Theo Gets His Foot Caught In The Bear Trap

In a futuristic world where the Republic and the Empire are locked in a struggle for dominance, Bjorn Bartheron, a brilliant and enigmatic Senior Tactical Admiral, discovers his hidden imperial lineage after a mysterious encounter with the AI system "Theos". As the rightful heir to the Valtheron dynasty, Bjorn navigates both political intrigue and intergalactic warfare, commanding the Republic's largest and most advanced ship, "Underworld". With his closest ally Rudious McLain and a network of loyal officers, Bjorn strategically outmaneuvers his enemies, including the ambitious James Von Bourbon, who seeks to control the Empire for himself. As the lines between ally and enemy blur, Bjorn must harness his newfound power and uncover the secrets of his past to shape the future of humanity.

Maria Fernandez's world is shattered when her parents, desperate and drowning in debt, sell her into a contract marriage to Bruno Alfonzo, the ruthless heir of a notorious Mafia and drug lord family. Maria despises Bruno from the moment she meets him—his cold demeanor and dangerous reputation are enough to make her blood boil. She vows never to fall for a man as heartless as him. But as she navigates this dark new world of power, wealth, and violence, Maria begins to see a different side of Bruno—the intense protector hidden behind the mask of a merciless crime lord. Torn between her hatred and an undeniable attraction, Maria struggles with her feelings, even as secrets from both their pasts emerge, threatening to destroy everything. In this world, love could either be her salvation or her downfall. Will Maria fight her growing feelings, or will she surrender to the passion that binds them in ways she never imagined? Prepare for a thrilling rollercoaster of emotions in a world where love and danger are two sides of the same coin.

It is to be known, when a girl turns sixteen-: She is no more a girl! And, it is to be added, a man's greatest charm, is his rich earns and wit of standing out!! ***** ‘To, Miss Victoria Lancaster… My pen has sung, my writing has spoken… and I still remain a stranger! Or am I? My apologies for the wait, I stood by the riverside in Welsh lands, wondering why an imposter would impersonate my writings to you… Forgive me for calling him the word—I stand hurt, and hurt even more by this! From Prince Harry McVourse… with Love.' ***** Victoria Lancaster, fourth of the six Lancaster siblings, stands in the predicament of societal wants and her lone desire for love. Being introduced to society for the first time, and as the first daughter of her family to be introduced, she needs a successful first season. And a successful season for a lady means, securing a suitor and a husband! Concurrently, Harry McVourse, standing as Knight, seeks the same accomplishments as Victoria, but his situation is quite melodramatic! His mother, the third of King Charles' five wives—though each was married one after the other and divorced except for the last—seeks to have her two sons marry swiftly and bless her with a grandson. A grandson is not her will but a want from King Charles, demanded of his sons. This, indeed, is an all-queens' contest to see whose son shall deliver a grandson first. Knight, despite understanding the depth and urgency of the matter, knows that the partner must be his. An uncareful selection would lead to years of despair and pain! As of that matter, he depicts societal balls and celebrations as a confined showcase of hypocrisy and pretense. He needs see the eligible spinsters beyond societal confines, and that’s what leads him to stand as a night guard in the Lancasters' new London mansion. A coincidence? Therefore, with Victoria Lancaster being the definite spinster Knight becomes much engaged with, he gradually develops a desire for the girl. However, despite this desire, he is opposed by many admirers, especially his brother, Prince Edward McVourse, whose efforts cannot be overlooked, in addition to his half-brother, Prince William McVourse, a lad whose in future leaves Knight wrathful due to a certain impotent depiction. As a result, he delights in the idea of writing to Lady Lancaster every morning. An anonymous write! His intention being; to the least, stand out from the men in pursuit. However, without Knight’s knowledge, Victoria is slowly enjoying the curves and words in those writings. Each night, she dreads time to pass quickly, anticipating another writing to be brought to her. She becomes intrigued until she desires to know the man behind the writing. Additionally, her mother pressures her to stand firm on the choice of the man she is to choose—Lord Edward, Knight’s elder brother, who is said to possess two hundred thousand a year. The letters draw Victoria and Knight closer, but their budding connection faces significant challenges. Knight must navigate the rivalry with his brothers, particularly Edward and William, both competing for Victoria's hand, in addition to formally acquainting himself with the ladyship. Victoria, on the other hand, struggles to reconcile her growing feelings for the unknown writer with her mother's expectations and the societal norms of the time. What happens next? "In His Writing" is a novel set in the Victorian era, embracing themes of romance, mystery, and conflict, in addition to societal conflicts, identity, and desires. (DAILY UPDATES A WEEK.) I HOPE Y'ALL SHALL ENJOY. LIKE, COMMENT.

