Riley Warren once played the role of the perfect son. Dutiful student, quiet observer, tethered to a legacy shaped by whispers and unspoken rules. He'd spent years slogging through the relentless grind of university life, but university degrees don't loosen chains-and when he stepped into adulthood, he realized the walls weren't just metaphorical. His family's power didn't flicker under streetlights; it moved things. Buried beneath sleek suits and well-spoken threats, their world thrived on silence and obedience. So he made a bold, if not reckless choice to disappear. Armed with little more than a rebellious streak and a suitcase full of uncertainty, he vanished into a rundown apartment that mirrored the chaos brewing beneath his skin. It wasn't glamorous. But it was his. Of course, leaving a family like his was never simple. With his absence echoing in the wrong circles, Riley's disappearance sets off alarms behind closed doors. Every shadow on the street feels heavier. Every knock louder. And with parents who didn't just search-they sent people-Riley quickly learned that escape came with its own price. Now, tucked away in a dingy room that had clearly seen better days, he stumbles upon something, or rather, someone, entirely unexpected: Chase Kennedy. Frustratingly attractive, emotionally impossible, and somehow the only person who sees past Riley's sharp tongue and calculated distance. A young single dad with too much baggage and not nearly enough boundaries, Chase is all wrong for Riley. And yet, beneath Chase's rough edges and exasperating charm, there's something Riley can't shake. Their worlds don't collide in explosions-they intertwine in slow, inevitable unraveling. As Riley balances on the edge of secrecy, regret, and the slow unraveling of trust, he's left wondering what freedom really means: breaking away from the family that shaped him-or daring to hold onto the one person who just might see who he truly is.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁..𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸? In a kingdom ruled by a cruel king, Lily begins with a chilling confession: she's already dead. But if she could, she'd live it all over again. The story begins when time mysteriously disappears - moments blur together, yet life continues on. As Lily searches for answers, aided by a dashing, enigmatic king, she uncovers dark truths about the kingdom and her own existence. But with a mysterious killer closing in, Lily Csillaghold is forced to confront her fate, knowing that every step she takes might lead her closer to her death. This book features mature themes like death, violence, betrayal, murder, emotional trauma, and dream disturbances. Reader discretion is advised.

((A SHIRO/CORRA VOLTRON: LEGENDARY DEFENDER FANFICTION BOOK)) What if Shiro wasn't the only human prisoner on that Galra ship?? Her name's Corra, She's been used and experimented on by the Galra Empire for as long as she can remember. It isn't until that fateful night that Lance, Pidge, and Hunk were out on the roof when a ship falls from the sky and crashes a ways away from the Garrison. What will happen when Shiro and Corra end up meeting 4 unsuspecting teenagers as they get transported from Earth into the middle of a sprawling intergalactic war, and become pilots for six robotic lions in the battle to protect the universe from evil; only through the true power of teamwork can they unite to form the mighty warrior known as Voltron. Will they win, what does this mean for the Paladins of Voltron in the end?? Could Corra ever find a family that even loves and cherishes her in the end?? What will this mean for her and Shiro, would he even love her?? *****DISCLAIMER: IN THIS INTERPRETATION OF THE NETFLIX SHOW "VOLTRON: LEGENDARY DEFENDER" I WILL WRITE SHIRO AS BISEXUAL AS I WANTED TO WRITE HIM BEING PAIRED WITH A FEMALE OC LOVE-INTEREST****** All the used pictures and the show itself are owned by the owners that made them!!! LONG CHAPTERS!!!!!!! Warning: SMUT/LANGUAGE/DARK THEMES such as abuse, rape, fighting, and violence. A note to the readers, if you are at all uncomfortable with the smut/abusive/rape parts you have the right to skip, as I will also write a warning for them as well.

Her love is a weapon. It's killed before. And this time, she's sworn it won't happen again. Everyone at Blackthorn University thinks Kara is just another human girl juggling midterms, frat parties, and overpriced lattes. No one suspects the truth: that she's a Phoenix shifter, hiding in plain sight in a world ruled by werewolves and lycans. Even her closest friends don't know the fire simmering beneath her skin. But Kara isn't just hiding from them, she's hiding from fate. From the one thing she dreads more than anything else: her mate. She's done letting her love be a death sentence. She won't survive another loss. The scars she bears run deeper than flesh. So when Ryker, the dangerously magnetic lycan General, realizes Kara is his fated mate, she does exactly what she swore she would. She pushes him away. Again. And again. And again. But lycans don't walk away from their mates. And Ryker? He's dominant, possessive, and utterly relentless. He's a storm she can't outrun, a flame that won't go out. And every heated glance, every stolen moment, threatens to shatter the walls she's spent years building. As secrets ignite and her past begins to unravel, Kara must face the truth: Can she let herself love again, knowing it could destroy them both? Or will her lies-and the deadly curse entwined with her love-be the very thing that dooms them forever?

