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 The tension between Karl and me still hangs thick in the air from our confrontation earlier, but the memories of the strange car that I saw take precedence right now. If this has anything to do with the Alpha party or that couple that I saw at the masquerade, then our safety could potential
Abby After some convincing, I manage to get Karl to sit down so I can address his bleeding hand. His demeanor is belligerent, tinged with the kind of stubbornness that only comes hand-in-hand with the overconsumption of alcohol. “Just stop,” he grumbles as I approach with the first aid kit. “I’m
Abby As I enter Karl’s study to tell him about the mysterious car, I find myself stopped in my tracks. The scene in front of me is rather jarring, to say the least. He’s slumped in his chair, a half-empty bottle of what looks like his most expensive whiskey on the desk. He looks up, his eyes gla
Karl As I deal the cards, the clink of poker chips echoes in the dimly lit room. Anton, John, and I are gathered around a small card table, engrossed in a game of poker while the others are watching a movie in the adjacent room. The stakes are low, just a friendly match with chips and no real mo







