Hannah The arena was packed with people, their voices mingling into an intense din. The crowd mingled like a throng, excited attendees chattering about the next fight on tonight’s roster. The whole place smelled like sweat, beer, and cheap food. Truth be told, I had never really thought much abo
“You’ve gained weight,” he said suddenly, stopping to turn and look at me fully. My mouth hung open. If my hands hadn’t been full, I would have smacked him. Suddenly, I lost the urge to drink my soda or eat my pretzel, no matter how tantalizing they both looked. Before I could utter a response,
Hannah I frowned at the spot where Zoe had been standing just a few minutes ago; her bag and her jacket were gone, too, with nothing but a half-eaten pretzel sitting on her chair. If she had left, then she had slipped out without anyone noticing. But why? Adam was still with his grandparents for a
Hannah It was bright and early, the sun barely having warmed the ground outside. I had been up for a while already—painstakingly preparing myself for today. Training. After Noah had agreed to Drake’s challenge, we had scheduled Saturday to begin. Today, I would be receiving a lesson from both
“Nice of you to finally show up,” Noah grumbled, turning away to rifle through his own bag. Drake huffed as he set his stuff down on the bench. “Sorry,” he replied casually. “Hit traffic. Are you all warmed up, Hannah?” “I only just got here myself.” I shot Noah a glance, but he wasn’t looking—h
Noah & Hannah Noah’s POV Noah was tired of Drake’s obvious posturing. He was tired of the bastard constantly undermining him, trying to make him appear like an asshole. He was tired of Drake manipulating Hannah into thinking that he was anything more than a simpering playboy. “Guys, please don
I gasped, instinctively leaning forward and gripping the edge of the bench as Noah groaned and veered a roundhouse kick toward Drake. With a swift swipe, he caught Drake right in the side of the head. “Drake!” I cried out, leaping to my feet. The fight had only just begun, and yet it seemed as tho
Hannah I burst out into the cool morning air, gasping for breath and clutching my stomach. The image of Drake and Noah pounding each other into a pulp was seared into my mind, both terrifying and sickening all at once. All I wanted was to learn how to fight again—how to protect myself and my bab
“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