Nox’s P.O.V. Crouched on the flat rooftop of a small hardware store, I watched Lilac as she walked down the street with the same interest as a predator stalking its prey. It just so happened that I wasn’t the only one hunting her tonight. Did she know she was being followed? I wasn’t referring t
Even that annoying smile of hers remained in place. “You call that a punch?” There was something slightly unhinged about her laugh that had me creeping closer. She kicked man-bun in the gut hard enough to send him keeling over, then placed a second kick to nose. Even from the rooftop, I could hear
Lilac was walking down the sidewalk, humming her tune with her head trained forwards. Everything was exactly the same, but with one minor change. This time around, I was the one hunting Lilac. The song she hummed was cut short as she realized she was dreaming. She faltered in her steps, turning he
Lilac’s P.O.V. I shot up out of bed with a snarl, my legs carrying me into the bathroom where I flicked on the lights with a shaky hand. They were shitty, barely illuminating the five-by-five box that was barely big enough for a small toilet, sink, and a shower stall that only worked half of the ti
“I am, aren’t I?” Jada watched Hakeem load the car with a frown on her face—a frown that held a very clear note of guilt. “Why didn’t you tell him? Your father, I mean.” She asked. The question was one I’d thought about many times over the years, so the answer came all too easy. I shrugged. “…it
“Agh, fuck!” Shaggy bellowed, clamping his arm down on my shoulder and forcing a current under my skin so strong that my legs buckled. Don’t fall. Don’t fall. Don’t. Fucking. Fall. By sheer will alone I managed to stay on my feet, but my tongue wasn’t so lucky. Blood filled my mouth, dribbling pas
“I’ve seen your records, Lilac. I know everything you’ve done during your time away, but they don’t.” He said, gesturing to the entirety of the student body. I swore I saw Jada somewhere in the mix but couldn’t turn my head to confirm if that were true or not. “Tell us all what you’ve done during yo
Nox’s P.O.V. “Nox, I’m going to need you and Jeremy to head on over to my office.” My father’s voice flooded the gym, emanating from my cellphone. I’d set it on the bench while I worked out and had quickly answered in between reps. Once I finished the set, I dropped the bar with its weights onto t
Kalix froze. In fact, I was pretty sure we all froze. “My wife is pregnant?” “Yes.” Natasha nodded. “With my baby?” “No, the mailman’s.” She snorted, wiping the tears from her eyes. “Who else would it be?” “I’m going to be a father?” A giggle bubbled past her lips. “That’s typically what happe
I recognized the look on Kalix’s face whenever his sister and Shayla were in the same room. The mixture of awe, terror, and bliss was unlike anything I’d ever felt before. We had everything we could’ve ever wanted and would do anything to keep it that away. “Where’s Natasha and Hakeem?” Shayla aske
Nox’s P.O.V. Six Years Later “You no good cheater!” I heard my mate belt from across the backyard. Her father’s boisterous laugh followed, drawing my eyes. The two of them stood in the stand pit off to the side of the pool and were currently hitting a volleyball back and forth. Jada and Brinley w
I threaded my arm through his and patted his hand. “Well, now you can focus on other things.” A gleam of nervousness filled his eyes. “So, is everything ready for tonight?” Shayla often mentioned how flustered she’d get by Kalix’s smooth charm, but she was the only one who failed to see how nervou
Mom beamed, tears blossoming in her eyes as she threw her arms around our shoulders. We clung to her side chuckling when Jada raced forward to blot her make-up with a microfiber cloth. “I’m sorry, I’m just so happy. I never thought I’d get to see this moment. Goddess, I’m so grateful. I’ve got both
Lilac’s P.O.V. Three Years Later “This itches.” I grunted, picking at the lace clinging to my rear. “Mark my words, I’m going to have a rash on my ass by the end of the night.” “No scratching!” Shayla smacked my hand away, a playful grin curling at her lips. Since disappearing on a little trip w
“Your aura has never been brighter.” She murmured quietly in my ear, a bright smile warming her face. A few minutes later, Diego called our names and invited us onto the stage. I laced my arm through Nox’s and followed his lead. No less than six cameras were stationed on us, each one set at a diff
The tension faded from her shoulders as she nodded. “Thank you for being there for me. I never meant to put you in a spot. Anyway, you came here for a reason, right? Don’t let my tears chase you off.” “You sure?” I paused, “It’s not exactly a light topic.” “None of our conversations this past wee
Lilac’s P.O.V. One Week Later “How have you been?” Natasha turned from where she sat on the balcony and smiled softly. Pain lingered behind the action. I should know considering I’d made that same expression a time or two. She motioned me forward, gesturing to the chair beside her. I sat down fo