only pretends to love me just so he can turn me into Evelyn's walking blood bank! Everyone goes to so much trouble to hide the truth from me just so Evelyn doesn't need to suffer from her condition! Rain mixes with my tears as they slide down my face. I stare at my phone on the pavement as bitterness floods me. A thought forms—I want to leave them forever. I want to disappear so they'll never find me again.