You Were Late By Two Steps

In one swift motion, he caught her by the neck, his grip unyielding. Lara snarled and thrashed, but Killian’s strength was overwhelming. “You foolish, useless wolf,” Killian growled, his voice dripping with disdain. “You think you can defy me and live?” With a cruel smile, he threw Lara against a nearby tree, the impact shaking the ground beneath us. Pain tore through me as I felt every blow she endured. Lara tried to stand, but Killian’s foot pressed down on her, pinning her to the ground. “You’ll learn your place,” he hissed. “Both of you.” My body began to shift again, the pain unbearable as Lara was forced back, and I returned to my human form. Lying on the ground, broken and bleeding, I looked up at him with all the hatred I could muster. “I hate you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. Killian’s expression didn’t change. And then, darkness consumed me.

Join Ryan on his extraordinary journey to ascend to Godhood as he travels across multiple worlds, each filled with unique challenges and limitless opportunities for growth: Limitless: Unlock the full potential of the brain with NZT drugs. Resident Evil: Push human limits with virus enhancements that grant superhuman strength, agility, and regeneration. Hunter x Hunter: Master the art of Nen, developing a powerful and unique ability. One Piece: Become a legend by mastering Haki, swordsmanship, and the powers of a Devil Fruit. Fairy Tail: Wield Light Dragon Slayer magic and evolve into a powerful dragon, rivaling the Acnologia. Naruto: Master a vast network of bloodline abilities, ascending to the level of an Otsutsuki. Bleach: Harness the powers of both Soul Reaper and Hollow, breaking all limits with Hōgyoku. Lord of Mysteries: Embark on the Hunter pathway and ascend to divinity as a Red Priest God. Warhammer 40,000: Conquer the immaterium and rise as a new Chaos God. Witness Ryan's epic rise as he masters unimaginable abilities, confronts gods and monsters, and reshapes entire worlds on his path to absolute divinity. ___________________________ "I will be posting this story on RoyalRoad.com"

Welcome to The Last Step – A Tale of Fate, Power, and the Unforgiven. In a world where magic defines one's worth, three souls walk a path toward an uncertain destiny—each bearing a power that can shape the fate of nations. Lucas, the God’s Chosen Sorcerer, wields divine magic that bends reality itself, blessed by forces beyond mortal comprehension. A shining beacon of hope—or a harbinger of destruction—his path is riddled with expectations he never asked for. Celia, the Queen of Curses, commands a power feared by even the strongest mages. She carries the weight of a past filled with whispers and condemnation, but where others see a curse, she sees the strength to carve her own future. Kaiser, the Unwanted Void, stands apart. Neither blessed nor cursed, he is the anomaly that should not exist. In a world that measures worth by magic, he is a shadow in the light—yet, the abyss within him holds something far greater than mere sorcery. Together, they are bound by fate yet divided by their own battles. As war brews and forgotten gods stir, the lines between hero and villain blur. In the end, their choices will decide more than just their own lives—they will determine the very foundation of their world. This is their journey. This is their Last Step.

Dwayne saved a cat. He did it out of love, not knowing that the cat is the thousand-year-old god of love. The god was touched by his actions and granted him the power to see the fated strings. He also gave Dwayne a mission to rekindle love in the hearts of humans. In other words, he has to play as a matchmaker! Dwayne vehemently refused! But the god of love promised to fulfill his wish. And he was tempted. For his comatose mother, Dwayne agreed to do the missions. Until one day… [Ding! A new mission was issued to the host!] Dwayne: What is it? [Mission: Your fated partner has arrived. Please become lovers with him.] Dwayne: My partner? Wait, who? Let me see! Is she a beauty? ... Huh? ‘Him’? What do you mean, ‘him’? [Your fated partner is a male.] Dwayne: llkhrwfbhsfdyw!!!! [This will be your last mission. When completed, the god of love will fulfill your wish.] Dwayne: …… Who is he? [Partner information: Raven McGrden, the CEO of Vermillion Garden Corporation. The co-founder of Scarlet Garden, a famous underground syndicate. The illegitimate son of one of the famous richest families in the world who paved his way to success by plotting the deaths of all his family members in gruesome ways.] Dwayne: …. Can I request a fated partner change?