Lin Beifan traveled through the world composed of countless urban web articles and became a villain. He has a wishing system and can make a wish every day. With the ability of the system and his own rude operations, he broke all the protagonists, and the world line was chaotic. So, Tiandao repeated the plot and cursed Lin Beifan. For whatever wish he made, the enemy would get double! Lin Beifan chuckled: “That’s it?” “I make a wish to keep my body temperature at 36.8 degrees!” The first protagonist’s brain burned to 73.6 degrees, died! “I make a wish to sleep 12 hours a day!” The 2nd protagonist becomes a vegetative person, die! “I make a wish that I will be crushed to death by a 120-pound beauty!” The third protagonist was crushed into a piece of paper by a 240-pound fat girl, pawn! Just like that, the plot is messed up again! For Access To Upto 100 Chapters Before Anyone Else, Visit — Patreon.com/itsyourstorypage

The story follows Chrono, the main protagonist who was once an accomplished physics professor. He is reborn into a world of fantasy that does not conform to the same principles as earth. The journey start from his infant stage showing various decisions he makes that may be influenced by his previous knowledge

~Excerpt~ "Excuse me, Mrs Blackwood." He said to me as we stepped out of the courtroom. My feet halted on the spot, my face reddening with so much rage I tried to conceal it to no avail. The sound of the word Mrs sounded sour in my ears, especially having him call me that. Not that I was not at the age I should have gotten married, but because I had betrayed my boyfriend by marrying another man. "I am your husband now, at least I deserve a kiss from my newly wedded wife. That is the norm after couples get married, right?" Now what was he saying? He must be totally insane! It felt as if my fist cracked because of how much it clenched. Wasn't it enough he made me betray my boyfriend? He is not even ashamed of his greediness. Not even a bit of it showed on his face! "I've given you what you want, Liam Blackwood; a signature of my marriage to you. Now if you know what's good for you, it's left for you to give me what I want as we agreed." "I never said I was not going to keep to our agreement. Agreement is an agreement!" He exclaimed, chuckling as if I had said something amusing. "However..." He said and paused in a way that made me feel my heart also paused and started beating again, racing with anticipation when he began stepping closer to me. I instinctively moved backward, trying to create some distance between us, but he kept advancing, his eyes locked on mine with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat. He continued until I felt my back hit on his godforsaken car. I could feel his red blood eyes bore into mine and his hands trapping me against his car as if caging a cat that fought to escape. "It seems you have forgotten the meaning of marriage, my Little Bunny. Maybe I have to remind you." I could see that playful smile return on his lips, it irked me so much that the need to smash it off his face irked my hands. He then leaned in closer, his breath whispering against my ear. "Marriage means a legally recognized union between two individuals," His voice was barely audible, but his words resonated deeply into my ears as he began to explain what he knew as marriage. "characterized by emotional commitment, legal responsibility, and social recognition, often involving mutual respect, trust, and a...deep emotional connection." The way he stressed the last words made my heart skip remembering the state of the contract. Was the deep emotional connection going to happen between us? This was killing me already. The next I saw was his hands trailing down the angles of my neck, going towards my cheeks and... "Can't we...do this...some other time? I mean, we cannot just do it here...in front of people." I tried to speak some senses into him, feeling so embarrassed and flushed at the touch of his hands. I didn't know why it made my heart beat so fast again, like it did before. "Yes, we can my darling. We are a couple, after all, so it's nobody's business. No law is against husband and wife kissing in public. It's only a kiss, I didn't ask you for sex here." He returned his hand to my neck again. I couldn't get over the sensational touch that tingled in my stomach. We can't do this now for goodness sake! People are looking! "Now, make me feel the sweet touch of your lips, my Little Bunny." As he finished speaking, his lips brushed against my ears sending a thrill through my entire body. Next, he lowered his face until it was just an inch away from mine. ~~~ I joined the contest "Viral Book Call" with this novel. Please support me. Thank you so much.

