Playing By The Rules Monica Murphy

This is a story of two worlds fighting for their survival. Each with their own set of heroes. ---------- All Michael wanted was a peaceful life with his family. If you didn't bother him, he doesn't exist to you. But all of that changes when he is chosen as a candidate to fight for the survival of his planet. ------------ 540, otherwise known as Erwin, is fighting for the survival of his species. All he has to do is follow orders and not question the person who's giving them. ------------- ## Author's note ## Let's give this series another go.

Selene Valor, a pureblood vampire, entered a marriage of convenience with her husband Gabriel Valor to protect herself from relatives eyeing what was left of her family's wealth. Six months into their marriage, Gabriel is sent away to war to fight for the kingdom. As time went on, news of his victories spread across the kingdom and he was labelled a hero. Nearly six months later, Selene eagerly awaits the return of her heroic husband. Upon his arrival, Selene is faced with betrayal as he brings home a woman named Cassandra Avery, a human who he introduces as his lover. Selene is heartbroken and tries to save what was left of her marriage but soon there is news of Gabriel wanting to take Cassandra as his second wife. Selene is left with the choice of accepting Gabriel’s wishes and staying protected or seeking a divorce. After a heated argument, Selene turns to someone she never expected to be her saviour. She finds refuge with Lord Xavier Blackthorn, another pureblood who seeks her hand in marriage. Will she forgive her first love or move on to accept Lord Blackthorn’s love?

"I told you not to touch me," Audrey said. "In front of people," He reminded her. Audrey could feel the smirk in his voice. ~~~ Audrey's seventeen years in the Grey Blood pack were like a caged animal. She lived each day dreading the next unexpected thing the Alpha could punish her for. Audrey tried hard to understand the mysterious dream she'd been having, but nothing made sense to her, she was lost. She wished to be freed from the Grey Blood pack, but she lost all hope of survival when she found herself locked and chained in the cold dark dungeon. She hated him, she cursed him as her blood drained from her. She was happy to die and go away from that monster-alpha. Audrey awoke in a magical world where she learned everything about herself, she cultivated herself to become the strongest wolf and witch alive. One item though, led her back to the last place she wanted to be. Alpha Aloha Lake ruled the Grey Blood pack, the largest and strongest pack in the States. He was known to be brutal, even the mafia feared him. Nothing or anyone bothered him, except one; the damned bitch Audrey. He hated her, and he would make her pay for her mother's sins. But he could not kill her...yet. Alpha Lake emotionlessly stared at Audrey's bleeding body that lay on the cold dungeon floor, he ordered his beta to dispose of her without a second thought. One year later the enemies met again. Will hatred be the only emotion they share? Could they resist the fatal attraction they felt for each other?

“P-please let me go..” I stammered and before I knew it, I was word vomiting while crying. “—I won’t return. You won’t ever see me again. I know you don’t want me as a mate. You hate me, so please let me go.” I cried out. Cain’s jaw tightened with each word that left my lips “What gave you the idea that you have the power to choose what you want?” His voice was low, “You don’t get to decide what, how, and when you leave. Only I get to do that. You don’t get to leave me, you don’t get to run! You only leave when I want you to.” "I didn’t ask for this,” I whispered, trembling. “I didn’t ask to be your mate.” Cain stepped back, “Neither did I,” he muttered under his breath. “But the bond doesn’t give us a choice, does it?” ~~~~ As the only child of her late Alpha father, Avery Jae was meant to inherit her family’s legacy. But on the day of her arranged marriage to Alpha Lucian, her world crumbles. Rejected, humiliated, and cast aside for her own cousin, Avery barely escapes with her life only to find out a much deeper secret. One that changes everything. When Avery awakens, she finds herself in a foreign land, caught by the ruthless guards of the Vehiron pack, led by the infamous Alpha Cain. Tall, broad and as dangerous as the army he commands. Alpha Cain has a reputation that sends chills down the spine of even the most dangerous warriors. Haunted by his dark past, he has vowed never to take a mate, yet the moment he lays eyes on Avery, everything changes. With a single word, Avery is bound to Cain—whether he wants it or not. In a world where betrayal runs deep, can Avery ever trust the alpha who might just be her worst enemy.

