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
Hannah The director was a kind, rosy-cheeked woman in her mid-fifties who introduced herself as Margaret. She beamed at Noah and me as she led the way inside the orphanage, chattering about the facility’s history and her dedication to providing the children with a warm, loving home. I only half-
Hannah After the meal, I insisted on helping to clean up despite the director’s protests. With the way Noah had spent the better part of our visit openly mocking me, I felt I had a point to prove—both to him and to myself. “Really, Luna Hannah, you’ve already done so much!” the director proteste
“Alright. Well, the director just told me that she set something up in the rec room. We should get the photo opportunity and then get out.” I blinked at his words. Photo opportunity. Right; we had come here for positive press, after all. That was, ultimately, why I was doing… well, everything late
Hannah I let out a long, shuddering sigh as I closed the bedroom door behind me, leaning back against the cool wood for a moment. Goddess, I felt utterly drained—like all the energy had been sapped straight out of me. Which, I supposed, wasn’t too far from the truth considering how violently ill
Hannah The evening air nipped at my cheeks as Noah and I walked in silence, our footsteps crunching softly against the frosted leaves and twigs that littered the pathway. I pulled my jacket a little tighter around myself, exhaling and watching as the little cloud of mist floated away from my face.
Hannah A few days later, there was a knock on the front door that made me jump. My heart started pounding as I set down the book I had been reading and crossed the living room to answer it. The delivery man didn’t even have time to say anything before I snatched the plain cardboard box from his
The driver put the car in park, and I quickly pulled my compact out of my purse to check my lipstick before we headed in. “I should let you know,” Noah said matter-of-factly, “Zoe is going to be here.” I froze at Noah’s words, my stomach dropping. Zoe. I hadn’t seen her since that uncomfortable
“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