Ein was a hitman on hire. A killer, a shadow, a death with insomnia, if you may. He had witnessed countless pairs of eyes dim as the light of life faded, leaving nothing but vile hollowness. Needless to say, the sight of a soul popping out of the dead body was a first. And it wasn't just any soul. It was the dead heir of Byers Holdings, the same guy he killed with his own hands. Turns out the rich boy Adriel had a horribly irritating and loud soul, but worst of it all - impossible to get rid of. Who would have thought that killing on a blue moon night could lead to being haunted?

Ace Salvatore As on the deck of cards, the ace is highest than the king, and so is Ace Salvatore. The ruthless, psychotic, coldest mafia leader. Nobody has ever seen his face, even if someone did, they are no longer alive to say anything. But one day, one of his client's sons can't pay his debt and he offers a little innocent thing to the beast..... Little did he know his whole life was going to change because of her. #Mature content #Submissive Female # Strong language #Abusive behavior #Mafia #Suicide #Secrets #Betrayal #Obsession

Lumi Borealis, a beautiful and lazy polar bear kin girl with snow-white hair and ice-blue eyes. On her twelfth birthday, Lumi discovers that she has been blessed by the Ice Element queen, making her one of the most powerful mages in the kingdom of Iris. Despite her immense magical potential, Lumi’s true passion lies in finding the perfect cozy spot for a nap. Enrolled in the prestigious magic academy in Iris, Lumi must navigate the challenges of school life while making new friends, including the mischievous catkin June, the studious half-dwarf Heath, and the mysterious and androgynous fox kin Kite. Lumi also catches the eye of the beautiful High Elf princess, Cyana Delphine, who quickly becomes her girlfriend and constant source of pampering. As Lumi learns to wield her powerful ice magic and an ancient, enigmatic hammer that has chosen her as its master, she faces the unwanted attention of Erick Noye, a narcissistic hero who desires both her and Cyana. But Lumi, with her lazy and laidback attitude, remains unfazed by the challenges thrown her way, preferring to focus on the simpler joys of life—like napping and enjoying her favorite frostberry tarts.

Blakely Arcas is a socially dense 15-year-old who hates wasting her energy on unnecessary things. "Why make the bed if I will be getting back into it later on?" "Is it really necessary to spend four years with a bunch of loud, obnoxious teens just to get a piece of paper? How about we cut the time in half? Make it two years instead. More time to sleep". When a new VR MMORPG is released, her best friends make her play it. "What do you mean I can be or do whatever I want in the game?! I want.... I want to be a Panda!" *I do not own the cover; please don't sue me. I will take it down, I swear! *

In the span of a single minute, Cho Jae-Hwa, an ex-university student, along with thousands of others, is teleported to a seemingly endless dungeon. With no guidance, she encounters a mysterious young girl who introduces her to the Terminal system—a crucial tool for survival—as well as giving Jae-Hwa a reason to keep fighting. Though the reasons behind their entrapment remain unknown, it becomes clear that their predicament is not the result of magic or disaster, but a deliberate act by humans.

Gray with an enthusiastic and daring spirit, has a secret life that contrasts sharply with his sunny personality: he’s obsessed with a game called "Harem Online." Despite his charming demeanor, he hides his gaming addiction from his family. One evening, while unloading his belongings in his new rented room and deep into a game session, something bizarre happens—Gray is abruptly transported into the very world of his favorite game. Now, instead of dealing with real-world unpacking, he’s navigating through fantastical quests and awkward encounters in a virtual paradise. How does a gaming enthusiast handle being the protagonist of his own game? To uncover you’ll need to dive into the story yourself. Warning:This contains lemon vitamins but still has plots. Prepare for a juicy read! Additional tag #Smut "Feel free to unlock the chapters however you'd like, but by using coins, you're giving me the support I need to keep creating more for you. Thank you.

Have you enter a game and dying to a trap? Did you ever wonder how they're place? Well this time let's explore what's truly trap capable of.

