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It all began when a military operative and spy Mrs. Paraluman Buenaventura infiltrated a rebel camp up in the mountains. When her husband was able to raid the said camp, he was able to save two boys, whom he would eventually treat like his own sons. His only daughter, Estelle, was attracted to her new adoptive brother, Victor. However, he felt that loving him and being with him would endanger Estelle, so he kept his true feelings for her in the dark. Soon enough, their Secret Militia group, CODE-NAMED Trinity, has expanded to add more agents and fighters to their cause. Their arch-enemy, The Tribunal, will make themselves known, and it will cost Trinity several lives, including his surrogate Mother Paraluman, whom Victor promises to avenge. Unknown to him, Estelle, as soon as she hit adulthood, had already started putting together a plan to have Victor accept her unrequited feelings. But would Victor ever do so and put his beloved Estelle in danger? What about his promise to avenge Paraluman?
"Load the guns! SHOOT to kill! SHOOT TO KILL!"
Although the Sergeant detested giving that order, he was all too aware that it was sometimes a stone-cold-fact-of-life necessity. And in this instance, in the middle of that stinky, muddy, humid, mosquito-infested godforsaken jungle where their latest mission took them, he knew it wasn't just necessary.
It was a command.
And it took no less than that when one has to take down a group of highly trained diabolical terrorists right in their very own hideout.
The Sergeant, affectionately nicknamed Sarge Ben by his team, wove in and out through the trees, shooting his powerful Galil assault rifle and ducking behind whatever protective cover he came across. Banyan trees, moss-covered boulders, dense foliage, anything that would shield him from the almost continuous rain of artillery fire. Not to mention occasional explosions from rocket launchers and grenades. It was a good thing each and every member of Sarge Ben's high-level militia ranger team was fully protected with cutting-edge Kevlar armoured vests and helmets. As the minutes ticked by, the rain of gunfire and artillery became less frequent and less deafening until complete, dead silence.
The Sergeant and his troops now had to mentally prepare themselves for the most difficult portion of their task.
The extermination of anyone unlucky enough to still be alive.
Once he reached the extremists' hideout, the Sergeant slowly picked his way through the trail of dead bodies to look for survivors when he caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye.
Before he knew it, he felt someone pounce on him - with a knife poised to plunge right into his chest!
Whoever this person was, the experienced military commander could tell from his attacker's movements that he or she was silent but lethal. Thank goodness Sarge Ben was able to disarm his assailant by grabbing the hand that held the weapon, giving the wrist a sudden twist, and bending it at a sharp angle, causing the attacker to give a yelp of pain and surprise as the knife fell to the ground. Along with the one holding it.
Finally, Sarge Ben got a good look at his mysterious assailant. It turned out to be - a kid! Well, not exactly a child but still barely in his teens. Looking at the somewhat scrawny boy with a shaggy mop of dirty-blonde hair, he still seemed too young and way too reckless to be able to take on a full-grown military officer.
But the Sergeant's perceptions suddenly changed when the youngster resumed attacking him again - but barehanded this time.
It was clear that the youngster knew where to hit, and his strength and speed indicated that he had received intensive training. Despite the Sergeant's skilled dodging and parrying, the younger fighter managed to breach his defences and get in some well-aimed kicks and punches. But it was obvious the boy was fueled by anger and was too enraged to pay close attention to his foe's movements.
As the fighting progressed, Sarge Ben found himself analyzing, even doing an internal play-by-play, while his young and dirty opponent traded punches and kicks with him.
I've got to counter his lethal high kick with a weak chin punch. Catch his fist and turn him around, so I can kick him in the stomach. Quick recovery, eh? He's got strong abs, I'll give him that. Combinations of open palm hits to his torso. Still standing, kid? Let's see if you can still stand after one of my roundhouse kicks! Damn it, boy! Why won't you stay the hell down?!!?
But after half a dozen more hits, the teenager slumped to the ground, exhausted and half-conscious. His face was covered in bruises, and his lower lip was swollen and bleeding from a cut. The loose-fitting, grimy shirt he wore was torn in a few places, but Sarge Ben knew it covered much bigger bruises, maybe even a fractured rib or two.
I know we're supposed to leave no survivors - but I guess I can make an exception here! After all, Paraluman did request for this to happen.
As he looked down at his now-defeated opponent, Sarge Ben finally made up his mind and spoke the words that would alter his life, their lives, forever.
"Get a stretcher and carry him out, along with everyone else we find who might still be alive. He's coming back to camp with us, along with any other survivors!"
"Found another one, Sarge! Definitely alive, but he's knocked out cold with a gunshot wound through his stomach. Must have collapsed from extreme blood loss."
Ben took a closer look at the unconscious teenager on the stretcher, "Have the medic run a full medical check-up on both of them. If he can do it quickly, so much the better."
"But we don't have all the needed equipment for a complete examination, sir!"
"Then try whatever you can, for now, Private Tomas. Make do with what you have until we get back to our base in the city."
"Sir, yes sir," exclaimed the rookie soldier.
