Abby “You need to bring this with you.” Looking at the strange little vial in Karl’s hand, my eyebrows knit together of their own accord. “What… What’s that?” I ask, although I think I already know the answer. Karl looks at me for a long time, as though he’s struggling to find the right word
Karl I stride numbly along rain-slicked city streets, my hood drawn up and my hands in my pockets. The rain has melted away all the snow, although I can’t help but wonder how soon it’ll take for the temperature to drop again and turn it all to ice. My heart is made of ice now, too. Abby kicked m
His words make me scowl, but he’s not wrong. I finally had it all: my pack, my mate, my life. But, like always, I had to go and ruin it. And at this point, I’m not even sure if I was genuinely trying to help Abby have the baby she’s always wanted or if I was just self-destructing because some evil p
Abby I slump against the plush window of the luxury bus, the rain streaking down outside matching my gloomy mood. Prince Damon spared no expenses with our own personal bus to take me and my staff to the estate, with plush seats, snacks, fresh coffee, and even free wifi. I should be relaxed right n
Abby I slump against the plush window of the luxury bus, the rain streaking down outside matching my gloomy mood. Prince Damon spared no expenses with our own personal bus to take me and my staff to the estate, with plush seats, snacks, fresh coffee, and even free wifi. I should be relaxed right n
Abby The bus finally lurches to a stop after what feels like forever, and I take a deep, steadying breath as I peer out the fogged window. Despite my lingering nausea and the sadness still clouding my mood after last night, awe rises in my chest as I take in the enormous, sprawling mansion that’
When we get to an ornately carved door, Edgar gives me an encouraging smile. “Go right in, miss. Best of luck with the meeting.” Before I can overthink it, I slip inside. Compared to everything else I’ve seen so far, Prince Damon’s study is rather understated: just gleaming wood, a massive desk, w
Abby When I return to the lavish quarters where my staff and I will be staying, a sense of organized chaos envelops me; John and Anton are already playing an intense game of foosball, Daisy and Ethan are bickering over which movie to watch, popcorn is popping in the mini kitchen, and Chloe appears
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