Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey - Chapter 317: Guild Visit [5]

When her once-wealthy family falls into ruin, Elara Vance has only one option to protect them: marry the man responsible for their downfall, Damien Arclight, a ruthless business tycoon with a hidden vendetta.What begins as a cold-blooded deal soon spirals into a web of secrets, betrayals, and dangerous desires. Elara must navigate high society, corporate warfare, and her growing feelings for the enemy she swore to hate, all while uncovering the truth behind her family's collapse.Is love even possible when the marriage starts as a trap? And will the truth destroy them both?Genres: Romance, Drama, Enemies-to-Lovers, Revenge, High SocietyThemes: Arranged marriage, family loyalty, slow-burn romance, power play

He killed her father.He destroyed her life.And she rejected him as her fated mate.The King she swore to hate wants to protect her, but strings are attached.Now he wants her loyalty… and her heart.Claire Stenly swore she’d never kneel to the Lycan King who ruined her world.But every time Yeren looks at her, she feels the strings tighten. And every time she looks into his eyes, she forgets why she should run.He’s dangerous, untouchable, and sin wrapped in velvet.And somehow, she keeps finding herself in his arms instead of his dungeon.Claire tells herself she’s just surviving.Yeren tells himself she’s just a pawn.But the moment their lips meet, neither one believes their own lies anymore.Because… this puppet is starting to pull back.And when she cuts his strings, the whole damn kingdom will burn - no exaggeration there.A dark royal romance full of obsession, trauma, betrayal, and slow, sinful heat.Perfect for readers who want their fantasy dangerous, their lovers doomed,and their happy endings bloody.Do read responsibly.

After the nuclear war, the world was controlled by twenty mega-corporations that established a global government. Governed by AI, it judged everything.Gao Xin, who had only wished to live a peaceful life, inexplicably became a scapegoat for the elite and, unable to pay the imprisonment fee, was sentenced to ten years of exile on Crime Prison Island!On this island, there were no laws, no constraints, the only order being the numerous game arenas set up by the officials.The criminals could only participate like racehorses for the entertainment of the elite.Yet, on this prison island filled with Radiation, cyborgs, and many powerful villains, Gao Xin had no strength, no talent, and no background—like a sheep thrown into a crocodile pool, no different from being on death row.How could an ordinary person like him survive under the oppression of the strong, the geniuses, and the wicked? Unless in this world, there was a path, a path that allowed even the weakest to continuously break their shackles.

[MATURE CONTENT]“Are you mating with someone?”Stunned, she took a step back, widening the space between them. “ Excuse me?”“Ah…” A sigh left his lips. “ Perhaps, I need to rephrase my question. Are you f*cking someone?”She sucked in a quick breath, not knowing what to say. Anger reared itself in her head, mixing with unexpected desire. Sadly, desire was winning.He lifted an eyebrow, and in the next instant, he was already standing in front of her body. Her instincts kicked in. She took a couple steps back until her back hit the wall.The smell of chocolates and almonds rolled between them. Entranced, she thought she smelled the sweetness of the wine but it disappeared as quickly as it came.“I don’t think that is any of your business, Mr. Graydon.” she made a sound of annoyance.“Is it not?” His breath fractured, his eyes darkened with desire.“No.” Her lips quivered at her obvious denial. She mustered all the courage she could, hoping he wouldn’t smell her arousal. She knew it was for naught.His fingers lightly brushed her cheeks, then they trailed down her neck, lingering on her collarbone, the contact sent shivers down her spine. It awakened the primal need she had been wanting to hide since they met.She wanted him.No.She needed him, inside her.Her face flushed at the thought of him taking her, preferably right against these walls.“You want me,” he stated. ““As much as I want you.”Shocked by her own raw and potent yearning, she turned her head away.“I don’t…”“Shhh…” he silenced her with a finger. Then he inched closer, so close his long lashes brushed against her cheek. Her heart pounded like a drum against her chest, fast and hot in anticipation.“Now tell me little one… do I need to get rid of someone before I make you beg me to let you come?”......Is love worth the chaos it brings?.....Tags: #lycans #witch #strongfemalelead #strongmalelead #norape #smut #mates #slowburn