Eclipsed By You is a romantic urban novel that follows the journey of Ruth Cardwell, a beautiful, wise, and innocent young woman from a wealthy family. Despite her charm and quiet demeanor, Ruth finds herself entangled in a world of danger, deception, and unexpected love. Her life takes a turn when she crosses paths with Mark, a charismatic and intelligent FBI agent. Their relationship starts off rocky—Mark is charming yet annoyingly witty, while Ruth, despite her soft nature, is not easily swayed by his flirtations. However, as circumstances force them together, their connection deepens into an intense romance filled with passion, humor, and thrilling twists. Surrounded by a cast of intriguing characters—her bold and stylish elder sister Saris, the cunning and secretive Mr. Phis, the strategic and romantic Luke, the mischievous playboy Jake, and the wise and reserved Ryan—Ruth navigates a web of high society, mafia secrets, and dangerous adversaries. As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed, betrayals shake their world, and love is tested against power and crime. But through it all, Ruth and Mark’s love story shines, leading to a heartfelt and satisfying happily ever after—sealed with marriage and a promise of forever.

a angel wearing a Greek drama mask

In Terra's enchanting and mysterious world, Alpha has never experienced the simple joys that many take for granted - happiness, companionship, freedom, or love. Instead, his existence has been marred by regret, confinement, and struggle. After unwillingly confronting a nearly omnipotent entity against his will, as well as being treated as a mere plaything, he is unexpectedly granted an opportunity to escape the grim fate that awaited him at the end of his first life. However, this new lease on life comes with a price: Alpha must embark on a journey to an unknown era in the distant past, a time when some of the mightiest mortals and beings roamed the planet. His mission? To gather the strongest mortals in a vain attempt to challenge the Demon King Lucifero, who is in his infancy stages of power. To complicate matters even more, in his final moments of life, Demon King Lucifero bound both of them together by fate itself, ensuring that wherever Alpha goes, they are inevitably destined to meet and clash. With fate dictating his path, Alpha must navigate a game far beyond his understanding, slowly unraveling its intricacies as he explores the unknown world. With nothing holding him back, Alpha will struggle to discover the essence of humanity while preparing for a three-sided conflict older than the gods themselves that threatens to alter the fabric of existence itself. Follow Alpha as he earns his title as "Fate Breaker."

when a uniquelly trouble maker girl who want to live her life normal like others get involved into a magic missions unknowingly by her destiny , and she was unknown about her missions and what future holds for her. everything is unexpected in her life even destined future # her love how her love chemistry happend. will she able to protect world? she will be able or not to live likr normals what happen in her life by her destiny. what she meant to be? she is in a story which end is not defined. what her future hold for her?

Seven years ago, due to a misunderstanding ,Cate despaired and went abroad. Seven years later ,an accident brought her back and she designed a reunion. ''Jael Sweeny, I want to give birth to a monkey for you!" She seized every opportunity regardless of occasion,place,or time,just to have a child. Originally just a transaction with no love or hate involved ,she found herself deeply involved again. Past events,new loves,and old loves ,the secrets buried by time will once again cause waves. ''Jael Sweeny, I lost again!"The truth surfaced ,but Cate didn't know where to go. she prepared to escape with her bag,but was held in someone's arms. ''You said you wanted to give birth to child for me,and now you want to leave after provoking me?" If you want to escape ,then give birth to another son for me!"

Irene had such beautiful hair, that fit her bold eyed stare. (Parents are strongly cautioned when showing this work to any Minor or person who is still susceptible to certain pieces of content or work. .WWYI? contains a clear depiction of suicide, grief, and suggestive bits. death may also be depiction)

Living his entire life dedicated to the Laurels of Rest was actually quite fruitful for Terrance. Being born and raised within the cult, following their ideals of work and worship led him to being not only favored by but even receiving a blessing from their patron demigod of slothful indulgence. But that was before the entire cult, himself included, was massacred by a supposed "hero"! Terrance's final moments were those filled with regret and longing, until his final moments were stripped away from him. Faced with his patron demi-god, and offered a late entry spot as their emissary in a struggle for influence against six opposing forces on a new world, what other choice did our cultist have except to jump at the opportunity! After all, how do you rest on your laurels without earning them first? Reborn in a new body, it's gonna take every ounce of work ethic ever drilled into Terrance to overcome the decade long gap his contemporaries have over him. What to Expect - Hardworking (Ex)Cultist Protagonist - Slowburn Magic Progression - Slice-of-Life Moments - Intricate Magic System - Atypical Governmental Structure - Multiple Characters and occasional Other Perspectives - Weak (ish) to Strong (kinda) - Also on other plats