Motivated by Revenge, Distracted by love, which will he choose? Born from a forbidden union, Damian seeks revenge against those who killed his mother, he is obsessed with revenge. so he joins a high ranking pack to get close to the Werewolf hierachy. He meets Kara, who is the pack's promised Alpha female. Kara falls deeply in love with Damian, but their love is hindered by tradition, Kara is traditionally married to Robin, the pack's Alpha. Torn between love and loyalty, will Kara break the laws to be with Damian? Damian must keep his identity secret while he attempts to avenge his mother's death, an identity that is revealed and unleashes the wrath of both Werewolf tribes against him. Will Damian let his love for Kara get in the way of his plan to avenge the death of his mother? or will he turn his back on Kara, his pack and the world at large to finish the mission he has started. Is his Love for Kara stronger than his need for Revenge?

Within this mythological tale, a new god among the Norse, Björnvidr is brought into being from the gods and from the very essence to keep balance in the realm of fire and ice. As Muspelheim and Niflheim start to encroach upon Midgard, Odin and the gods bring Björnvidr into life via a holy ritual. The new god's participation in battle proves he is worthy; thus, he is welcomed in Asgard, a heralding god of hope. But for Björnvidr, this 21st-century man in disguise suffers from dislocation and impersonation complex as he gets used to the new role and powers.

Rose found out that her wealthy athletic, and boyfriend was cheating on her with her own friend. Feeling betrayed and humiliated, she decided to seek revenge by seducing her ex-boyfriend's wealthy father. Initially, her plan was driven by her desire to make her boyfriend suffer and regret dumping and trampling on her, and to prove her worth despite her financial status. However, as she gets closer to the billionaire father, unexpected feelings started to emerge. Would she stick strictly to her revenge plan or open up her heart to accept love in such an impermissible relationship? Would their love survive amidst societal pressure?

Rick a Man in depression is Challenged by his daughter to become more powerful than her within a year on the Worlds first VRMMORPG. Support me and my works at www.Patreon.com/Madjic Artwork done by rennovlsrevenge

"Ah, Sophia," Alexander said, his voice cool but with an edge that hadn’t been there earlier. "I see you’ve met my fiancée." The words hit Sophia like a punch to the gut. Fiancée? What the hell is going on?The woman stepped closer, her heels clicking softly on the marble floor. "So you’re the girl he’s chosen for his little… arrangement," she said, her voice filled with disdain. "How quaint." Sophia’s mind raced, her pulse pounding in her ears. This wasn’t part of the deal. None of this made sense. Why would Alexander be engaged to someone else when he’d just—Alexander’s eyes were unreadable, his face calm. "This is Amelia," he said, gesturing to the woman. "We were engaged long before you ever came into the picture." The room spun, and for a moment, Sophia felt like she might be sick. "Engaged?" she managed to choke out. "Then why… why me?" Sophia Hart had spent the last five years building her life from the ground up. After her father’s sudden death left her family drowning in debt, she had no choice but to work three jobs, sacrificing her dreams of becoming an architect to make sure her mother and younger brother could stay afloat. That’s why, when she walked into the offices of Maddox Global that morning, she was on edge. She wasn’t here for an interview, but for a deal. A deal that would change everything.

I died. That's obvious. But I was reborn. How? Don't ask me. Maybe it was some god. A divine being? Ah- It doesn't matter. My life burned away and now- well I'm stuck here in this black void. This dungeon. Maybe I had lived a pious last life. Laughable as that was. But I was given a second chance. Told to grow my dungeon, to create hulking monstrosities that would destroy the world. In short, I am now a villain. I am the consciousness of the dungeon, the little orb at the end my body. And still I live. A projection of a body is created - a trap - and I am that. I am the one to guide foolish adventurers to their death. My looks are curated. Soft features that entrap the mind. I am the dungeon. I am the projection, I am human, and I am the dungeon. And I will conquer all. Every being will bow before my might. "Before you're cuteness~" Ah- heh- that too... help... I didn't ask to look this cute!

Jawaban tentang diriku berakhir di dimensi ini perlahan mulai terungkap. Jika aku sudah berhasil menyelesaikan semuanya, apakah aku akan kembali? tapi aku tidak ingin meninggalkan dia, si dingin yang bagaikan musim semi.

In a world full of strange and mysterious creatures called “Beasts”, Hajime is apart of the 10% people who unfortunately don’t have a Beast. After countless teasing and bullying about him being beastless, Hajime finally gets the courage to find him his very own Beast all by himself, despite have no type of Beast License to do this. After going into the deep forest, setting up many traps (with no luck), Hajime stumbles into a small wolf, not realizing that this wolf is a beast, and will start his own adventure to become the greatest.

