What Happens In The Shadows

He kissed her in the shadow. It was mind-blowing, passionate, hot and daring. Ngunit hindi inaasahan ni Miranda na ang lalaking kinaiinisan ay siya palang nakasama niyang nagtampisaw sa kama nang tanggalin na niya ang piring sa kanyang mga mata. It was supposed to be his fiance', Fiore. His three years boyfriend whom she thought she had given her virginity. Instead, she was mistakenly devirginized by his fiance's bestfriend, Xylon Diaz. Kaya ganoon na lang ang galit ni Fiore sa kanya at wala nang kasalan na magaganap. Abot hanggang kailaliman ng lupa ang naging galit niya kay Xylon. Ngunit mapipilitan siyang pakisamahan si Xyle dahil na-stranded sila sa ancient country house na nasa gitna ng kakahuyan. Hanggang naramdaman niyang iba na ang gusto ng katawan niya. Nais pa niyang hagkan siya ni Xyle at maulit ang nangyari sa kanila. Sa pagbabalik ni Fiore, kailangan niyang mamili. Ang lalaking pinangakuan niya ng kanyang puso o ang lalaking ibig ng katawan niya.

Content Warning: This story contains a significant amount of adult content, including sexual material, alcohol, and violence. Reader discretion is advised. Moans echoed back and forth inside one of the rooms of a five star hotel in Stockholm, Sweden. The young woman could not hold herself back from crying out as a tall, powerfully built man above her moved relentlessly, his muscular body driving into hers. Their bodies were slick with sweat, the act of two people joining fueled by raw desire. “Damn it, you’re so tight and incredible, Lexi. You always satisfy me, you always bring me perfectly to my climax,” Austin said, struggling to catch his breath after release. Alexi turned onto her side, her hand tracing every inch of Austin Stanley’s damp skin, the man who had just made love to her. “You know this is wrong, don’t you, Austin? What we have isn’t right. Why do you trap me in a labyrinth that makes me lose my way?” “If you’re lost, call only me. I’m the only one you should ever call, Alexi Mauren. Only me, Austin Stanley, can guide you. Do you understand?” Austin leaned in, capturing her thin lips. “Listen to me. As long as I’m by your side, I’ll make sure your world stays safe.” Alexi wavered. Being entangled in a forbidden relationship with someone she should never have had was something that could never truly last. What if the world discovered their illicit affair? Would it still show her kindness? Or would the world turn its back on her completely?

In the ancient forests of Northern Alder, power is everything—and disobedience can be deadly. Alphas rule, Betas enforce, and Omegas… are expected to obey. But Nova refuses to be invisible. Fierce, clever, and determined, she trains in secret, dreaming of a world where Omegas are more than pawns in a cruel hierarchy. Then Kael arrives—a ruthless, magnetic Alpha from a neighboring pack. His presence ignites clashes of fire and will, and a dangerous attraction that neither can deny. When a rival pack threatens their home, Nova must lead a secret rebellion, teaching the Omegas to fight, strategize, and reclaim their place. As loyalty and love collide, Kael faces an impossible choice: uphold the laws of the pack—or risk everything for the woman who could change his heart… and the future of their world.

On Christmas Eve, my father got the man I had secretly loved for ten years drunk and sent him to my bed. When I woke up the next morning, Roy pulled away from my attempt at a good-morning kiss. His voice was cold and distant as he agreed to marry me. After the wedding, Roy wasted no time submitting a transfer request. He took an overseas post and left. He did not return for five years. I gave birth to our daughter, Eve, alone and waited for him to come back home. When I heard that Roy had finally applied to return to a domestic position, I was overjoyed. I spent days preparing, imagining our first reunion as husband and wife. But even when the clock struck midnight, he still hadn't come home. Our daughter, ever so thoughtful, placed her most treasured possession—a photograph of Roy—into my hands. "Don't cry, Mommy," she said softly. "Look, Daddy's right here." I tried to convince myself that his absence was due to a delayed flight. But later that night, while watching the news, I saw him. He was on a crowded city street, holding a young girl in his arms. Beside him stood a woman, her smile soft and warm. Facing the camera, Roy said, "Being with them is my greatest wish." At that moment, something inside me broke. I wrote up the divorce papers, packed our things, and planned to take Eve to change her identity. I didn't want him anymore. The day before we left, a man I had never met came to see me. He was Roy's father. "You could call me Dad," he said, a faint smile playing on his lips. "But I'd rather you call me Ryan." I told him everything about the past five years—how I had waited, how I had hoped. When I finished, he laughed softly, an unusual warmth in his voice. "If it was just business," he said, "perhaps your father should have tied a bow around me and sent me to your bed instead. But I hold my liquor well—if I ever end up wrapped in a bow, you can be sure it's by choice."

