Part of that was true—the clear-headed part. I had picked up a slight obsession with alcohol since Noah and I had gotten married, and had often used red wine to dull my frayed nerves. But not anymore. Out of the corner of my eye, I could have sworn I saw Noah’s eyes flick briefly to my belly befor
Hannah I stood in front of the full-length mirror, my hands trembling slightly as I drew in a deep, steadying breath. Slowly, almost as though I was afraid of seeing my own skin, I lifted the hem of my oversized t-shirt and bared the pale expanse of my midriff to my own scrutinizing gaze. There
Hannah I strode through the front doors of the soup kitchen, my heart pounding with a mixture of nerves and excitement. This was it—my first real foray into volunteer work, into proving that I could be more than just a pretty face trailing after my husband. I was determined to make a good impres
And she looked… scared. Leaning in close, I murmured in a low voice, “Are you alright?” For a long moment, the girl simply stared at me, her eyes red-rimmed and tired looking. Then, finally, she gave a small nod, biting her lip. “We… we had to leave. My husband, he—” Her voice cracked, and she
Hannah “Take a seat.” Noah barely even bothered to look up from his computer for more than a moment before giving me demands. I crossed my arms defiantly, jutting my chin out at him. “I’ll stand.” “Alright.” “Why did you send Scott to fetch me instead of just inviting me yourself?” I asked
My nostrils flared with a burst of fresh anger. “Are you implying you want to volunteer with me?” I asked incredulously. “I would have asked if you wanted to join me, but you’re hardly ever home. And Goddess knows you don’t answer your phone when I’m the one calling.” Before he could answer, I all
Hannah The next morning, I woke up feeling more nauseous than I could ever remember. My stomach roiled and churned, protesting even the mere idea of breakfast. I barely had time to throw myself out of bed and stagger to the bathroom before violently emptying the contents of my belly into the toile
Noah stared at me for a moment over my handmaid’s shoulder, who made no move—thankfully—to tell him the truth. Finally, checking his watch, he took a step back. “Fine. Just hurry.” With that, he turned on his heel and disappeared. My handmaid quickly shut the door, scurrying into the closet to p
“Almost done…” she murmured, leaning in with a touch of gloss for my lips. I couldn’t help but laugh at how serious she looked, as if I were some delicate art piece she was trying to perfect. Finally, she stepped back with a smile. “There. Now, the dress.” Amber was already at my side, helping m
Hannah The next morning, I woke with a flutter in my stomach that had nothing to do with morning sickness. Sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. I blinked up at the ceiling, letting that first realization sink in. It was the day of our wedding. In le
Hannah Mornings had gotten louder since Melody learned to walk. And she wasn’t just walking—she was trying to run, arms flapping and her chubby legs barely holding her up as she went. This morning, she seemed to be hell bent on dashing down the hallway as Noah tried to brush his teeth and I hunted
I laughed, hoping it sounded more natural than I felt. “Hey, I can spoil you once in a while if I want. Just because it’s a Thursday doesn’t mean I can’t surprise you.” We chatted about our day as we ate, filling each other in on all the usual things. But every so often, his eyes would flicker to
Hannah My hands shook a little as I straightened the delicate flower crown over Melody’s soft hair, adjusting it so the petals framed her tiny face just right. She blinked up at me with those wide, innocent eyes, slapping her hands contentedly on the top of her high chair. I smiled as I ran my f
Hannah By the time we stepped out of the ring, it felt as if my entire body was on fire. Every muscle seemed to be taut, every heartbeat one thump away from shifting. I couldn’t tell if I wanted to run circles around the building or maybe tear up the walls like a caged animal. What was wrong wit
Hannah For what felt like the hundredth time that morning, I sidestepped Drake’s punch with ease, narrowly dodging his hook. Training with him had become an obsession of mine lately. He’d pushed me in ways I hadn’t expected, helping me learn how to use my speed and endurance instead of relying on
Noah pushed himself harder, letting out a playful howl as he gained on her, the hunt pulsing through his veins like a drug. She glanced back, her ears twitching, and he saw her eyes flash with excitement before she put on an extra burst of speed. It became a game of cat and mouse, each of them pus
Noah For the millionth time that morning, Noah’s gaze drifted from the stack of papers on his desk to the stretch of forest that was visible through the office window. The afternoon light filtered through the trees, casting that familiar, deep green hue over the landscape. Just seeing the expans