Before I know it, I’m inside, the bell above the door announcing my entrance. “I’ll take it,” I’m telling the saleswoman, and it’s as if my body is moving of its own accord. The price pops up on the screen, my card swipes, and my fingers tremble slightly as I walk out of the shop with the bag in m
Karl The silence in the mansion is a stark contrast to the hum of the restaurant. I’m sitting at my desk amidst paperwork, meetings, and preparations for tomorrow’s luncheon. The pack is buzzing with excitement; their Alpha is looking for a date, potentially even a new Luna. It’s the talk of the t
No matter what tomorrow brings, no matter who I meet, they won’t be Abby. They won’t be my Luna. And as the night stretches on, I can't shake the feeling that no one ever will be. No one except for her. … The meeting room is lined with stern faces, pack businesspeople and advisors all waiting
Abby The sun is barely up when I begin to stir, but I can’t sleep any longer. Today is the day. My second chance. My redemption. I stretch, feeling a blend of excitement and nerves course through my body. My second chance with the judges, a redemption—or another fail, depending on how things go.
Abby My hand trembles slightly as I dial Mr. Thompson’s number, each ring sounding like a warning siren against my ear. The kitchen is still flooded, and the chaos is like a perfect mirror image of my inner turmoil right now. “Mr. Thomson,” I breath, my voice shaking, as the line clicks to life.
Abby “Shit!” I call out, tossing the soggy spinach into the trash. “Wet. All of it.” My ingredients got wet from the mini-flood—almost all of them, at least. I’ll have to buy new ingredients, and in this city, driving is slower than walking. Before Anton or John can utter a word, I’m already bol
Karl The clink of silverware and the murmur of polite conversation surround me, but I feel like I’m underwater, like everything is distant and muffled. I’m here, but I’m also not here at the same time—my mind is a thousand miles away, tangled in thoughts of Abby. As I lazily stir my drink with m
It’s the question I’ve been dreading because the answer isn’t going to be something that they want to hear. But everyone is staring at me, and I can’t bring myself to lie. “Stories,” I say finally. “Real stories about real people. That’s what matters to me.” There’s a moment of silence, and a fl
Abby Intrigued, I let Karl take my hand and lead me discreetly away from the reception, weaving through the tables and out a back door into the gardens. A mischievous grin plays on his lips as we giggle like teenagers, ducking behind hedges and scurrying across the lush green lawns. “Where are w
As the music shifts to a slow ballad, I feel a familiar pair of strong arms circle my waist from behind. “There’s my beautiful wife,” Karl’s deep voice rumbles in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. He spins me around to face him, our bodies swaying in time to the soft music. I gaze up at him
Abby The reception hall is cast in a warm, romantic glow, with twinkling lights and the warm flickering of candles on every table. Soft music plays as Karl and I make our entrance, hand-in-hand to raucous applause and cheers from our guests. I can’t stop smiling as we wave to our loved ones gather
Abby The afternoon sun streaming in through the tall windows of the chapel casts the stones in a warm golden light, giving everything a sort of ethereal energy. I stand in the hallway, my arm linked with Anton’s, as the wedding coordinator prepares everyone to walk down the aisle. “Are you ready
Abby As I sit in front of the vanity mirror with the hair and makeup artist circling around me, I meet my friends’ gazes in the reflection; Chloe, Leah, Daisy, and even Elsie are here as my bridesmaids, each of them looking more beautiful than the last. “The seamstress really did do a great job
Abby With a gasp of excitement, I pull the wedding gown out of its box and hold it up in the light. Everything is perfect; the way the beadwork catches the light, the silky texture, the shape. I can’t wait to try it on now that it’s been altered to fit my body. Quickly, I slip out of my clothe
Abby “Abby, why don’t you sit down?” Karl looks up at me from where he’s sitting on the sofa, a look of concern on his face. He pats the spot next to him, but I shake my head. “I can’t,” I say, continuing to pace back and forth in our living room. “I won’t sit down until I hear back about that
Abby As I chop, stir, melt, and saute, the others stand around me, watching intently. The pasta simmers on the stove, the air smelling like warm butter and spices. It’s enough to make anyone’s mouth water. But my focus isn’t on the rumbling in my belly, nor is it even on the lingering pain in my
As we continue searching, I keep thinking back on our last harrowing hunt for black truffles; those poachers nearly shot us. Even now, I can still remember the sound of the bullets whizzing past my head, and the thuds they made when they careened into trees. “We got really lucky,” I say. “If we ha