LOGINAbby 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 I suddenly jolt up from my seat so abruptly that my chair falls to the floor with a clatter behind me. The table falls silent. My staff and Damon all blink up at me, each face more confused than the last. “Abby, are you quite alright?” Damon asks, rising cautiously. “Are you hurt?” I sw
Slipping inside the freezer, I let out a shuddering breath that turns into a pale white cloud in the air in front of me. I lean against a nearby storage rack, feeling the frigid cold metal press against my skin through my chef’s whites. Fuck it. I need to talk to Karl. As if on instinct, I slip
God dammit. Could be me in here sharing a meal with Abby if I hadn’t gone and ruined everything yet again. Lost in glum thought, I don’t notice anyone approaching until a warm hand lands on my shoulder. “Karl? What are you doing here?” I look up to see Adam standing beside me, wearing his pr
Karl Leaning back in the creaking desk chair, I pinch the bridge of my nose. This week’s pack meeting feels like a special kind of torture. It’s not that Ethan is the trouble—actually, he’s been a huge help—but it’s more so that I’m sitting hunched over at a rickety desk in a cheap motel, and I