"You don't belong here." "Perhaps to you I don't but I'm not going anywhere," I replied unwilling to let him scare me. A deep chuckle left his throat as he stepped closer, "I can do terrible things to you-" Damian, and his brothers, were a mysterious sort and every moment with them, I was begging for pleasure. ~~~ When Ivy Thorne got accepted to one of the best Universities for Agriculture, she refused to miss the opportunity. The only problem she never expected was the four men who lived in her father's home would gradually turn her world upside down. Dangerous things don't live just in the wild. Often, they lurked closer to home and if she wasn't careful, she would find herself the center of their hunger. Their own little red riding hood. This story is rated 18+ for explicit language and sexual content. And Then There Were Four is created by Lillith Carrie, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

The room was quiet, except for the faint sound of the ceiling fan whirring above us. Liya's phone screen dimmed, casting the room into near darkness. Sana had already fallen asleep, her soft breathing rhythmic and steady. I turned onto my side, hugging my blanket closer. The excitement of the night still lingered in my chest, but so did something else, a strange unease. It wasn't like I didn't trust my friend's instincts, but I couldn't understand why they felt something was off about Arun. He had been nothing but kind tonight. The way he and his friends treated us, guiding us around the party, buying us dinner, it didn't seem like the actions of someone untrustworthy. And yet… Why did I feel this lingering heaviness in my chest?

Warning! Contains Mature Content. “W—W—what are you doing?” I breathed out, feeling his hand caress my shoulders, down to my breast. “Shhhhh, I know you want this—I know you want me,” He whispered into my ears, warmth spreading across my thighs. ———— Lyra lived a perfect life until she met her step father’s brother. Was she supposed to feel this way for him? Was she supposed to want him deep inside of her? Was she?….

At Crestwood High, Maya has it all: beauty, popularity, and the perfect boyfriend—or so she thought. When a public betrayal shatters her world, Maya finds herself in desperate need of a distraction. Enter Eddie, the quiet, enigmatic bookworm who’s content to blend into the background. What starts as a lighthearted challenge to “tame” the nerd spirals into an unexpected journey of self-discovery. Forced to partner up on a school project, Maya and Eddie clash, connect, and challenge each other in ways they never imagined. Behind Eddie’s sharp wit and guarded exterior lies a secret life that threatens to upend everything Maya thought she knew about him—and herself. As jealousy, secrets, and old flames ignite a battle of hearts, Maya must decide: is taming the nerd really worth it, or is Eddie the one taming her? 10 Steps to Tame the Nerd is a heartfelt enemies-to-lovers story about self-worth, redemption, and the unexpected power of love to change everything.

"Don't dare lay a finger on her. I'll be her volunteer mate," a deep voice boomed across the fighting arena. "I'll be her volunteer mate too," another deep voice followed. "Then she's ours!" the two men declared in unison, their voices merging into one resolute claim that echoed across the arena. --- Lyra Blackthorn. The one. The only. The only she-wolf warrior of the Moonveil Groove. The queen. Who can be hated by her own pack, Moonveil Grove, and still fight and defend them in the bloodstained arenas where survival is the only law? And not just that—a betrayed daughter of a family who saw her as nothing but a burden. As if that was not enough, her fated mate—her only hope—rejected her! Now, she’s being ridiculed and threatened with sacrifice for a title—the most powerful of the fifteen packs of Nyxaria. Her blood is needed; only a mate—or a chosen mate, a bond forged by will not fate—could save her. But… She had died once. She wouldn't die twice. She had been reborn—into the same family, the same pack, destined to repeat her tragic fate. Until now. This time, something was different. On the night of her sacrifice, the two Lycan shifter princes of Shadowfang Pack stepped forward and made an impossible claim—they wanted to be her chosen mates. What happened when Lyra found out that the two Lycan princes were actually her fated mates? What happens when Lyra discovers the two Lycan princes who claimed her are also the fated mates she rejected in her past life? What happens when Lyra learns the princes' impossible claim binds her to them in ways she never imagined?”

