atul gawande being mortal

***BRATVA WOLVES: BOOK 2*** As a scentless half-human/half-werewolf, Lily Vega always expected abuse, violence and bloodshed - the norm for her step-brother's pack of Lycans. Given to the BloodCrest Pack as a gift to cement the bond between New York and Las Vegas, she didn't expect to become second in command to the Heartless Beta, Konstantin Volkov. And she didn't expect to fall in love with him either. Konstantin never cared for love or finding his mate as the Beta to the Alpha God. Who needs a mate when you have a pack to protect? However, everything seemed to fall into place when Lily stepped into his life. She was his second in command and the best damn fighter he'd ever met - until she decided to leave his side when she apparently finds her mate. After a misunderstanding, which culminates in a steamy encounter with Konstantin, Lily leaves his side, never to return. What will Konstantin do once he finds out Lily is truly his mate and pregnant with his prophesied firstborn... and that she's being held prisoner by a creature even older than the Werewolf God Xamnir? Book 1 - Alpha Kai Book 2 - Konstantin: The Heartless Beta

********* “Did you really come all the way here to tell me you were with another woman you slept with and impregnated?” “What?” Travis is the one who speaks, his voice echoing his shock as he looks from me to Kian. Kian’s usual blank look remains as if he is unaffected by my words and the pain he has caused me. “Let’s not do this here, Leslie. You know I can’t just leave her.” I scoff. “I never stopped you. You know what? You should have never come here. You should have stayed with her since that is where your loyalties lie now and I am no longer in the picture.” Kian frowns, moving closer and intimidating me just a little with his height and muscular frame, “What does that mean? You are my wife.” “Ex-wife,” I say the words without even thinking. I didn’t think any of this through but I don’t care because my entire being seems to agree that this is what’s best for me, “I want a divorce, Kian.” His eyes grow wide, unable to contain the shock at my words and I am proud of myself that I finally got a reaction that isn’t anger or coldness from him. “Both the divorce papers and my resignation will find their way to you soon.” I add before he can get over his shock and I don’t wait for him to reply as I turn to an equally stunned Travis. “Take me home, Travis.”

Faith McChrystal My mom taught me one important thing "Never trust anyone because they all leave when they're are done sucking you dry" And yes, that's how I ended up being a 24 year old single woman with no boyfriend, no girlfriend, no bestfriend but a shitty job and apartment. Life was normal until I found the job at C&S Clothing as the executive assistant. It's not a problem to work for a gay couple right? The problem is when the two sinister hot-as-hell bosses are the epitome of every fantasy you've had. Jared Scott and Hardin Calu were going to take me to an early grave. Hardin Calu I HATE WOMEN. I hate every fucking thing about them. That's why I was married to one and only man I had in my life. Jared! He was everything one could pray for. He saved me from my old self and turned me to a loving person. But fuck me, I was still cold and hard as ice. Everything that involved women made my skin crawl painfully. Their rosy scents and gloss-smeared lips, their tied skirts and slutty suits, fucking everything about them was a reminder of what happened. What made me scared. Until the little Faith McChrystal walked into that office. Jared Scott. Money! Power! A good marriage! I had it all. Life was beautiful with my man. Hardin Calu! He was a loving husband who'd wake me up with breakfast, and a kiss on my head, who'd kiss every pain away. Who made me see the world differently. I was complete with him. Or so I thought! Because a fucking nerdy chick walked into our office for interview and turned everything upside down!

For a thousand years, the two most powerful families in the world of witchcraft have been at war. In a bid to end the violence once and for all, they arrange a union between their children, Tessa and Rafik. At a dinner party meant to finalize the marriage negotiations, the ancient feud comes to a bloody end. Young Tessa Mason barely escapes Savannah with her life and is forced into hiding with her twin brother and immortal Viking guardian for ten years until all her enemies are eliminated. At her 23rd birthday celebration, she receives an invitation to study with the best potion maker in the world. When she arrives in England ready to get on with her life, she is confronted by the man who deceived her all those years ago. Sparks fly between these star crossed lovers as Rafik tries his best to make amends to Tessa. Unfortunately, she isn't the only one who wants him to pay for the sins of his past. The most miserable part about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies, but they’re all about to discover what a wicked witch Tessa can be. Queen of Ruin is the first book in the Queen of Ruin Series. In this Dark Paranormal Romance and Fantasy series of stories, you’ll meet a cast of broken, but loveable creatures trying their best to save the world. Get Queen of Ruin today and run away with Tessa on her fiery journey through the depths of darkness.

