[This story is free as of February 10, 2021] "Move over A Walk to Remember, and make way for one of the most heartwarming stories this side of Wattpad. It's so cute, I could cry (again)." - Grace @ HQ After tragedy strikes, Nolan loses all faith and never expects to love, let alone smile again until Nora-perky and persistent-walks into his life. ***** 15-year-old Nolan Haynes has everything. A loving family, a promising future as a filmmaker, and a pretty cool group of friends. That is until tragedy strikes and he's forced to move towns. Nolan vows never to let anyone in ever again-they always leave. But on a summer day two years later, when the super upbeat, Nora walks to his lunch table-Nolan has to try a bit harder to keep a smile off his face. Little does he know that Nora is fighting a battle of her own, one that no one could even imagine. And as the two get closer, they not only find solace in each other but in God. When Nolan is faced with a situation in which he has to break Nora's trust to protect her, can their budding relationship still stand and will God show up in all of this? [[word count: 80,000-90,000 words]] Content and/or Trigger Warning: This story contains scenes of verbal and physical abuse that may be triggering for some readers. NOTICE: Before the Morning is currently undergoing revisions! A sensitivity reader (someone who goes through your manuscript and assesses representations in your work) identified a number of issues surrounding the Filipino representation in BTM. I'm rewriting with the goal of creating a more authentic and respectful story. I'm sorry for the pain I caused by failing to include accurate Filipino culture and in having written from Nora's point of view.

Avaryn Alastors life couldn't possibly get any worse. That's what she told herself the second her feet crossed the threshold of Crestwood Academy. But boy, was she wrong. She'd never wanted to attend the most prestigious stuck-up school only made for the rich and the smart. She'd never even wanted to apply. But tragedy struck her family and it had always been her moms dream. The first day she's there she makes a fool out of herself in front of the most popular group in all of Crestwood. And to make matters worse one of them is her roommate! They call themselves the Devara. (Stupid, she knows). And yet she can't help but feel drawn to them. Drawn to everything about them. So Avaryn does what she does best, she investigates. Only what she finds is a whole other dangerous world. A world of secrets and pain and even magic. The Devara is supernatural. They come from a whole other world. Not only that but they are heirs to this world. They are royalty. And with royalty comes enemies ... And now these enemies want Avaryn. And the only way she'll survive is sticking with the Devara. That is ... If she doesn't kill them first. Mystery, romance, death, lies. A plot twist you won't see coming. Shadows of Ash and Gold.