Abby I’m standing in my old bedroom, surrounded by the furniture that I used to call my own, when there’s a knock on the door. Karl’s voice comes through a moment later before I can even get up. “Abby?” I jump to my feet and start smoothing down my hair for reasons that I can’t even begi
Flopping down on the bed, I stare up at the ceiling with my arms splayed out, feeling a mix of emotions wash over me. It’s not only strange being back in the place that I used to call home, but it’s also a strange feeling to be here right now. In a way, it feels awfully like how things used to b
Abby I sink into the warm, fragrant bath, the spa items Karl left for me creating a soothing oasis in the spacious bathroom. As I relax into the water, I let out a contented sigh. It’s been a while since I’ve had a moment like this, away from the constant buzz of the city. Already, my body f
With my coffee in hand, I decide to do a bit of shopping. I step into a nearby clothing boutique that I haven’t seen before and begin flipping through the racks, pulling out various items and holding them up to myself in the mirror. “That’s a nice color,” a familiar voice says as I’m holding up
Abby “I think I just spent my life savings.” Elsie giggles as she holds up her most recent purchase: a new pair of earrings for her mother. They’re beautiful, made of translucent crystals that catch the light of the setting sun. We just spent the entire afternoon in town, and I didn’t re
Karl With the election preparations well underway, Ethan and I only need to finalize some dates before the campaign will begin. It’s a grueling process, though. Juggling my own Alpha duties and this upcoming campaign is a bit more difficult than I thought, and although I’m handling it, it do
Abby Elsie and I are sprawled out on my king-sized bed, a movie playing on the TV. But we’re barely watching. I’m trying on one of my new dresses in the mirror while Elsie is watching me, a glass of wine in her hand. For the first time in what feels like forever, I finally feel as though I can l
“That’s my plan for now,” I say softly. “But the truth is, Karl has his responsibilities here, and I have mine three hours away in the city. Neither of us can escape that. So I don’t think it’ll go anywhere, honestly.” Elsie listens intently. “I know how difficult that is,” she says. Just then,