WARNING: MATURE CONTENT Tisha Stewart, a twenty two year old virgin gets her life turned upside down in just one day. She loses her wealthy father to the cold hands of death, she learns that her fake friend who stole her boyfriend is her step-sister, and to top it all, she is forced to spend the night with an old sleazebag to pay off her late father's supposed debt. Spencer Grant is a handsome and sexy billionaire who avoids being in the spotlight. When a business rival attempts to set him up and spikes his drink, Spencer books a hotel room and orders an escort. In a twist of fate, Tisha ends up in Spencer's hotel room. She needs a place to hide and he needs a woman to pass the night. Spencer mistakes Tisha for the escort he ordered and they spend a passionate night. When he wakes up in the morning, Spencer finds Tisha gone. Not only is there no trace of her but the evidence of her innocence stares him right in the face. Now Spencer is determined to find this mysterious girl who has not only stolen his heart but whose face now haunts his dreams. THIS BOOK CAN BE READ AS A STANDALONE

I was finally pregnant after three years of marriage. I was going to head to where my husband works with a lunchbox in my hand to tell him the good news. But I ended up being mistaken as a mistress by his secretary. She dumped the food I had prepared on my head, stripped my clothes off, and continued to hit me until I had a miscarriage. “You’re just a servant. How dare you seduce Mr. Gates and bear his child? “Today, I’ll make sure you suffer the consequences of being a mistress!” She then went to my husband asking for a reward. “Mr. Gates, I took care of a servant who wanted to seduce you. How are you going to reward me?”

Book #4 Wright-Petrov Series At the age of twenty-two, Skye Monticello lives her life in reckless exploration, even at the cost of her innocence during a one-night stand. However, upon discovering the identity of her mysterious fling and refusing to relinquish her freedom, she decides to flee and make a fresh start. Fate, however, has other plans, as she finds herself pregnant. Despite her predicament, she courageously chooses to raise her child alone and has been successful, almost. After years in hiding, she comes face to face with the man who fathered her child and claimed her first. As she navigates this challenging encounter and grapples with the uncanny resemblance her child bears to his father, she stubbornly struggles to evade the man who seems to be an indomitable presence in her life. Moreover, with him being the most influential man in the country, escape seems even more implausible. Xander Voulker Wright, the third heir of the Wright and Petrov family, adds another layer of complexity to Skye's peace of mind.

Marlene Brennan is out of her depth. Bounty Hunter and human lover of Vampire Lord of Miami, Absinthe Raynes, she cleans up his rogue problem, for the tidy sum of 1 million dollars a year. But something is brewing in the dark. Someone is dispatching Absinthe's Mated pairs and he needs Marley to find them and stop them. The only catch... she has to work with Absinthe's little brother-Rhayden. A world class pain in the behind, who can't keep his attraction to her a secret. When Marley gives into her desire for him too... things get complicated and dangerous, because Absinthe doesn't share.

Once upon a time, in a land hidden where immortals exist, Alessia Condor was killed as Lady Elena, the woman destined to marry the king of Valeria. Reincarnated in modern Philippines, Alessia finds herself again in the world she doesn't belong in--or so she thinks. *** Alessia was applying for a job when she drowns with her sister and wakes up in a strange land where immortality, demons, and monsters exist. To protect herself, Alessia disguises as the boy Ales, who later becomes Elijah Rafael El Valeria's royal doctor-the more than four thousand year-old king of Valeria, the first immortal. In her game of deception and lies, who is bound to lose-Elijah, who slowly falls in love with Ales, or Alessia, who can only watch while her sister, thought to be the reincarnation of Elena, gets married to Elijah to end the curse.

"Three rules: Don't talk to me, Don't touch me, Stay out of my business." Hearing that from her supposed husband on their wedding night, Sasha White or rather Sasha Brown had to question herself about the meaning of marriage. Being married to the handsome billionaire, Michael Brown, Sasha couldn't explain her joy course as fate will have it, she had been crushing on him since their school days but couldn't pursue him due to the fact that it was know the whole school, that he is gay. ------------------------ Contains two books in the series.