Juliette:
My alarm blared loudly, cutting through the darkness of my dorm room. A month ago, waking up at five-thirty would’ve felt like torture, something I dreaded with every fiber of my being. But now—now my eyes snapped open easily, and excitement buzzed lightly beneath my skin.
Because today wasn’t just another early workout—it was another chance to spend time with Maddox. It was strange to admit, even to myself, that training with Maddox had become the highlight of my days. His teasing, his quiet praise, the warmth in his smile…they’d all slowly grown on me, sinking beneath my defenses and becoming something I quietly, secretly looked forward to.
Swinging my legs out of bed, I stretched lightly, savoring the slight soreness in my muscles. I'd grown used to the daily ache of pushin