In the fifth year of my marriage to Kevin Gray, he, a sailor, is reported dead during a mission at sea. When his twin brother brings home his ashes, I break down and sob until I can barely breathe. Nothing can stand in the way of our love—not even death... or so I think. Grief consumes me. I cannot accept the reality of losing him. I try to end my life five times. Every time, Kevin's mother or his brother saves me. They plead with me to let go, to live on. After all, Kevin's last wish was for me to find happiness in every day of the life I had left. But in the third month of mourning, I discover the truth—he never died. He lied to me. He took his twin brother's identity and spent his days by Evelyn Stewart's side. He told me he still loved me, that he couldn't live without me, and that everything he was doing had a reason. He said he'd explain everything after Evelyn gave birth. To protect Evelyn and her unborn child, he asked me to move out for a while—just temporarily, until the baby was born. Then, he promised to bring me home again. Kevin, don't bother coming to get me. I'm not coming back.

Kaida thought forever was the deal with her boyfriend, Liam, the captain of the Runners Hockey Team, until he broke up with her and reunited with his childhood lover, who had returned after several years of being away. Heartbroken and angry, Kaida decided to make her ex-boyfriend jealous by kissing her best friend's older brother, Maverick. Unfortunately, she reignited the flame he'd been trying to quench for years. Now, there was no turning back and no quenching the obsessive flame burning inside Maverick for her. After some time, Liam realized he truly loved Kaida and wanted her back, but Maverick wasn't letting her go. Kaida was his now, and he would go to the end of the earth for her sake. What began as revenge against her ex turned into something twisted and dark: something beyond words and certainly beyond obsession.

Zoey has been beaten down her entire life—by her pack, by fate, by the cruel truth that she has no wolf. When war pushes the packs together, her body becomes a battlefield of its own, bruised, burning, and starved for something she’s never been allowed to want. Then she collides with a dangerous male who looks at her like pain makes her irresistible and defiance makes her his. Desire turns savage, jealousy turns deadly, and love threatens to be the most violent thing of all. In a world ruled by blood, dominance, and marks, wanting him could ruin her—but being claimed by him might finally set her free.

Beatrice is back to face her greatest threat since. . .well, the last time! In Cooper’s Cove a hapless team of archaeologists unleash the vengeful spirit of a 16th Century witch on the sleepy seaside town of Dorsal Finn. Hexes and curses fly as Beatrice and her friends must find out what links the appearance of this incredible foe and The Spirit of the Ocean, a super-yacht hosting the biggest celebrity charity event the town has ever seen. As the population of Dorsal Finn succumbs to witchcraft, so Beatrice must gate-crash the party with her motley-crew of friends and allies in the hope of stopping the witch's sinister plan, and save everyone from endless oblivion. . . Again. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

To make me "obedient", my parents send me to a reform center. There, I'm tortured until I lose control of my bladder. My mind breaks, and I'm stripped naked. I'm even forced to kneel on the ground and be treated as a chamber pot. Meanwhile, the news plays in the background, broadcasting my younger sister's lavish 18th birthday party on a luxury yacht. It's all because she's naturally cheerful and outgoing, while I'm quiet and aloof—something my parents despise. When I return from the reform center, I am exactly what they wanted. In fact, I'm even more obedient than my sister. I kneel when they speak. Before dawn, I'm up washing their underwear. But now, it's my parents who've gone mad. They keep begging me to change back. "Angelica, we were wrong. Please, go back to how you used to be!"

Tia's life was forever changed the night she met her mate, beta of the rival pack, Kael Cameron, under the moonlight. As they navigate their forbidden bond, a mysterious string of disappearances threaten the fragile peace between the packs. Forced to join forces, Tia and Kael must confront their own demons and the treacherous landscape of their pasts to uncover the truth and protect their people. But can their love be strong enough to overcome the secrets and hurt that have divided their packs for so long?