My breathing quickened. My pulse raced. I stared into Bob’s eyes, and I didn’t need Susan’s ability to assess people’s affinity for me to know that he was dead serious about his threat. If I didn’t do as he said, Bob would find a way to kill me. I backed away slowly, not caring that Bob stil
That night, I was watching videos on my phone when Andrew called me. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach. I was torn. On the one hand, I was always excited to talk to Andrew. On the other hand, I did not know if Jeffrey had kept his word and not told Andrew about my most recent encounter with Bob.
“See, this might work for the average opponent, but your opponents will not be average,” Andrew whispered to me, his breath tickling my ear. “You need something more advanced, something that incorporates your werewolf abilities.” “We’re going to learn how to tap into our werewolf abilities while u
We practiced for another hour after that. Our bodies continued to get close, pressing together and mixing our sweat as Andrew made me figure out how to counteract his different holds and attacks. His aroma and the feel of his hot skin against mine was very distracting, but I pressed on to avoid emba
I had expected Andrew to learn about my missed appointment. I hadn’t expected him to learn about it as quickly as he did. That night, Andrew called me via video chat. Fearing the worst, I almost didn’t answer. Still, I knew that it would only make things worse if I didn’t, so I picked up on the se
I started to pull on my fingers and rub my hands beneath the desk. “I’ve been having a lot of nightmares lately, and I keep looking over my shoulder, expecting someone to attack me. I have a guard on me at all times, so I shouldn’t have this fear, but I do.” Dr. Sherman made some notes on an iPa
With my weekly appointments set up, I integrated the coping mechanisms into my daily routine. Journaling helped the most, especially with the nightmares and flashbacks. They did not fully go away, but they did not bother me as badly. I slept better, and I was not quite as paranoid. I was able to f
“Nope. Everyone’s busy.” “Priestess Moreau?” “Sick.” “Judge Chang?” “Already officiating a different wedding at the same time.” “Mrs. Jansen?” “Out of town.” “How about—” “Trust me, I’ve called everyone on our list. No one is available.” Terri scratched her chin for a moment, deep
That night, long after the last of the guests had left for their rooms, Andrew and I returned to the presidential suite to find that the staff had decorated it in preparation for our stay. All the décor, right down to the bed sheets, had been switched out for matching red and gold pieces. The light
Andrew’s eyes met mine as I approached the altar. He smiled at me, and I smiled back. He looked so handsome in his classic black tuxedo that I could hardly wait for after the reception to be with him. As I took my place across from Andrew, I handed my bouquet to Lily. The priestess bega
One month later, I stood in a suite at a private beachside resort, admiring my wedding dress. It hugged my curves in all the right places while still gently brushing against the ground like a low-hanging cloud. Crystals glistened in the room’s fluorescent lights, and the train flowed behind me effor
“Let’s continue this in the bedroom,” I said, breathless. Andrew nodded his agreement. I pulled Andrew to his feet as he stuck the ring box back in his pocket. Then I dragged him back to the bedroom, leading him by the tie. Not that he needed to be dragged; he would have followed me anywhere by th
Andrew texted me and said his flight was delayed by a few errands he had to run, so I waited. And waited. I waited for an entire day, and even began to worry that Andrew had changed his mind. Then I heard a knock at my door. I leapt off the couch and rushed to answer it. Stopping just short of the
Noah left the next day. I took him to the airport, we exchanged a hug and a brief farewell, and then I watched him walk through the gate. That was the last time I ever saw him. With a heavy heart, I returned to an empty apartment. All our furniture and my belongings—what little I still had—were the
Sensing the urgency in Noah’s voice, I leaned in closer. “What is it?” I asked, trying to suppress the anticipation in my voice. Noah’s grip on my hands tightened. “I’m going to study financial law in the human world.” I froze. My heart thumped hard against my ribs, so hard that I thought th
The nightmares did not stop. In fact, they got worse. By the end of that week, I was having at least one every night, and it was showing in behavior during the day. I could scarcely stay awake. At my new branch of Ever After Weddings, I had to sneak off into the breakroom whenever there were no cu
I dreamt of the Lunar Festival. Noah and I walked hand-in-hand through the stalls, enjoying the sparkling lights and the company of our new pack mates. Yet something was off. I could feel a chill in the air, a foreboding that I could not quite shake off. “We should get out of here,” I said, tryi