I just… never cared before. All I cared about was marrying a handsome man and becoming his Luna. I was weak before. But not now; now, I intended to take up my birthright and put that weak, simpering girl behind me.“Oh, you know, just... worried about the family,” I replied, perhaps a little too qui
HannahThe car ride stretched on endlessly as we made our way to Silvermoon. Noah had insisted on driving, citing environmental concerns and my pregnancy as reasons to avoid flying. I stared out the window, watching the landscape blur by, trying to ignore his presence beside me.“We should reach the
But that boy was gone.Our food arrived a little while later, and we ate in silence. Noah made no further attempts at conversation, seemingly lost in thought. As we finished our meal, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt for my behavior. Still, I quickly reminded myself of all the reasons I ha
HannahI woke first to the glow of the sun hitting my face, and then to the warm sensation of an arm around me… and a hand cupping my breast.“Mm…”Smiling, I snuggled back into the familiar body that was pressed up against me. In my sleepy state, it felt natural, comforting. Happy even. A warmth sp
The same waitress from last night greeted us with a bright smile on her face. “Good morning! How was your night? You two were so sweet together at dinner.”I felt my face heat up, remembering my over-the-top display of affection. It had been fabricated just to make Noah feel bad, and yet…Before I c
HannahI stood there, frozen in shock as I stared at the tiny bundle in Lily’s arms. A baby. My sister had a baby. When? How? Why was this the first I was hearing of it? Why, when I asked if I heard a baby crying the other night, had she kept it from me?“Surprise!” Lily exclaimed, her face beaming
“Hello there, little one,” Noah murmured, his voice softer than I had heard it in years—or maybe ever. He tapped her little nose, and she wriggled and grabbed his index finger. “Aren’t you just the most beautiful thing?”As I watched Noah with Olivia, a traitorous thought crept into my mind. Would h
HannahMy fingers traced the delicate lace patterns on the pillowcase while my eyes wandered the floral wallpaper, picking out patterns that I had almost forgotten over the years. The sun streamed in through the open window, the sheer curtains billowing slightly in the wind.Everything in this room
“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