When Elias Vale climbed to the rooftop of a skyscraper, he had no intention of climbing back down. But fate struck differently-literally. A bolt of lightning surges through his body before he can jump, turning him into something inhuman. Now he's Zecron, the city's electric guardian, loved by millions and feared by criminals. But behind the mask, Elias is unraveling. The nights are long, the guilt is endless, and one man haunts him like a ghost made of fire and smoke. Wraith. Charming, cruel, and always one step ahead, Wraith isn't just a villain. He's a message, a mirror, and maybe... a monster Elias can't stop craving. As their cat-and-mouse game escalates into obsession, the line between good and evil begins to blur. Because Wraith sees the bad in him. And Elias? He can't stop searching for the good in Wraith. When obsession becomes affection-and affection becomes something darker-how long before Zecron falls... not from the sky, but for his greatest enemy?

Seventeen-year-old Adrie Callahan has always been the weird girl-too short to be seen, too loud to be taken seriously, too sick to matter. Diagnosed with terminal leukemia, she's told she may not live to see her nineteenth birthday. With her world shrinking to a hospital room and a number on a chart, she shuts everyone out-nurses, doctors, even her own parents. Until Joss Hartley, a new nurse, strolls into her room with a crooked smile and refuses to treat her like she's already gone. Joss is older. Handsome. The kind of person everyone in the ward crushes on. And Adrie hates him for it. For his optimism. His warmth. His persistence. But mostly, for making her laugh when she swore she wouldn't. What begins as irritation slowly unravels into friendship. And then, something more-something aching and forbidden and desperately beautiful. But love was never part of Adrie's plan. Not when she's on borrowed time. In the end, how do you say hello to your first love, knowing you'll also have to say goodbye?

Mason, a guilt-ridden high school athlete, must confront his internalized homophobia and toxic relationship with Iago, in order to find redemption and healing after a tragedy. (Can be read as a stand alone) -- Mason Cardova is drowning. A year ago, he was the golden boy of Mosley High-talented, popular, untouchable. Now, he's nothing. The whole town knows what he did. They know how he bullied Ontario Hackman, how he pushed him to the edge and watched him fall. They know his name was on Ontario's suicide note. They whisper it in the hallways. They carve it into bathroom stalls. They throw it at him like a knife every time they pass him in the halls. Killer. Monster. Waste of space. His friends abandoned him. His father beats him bloody. His mother doesn't care. And Mason? Mason isn't sure how much longer he can survive in the wreckage of his own making. Then there's Iago Rivera. Older, jaded, and thoroughly unimpressed with Mason's bullcrap, Iago is everything Mason isn't-strong, disciplined, untouchable. He doesn't drink, doesn't spiral, doesn't tolerate Mason's reckless self-destruction. He's made a life for himself, one that doesn't include babysitting a self-loathing high school burnout with a death wish. But Mason keeps coming back. He doesn't know why. Maybe it's the way Iago looks at him-not with pity, not with judgment, just sharp, cold indifference. Maybe it's the way Iago sees through him, sees the wounds Mason hides under bruises and bravado. Maybe it's because, for the first time in his life, someone refuses to let him get away with running from himself. Their relationship is toxic, messy, and doomed from the start. A slow-burn collision between a boy who doesn't know how to be saved and a man who stopped trying to save people a long time ago. But when Mason loses the last person tethering him to this world, he finds himself on Iago's doorstep-broken, bleeding, and out of places to run. And Iago makes the mistake of letting him in.

Lucas Bennett has always been the best-best student, best friend, and above all, the best diver on the team. Confident, charismatic, and unstoppable, the water is his domain. But when Adrian Cruz, quiet, relentless, and just as talented, joins the team, Lucas's flawless world tilts off balance. What begins as a heated rivalry beneath the waves slowly transforms into something deeper, something neither of them expected. As they push each other harder, dive deeper, and chase the limits of their abilities, Lucas finds himself drawn to the mystery behind Adrian's stoic eyes. Tension simmers, glances linger, and somewhere between challenges and unspoken words, the lines between enemies and something more blur. But some waters are darker than they seem. When a forbidden dive lures them into uncharted depths, the thrill of competition becomes a test of trust, courage, and fragile connection. As the pressure rises and shadows close in, Lucas and Adrian must face the truth: sometimes, the deepest bonds are forged in the most dangerous places-and not every surface can be reached again. How far would you go to escape the weight of expectation? And what happens when you realize you've dived too deep to turn back?