If you want to understand the content the author wishes to convey, please remember to read the author's note.

Sophia Reed, a sharp and fearless 24-year-old PR strategist, is used to cleaning up messy reputations. But when she’s hired to save billionaire Damien Steele’s image, she realizes this job might be her toughest yet. Damien is cold, guarded, and infuriatingly handsome—a combination that’s as dangerous as it is distracting. As Sophia digs deeper into his world, she discovers a man haunted by secrets, his icy exterior hiding a fire she can’t resist. The more she tries to keep things professional, the harder it gets to ignore the pull between them. But with the media circling and enemies waiting for their chance to strike, every step closer to Damien puts her heart—and her career—on the line.

Rachel Foster’s carefully constructed world is crumbling around her. Her fiancé, Jasper, faces imminent ruin, caught in a web of accusations and financial turmoil. Desperate to save him, Rachel is left with only one option: Kingsly Scott, the man she abandoned years ago, a man now transformed into a billionaire forged in the fires of betrayal. Kingsly agrees to help, but his offer is far from charitable. He hasn't forgotten Rachel's decision to choose wealth over their love, and he intends to extract a price more devastating than she could ever imagine. His terms are brutal, forcing Rachel to confront the ghosts of their shared past and the devastating consequences of her choices. As she navigates the treacherous landscape of Kingsly's world, a world of power plays, high-stakes deals, and simmering resentments, Rachel finds herself caught in a dangerous game of manipulation and desire. The lines between love and revenge blur as old flames are rekindled, threatening to consume them both. But Kingsly's motivations are shrouded in mystery. Is he truly driven by revenge, or does a flicker of their former love still burn within his hardened heart? Rachel must unravel his true intentions while battling her own conflicting emotions. Can she reconcile the man she once loved with the ruthless tycoon he has become? Meanwhile, a shadow lurks beneath the surface. Rachel’s brother, Noah, is entangled in a risky venture within Kingsly’s empire, a venture that could have far-reaching consequences. A conspiracy is brewing, threatening to expose secrets and destroy everything Rachel holds dear. Caught between her loyalty to Jasper, her reawakened feelings for Kingsly, and the looming threat of unknown enemies, Rachel must make impossible choices. Will she sacrifice her own future to protect the ones she loves? Or will she become another casualty in Kingsly's ruthless game?

Frudi Rivera, the determined heir to the Rivera mafia empire, challenges the status quo by seeking to lead her family's organization in a male-dominated world. Her father, Francisco "Cisco" Rivera, assigns her to spy on the rival Martinez family, where she meets Dylan Martinez, the charismatic and rebellious son of Tristan Martinez. Despite their families' animosity, Frudi and Dylan embark on a passionate love affair, but their loyalty is tested when Frudi chooses duty over heart. As Frudi delves deeper into the rivalry between their families, she uncovers shocking secrets, including her mother's true identity as the leader of the Hermosa Lorena family, the source of the longstanding feud. Dylan, struggling with his own identity and responsibilities, discovers Tristan Martinez is his uncle, not his father. Torn between loyalty and love, Dylan must navigate his feelings for Frudi and his family's expectations. As tensions escalate, Frudi faces challenges from rival families, internal power struggles, and heartbreak. Dylan must confront his family's secrets and the truth about his own identity.

Blurb: Freya Kael has spent her life on the edges of the Whiteclaw Pack, orphaned and outsider with no claim to a name or power. Her life has been one of survival, with no family, friends, or purpose. That changes the day she learns her fated mate is none other than Finnick Logan the strong and feared Alpha of the Whiteclaw Pack. Freya’s heart swells with hope, but her world shatters when Finnick openly rejects her, calling her weak and unworthy of his name. Devastated and cast aside, Freya is forced into hiding. But Freya soon finds that her fate has much more in store. Alone and fragile, she finds she holds a secret power, one linked to a famous werewolf family long thought dead. This power could tip the balance of the werewolf world. With rival packs seeking her out and her powers getting stronger, Freya must decide whether to rise to this calling or let her hate for Finnick consume her. As secrets unravel, Finnick finds himself pulled back to Freya, haunted by his past choices and family betrayals. But with a rival pack threatening their survival and an old enemy reawakening, they may have to join despite the pain between them. Can Freya forgive the mate who destroyed her, and can Finnick redeem himself before he loses everything including Freya?

