LOGINThe school was bustling when we arrived, the parking lot teeming with parents and kids, all hurrying toward the bright red doors at the front of the building. Alex’s grip on my hand tightened as we approached, his eyes wide as he took in the sea of unfamiliar faces.“It’s okay,” I whispered, crouchi
ElaraThe house was alive with the all-too-familiar chaos of a school morning. Somewhere down the hall, Ella was shouting at Zoe about taking too long in the bathroom, and Zoe’s shrill rebuttal wasn’t far behind. The smell of toast lingered in the air, mingling with the faint bite of fall that crept
ElaraThe air that night was quiet—quieter than it had been in weeks. The house had settled into the kind of stillness that only came with exhaustion, the last embers in the fireplace flickering softly behind the glass. Even the wind outside had gone still, barely rustling the edges of the curtains
ElaraThe lanterns flickered softly against the night sky, their warm glow swaying in time with the breeze that danced through the courtyard. Even from this distance, I could still hear the faint music from the reception, the low murmur of conversation punctuated by bursts of laughter.But out here,
ElaraThe music was soft and sweet, drifting lazily over the twinkling lights strung across the open-air pavilion. Everything felt golden—the warm glow of lanterns, the hum of conversation over glasses of bubbly champagne, the faint crackle of the bonfire flickering in the distance.But none of it c
“Thank you,” he murmured, his voice cracking ever so slightly. “Thank you for giving me this.”I ran my fingers through his hair, gently pushing it back from his forehead. “You don’t have to thank me for anything, Alaric. This baby… it’s part of both of us.”His hands remained on my stomach as he li
Elara My heart instantly tensed as Asher’s last statement made all the surrounding eyes turn to us. All around me, the whispers of the skeptical crowd seemed to close in, like vultures swarming a dying rabbit. I could feel my palms growing clammy, my face becoming hot. I needed to escape. Withou
Elara We immediately returned to the school, where we found Zoe and Ella sitting in the principal’s office. Both girls were sniffling, tears and snot running down their faces. Their hair and uniforms were both disheveled, signs of a physical altercation having taken place. The principal explaine
A stunned silence fell over us. Olivia’s eyes widened in horror as she realized what had happened. “Oh my god!” she gasped, frantically reaching for the wig now lying on the ground. By this point, people were watching through the open doorway. Soft laughter rippled through the crowd, whispers sp
Elara I gasped, nearly tumbling off the edge of the bed, but Alaric’s swift reflexes saved me. He caught my wrist and pulled me back up with ease. My heart was still racing from the close call, and I found myself staring into his eyes once again. I didn’t know what to say, what to do. I just lai







