Nox’s P.O.V. The alert repeated itself for the next five minutes, until finally, the prerecorded video we made flashed onto the screen. Will stood at my side, both our faces chiseled from stone. You could feel the weight of our silence through the television. “You have my sincerest apologies for i
I knew it was wrong, but every afternoon when I’d go to class, I’d see how the parents fawned over him. Silas was a beloved member of the community, practically untouchable. The night Lilac found her proof was the night Silas attempted to rape me.” Her voice lifted an octave, passion filling every s
I slapped a hand to my chest and groaned, “Damn, that stung.” “Be real, Nox. You might be his son, but he hasn’t treated you like one in a very long time.” “You’re right, I just never questioned it until now.” She lifted her shoulder in a shrug. “You trusted him, just like I trusted you. It was y
Lilac’s P.O.V. Jada shot up off the couch as a symphony of ringing phones exploded to life around us. She scrambled to the closest one, snatching it off the coffee table and mashing it to her ear. Hakeem, who had been pretending to sleep to give Nox and me privacy, stretched his arms over his head
Her mother pulled away and smoothed down Jada’s hair before patting her on the cheek. “No, I’m not angry with you. I understand why you didn’t tell us. I just wanted you to know what I would’ve believed you, even back then. I wasn’t there for you, but I am now.” Nox quietly watched their exchange.
Lilac’s P.O.V. I met Nox back at my apartment that night. The plan was to get him alone, so that I could tell him what I’d decided. My mind was too muddled for me to even think of driving, so I had Jada drop me off at my place. She’d been vibrating with excitement when I told her, barely containin
Classes resumed the following day. Walking through the halls, I could all but taste the tension lingering in the air. Eyes tracked my every move. Students stood in clusters watching as I passed. This time their faces weren’t filled with varying degrees of hatred, but curiosity. Their murmuring kick
Lilac’s P.O.V. “Ouch, it hurts.” Shayla wailed, limping from the water. Blood trickled down her knee. She must’ve scraped it on the dock. Nox and Jeremy were right there, helping her onto the sand. She hit the ground with a thud, whining as she clutched her knee. That fluttery feeling morphed into
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