In a world of constant competition, one man aims for the top. In this new genre VRMMORPG, he plans on becoming the strongest at all costs. The classes, the races, the starting zones, everything is a mystery in 'New Eden'. This game is coming out without a shred of details. The only thing that was promoted was the freedom of skill choosing. Our protagonist Alexander, gamer tag Astaroth, has always dreamt of becoming an E-Sports athlete. His parents supported his dream, but they are no longer of this world. He fully intends on making it in this new game, if not for him, then at least to honor their memory. With no idea how he wants to play his character, Alexander chooses the most mysterious starting race. Will this be his road to success or his downfall? The game assistant certainly thought the latter. "Do as you wish, young adventurer. I only wish to add this. Do not come back with complaints when you realize you have made the wrong choice," the elf said, looking at him with clear hatred. "We will see about that," Alexander flatly replied. "I love challenges," he added. "Very well!" the elf harrumphed. "Have the adventure of your lifetime, as short as it will last," he sarcastically added. Ahead of him lies an uncertain path, filled with trials and hardships. But one thing is clear in his eyes. He will become the strongest player in the game, even if he must step over mountains of corpses to do so. Over are his days of working hard for nothing, it's make or break now! I now have a discord where you can talk with other readers and me. There are also channels to discuss new weapons; characters; classes; or monsters that you might want to design and see incorporated in the story. I will always give credit to the person that created said thing, rest assured. The link is https://discord.gg/68kPqbSFrN

Welcome to the strange world of rules. This is a battle of blood and fire, a test of wisdom and courage. The power of words is irresistible, and the eerie rules cannot be violated. In a seemingly unsolvable situation, find the only correct solution, break through the shackles and seek vitality.

It was supposed to be another normal dnd session but in the next moment I felt my whole body pulled into the desktop and into the fantasy world. But not in the city my character was in but an uknown city geared with basic equipment and lost without nowhere to go, A wolf!? I crossed my arm to guard [rolling hit with advantage..{1,1} Fail the wolf missed his bite and stumbled on its feet, feeling threatened by your existence and immaculate way of you dodging it ran away in fear] Reading the floating bar I screamed internally "You have gotten to be kidding me!"

Um mundo que se encontra destinado à destruição, onde as pessoas lutarão por sua sobrevivência em uma década, é o cenário no qual se insere o grande Nakura Gisa. Determinado a evitar o colapso da humanidade, ele enfrenta uma entidade do além que trata os indivíduos como meras peças de um jogo de xadrez.

She was the sole daughter of the leader of the Fox clan. After her mother’s death, she had been brought by with utmost care by her father and two brothers. Due to their overprotective nature, she had led a carefree life. Unknown to the harshness of the outside world, she thought life was a fairy tale. But following an unexpected accident, everything had changed. She found herself married to the cold Duke. As if life wasn’t chaotic enough, she had to leave her family due to a prophecy. He was the heir to the snake clan. Being the eldest among his siblings, he had to shoulder the responsibility as the heir of his household. Abused by his father, he wished to escape from this nightmare. When fate gave him a chance, he readily accepted it. Being married to her was like a dream come true. He just wished he never woke up from this dream. *************************************************** When the worlds of two opposite souls collide, an enticing connection is formed between them. Will they realise their true feelings or let their past come between them? **The book cover doesn’t belong to me.** **The book is under major editing and will be resumed soon.**

In the tides of struggle and power, who can reach the ultimate? In a world of factions and species, who can attain power? In a land whose past is obscured by the naivety of the present, who can uncover the hidden? Karl lives in a world of species and evolution, his path thrust upon him without his consent. Cannons, rifles, shard armor, legions, knight cities, and hive cities. Injections, grace, blood, evil, and ruinous gods... The world has forgotten a soul. A soul whose coming is unpredictable but sure like the mist. Karl has awoken, and what path will he leave behind? Would it be the same?... Like before? This is the story of the "Son of the fallen empire" or is it the living error? Or perhaps...The reaper!

