Heartbeat In The Bleak Midwinter

In the wake of tragedy, Jack Hayes struggles to cope with the devastating loss of his younger brother, Ethan "The Viper" Hayes, who dies in a brutal MMA fight against the reigning state champion, Rico "The Beast" Martinez. While the match is ruled an accident, Jack is haunted by the belief that foul play led to Ethan's untimely death. Consumed by grief and anger, he grapples with feelings of helplessness and guilt. In his search for closure, Jack decides to enter the world of MMA—not for revenge, but to find peace and honor Ethan's memory. Under the mentorship of Lena, a seasoned fighter with her own troubled past, Jack begins a grueling training regimen that tests his physical and mental limits. As he fights through local circuits, he discovers the camaraderie and resilience of fellow fighters, all of whom share their own struggles and stories of loss. As Jack rises through the ranks, he adopts the persona of "The Ghost," channeling his brother's spirit and seeking to transform his pain into strength. But as he gains recognition, the specter of Rico looms larger, culminating in a high-stakes tournament that could earn Jack the chance to face the man he holds responsible for Ethan’s death. In the climactic battle, Jack confronts not just Rico, but the internal demons that have plagued him since the tragedy. As he fights for redemption, he learns that true strength lies in embracing the past and that finding peace is a journey, not a destination. "The Ghost of the Ring" is a powerful tale of grief, resilience, and the transformative power of sport, exploring the delicate balance between revenge and healing in the unforgiving world of mixed martial arts.

Silas knew that being born as an omega meant his life wouldn't have many choices—unless you came from a privileged family, where your trait didn't matter and you could live comfortably. When a baron adopted him, Silas saw a glimmer of hope and vowed to repay the man he called father. However, though it was better than life in the orphanage, Silas knew he would never truly belong to the family. He was groomed to obey, and his adoptive father planned to use him to expand connections with noble families. As he grew older, his father repeatedly offered him in marriage to the son of a grand duke, an alpha, only to be rejected every single time. Eventually, just before the grand duke's son left for military service, his father received an answer: the grand duke's son agreed to the connection—but only on the condition that Silas would be a consort. It wasn't uncommon for alphas to have multiple consorts, though it wasn't what Silas desired. Still, as an omega, this was the only way he could repay the baron's kindness. * Silas remembered what Alric was like back when they were at the academy. Cold, quiet, and someone who despised omegas. He knew what kind of fate awaited him and gave up on the kind of love he often read about in books. After all, real life wasn't the same as the fantasies penned by writers. Instead, Silas decided to prepare himself for decorating the "cage" he would live in—a life filled with the constant refrain of "at least, at least, at least." He would get used to it. He had to. But something felt different. Why was Alric treating him so differently now compared to the way he had back in school? Alric's eyes were filled with a tenderness and sorrow that Silas couldn't understand. It was the kind of look that made Silas want to hold him close. — (Read the info for more additions)

In this thrilling story, Dr. Ella Marshall is a talented doctor who finds herself entangled in the dangerous world of the mafia. She's just trying to save lives and do her job, but little does she know that her path will intersect with that of a powerful and mysterious figure known as "the beast." As Ella delves deeper into the underworld, she uncovers a dark secret that threatens to tear her world apart. The "beast" refers to a powerful and enigmatic figure within the mafia, someone who wields immense influence and strikes fear into the hearts of even the most hardened criminals.It's like an untamed monster hidden behind a veil of secrecy. "The Beast in the Veil" is a thrilling and suspenseful tale that explores the complexities of power, loyalty, and the lengths one person will go to protect what they believe in. It's a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, eagerly turning the pages to uncover the secrets that lie beneath the surface. *trigger warning* Sexual violence, rape

Dying once again, she was almost numb to the pain of death. "I have never regretted meeting you," she said, tears threatening to drip from the corner of her eyes. "I only regret that the heavens are crueler than hell." Meeting her once again, but unable to remember her, he could only try to make her fall in love with him again. "We separated again," he said. "But we'll meet again... I promise." Their history was there, but they could only miss each other once again. Would they once again separate and restart their history? Or would their life change, allowing them to start the romance that they so wish for?