A story that revolves a group of teens that deals with love, anger, happiness and sadness before they enter their 20s.

In a world ravaged by war, humanity has been driven underground into fragile colonies, surviving beneath the earth while mythical creatures reign over the surface. Their last hope lies in the Trap Academy, an institution that trains duel cultivators—warriors who use elemental magic through the blending of their powerful Yin and Yang energies. However, this is no ordinary academy. The path to becoming a hero involves more than just magic: students must engage in intimate, taboo rituals to strengthen their abilities and forge dangerous connections. Milo, a young man chosen by a lottery from his colony, is thrust into this strange and twisted world. Forced to abandon his family and his best friend Zana, a goblinoid girl, Milo enters the academy with dreams of becoming a hero to protect his people. But the reality of the Trap Academy is far more sinister than he could have imagined. After a mysterious indoctrination ritual, Milo and his fellow students fall under the influence of the academy’s headmaster, losing their inhibitions and submitting to a purpose that is not their own. Unbeknownst to them, the academy hides an ancient evil—the Demon Prince of Lust—who thrives on the forbidden acts and dark desires of the students. Feeding on the lust and power they generate, the Demon Prince manipulates the academy for his own dark ambitions, threatening to consume everything in his path. In this dark fantasy smut novel, love and power intertwine in dangerous ways, and Milo must navigate the delicate balance between temptation, power, and survival. With Zana by his side, he will confront the alluring dangers of the academy, uncovering secrets that could change the fate of humanity—or damn them all. Warning: This novel contains explicit content, including graphic sexual scenes, dark themes, and violence. Reader discretion is advised. __________ Also: This is gonna be a very dark type of fantasy, not to mention a smut with poly idealism and no boundaries between the sexes and genders. bending them for the better or worse of the colonies. secrets are everywhere and reason is out of the window, it's just something you'll have to read to see. And if you don't like this novel, don't be a dick about it, just drop it and move on, honestly this is more of a pass some time type of book with mystery, multiple loves, and sometimes gay and straight interests with occasional orgies or sex offs while discovering and experimenting with kinks and other things. there's a reason for everything I'm just honestly not gonna spoil it to way later, so this is a choice type of thing. and or curious on what the fuck is happening. No Offense To Anyone, Group Or Party, this is just something that came to mind, I'm also kinda doing is as part of a fucked up kinda bet or else id be making my zombie evolution novel as my first novel up on this account. but instead I gotta make this or pay my friend $100, and as a broke college student, hell no, I'll make this shit work. Any help, suggestions, or ideas are greatly welcomed. For those who just wanna read this, with no complaints, I love y'all, and keep on being... idk, chill I guess? Thanks. I'll make it hella interesting.

