Abby I stand in the dimly lit kitchen, leaning against the counter with a half-empty glass of wine in my hand. The soft hum of the refrigerator is the only sound breaking the silence of the night. Dinner with the team was lively tonight, filled with laughter and chit-chat, but now the quiet feel
But Karl isn’t the only one who has changed. A few years ago, I would have spilled everything to my friends and I wouldn’t have done a quarter of the damage control that I do now. I think part of the reason why Chloe is the way she is with me is because I set that precedent of telling her every litt
Abby The morning sun filters through the large windows of the mansion’s kitchen, casting a warm, golden glow over the array of ingredients that’s waiting for us. I’m standing at the counter island, a chopping board and a pile of fresh vegetables in front of me. The familiar scents of garlic and
Volunteers are everywhere, some painting walls, others laying bricks, and many more engaged in various tasks like carrying beams or giving orders. It’s inspiring to see that so many people have showed up today, and I can’t help but wonder if their Alpha’s presence had something to do with it. In f
Karl As I lift another beam into place, a bead of sweat trickles down my forehead, but my attention is elsewhere. Across the field, Abby is in her element, orchestrating the kitchen with a natural ease. There’s an undeniable rhythm to her movements, and I find myself watching her probably more t
Abby The sun is just beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange, as the first day of the library project comes to an end. My team and I are packing up our tent, the aroma of our day’s cooking still lingering in the air. We’re all tired, but there’s a sense
Abby The next two days of the library project go by without a hitch. Karl, my team, and I get up bright and early each morning, head to the construction site, and get to work. While Karl works on building the library with the other volunteers, my team and I spend our mornings and afternoons prepar
“Get back to work,” I tease, nudging him back with a grin. The morning progresses with a lively buzz after that. There’s an influx of new volunteers for the project, which means more food to prepare and more mouths to feed; but I don’t mind. It’s nice to be back with my team, doing what we do best
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