A pair of identical twins were separated at birth with each of them ignorant of his other half's existence. But fate brings them together again. Riley, our handsome protagonist is a nice and calm young man. He wields the fire magic, a majestic phoenix. he has a calm but dangerous aura emanating from him. Dedicates his life to saving humanity and ignores women who makes advances on him. he doesn't believe in love, but little does he know fate has a different plant for him. Dylan, the arrogant and cold-hearted antagonist wields the water and ice magic, a mighty dragon, is the heavenly crown prince and the assumed sole heir to the heavenly throne but unknown to him, he's got a twin brother. He possesses a deadly aura, a man who spends every night with concubines and hates the idea of being a one-woman man. But, he changes his perspectives for one single woman. Meet Maya, a young, calm and soft woman who wields flower magic, a pink rose who has been cursed to never fall in love and to face problems with her fated one as a punishment for her mother's past deeds. She leads a happy life until she meets a pair of identical handsome men and she was faced with problems upon problems. Would she fall in love or would she not Would she lead a happy life or a problem filled one Would Riley give up the woman he loves or would he face the problems and fight for his love Would Dylan fight his brother over a woman he loves or would he sacrifice his love to his brother Would the boys accept each other or despise one another

Wilhelm, a 24-year-old government agent, has spent his life following a predictable, passionless path—trained to excel academically and pursue a practical career. After joining the military and serving for six years, Wilhelm finds a new sense of freedom when he transitions into a government secret agent role. His life takes an unexpected turn, however, when he and his friend Mary Jane, who has also joined the agency, stumble upon a mysterious portal during their break. To their shock, the portal leads to a vibrant, dangerous fantasy world. With no way to return, Wilhelm and Mary are forced to adapt quickly. They encounter monstrous creatures, including a terrifying dragon, and have to fight for their survival while learning the rules of this strange land. Their only hope lies in the unlikely help of a group of adventurers who intervene just as they are about to become dragon prey. But the dangers don't stop there. Soon, they must decide if they have the strength to survive and whether they will ever find a way back home. Their journey through the unknown tests their limits, friendships, and their resolve to survive against overwhelming odds. Will they uncover the secrets of this new world and their purpose in it, or will they become lost to its dangers forever?

in the dark Underwood of organiz crime, Rowoon a ruthless Mafia leader,and Felix a naive yet fiercely independent individual,are bounded together by a twisted fate. their world collide with a whirlwind of hatred, secret, and unexpected passion. As Felix is drawn into Rowoon treacherous realm . he uncoveres hidden truth and confront the darkness within him.Rowoon ,too, find himself torn between his brutal ambitious and the unexpected vulnerability Felix evoke with each step,their dangerous dance intensifies ,fueled by secret,lies and a forbidden attraction that threaten to upend their lives.will their love unravel the mysteries surrounding them,or will it become the very thing that destroy them?

a black figured somebody arrives each night at 11pm and watches Jonathan sleep while smiling. watch as the nightmare unfolds

Setelah negaranya dikalahkan dalam perang. Amelie Irmhilde, tuan putri berumur dua belas tahun ini diputuskan untuk dijadikan seorang sandra politik di salah satu negara musuh. Dan agar dia bisa lebih mudah diawasi, dia dimasukan ke sekolah militer yang ada negara itu. Tapi, kehidupannya yang harusnya jadi menyedihkan karena hampir semua orang membencinya tidak berakhir buruk karena di sana dia bertemu dengan teman masa kecilnya. Haruki, yang membuatnya bisa dengan tenang menjalani kehidupan sekolahnya. Hanya saja, kehidupan damai mereka harus berakhir ketika kelasnya diharuskan untuk mengikuti ujian akhir di medan perang yang sesungguhnya.

I became a demon lord in a dungeon creation game who needs to have sexual relations with other women to become stronger. So I need to corrupt all the female characters here so I can go back? “I wonder if they can still keep a proud look on their face with a dick inside them!”

A young nomad name Astra and her family were attacked. Rescued by a knight name Killigan. As she tries to recall memories of the attack, Killigan tries to aide in finding those responsible. In the meadow alone Astra keeps having a re-acuring nightmare…

In a world where power means everything. Caelith found himself to be one of its victims. As he lay there near his deathbed, he suddenly found himself thrust 40 years into the past. Having spent most of his life in servitude, he decided to take this chance to forge a new destiny, as he push his way to the top. (Note: First time writer, so expect for some cringe stuff and shitty writing when reading.)

Nathan Drew, finds himself transported into his favourite space video game Blood in the Stars, now assuming his game name Captain Wolf. join him properly discover this new world.