A guy who wanted lead a peaceful life by living an ordinary life gets taken into chaos by his suitor who was longing for him for his whole youth. A love story between two people who were trying to protect what they had the most and that is the only common thing between them.

“I'd give you my soul, if that's what you want.” Eleven. Silver locks. Amethyst eyes. Shiny skin. Blood sweeter than wine. Most sought after 'good' in the Kingdom. She was everything a man would need, and also everything a man would kill to have. Whoever touched Eleven's hair would be granted good things. Whoever plucked her eyes out would get gems richer than the kingdom's currency. Whoever scrapped her skin would be getting a warm coat. Whoever tasted her blood would be granted immortality. She was a Goddess. Goddess of Life. * “I'd burn the fucking world for you, if that's what you want.” Zeiss. A rare man. Has the power of invisibility. The power to turn anything into flames. The power to end a person's life with just thoughts. The power of all wicked things a person wouldn't wish to have. The same world he promised to give her, the same world he would burn to the ground, if she wished for it. He was a God. The God of Death. When Zeiss meets the sought after Goddess of Life. He is reminded everything about his mother. Her silver locks and her eyes that shone brighter than gems and diamonds. Eleven, a woman who spoke to him like no other. A woman who made him believe he had a soul in him after he had thought he had none left. A woman who could bring him life and also be his damnation. The first and only woman he was loved by and ever loved.

For years, Ran Yuan was alone—trapped in a secret realm with no way out. Then, one day, he was finally discovered and freed. But freedom came at a price. His rescuer was no ordinary cultivator but a powerful and possessive elder from a hidden sect—unyielding in his decision that Ran Yuan would become his disciple. Thrust into a world he barely remembered, he is forced to navigate its dangers and unravel long-buried secrets, as he ascends on the path of cultivation.

Juliet and martins were only trying for the first time and they were all they knew “each other “ in the recovery home they had the best time more that anyone else there but martins got out first and Juliet was left with no other option but to stay put not until Jenny came into the picture is worth it or she wasn’t even suppose to be there well martins wished he met her early ….

In an empire veiled by secrets and ancient rites, Nox, a dancer whose movements speak of forgotten realms, catches the eye of the Emperor, Lumen. With every step, Nox’s dance stirs something buried deep within Lumen—a memory long lost, a connection he cannot place. As their forbidden bond deepens, Nox begins to unravel a truth that shatters everything.

Secretly Captivated was a somewhat annoyingly low-profile Internet CV (Character Voice). In all of his life, he had only dubbed in two radio dramas, yet he stably sat on his throne of the number one CV in the Internet dubbing circle. He was romantic, gorgeous, charming, and touching. When he spoke, you would think that he was looking at you with a somewhat smiling expression in his eyes that made you hold your breath. Would you fall in love with a person because of his voice, regardless of his appearance, age, or family background? Would you fall in love with this person without the slightest hesitation solely because of his voice? If you asked Mo Lan questions like these, she would definitely say she would while nodding her head without the slightest hesitation. Mo Lan believed that the first time she met Gu Yemi was on the high-speed railway that was driving towards Hangzhou when she had kindly reminded him that the railway train already reached the station. However, the first time Gu Yemi met her was actually very late at night in a train on Line 2 of the Nanjing Subway. Afterward, the Internet dubber CV Secretly Captivated who had already mysteriously hidden away for three years announced that he would begin acting in new projects and became active in the Internet dubbing circle again. And after that, he announced that henceforth, he would withdraw from the circle again. Actually, the fact that Gu Yemi only briefly retired in order to find that girl who made a smiling expression from the corners of her eyes to the tips of her eyebrows when talking about him was probably not even known by Mo Lan. Afterward, he told her that in the second half of his life, he only wanted to be captivated by her. With these sincere words, he offered to give me his only and eternal life in the Internet dubbing circle.

ryo story of a regressor who wants revenge and survive in his second life