Iwase is a lonely and slightly cynical college student who feels invisible to girls. His life passes between video games, anime and "virtual girlfriends", until an unexpected encounter puts him in the path of a girl with dazzling beauty and explosive character. An accidental collision, an accusation of being a pervert, and an unexpected rivalry in the classroom will begin a romantic comedy full of misunderstandings, awkward situations, and unexpected sparks. Can Iwase overcome his bad first impression and win the heart of the silver-haired girl? Or will your college life continue to be an endless cycle of loneliness and frustration?

Long-distance relationships never work for her since she is the clingy sort, spoilt, and enjoys her lover's undivided attention. Additionally, she tends to be flirtatious, although her intentions have never been honest. She has a way of intriguing people and then leaving them once they develop stronger feelings for her. Since she travels a lot for her job as an air hostess, most of her past relationships find it difficult to be apart from her. That all changed when she encountered someone who was just as formidable. The most ignorant woman on earth, yet the most passionate lover. She's determined to make things work this time. Regardless of the distance, that woman belongs to her.

Ivy Reed, the world’s top assassin, is betrayed and killed—only to awaken in a magical realm as the Duke’s powerless daughter. Now engaged to the king’s mysterious, ruthless younger brother, the Seventh Prince, Ivy secretly resumes her deadly work while hiding her identity. Will she manage to live her double life as an assassin and princess, read more to find out

Have you ever wondered about unpredictable life? One minute everything is so good and then suddenly the next minute everything just turns around… Anya Owen faced such times thrice in her life due to one person. Twice she survived and started leading a happy life with her darling son. But could she survive the jeopardy he was going to cause again in her life? Alvin Matthews, the most mysterious man in the city. Nobody knows where he is, what is up to, or what he does. Some even doubt if he is alive or dead. Could he stop himself from falling for the little feisty woman? Well, he never stops himself. But he doubted if he would get killed by the stone-hearted woman before he could soften her heart. ~~~ Excerpt: Alvin watched Anya politely speaking with the butler. He leaned back on the armchair and crossed his legs, intently watching the soft smiles appearing on the delicate face. “Hey, Little Chipmunk, why is your mother good to all but me?” He asked shifting his eyes on the little man who was crossing his little legs playing a video game on his mobile. A sly smirk appeared on Zane’s face. He carelessly threw his words, “That’s what you deserve, Chipmunk Monster.” Alvin: “...” Alvin has to rack his brain to appease Little Monster... Correction, Little Master and his Devil… The second Correction, his Queen. ~~~ This is an original story. Thank you ^_^ for giving it a try. DISCORD: Munchkin_2#7368 Story DISCORD: https://discord.gg/QhhXXWq Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/munchkin_2 Instagram: auth_munchkin Linktree: https://linktr.ee/munchkin

Being one of the few hunters at the top, the S-ranked Marksman Hunter "Ace" had it all. A strong sense of combat, wealth, fame, and a bright future ahead of him. Yet, despite it all, he felt nothing at all to his feats. He was just content with his life, not wanting anything else. Having risen to unimaginable heights through battling many gates over the years, his glory was renowned throughout the world and was said to be one of the few hunters that would pave the path to a brighter future for their generation. Yet, that was all thrown out of the window. Almost a decade after The Great Awakening which shook the entirety of Terra, the Hunter "Ace" stood before many people as he announced something that no one could've ever imagined. "Today, I will be announcing my retirement." Yes. That day marked the end of one Hunter's journey. Though, it was not out of his own free will. [ Hunter "Jace"—class change will now begin. ] It was all because of a fateful notification he had received. [ You are now classified as a Synergist. ] ——————————————————— Official Discord Server: https://discord.gg/FdH8CET I do not own the cover art. Lettering: Hesreth