Max Harper has always been clumsy - with his words, his steps, and sometimes with his heart. At 17, navigating life as an autistic teenager isn't always easy, but when he stumbles (literally) into Jason Torres, the brooding convenience store worker with inky black hair, a tattoo sleeve, and a silver cross necklace, Max's world flips upside down. Jase is everything Max isn't: cool, confident, and impossibly attractive. For the first time in his life, Max finds himself making excuses to buy things he doesn't need, practicing conversations in the mirror, and turning even the simplest interactions into grand missions to impress Jase. Whether he's dropping change everywhere, knocking over entire shelves of snacks, or blurting out painfully awkward compliments, Max just can't seem to get it right. Yet somehow, Jase doesn't seem to mind. There are smiles, lingering glances, and moments that Max swears are something more. With a little help (and a lot of teasing) from his friends, Max is determined to figure out if the sparks he feels are real - and if maybe, just maybe, love is closer than he thinks. - Filled with heart-fluttering moments, laugh-out-loud clumsiness, and the thrill of first crushes, Almost Real is a story of hope, courage, and the beautifully chaotic journey of falling in love for the first time.

Prince Damian, known for his cruel and ruthless nature, rules his kingdom with an iron fist. Sir Gabriel, a knight of unparalleled honor and virtue, is sent to negotiate peace with Damian's kingdom. When Gabriel uncovers a plot to assassinate Damian, he chooses to protect the dark prince despite their differences. As Gabriel stays in the palace, he begins to see the vulnerable side of Damian, and their mutual respect grows into something deeper and more complex. - Prince Damian rules his kingdom with an iron fist, feared by his subjects for his ruthless and merciless nature. His reputation for cruelty and harsh decisions keeps his enemies at bay but also isolates him from genuine connections. When a neighboring kingdom sends Sir Gabriel, a knight of unparalleled honor and virtue, to negotiate peace, tensions rise. Sir Gabriel is everything Damian is not: compassionate, just, and beloved by his people. Gabriel soon uncovers a plot to assassinate Prince Damian and chooses to protect him despite their differences. As Gabriel stays in the palace, he begins to see glimpses of the vulnerability hidden beneath Damian's harsh exterior. The two men, initially at odds, are forced to navigate palace intrigues, betrayal, and political machinations together. As they spend more time together, Gabriel's unwavering sense of justice and kindness begin to influence Damian. Conversely, Damian's complex personality and hidden depths challenge Gabriel's perceptions of good and evil. Their mutual respect grows into a deep, complex bond that neither of them expected. Together, they must thwart the assassination plot, navigate political alliances, and confront their own personal demons.

In the desolate world of Veridia, survival is a relentless battle. The powerful Citadel, a fortress that rules over the scattered city-states, demands the best and brightest youths to compete in the Trials of Echoes-a brutal series of challenges designed to select the strongest warriors to defend against the monstrous Reavers that plague the land. Refusing to compete means certain death on the Frontlines, where survival is a grim and distant hope. Evan Crest, a 16-year-old from the scholarly city-state of Lyria, enters the Citadel Academy with one goal: to win the Trials and secure a future for his family, who have been living in poverty since his father's death. But the Trials are more dangerous than he ever imagined, and his greatest obstacle is Daelis Fenn-a ruthless 17-year-old prodigy from the warrior city-state of Draven, whose tragic past fuels his relentless pursuit of victory. As the Trials progress, Evan and Daelis's rivalry grows fiercer, each encounter testing their physical and mental limits. But when a deadly secret about the Citadel is uncovered, they are forced to put aside their differences and confront a truth that could shake the foundations of Veridia. In a world where love is a luxury and trust is a dangerous gamble, Evan and Daelis must navigate treacherous alliances, deadly enemies, and their own growing feelings for each other. Together, they must decide whether to fight for their survival or for a future they never dared to dream of. "Revenant" is the first installment of The Evan Crest Chronicles, a tale of power, deception, and a slow-burning romance set against the backdrop of a dystopian world on the brink of revolution.