An undead Rabbit, a robot in his head, a guy with vines, a bird girl and a nervous wreck of a centipede? Why do I have to write about them? Huh? I get to be in the story? Uhm... Hey, you. Read Rabbit's Foot. Featuring The best Character ever written in the world: Ra- I mean, This story is pretty 'great'. What do you mean "write a plot summary"? I think I did pretty good. Okay, okay. It's about this guy and he collects hearts. there. Done. Huh? Oh yeah, this book is pretty mediocre, so don't expect much. Buuut Fanservice, right? Wait, was I not supposed to say that? Then tell me that before I say it! Mollia, you frustrate me. What's a good way to get people to read this... Oh, we've got lgbtq+ representation! Yeah. Beat that... Huh? That doesn't automatically make something good? Then... Then why did I write this? Because I had nothing else to do? Fair... I should have done a harem... Rabbit's Foot part 40: Harem Hare. Boom. I'll sell millions. Do harems even sell still? ...You don't know either, do you? I knew you didn't know everything. Ha, in your face... What? I am not- Mollia, I swear if you... Okay, since I'm not allowed to ramble on anymore, I should now mention that I have this thing called a disconnect. Huh? Discord? I don't care how it's spelt! Hang on... Okay, the link is this; https://discord.gg/nW6CfvDe ______________________________________________________________________ (Non Canon Now (yay)) A Chain loving Demon, a Size altering dragon, a Bio weapon with a mimic for a scarf and the Four Horsemen? Huh? I'm not in this part? What, I'm only a cameo appearance!? Oh screw this, I wanna speak to my manager. Huh? I'll get kicked out if I don't do this thing? Fine... Hey you, Reader. It's me, the best character from the last part. I'm sure you're wondering "Rat, why O why aren't you in this part?" Then read Heartbreak Hero first, dummy. But Anyway, the story ain't finished. Not until I deem it is, anyway. This is Rabbit's Foot: Devilish Deals. The one were Panila finally learns to- Huh? That's a spoiler? Are they even gonna read that far? To be fair- Mollia, just let me speak! Fine, fine. Feel free to read, or not. I don't care. At this point it's to stop the madness of- I can't even talk about that? See, look at the witty banter I have with myself. I truly am the next Lenard Divinski. Huh? The guy's a painter? I... I said it wrong? Well whatever one starred in the Matrix movies. I'm the next guy in the Matrix. Well, rat-girl. But hey-ho. Oh yeah, we reached 100 chapters a bit ago... That's it. Hey, can I spoil my entire story in this? Wait I can just do that? Oh hells yeah. Alright, so #### gets with ##### at the end... Did you really censor me? I can't have anything... I'm not just a cameo... I'm more than you. Two Becomes One | One Was Two ___________________________________ [So long awaited update for the series... I'm done with Devilish Deals. Well, this version at least. Much like every good comic book that sinks below expectation after awhile, it's time for a.... wait for it... Reboot (yay). But yeah, Rabbit's foot: Devilish deals is a done deal. Hehe. Well, not exactly done. So basically a Sequel. Because It's pretty obvious a fumbled this fifty or so chapters. So thanks for the support on Heartbreak Hero and hopefully see you at the next book!]

HELLO EVERYONE, THIS IS THE STORY ABOUT THE MC WHO HAS GOLDEN EYE HIS EYES WILL ATTRACT OTHERS AND MAKE THEM FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM HOPE YOU ENJOY IT.....

**Edric Zander*** She had a smell, something so unfamiliar yet felt like home, something that provoked my instinct and made me want to possess her body, mind and soul, a vibrant, intoxicating smell... something out of this world. She captivated my eyes the moment I spotted her. Her mysterious presence was what I noticed first, then… her eyes, her fear, her hands, her curves... Everything was so captivating. The more I looked at her, the more I longed to lure her into my web and trap her. Watch her flicker, trying to fly helplessly, but slowly she would learn that it was too late. She couldn't ever escape me. I will be her home, and she will be mine. ~~ She was in the enemy's kingdom in pure disguise. No one knew that she was a witch. They were supposed to kill each other, a witch and, a vampire could never be anything but enemies or so they say. But fate had other plans. What would he do after he finds out she is the one who he hated all his life? Will he kill like he was supposed to? Or will he never find that fact?

When her fiancé of five years dumps her for another woman, Angella is left betrayed and heartbroken. Not knowing how to cope with the situation, she leaves the country in a desperate attempt to find peace Four years later when she is back for good, she isn’t alone. She is accompanied by two three year old's. The comeback of the heiress along with two mysterious kids stirs a lot of gossip and speculation. Some claimed that the kids were the result of Angella’s multiple affairs when she was abroad while others thought they were adopted. But all the speculation doesn’t stop Damien Anderson, who is very keen to win Angella’s heart and charm her with his handsome looks and exceptional flirting skills, from pursuing her. But things aren’t as easy and simple as Damien thinks. With the past resurfacing again and truth unfolding itself, will he continue to stand by her side to love and protect her? With Angella’s past relationship still haunting her, will her heart learn to love again? And will Damien manage to heal a heart he did not break? …… Excerpt “You do realize that I am a mother of two, right?” “I am very well aware of that.” Damien checked her out again and smirked, “You are one hot momma, aren’t you?” “Weirdo.” Angella couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Go home, I am sure a famous person like you must have very important things to do.” Before she could leave, he grabbed her hand. “I am doing something very important.” “Damien—” “Listen, I don’t care if you have two kids or more,” he stated. “I will happily accept and raise hundreds of kids like my own as long as you come with them.” He pulled her closer. “So Angella Becker, will you please go on a date with me this Saturday?” …… Instagram: author_sofia05 Discord: https://discord.gg/TdyrNhc