HALF: Dead nor Alive - Chapter 21

Stricken with a dull, boring life, Gael has already discarded his ambitions as a high school dropout. However, a chance encounter with death leaves him a choice:[“Meet your end accomplishing nothing, or continue on in an unforgiving world and learn what it is to live.”]Wishing not to die, he accepts the offer, being granted a new life in a fantastical, mysterious world of Gaia. In this new world, he is not granted an easy life, instead hunted as those like him, transported from Earth–”Outlanders”--are deemed to be executed on sight.He is not helpless, though, granted a unique gift upon being reborn in this world–[Integrating system into body.][...10%...][....45%...][....87%...][Integration complete.][Gacha System initiated.] [Level: 1]

Alternate Title: Kumo Desu Ga, Nani Ka? - Game SystemElliot? Yeah, he got isekai'd. Bam! Straight into the world of “So I'm a Spider, So What?”. And guess what? He wasn't some puny human or, well, a spider. Nope, he lucked out and got reborn as a freakin' Earth Dragon!But wait, it gets better. Ding! He awakened the 'XX Worlds Game System'. You know what that means? Skills! Skills from all sorts of crazy games!And the kicker? His new neighbor in the sprawling Great Elroe Labyrinth was none other than the little spider gal herself, Kumoko!So, what happens when two totally broken characters end up living next door to each other? They team up, duh! Their genius plan? Hit all the poor monsters in the Labyrinth with a two-pronged attack! A good ol' fashioned sandwich maneuver!But Elliot had a little secret. “Heh, sorry folks,” he probably smirked to himself, “but your boy Elliot here? He's playing with cheats activated!”Skill Acquired! [True Man's Slash]!Skill Acquired! [Skull Splitter]!Skill Acquired! [Planetary Devastation]!

Meredith Carter was once the pride of her pack—until the Lunar Curse marked her as wolfless, unwanted, and a disgrace. Humiliated, abandoned, and rejected by her fated mate, she thought the Moon Goddess had forsaken her.But her curse came with a cruel side effect—wild, uncontrollable pheromones that drove men insane with desire and disgust. A scent so intoxicating, it made her a target.The night she was cast aside when her pheromones spiralled beyond control, Alpha Draven Oatrun—the most feared and untouchable Alpha in the kingdom—claimed her instead.But Draven doesn’t want love. He doesn’t even want her. His reasons for marrying her have nothing to do with fate.Thrust into a world of ruthless politics, deadly enemies, and a mate who sees her as nothing more than a pawn, Meredith must fight to survive, reclaim her dignity, and uncover the secrets behind her curse.Because something is awakening inside her. Something powerful. Something… ancient.And when the truth is revealed, not even Alpha Draven will be able to resist what she becomes.Rejected. Cursed. Desired. Chosen.Will Meredith break free from her fate?Above all, what is this mystical force pushing her to start a war?—Excerpt:“You may have claimed me,” Meredith whispered, her violet eyes burning with defiance, “but you will never own me.”Draven exhaled a low, dangerous laugh. His golden eyes gleamed as he caged her in, his presence suffocating.“Own you?” His voice was velvet and steel. “Little wolf, I don’t need to own you.”He brushed a strand of silver-white hair behind her ear—a touch so light, yet it sent shivers down her spine.“Because whether you like it or not…” His breath ghosted against her skin. “Your body already responds to me.”Meredith clenched her jaw, ignoring the traitorous warmth pooling deep inside her. It was the pheromones. It had to be.“I hate you,” she forced out.“Good,” Draven smirked. Because hate was just another form of obsession.

One late-night run changed Aila’s life forever after getting caught up in a battle between werewolves and hunters. She is suddenly kidnapped by said hunters and finds out secrets about her past and her future as she embarks on a journey to find out who or what she truly is. Issues arise one after the other when she finally escapes the hunters grasp, only to be taken in by the ferocious Alpha of the Silver Crescent Pack. Unlike most who fear him, Aila challenges his authority every step of the way as she learns more about herself and the dominant, possessive Alpha who tries to claim her. Will heads collide in a battle of will, or can they work together and help keep the hidden world of creatures safe from the hunters? Join Aila on her journey of rediscovery, love, laugh and cry along with her on this action-packed, steamy romance novel. ----- Gold Tier Winner in #161 Writing Prompt Contest - Shapeshifters. ------ *** SNEAK PEAK *** [ MATURE CONTENT ] “Eyes up here, Aila.” He snapped; his harsh voice made her look into his eyes, and she was immediately trapped under his stone-cold gaze. She couldn’t move her eyes away from his as he stepped closer to her, his movements slow as though he was ready to pounce on her, his prey. Without thinking, she stood up from her position, prepared to bolt, but he grabbed her and pinned her hands against the bed. He moved his knee forwards, parting her legs that resisted only for a second before allowing his knee entry. He pushed it slowly into the spot between her thighs, making her gasp from the sudden contact. “Do you like disobeying me, Aila?” He growled; Aila was confused for a moment until she remembered how easily she defied his commands. Was he really still angry from earlier? But when she searched his face for an answer, she soon found it. He was definitely mad from earlier. “To be quite honest, I do. It puts you in your place,” Aila smirked when she met his blazing eyes. He brought his face down closer to hers, the pressure from his knee in between her legs increased, making her bite her bottom lip. “Wrong answer,” He growled before biting her lip apart from her teeth.