"Gotta make a few private phone calls so hold down the fort and keep me informed, will you?"
"Yes sir," Private Tomas repeated in a softer tone of voice as he gently but thoroughly examined the blond-haired boy and the other survivor.
Sarge Ben took the radio with him as he walked a few feet away from his troops towards some bushes, making sure not one of his men could hear him. He then took out a small but powerful satellite phone from a hidden inner pocket, then dialled a number. It took three rings before a lilting, childlike voice answered.
"Hello, Daddy."
"Hello, my sweet and precious little Princess Estelle. Can you ask your Mommy to come to the phone, so we can talk about grown-up things? That's a good little girl."
"But Mommy's not here, Daddy. She's taking a bath right now, and I'm already a big girl, and I answered your call on your special secret phone. I'm already a grown-up Dad, so you can talk to me about adult stuff now."
"I know, my cute fairy star, but I really have to talk to your Mommy because these are her friends with me, and you haven't met them yet. But tell you what? Someday you'll meet them when your Mom introduces them to you, and that's for sure, my dearest daughter."
"Is that a promise, Daddy?"
"Yes, it's a promise, my pretty little munchkin."
"Cross your heart and hope to die?"
"Cross my heart, Princess."
Just then, Sarge Ben heard the sound of someone swiftly rushing in to scoop up the little girl. After a series of shuffling sounds and mechanical clicks, the impish girl's voice was replaced by a more mature and well-modulated tone that was unmistakably that of a woman.
"Hello. Ben, my love."
"Yes, Paraluman. And yes, it IS me. The boys who you mentioned specifically are all safe and sound."
"Are they the only ones who are okay, Beloved?" she asked in an extremely hopeful tone, as she prayed to whatever saints and divinities who might hear her pleas.
"I'm so sorry, my beloved Ara, but they're the only survivors. I'm about to call the base on my other radio and give them a heads-up, just so they won't get too shocked to learn they'll be having ... guests."
Eron Camden just wanted to be free of his past... He was hellbent to escape it all: Being the oddity of the pack, dealing with a demanding Alpha father, living in the shadow of his overachiever brother and working for a corrupt, sex-starved boss who wanted to keep him in his private army/ Finally finding a way to fake his own death and erase his former assassin/mobster identity, he moved into the most remote mountain village he can find and lived the life of a hunter/logger/handyman while staying off the grid. While doing so, he found himself being accepted by the village people, loved by the local children and even trusted by the community elders. And upon meeting the widow Diwana, he knew he never wanted to leave that village again. But, unfortunately for him, his past is fast catching up to him. Worse, he is totally unaware of it. Would they still accept him if they knew who he really was? Will he still dare stay and endanger everyone he now loves?
Ma’Heron Denar, the Gamma of the Silvercrest Pack, was the first among the top brass to find his mate although it was in the least ideal situation. However, since all is fair in love and war, they are now together with no regrets… Until their past came back to haunt his beautiful wife, Alexia. A father’s mistake, an old ally now an enemy due to greed and lust, along with a resurgent battle will now jeopardize their love, their lives and their pack. Can Ma’Heron manage to win his wars - both with himself and his long-lost archenemy - for the sake of the pack’s peace, his true love and the hope of having his mate by his side once again?
Beta Aaron Keizer brings Diwa back to the Packhouse after being away for more than ten years. However, as soon as she arrives, a dangerous presence from her past begins stalking her and her newly found mate. Even worse, Di’s elder brother, who happens to be the Gamma of the pack, openly shows his disapproval of the union. Will Di be able to find freedom from her past while finding happiness in Aaron? And can the Beta be able to see beyond the bond so he can help Di finally fight the monster who continues to claim her as his?
Around the mid-2010's, Mab De Narra created a social media group that was meant to be a place where people can share their personal paranormal and supernatural experiences without the fear of being judged by others. They could even find others who can help them with their paranormal questions, spiritual issues, and supernatural problems on this page. Meanwhile, she was eventually included in The Paranormal All-Stars, where she is able to help even more puzzled and troubled individuals. And by sharing these cases and experiences through this book, we hope to help more to not fear what they don't know... ...but to see beyond what their senses tell them. After all, there's always more to these things than meets the eye.
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
Sandra Hill, the long-lost real heiress of the Hill family, was shunned by her own kin. Instead of embracing her, they bestowed their affection upon an impostor. They even arranged her to marry a vegetative man in place of her so-called “sister”. Sandra sneered, refusing to put up with this humiliation, cut off ties with the Hill family immediately and ran into the flash marriage with Wesley Cooper, her unconscious billionaire husband. With her incredible medical skills, she defied the odds and revived him. Little did she expect that her husband spoiled her with all his love... A medical genius, a computer prodigy, a national treasure in painting, and a racing legend... Her husband revealed her various identities, leaving the Hill family regretful. Her father came pleading, "It's Dad's fault. Please come back." Her mother wept, "Mom will protect you from now on. Please come back." Even her five brothers knelt before he, begging for forgiveness. Yet, Sandra's smile held a hint of mockery as she vowed, “Never!”
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!