Scene 1 "Your marriage is fixed," Father Shen stated calmly. "You'll register the marriage directly." "I don't agree!" Shen Ning stood up, her face full of defiance. Father Shen pursed his lips, his tone unwavering. "Objection denied." ________________________________ Scene 2 "Every relationship has its issues. You don't have to face it alone. What happened?" Still, Qin Yuheng remained silent, his eyes distant, unwilling to open up. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Qin Yuheng spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "I forced her to marry me… But... she likes someone else." ________________________________ Scene 3 "Will you always be there on my every birthday?" "Mm-hmm," he replied, his answer simple but filled with the promise of a lifetime. He moved to lead her toward the cake. "Let's—" But Shen Ning suddenly stopped him. "I love you." He paused, sure that he had misheard. "What did you say?" Shen Ning's voice was steady, but her heart was pounding as if it were trying to escape her chest. "I love you." _________________________________ Scene 4 "You think I slept with someone else?" she whispered, her voice hollow, "How can you?" He sneered in disgust. Then, suddenly, her expression shifted. A cold, mocking smile appeared on her face. "Oh, you're right," she said, her voice sharp as a blade. "I did. Not once, but many times." His eyes flared with rage, but she pressed on, gustily. "I never stopped loving him. I was forced to be with you. I cheated on you. So what now? Want a divorce?" _________________________________ ✿✿✿✷✯◕◕✿◕◕◕ I’ve modified the synopsis to add more depth and focus on key scenes.

> “Assume nothing. Not assuming anything clears your eyes. The eyes of your mind. Understand that there is no conditioning that can prepare you for having coals branded into your eyes, being burnt to death, being raped, drowned, suffocated… repeatedly and endlessly.” > "Misfortune is a fact of nature acceptable to women, especially when it falls on other women." > "Human life holds no inherent value. Have you not realised this, child? Despite all you have witnessed? It possesses no intrinsic worth." > “Is that so? Then I will simply have to become the one who would stretch this boundary of frail morality veiled underneath a thick layer of hypocrisy and double standards." > “Because chaos is more organised than order itself. Exactly as you taught me” Torn between where to direct his life, Arthur Olvasen has to decide on a side——as quickly as possible, as the merger and the potential interracial war between Earth and Eden creeps eerily close——the Bad or the Worse. *********************** NOTE: The story is slow burn; in action, world building and as well as potential romance. Just like how things should be. LoL. Tag along with it. You won't regret it. The story is also available on RoyalRoad underneath the same username of Reprobate. ************************* Cover is drawn by Aphora. You can commission yours by contacting them on Instagram (_aphora_) or KoFi (https://ko-fi.com/aphora_illustrations). This story's co-author is Komrade. And is being edited by incezangwill. Big thanks to all of them.

An old man who was a former apartheid regime soldier has lost everyone in the family. He decided to look for a last member of his family who was a little girl born to a black woman whom the father is his son.

Casey terjebak di sebuah game perempuan yang dikenal sebagai otome game. Game tersebut adalah game bergenre dating simulation yang menceritakan 4 pria dengan tipe berbeda. mulai dari tipe dingin, manja, humoris dan juga charming. Keempat pria tersebut terlihat sempurna jika dilihat sekilas, padahal masing-masing memiliki latar belakang yang kelam. Casey masuk ke dalam dunia tersebut sebagai Gwen Valerian sang heroine utama yang akan menjadi seorang pelayan di mansion kediaman mereka. Untuk kembali ke dunia aslinya, ia harus memilih rute yang tepat di dalam game berjudul A Mirror Family. Apakah Casey bisa melaluinya dan kembali ke dunia asli ataukah ia terlalu nyaman di sana karena dikelilingi pria-pria tampan dengan berbagai tipe menawan?

Casey is trapped in a girls' game known as an otome game. The game is a dating simulation game that tells the story of four men with different types. Starting from the cold type, spoiled, humorous and also charming, At first glance, all four men look perfect, even though each of them has a dark background. Casey enters the world as Gwen Valerian, the main heroine who will become a maid in their mansion. To return to the real world, she must choose the right route in a game called "A Mirror Family." Will Casey be able to get through it and return to the real world, or is she too comfortable there because she is surrounded by handsome men with all kinds of charm?