In the tightly knit, picturesque town of Elmwood Heights, secrets and cruelty fester beneath the surface. James, a troubled teen with a passion for photography, finds himself the constant target of bullying, tormented by classmates for being different in a town that thrives on conformity. At the heart of his obsession is William, the school's golden boy-a jock with haunting heterochromatic eyes and a dark secret of his own. As James quietly documents the world around him through the lens of his Polaroid, he is drawn deeper into a dangerous infatuation with William, even as the jock and his friends torment him. But when the torment escalates, pushing James to the brink, his obsession turns deadly, and the town is forced to reckon with a darkness they never saw coming. Beneath the Polaroid is a dark and haunting story about love, obsession, and revenge set in the 1940s, where societal pressure and buried desires lead two boys down a path from which there is no return. In a town where acceptance is impossible, how far will one boy go for the one he can never have?

Jordan Stricker is a popular athlete that has it all, striking good looks, girls, popularity, everything you could dream of, and then in the snap of a fingers its taken away as the new kid, Khalid manages to capture everybody's attention without even trying. Ever since his arrival, Khalid has been taking everything Jordan has spent the last three years trying to build, and its pissing him off, warranting a hatrid that Khalid can't even begin to comprehend. However.... there's a thin line between love and hate. - Jordan Stricker has always been on top-star quarterback, popular with friends and admired by his peers. But when Khalid, a new student with an easy smile and effortless charm, arrives at school, everything Jordan has worked for feels threatened. Jordan's initial reaction to Khalid is unexpected and intense-an inexplicable mix of jealousy and attraction that he can't quite understand. As Khalid effortlessly makes friends and excels in football, Jordan's insecurity grows, fueling his resentment towards the newcomer. Khalid, unaware of Jordan's inner turmoil, tries to befriend him, offering kindness and support despite Jordan's cold demeanor. Their interactions are fraught with tension, each encounter revealing layers of complex emotions and unspoken desires. As the football season unfolds and tensions rise both on and off the field, Jordan and Khalid find themselves drawn to each other in ways they never anticipated. Jordan must confront his fears and uncertainties, grappling with his identity and his growing feelings for Khalid. Khalid, in turn, navigates the challenges of fitting in at a new school while unraveling the mystery behind Jordan's animosity towards him.

[WATTY'S 2024 SHORTLIST] Seventeen-year-old, popular Athlete, Ontario Hackman struggles with identity, and the fact he may be facing something deeper-rooted than the surface, and when fellow gay boy, Nathaniel Ericson comes along, out and about, with his rainbow bracelets, and his shameless crush on the Popular Athlete, and begins experiencing torment at the hands of his peers, Ontario realizes just how much easier it is to stay hidden. But everyone knows, What's done in the dark will always come to the light - In the gilded halls of his high school, seventeen-year-old Ontario Hackman is the epitome of perfection-a star athlete, a charismatic leader, and the heartthrob of every party. But beneath the surface of his flawless facade lies a turmoil of uncertainty and hidden desires. When Nathaniel Ericson, openly gay and unapologetically himself, arrives with rainbow bracelets and an unabashed crush on Ontario, it sets off a chain reaction that shatters the delicate balance of Ontario's carefully curated life. As Nathaniel faces relentless bullying at the hands of his peers, Ontario is forced to confront the shadowed corners of his own identity. The conflict between staying hidden in the comfort of his popularity and embracing his true self becomes a battleground for Ontario's soul. As their worlds collide and intertwine, Ontario and Nathaniel must navigate the tumultuous waters of love, acceptance, and self-discovery. [Word count: 45k) #1 in mentallyunstable out of 3.97k (July 4th, 2024, 10:39 AM)