[2025 Wattys Shortlist] After getting cut off by her wealthy, business-obsessed parents, Emily Grayson finds herself broke, stranded in a small town, and working at a boba café, something she never imagined in her wildest dreams. Her first days on the job are a disaster, her patience (and Jake Sherlind's) running thinner than the tapioca pearls she keeps burning. Jake, the charming yet hardworking guy with big dreams, has no patience for entitled rich girls who don't know how to hold a job. But when Emily starts proving him wrong, their tension brews into something neither of them expected. Between spilled drinks, late-night confessions, and an orange stray cat that won't leave the back door, Emily begins to wonder... maybe losing everything was exactly what she needed to find herself. A small-town rom-com about growth, second chances, and love that's better steeped with time.

[COMPLETED] The god-like guardians have been part of mortal history for as long as the world has existed. They exist in the background, taking on different roles and guiding the mortals. The mortal realm has been split between the four different guardian factions: The air guardians, the earth guardians, the water guardians, and the fire guardians. But something sinister is lurking just beneath the surface of what they believe to be their normal lives. Fire guardian twins, Chatan and Mathieu, have been hiding something from the rest of the guardians. Facing difficulties from increasing mortal problems, the guardians are pushed into their own battle. Chatan and Mathieu seem to be two of the few guardians who know what is happening with the balance of the world, but even they seem uneasy about something. It is up to water guardian Vitali and earth guardian Léonide to figure out exactly what is happening before it is too late. The Sun goes dark as War rises.

1096. The Pope calls for holy war, crusades, promising forgiveness, glory, and heaven to any man who takes up the Cross. When a young villager joins the First Crusade, it's not out of faith, it's because there's nothing left to lose. His parents are dead. His village forgotten. And his only friend, the reckless and burning Mathias, believes marching east will cleanse their sins in blood. But as the crusade descends into chaos and cruelty, Raimond begins to see the truth: the Cross he wears is no shield, it's a brand. One that marks him, and everyone around him, for violence he can't justify. Haunted by what he's witnessed, torn between loyalty and conscience, Raimond must choose: follow the path to Jerusalem... or walk away from everything-including the only friend he has left. Faith. Fire. Betrayal. The road to salvation is paved in blood. Disclaimer: This is a work of historical fiction. It includes depictions of real events and belief systems through fictional characters. The story does not glorify religious violence but seeks to explore its human and moral consequences.

A library, an archive of stories both old and new, both short and long, a collection of tales of all kinds. Contains both short stories and snippets of works in progress for longer projects. I am to build a community and receive feedback and critique as I actively work on my stories.

"You exist for me now. Every inch of you--mine." His hand trailed down, settling possessively on my stomach. "And soon," his voice darkened, "you'll carry my child. One night. That's all I need." A shiver. A breath. His lips grazed my throat, burning. I clenched my fists. I wasn't a wife. Not a partner. I was his obsession. His vessel of desire. And worst of all? I wasn't sure I could tolerate it long enough to bear him a child and guarantee my family's safety. ********** To save her family from sudden financial ruin, Camille Roosevelt gets married into the wealthy Ashford family. In secret meetings before the wedding, she meets her soon-to-be husband, Christian Ashford, whose intense obsession and possessive nature quickly become evident from their first meeting. He demands her submission, subtly treating her as a mere vessel to fulfill his desires, but after their wedding, everything suddenly changes. Christian, once all-consuming, suddenly grows oddly distant and avoids her presence, leaving Camille relieved but still curious about what could have caused such a drastic shift in his behavior overnight and how they are to make an heir under such tense co-existence. The truth, hidden beneath layers of deception, may be more than she could have ever possibly imagined. Warning: This story contains mature content, mentions and descriptions of abuse and mental health problems and is not suitable for viewers under the age of 18.