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
Hannah“Hannah… Hannah, wake up…”As if trudging my entire body through a layer of mud, I slowly returned to consciousness. And the first thing I became aware of as I returned to that consciousness was the overwhelming urge to vomit, quickly followed by the sensation of a headache that was pounding
HannahThe doctor looked like he was about to be sick when he turned to face us. His skin had gone pale, his eyes wide as saucers, his face drawn as if he’d just seen a ghost.“Kill us?” I sat up a little more with some effort, my arms trembling beneath my weight. Viona moved to support me, but I wa
“Was he really so keen on keeping me from getting pregnant because of a… defect in my bloodline?” I asked, glancing at Noah. “Why not just talk to me about it? Talk to my family?”Doctor Patel shrugged. “I wish I knew. He was very private about his motivations. All I knew was that it was important e
Hannah“Tell me everything, Alvin.”My cousin sat in the chair across from me, manacled hands clasped together on his lap. Aside from a cold metal table and an orange jumpsuit, there was nothing between us. Nothing to keep me from lashing out at him in the way that I’d been dreaming of for months no
Hannah“I just can’t believe it… So they were working together all along, with your father at the helm, no less.”I paced the living room as I spoke, running my hands nervously through my hair. Each stroke seemed to pull out more tiny hairs, but if I went bald, then I didn’t care right now. All I ca
“Your father is smart,” I mused, leaning my head back against the plush couch cushions. “He kept all of his accomplices in the dark.”“And promised them all the things they wanted most,” Noah replied.I nodded, shutting my eyes for a moment.Doctor Patel had been greedy for money and gifts, and was
HannahThe diamond on my finger caught the light, sending a dozen tiny fractals glimmering across my skin. I tilted my hand this way and that, admiring the ring that I hadn’t worn or even seen in ages.Wearing my old engagement ring like this felt… surreal. I couldn’t seem to decide whether it made
“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