In a world steeped in ruins and shattered dreams, the people are captivated by the dangerous VR game known as 'Champion of the Hill'. Its rules seem simple enough: race to become the final runner in your lane to secure victory and gain real-world rewards. But beneath its seemingly straightforward premise lies a treacherous underworld of desperate players, where every step forward could cost more than just pride. [ Kaizer, a troubled teenager, stumbles upon a rare, functional machine that pulls him into the heart of Champion of the Hill. Little does he know, this seemingly chance encounter will thrust him into a game where the stakes are higher than anything he's ever faced before— and the line between virtual and reality begins to blur. ]

One of the vessel of a deities, unfortunately, gets lost and finds himself in room 0012373 and has to participate in gods game as a god candidate

"One naïve boy. Five handsome and diabolic vampires. A mansion in the midst of woods filled with secretes." Nate Todd, living in the town of Rush Hour, does not think twice before doing something, he has been a naïve boy since his childhood. So, when his friend tells him about a secret forest in the most isolated part of the town, he decides to go there, all alone. He expects to encounter wild animals during his visit, who could possibly kill him. But what he doesn't expect, is to find a beautiful mansion, in the midst of the forest, with five beautiful boys, living in it. When the boys invite him to stay with them, being the gullible person he is, he agrees. Five handsome vampires, living in a mansion, in the midst of a forest. They use their innocent façade and their captivating beauty, to lure their preys in and Nate, is certainly not the first one. Realizing this and the fact that the boys are not as innocent as they seem, Nate finds out that they have some sinister intentions. The mansion is not as welcoming as it first seemed and hides dark secrets behind its walls. Will he be able to escape? DISCLAIMER : This story and the plot are entierly mine so kindly do not steal.

Sinyiah. Known to most as a kingdom of great beauty; where the plants grow twice as healthy, the air seems twice as fresh, and even the water appears to have more life in it. However, every coin has two sides, for Sinyiah might seem like Eden, but its deepest dungeons hold a grave secret.

Heaven and Earth was formed and it was good. The saying became outdated when Hell rose and its citizens were no other than the angels that fell from grace to grass, growing malevolent horns and promoting sin. Two familes, both greatly affected by the Great war that occured in Hell opened the door of salvation for one and doomed the other to eternal damnation. He was possessive but not crazy, and loved her enough to remind her that she was his even if she loved another. Troubled by her many flaws and hardships, Ebony had one goal; to graduate with a worthy certificate and be free from the entaglements of his redemption while trying not to be too drawn to his inhuman looks. "I will not give up on you, Ebony," He promised and sealed it with a kiss on her lips. "I am not the type that gives up on what I want. I want it and I will have it." Will Ebony give in to his sweet temptations or remain adamant on the goal at hand even though there was more to the world of demons than meets the eye? For in the world of demons, love was a luxury she couldn't afford. | Completed |

"She stopped me from coming to the wedding!" "It's because she loved you and did not want me to marry you." "Do you think I'll trust you again? You liar!" He bellowed but he had believed her.

When Elaine inadvertently crosses paths Ethan during a chance encounter, sparks fly but not the romantic kind. Ethan's disdain quickly turns into a fierce professional rivalry, setting the stage for a battle of wills. However as they navigate the turbulent waters of competition, unexpected emotions begin to surface revealing a complex dance between hatred and desire. Just as the icy walls of animosity begin to thaw, Ethan's longtime friend and fellow CEO, Mark appears on the scene. Unbeknownst to Elaine, Mark harbours his own feelings for her, creating a tangled Web of emotions. As the love triangle unfolds, choices must be made and alliances tested Will Ethan and Elaine overcome their tumultuous start and embrace the unexpected love blossoming between them? or will the entrance of Mark, complicate their budding romance, turning the delicate balance of emotions into a high-stakes game with the hearts of all involved, hanging in the balance.

Due to being accidentally bound by a pact, Emily and Christ are forced to meet often. But they don't know that a secret will make their relationship chaotic. He is a nice guy. I know he treats me well just to make someone happy. But slowly I started to fall for him.When I realized my feelings, he came to introduce his fiancée. ~ Emily ~ I don't know why, but when I first saw that woman, my heart started beating faster. I feel like I've known that woman for a long time. I once asked my friend if I had ever experienced amnesia so that maybe I forgot someone in my past. Because I had an accident before. I have to find the reason why my heart beats faster when I'm with that woman. ~ Christ ~ Finally I met a good man. I want that grown man to accompany me. I want to be like my friends, they have a grown man who is always there to protect them. ~ Abigail ~