AlmaraI couldn’t believe that it was finally time for the exhibition. It had been one of the hardest things I had ever done and now it was here. Butterflies erupted in my stomach as we got ready to open the doors.Noah was a steady presence on one side and Arthur was my rock on the other. For once, the two of them were getting along. Maybe Arthur had finally seen that Noah was nothing more than a friend, no matter what happened in the past.Either way, I was happy that they weren’t adding onto my stress. Molly gave the go ahead and the doors opened. Guests flooded in an
Arthur Arthur couldn't say that he was entirely surprised to learn he had a brother. After all, his father was a man of unpredictable loyalties, often putting his own interests above all else. It was an unsettling truth that Arthur had come to accept over the years.However, what did shock him was the revelation that his newfound brother was none other than Almara's sleazy ex-boyfriend.As the weight of this revelation settled on his shoulders, Arthur retreated to his office, seeking a moment of solitude amidst the chaos in his mind. He needed to process this information, to let it sink in before confronting the realities it presented.Seated behind his desk, Arthur found himself gazing blankly at the assortment of papers scattered across its surface. His thoughts raced, a whirlwind of questions and emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. He knew he needed answers, clarity, and most importantly, a plan of action.Questions that he couldn’t even fathom were true raced through his he
AlmaraIn the midst of life's storm, there comes a moment of calm. For me, that moment arrived when Dana was finally out of the picture. The last two months of my pregnancy unfolded in blissful serenity.Gone were the harrowing days of assassination plots, challenges, and unwelcome surprises. It seemed that, at last, I could embrace the prospect of genuine happiness. I could finally have all my dreams come true.The weight lifted from my shoulders was palpable. I had weathered a tempestuous journey, fraught with danger and uncertainty. Dana, a relentless force of opposition, had cast a long shadow over my life.The constant threat of danger had left me perpetually on edge, a sentinel guarding not only her own life, but also the life growing within her. I hadn’t even realized it. Not until Dana was gone for good.I hated that I was the reason that someone was dead, but Dana’s persistence had made me realize that she was never going to stop. She was too blinded by her ambition and obses
NoahIn the quiet realm of Noah's heart, a tempest of emotions brewed since the day of the exhibition. The vivid hues of art seemed to pale in comparison to the colors that Almara brought into his world. Her presence, once a fleeting glance, now filled every corner of his thoughts.It was a force he could neither ignore nor deny - an inexorable pull drawing him closer to her with each passing moment. As their paths intertwined, Noah grappled with a torrent of emotions, yearning to bridge the chasm between friendship and something more profound.Almara's visits to Noah's house became more than casual encounters; they were threads binding their souls together. In her laughter, he found solace, and in her gaze, he glimpsed a world of unspoken understanding.Their conversations wove tales of shared dreams and aspirations, painting a future that seemed incomplete without the other. Noah's heart quickened at the sound of her footsteps approaching, and time seemed to stretch, willing them to
AlmaraThe rising sun painted the sky in fiery hues as I made my way down the familiar path towards Noah's house. The large house on the hill exuded an air of tranquility that always put me at ease. Their daily meetings were a cherished routine, a sanctuary from the whirlwind of everyday life.As I entered Noah's home, a warm embrace of cinnamon and wood greeted my senses. As always, there was also the underlying scent of paint. The cozy living room, with its plush armchairs and shelves lined with well-loved books, felt like a haven from the outside world.Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to enjoy it as much as I usually would. My headaches were becoming more frequent, an unwelcome symptom of being pregnant. Today was no exception; the familiar throb started to pulsate behind my eyes.Noah, sensing my discomfort before I could even say anything as he so often did, moved with a graceful urgency. With a gentle smile, he offered to brew a medicinal tea, an elixir he'd perfected over the year
ArthurAs the sun began its descent on the city, a sense of unease settled upon Arthur's heart. The evening air seemed to grow colder, carrying with it a disquieting hush that echoed through the empty rooms of his home.Almara hadn't returned as she always did. Panic took root, gnawing at his insides, as the minutes stretched into hours, each one etching deeper lines of worry onto his face. He had tried so many times to reach out via the mate bond, but there had been no answer.The only solace he had was that he could feel she was alive. But he should have been able to feel so much
AlmaraI had no idea how long I'd been in this cellar. There were no windows. There were no clocks. It could have only been a day. It could have been multiple days. Noah didn't exactly keep a firm schedule when it came to feeding me.But whatever he was feeding me was keeping Lily quiet. I hadn't heard her voice ever since I'd woken up down here. I wasn't sure how that was even possible. I had tried so hard to shift, but nothing had happened.All I could do was pray to the Moon Goddess that everything would work out. That me and the baby would get saved. That Arthur would somehow fi
My breaths came in shallow, measured waves, my hand resting gently on the mound of my swollen belly. The room was quiet, save for the soft rustling of crisp white sheets.I felt it, a subtle ripple of sensation, the unmistakable sign that the moment I'd been waiting for was drawing near. I couldn't believe it was finally happening and that my dream had turned into a nightmare.I was having contractions. They were still playing a gentle rhythm, a distant promise that soon my world would transform. I'd prepared for this, read all the books, attended the classes, yet no amount of knowledge could completely dispel the mixture of relief and fear that now surged within