HannahI groaned as the shrill beeping of my alarm clock pierced through my dreams. When I cracked my eyes open against the harsh sound, I was met with a dark room—not even the sun had come up yet.For a moment, I considered hitting the snooze button and curling back up under the soft blankets, conv
HannahI cried out in pain as Noah’s shoulder collided with my outstretched wrist, slamming it directly into the section where the soft mats ended and the hard gym floor began. Tears instantly sprang to my eyes, and the sound that escaped my lips next was a pathetic whimper.“Ow…”Noah reacted quick
HannahI fidgeted nervously as the stage assistant guided me and Noah through the bustling backstage area, leading us toward the other contestants. The whole place was like a cacophony of noise—almost too much for my frayed nerves.The games were to be held on a large, flat athletic field, and each
“I had the same thought cross my mind,” she admitted. “But I didn’t want to sound—”“—Ladies! If I could have you join the others, we’re about to begin!”The announcement cut me off, and Zoe and I both startled, whipping around to see one of the assistant directors waving us towards center stage. Wi
HannahMy heart sank as one of the attendants approached us, a length of rope held in his hands. I eyed it warily, already envisioning the tangled disaster Noah and I were sure to become. We hadn’t trained for this since that one day last week when we had fought so hard that we had fallen.“For the
HannahAs soon as my feet touched back down on solid ground, the world came crashing back into focus. A deafening roar of cheers and applause reached my ears, along with the sound of my own breaths coming out ragged and startled.Noah released me, although his hands momentarily remained around my wa
HannahThe lights of the grand ballroom seemed to blur together as Noah and I took center stage, the Luna Queen’s attendants placing ornate crowns on top of our heads and sashes around our shoulders. My heart pounded in my ears, the roar of applause fading into the background as I turned toward Noah
She regarded me for a long moment, her expression unreadable before she pulled out the chair beside her with a loud scrape. “Sit.”I did as instructed as she leaned back, swirling her wine idly while regarding me down the length of her birdlike nose.“You have been a busy girl, haven’t you, Hannah?”
“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