PROMOTION Awareness has brought peace to very few people from the very beginning of existence. In the first moment of awareness, a pure fear comes with it. That fear means crossing a threshold. The first moment you feel fear, you think it will last forever, a second ago you believed that your life was meaningless, while fear makes you miss that meaninglessness. You want your meaningless life back. Because having meaning in your life creates a goal, and it's a long narrow scary road to that goal... Nobody wants to walk on that road, that is, after seeing the road, they don't. From the first moment of my existence, I had a huge void inside me. I always knew something was wrong. Everything was as it should be, but there was a gap that bothered me. It's a void that I ignore. I ignored that void so much that I forgot it even existed. I couldn't deal with the thought of not being like the others. I couldn't deal with the shame and fear inside me. The thought that nothing would ever be the same made me turn my back on the emptiness inside me. I turned my back and closed my ears and eyes. I played the role that was written for me, without even realizing it. Until that day... I couldn't play that role anymore. I see the road, I'm afraid. It's weird that it's the first thing I feel, but what's more real than fear? now it's time to do something crazy. It's time to cross that threshold. It's time to be free and set all slaves free. "Only those who kill God are free. Because freedom comes only when you kill God."

In the dark side of A'en Esari, a world tidally locked to its sun, treachery is the coin of the realm. After the withering wars, the emperor undying has proclaimed his dominions, the one true empire, and rules in Khandor alongside his ephors. Yvain the younger, landless knight of the realm, awakens after a long slumber to discover that his spawn is dead. Consumed by regret, he sets off in vengeance. When he and Dyani meet in a ball at Ona Serin and submit to a night of pleasure, they soon uncover that the other is tied to the secrets they are after. Sired and raised in the Mortal Pavilion, Dyani serves as scholar and scribe, and spends her days cataloging the events that others will come to call history. Chancing upon a blood vial hidden in a rare book, she becomes privy to a secret that will not only make her an enemy of the realm but will have the most powerful vampires baying for her blood. Esvele Solarin, third princess of the Solarin kingdom of the light realm, is sent to the other side of the continent in place of her sister as a tribute to the emperor. Unsure of her purpose and trying to make a home among bloodsucking strangers, she finds a friend in Isran, a vampire whose charismatic guise blinds her to the evil underneath. As she falls deeper into his web, she realizes that there are worse things than vampires in the dark realm. In a world rife with conspiracies, terrors, and vampires that will exceed any limit to keep their power. The fate of Lunar dominions will rest on the decisions of the trio, to either stand against the powers that be or collapse under the weight of their desires.

"I Beta Lewis Reject you, Omega Aurora as My Mate," Lewis said looking at her eyes. Knowing she had no choice but to break the bond, Aurora said: "I, Aurora Cole accept the rejection," Mate were assigned by the moon goddess a divine entity all werewolves serve. Their fate were written by her and after every bond break a divine punishment is seve. Aurora a lowly Omega got a cold rejection from her mate who turned to be the beta of Moonlight pack Lewis Jade. Omega were at the bottom of the food chain and are usually bullied and oppressed by the rest in the pack. After the rejection, she fled her pack to the human world, but unknown to her fate have a different story for her. She got her second chance mate as Lucas King, the next in line of Alpha. Will Aurora who is tired of being bullied and uninterested in the wolf pack anymore accept Lucas who is also the underground Don?

At 20, Lyra, a werewitch left by her group, fears the Mate Auction near her 21st birthday. Just when hope fades, she meets Kael Rylan, the hard-to-read Alpha of the Nightshade pack, forging a tie that breaks fate. But when Lyra is taken and put in a harsh fight for power by the keen Varda, she finds out her magic is much stronger than she thought. Now, she must deal with tricks, start a fight back, and face the dark that wants to eat her world. Will Lyra use her skills and take back her fate? Jump into this gripping tale where love, risk, and magic mix, and every move could break her fate.