Hannah I stood frozen in place, the bathroom door still swinging shut behind me. My heart was pounding in my chest as I clutched the little blue pills tightly in my palm, paralyzed by my handmaid’s ominous words. They’re not what you think they are. What did she mean by that? These were the sa
He moved behind me then, pressing close as he patted down my back and sides. Goddess, it had been too long since I had been touched so intimately. Far too long; I felt like a mare in heat just then. I shuddered at the feeling of his hands on me, my face growing warm despite myself. Noah seemed t
Noah Noah strode into the library, his eyes immediately searching for Hannah. She should have been here by now, but… “Once upon a time…” He heard her voice coming from around a corner, and followed it. A moment later, he found her sitting on a small stool in the center of a circle of children.
Dammit, he thought. Dammit all. With a resigned sigh, Noah pushed away from the wall and made his way over to the group. Hannah stood, gesturing to the stool with a smirk, and Noah shot her a withering look before sitting in her place. A young boy immediately thrust a book into his hands, and No
Hannah I couldn’t breathe. Something dreadful swelled in my chest, my breath lodged in my throat as I stumbled blindly away from the library room. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks, my shoulders shaking with the force of my silent sobs. Seeing Noah like that, laughing and joking and carrying o
Hannah I pushed open the door to the apothecary, the little bell above tinkling against the glass as I stepped inside. The familiar scent of dried herbs and crushed botanicals filled my nostrils, somehow both soothing and making my stomach twist with anxiety. “Good morning,” the elderly man behi
Hannah “Thanks for meeting me,” I said, shrugging off my jacket and sliding into the leather booth. “I didn’t want to do this over the phone.” Viona arched an eyebrow, but she didn’t press me for details right away. Instead, she simply signaled the waiter for a couple of drinks as I withdrew the
“Mind your own business, bi—” The man’s eyes widened as he finally registered who I was. “L-Luna Hannah,” he stammered, some of that drunken bravado fading. “I, uh—” “You’re going to apologize to my friend here,” I cut him off sharply. “And then you’re going to go sleep it off before I have you th
“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