The star-crossed lovers were finally having their happy ending.So why did it feel so wrong?Noah arrived at the altar, his heart pounding in his chest. The chapel was beautifully decorated just as Zoe wanted, white flowers and gauzy fabrics adorning every surface. Guests filled the pews, their exci
HannahI hadn’t even bothered to change or make myself look presentable. The thin fabric of my robe still revealed my bare body, my hair was wild and unkempt, and I likely smelled like a vagrant after my stint in Darkmoon’s prison.But none of that mattered now. All that mattered was getting to Noah
“No.” I tried to shove her away. “Noah, don’t listen to her. Remember. Just remember.”Suddenly, hands were on me. Zoe’s face was twisted as she shoved me, and I fell to the marble floor, the tiles slamming into my back.“You fat, ugly cow,” she growled, stepping toward me as I moved backwards on th
HannahThe pain in my battered body was immense.Drake and Viona helped me onto a seat in the back room of the church, away from prying eyes, having to support my weight the entire time. The wedding had turned into chaos as guards went running after Zoe. Scott, too, had disappeared along with her, s
I felt sick at the thought of what Zoe had done to him. “That’s why you didn’t come back for me.”Noah nodded. “She made me believe I never saw you, never went to Darkmoon, never found the pictures or letters. But she didn’t know about the seashell I’d given you. That was the link to remembering eve
HannahWhen my sobs finally subsided, Noah sat up with me still in his arms, his hands deftly brushing my tear-soaked hair back from my face. I sniffled, trying to regain my composure as I smoothed down his shirt, which was now wrinkled and damp from my outburst.“I’m sorry,” I hiccuped weakly. “For
The thought of dating made my stomach flutter with both excitement and anxiety. After the disaster with David, the idea of putting myself out there again was terrifying.But with Noah... it would be different, wouldn’t it? This was the man I had loved for so long, the father of my child. Maybe, just
HannahThe evening air was cool and refreshing against my heated skin as I walked Noah back out to his car. The setting sun was particularly vibrant tonight, the sky awash in almost blinding shades of pink and orange and red. It was a beautiful sight, but I found my eyes drawn to Noah instead, no ma
“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