Ice Queens Need Love TooCHAPTER ONEAurora's POVThere’s a specific kind of silence that followed me wherever I went, like people lowered their voices just to make their whispers sharper.And today was no different, just like everyday, since that disastrous day in the past. I, however, had grown used to this. I glided through the cafeteria like a ghost in my own school. My tray was nearly empty, just a bottle of water and an apple I wouldn't eat. I took my usual spot, a corner table, second from the left. No one ever sat here. No one ever tried or dared. Unless they wanted to be the next target of bullying from Kristy and the rest of the school. After all, everyone had United and singled me out. They had all made up their minds up about me.Aurora Hale. The Ice Queen.Too beautiful to approach. Too cold to love. Too smart to bother. And to selfish to consider other's feelings. I had heard it all. The cruel whispers behind my back, just within earshot, like they wanted me to hear w
Ice Queens Need Love TooPrologueAurora's POV~Thirteen years old~"I can't believe you did this to me."Kristy yelled, tears slowly beginning to stream down her dainty face. Pomegranate fruit punch dripped from my face, staining the white dress that I wore. A pink-maroonish patch was now forming on it, and I was positive that it was going to be a permanent stain. I thought about the trouble that I was probably going to get into when I was back home, but that wasn't really important at the moment, because, my best friend Kristy was currently hurling insults at me like her life depended on it. I didn't understand, but boy was in for a surprise. And it came, a few seconds later. "You're so wicked. After being nice to you and trusting you, you went ahead and confessed your feelings to Noah. Right after I told you that I was going to confess him. And you had to do this on my birthday. "I frozen on the spot, because I had never suffered such a shock before, especially in all my thirt
Happily Ever AfterEpilogueAlexa's POVThe backyard was a beautiful kind of chaos.Balloons bobbed in the breeze, strung in colorful clusters around the white tent posts. Streamers glittered in the sun, and the scent of chocolate cake, grilled burgers, and fresh lemonade danced in the air. Kids screamed and laughed as they chased each other across the lawn, sticky-fingered and full of sugar. And somewhere in the distance, Devon was trying to coax Knox down from the tree he’d bravely decided to climb. Again. I stifled a laugh. But right in the center of it all, stood my first little miracle. Carissa Jane Blackwood. Nine years old today.My heart tightened, in the best possible way, watching her laugh with Theo as they raced toward the bouncy castle, hair tied in pigtails flying, her pink tutu bouncing, and a sparkly tiara nearly slipping off her head.God, she looked so much like Devon. The same dimples, the same determined look in her eye when she set her sights on something, for e
EpilogueCHAPTER EIGHTY-TWODevon's POVThe hospital hallway felt like a tunnel, too long, too loud, and yet all I could hear was my own heartbeat, thrumming like a war drum in my chest.I couldn't believe it was time already. I flew past the nurses’ station, my shoes barely touching the floor. “Alexa...Devon Blackwood for Alexa Blackwood. She’s in labor-where-which room? ”A nurse pointed, and I didn’t wait for the rest.Room 201. I sprinted there immediately.I burst through the door breathless and drenched in guilt.And there she was.Her face was red with tears, her hair sticking to her forehead. She was mid-contraction, and the pain had etched itself deep into her features. She looked up the moment I entered.“Where the hell were you?” she cried out, voice cracking between a scream and a sob.I rushed to her side instantly, my hand slipping into hers. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. The traffic, the flights got delayed and then I..."“I thought you weren’t coming,” she whispered, and
Forever you and ICHAPTER EIGHTY-ONEDevon's POVThe party was over. The lights dimmed, laughter now just a faint echo in the walls of our home. Everyone had left with smiles on their faces and drinks in their hands. But here we were. Just the two of us in our bedroom, tucked under the soft sheets. The warmth of her back pressed against my chest as my arm rested over her waist, fingers laced with hers. I could still smell the faint hint of her vanilla perfume beneath all the champagne and celebration. My wife. One year of marriage. And somehow, it felt like we’d only just begun.She stirred a little in my arms, getting comfortable, snuggling deeper like she wanted to dig herself into me. I chuckled a little from her cute action.Slowly, she took my arm, and placed it gently on my stomach. "Devon, I have something to tell you. ""What? "“I have a surprise,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.I raised a brow, heart tugging gently with curiosity. “Another one? I thought th
CHAPTER EIGHTYOur Love is EternalAlexa’s POVThree years later.And here I was, standing at the heart of a beautiful glass garden room drenched in soft golden lights, laughter, and gentle music, wondering how I’d even gotten this far.From a broken, terrified girl clinging to survival... to this.A woman.A wife.An entrepreneur.The soft shimmer of fairy lights overhead caught in the champagne flute in my hand as I looked around. People were everywhere. Laughing, dancing, raising glasses in toasts. The smell of roses, sweet cakes, and grilled rosemary lamb filled the air. A celebration in every sense.Our first wedding anniversary. One year married to Devon. My Devon.I smiled to myself, the kind of smile that comes from deep within, steady, earned, whole. I could still feel his arms around me from earlier when he whispered, “One year down, forever to go.” My heart had done this strange little jump. It still did. Every single time he touched me.He was across the room now, in conve