Hannah & NoahHannah’s POVThe next few days passed in a blur of awkward silences and forced interactions. Noah showed up every day, like clockwork, for our two-hour ‘bonding’ sessions, seemingly unfazed about missing work.I couldn’t decide if I liked it or hated it. On one hand, it was nice to hav
“What? When were you going to tell me this?”Viona had the decency to look ashamed. “Look, I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner. But Hannah, you should have seen him. He was so worried about you, about the baby.”For a moment, it felt as if all the air had been sucked out of the room. I had an i
HannahI found myself standing outside Noah’s office door. The sun had begun its nightly descent, the shadows in the hall lengthening. I hadn’t seen Noah all day; he had abruptly canceled our daily bonding time that morning, and I wondered if my locking the bedroom door last night when I heard him s
I waited, staring at him with wide eyes, silently begging him to remember—to have saved at least one of our letters, just like I did.But Noah just blinked again, looking utterly devoid of emotion. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said simply.I stared at him, astounded. He didn’t…It fe
HannahThe room was silent as I cautiously approached the table, although my heart was pounding so hard in my chest I wondered if they could all hear it.The eyes of every Luna in the room were fixed on me, their gazes stern and appraising. I had never felt so small. Not since my rebirth, at least.
HannahI returned home that night feeling lighter than air, unable to hide the small smile playing on my lips.The Luna Council meeting had gone better—so much better—than I could have hoped. For the first time in weeks, I felt like I had a new purpose, a new step in the right direction. The shackle
Noah’s jaw clenched, a muscle ticking in his cheek. “Hannah, I’ve apologized profusely for locking you in, and I am genuinely sorry for that. I was wrong, and I’m trying to make amends for that and for everything else. Can’t you see that?”I shook my head, feeling a sudden surge of anger that I had
HannahI picked up my phone, my heart racing as I dialed a number I hadn’t called in months. As it rang, I paced back and forth in my bedroom, my free hand nervously fidgeting with the hem of my shirt.My sister, Lily, still lived at home with our parents. We hadn’t spoken in some time; after I got
“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