HannahI cursed under my breath as I read Noah’s text again, wishing that it wasn’t real.His father was coming for dinner. This weekend. The words felt like stones sinking in my stomach.Marcus.It had been years since I had seen the man, and every memory of him was colored in black and white. He w
HannahI laughed stiffly at that. “Funny,” I said, bouncing Melody a little in my arms. “I know she has fairer looks than you, Marcus, but she is your granddaughter.”Marcus said nothing. And as I met his cold, calculating gaze, the tightness in my chest deepened. The faint trace of amusement died o
The glass of wine I had just sipped nearly went down the wrong way. This again?I coughed, blinking in disbelief as I set the glass down, my fingers gripping the stem a little too tightly. “Marcus, you must be joking,” I said, forcing my tone to remain even. “She has your son’s eyes, for Goddess’ sa
NoahIt wasn’t long after dinner that Hannah was suddenly rising from her chair and gathering a half-asleep Melody into her arms. Noah looked up with surprise, instantly rising as well.“I’ll help you—”“No,” Hannah said, offering Noah a tiny smile. “It’s alright. I think I’m just going to put the l
So Noah had given him a check that ultimately allowed Silvermoon to finally purchase some new land up north where untapped silver deposits had been found, and all was made right.Maybe Noah had helped in order to curry some additional favor from Hannah’s family in the hopes that Hannah might stay wi
Hannah“He really said that about me? ‘A devil you don’t’?”Noah nodded solemnly as he stepped out of the shower and wrapped his towel around his waist. Dark hair fell into his eyes, dripping water onto his cheekbones before he swept it backwards with one hand.“He seems to be under the impression t
Hannah“Noah, look at this.”I climbed into the passenger seat and pulled the ticket out of my pocket. Noah’s eyes widened as he took it, studying the details.“Where did you get this?” he asked.“I swiped it off of Doctor Patel’s desk,” I said, admittedly a little proud of myself.Noah dropped the
And if Noah’s loving gaze from across the room was any indication, then he was having the same thoughts.Suddenly, there was a knock on the front door. Noah jumped up from his chair and strode over to answer it, checking his watch. The pizza wasn’t supposed to be here yet.When he returned, he had a
“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