{"id":253951,"date":"2026-07-13T03:10:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T00:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1kitap1.com\/en\/before-the-exhale-alyssa-wilde\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T03:10:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T00:10:17","slug":"before-the-exhale-alyssa-wilde","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1kitap1.com\/en\/before-the-exhale-alyssa-wilde\/","title":{"rendered":"Before The Exhale – Alyssa Wilde"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Having been insulated in our own little bubble for the past few days, I almost forgot how popular Wes is. How he attracts attention from every angle, people drawn first to his stature, then captivated by his personality, looks, and uncanny ability to make everyone feel comfortable and seen. When a group of guys surround him, spewing their usual buckets of praise and admiration, I want nothing more than to shrink into the background. But Wes\u2019s hand settles on my lower back in a reassuring gesture, and I have no choice but to share the spotlight.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not used to this many curious eyes on me, sizing me up. Some of them linger in a way that makes me uncomfortable, while others brush me off as though I\u2019m nothing. I find myself leaning into the safety of Wes\u2019s side as he chats with some people I vaguely recognize from his party, but when Rich pushes through to the front, Wes\u2019s hand flexes against my back. His smile fades, and he looks like he\u2019d rather be talking to anyone else.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey man, how\u2019ve you been?\u201d Rich asks, sticking out his hand. Wes ignores it, and eventually, Rich lets it fall to his side. \u201cI thought you got suspended.\u201d Rich doesn\u2019t appear bothered by Wes\u2019s cold greeting, shrugging with nonchalance and offering an easy smirk. \u201cNah, just a minor slap on the wrist. My dad\u2019s on the board.\u201d Wes doesn\u2019t respond to that, so Rich turns to me. \u201cDang, still hanging with the freshman? Glad I didn\u2019t put money on that.\u201d Beside me, Wes stiffens, but before he can come to my defense, Kaden appears out of nowhere and snaps, \u201cGet the fuck out of here, Rich.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou smell like a liquor cabinet,\u201d adds Ben. Rich only laughs. \u201cWhat, is the whole team passing her around?<\/p>\n

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No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author\u2019s imagination or are used fictitiously.<\/p>\n

Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Editing by Victoria Hadley, The Romantic Editorial Service Cover design by Books and Moods alyssawilde.com 1kitap1.com\/en For Betty Boop. I love you and miss you. 1kitap1.com\/en CONTENT WARNING Dear Reader, Before you begin, please be aware that this book addresses heavy topics, including sexual assault (referenced throughout the story and depicted briefly in a flashback), depression, alcohol abuse, and suicidal ideation.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve done my best to handle these topics with thoughtfulness and respect, but please take care of yourself while reading. Thank you again for picking up Before the Exhale. I hope you enjoy Ivy\u2019s story. Love, Alyssa 1kitap1.com\/en CONTENTS BEFORE ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN TWELVE THIRTEEN FOURTEEN FIFTEEN SIXTEEN SEVENTEEN EIGHTEEN NINETEEN TWENTY TWENTY-ONE TWENTY-TWO TWENTY-THREE TWENTY-FOUR TWENTY-FIVE TWENTY-SIX TWENTY-SEVEN TWENTY-EIGHT TWENTY-NINE THEN NOW THIRTY THIRTY-ONE THIRTY-TWO THIRTY-THREE THIRTY-FOUR THIRTY-FIVE THIRTY-SIX THIRTY-SEVEN THIRTY-EIGHT THIRTY-NINE FORTY FORTY-ONE EPILOGUE THE END Connect with Alyssa Wilde Also by Alyssa Wilde About the Author 1kitap1.com\/en BEFORE JUNIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL AFTER THE PARTY, I don\u2019t speak for days.<\/p>\n

Not a word. Not a sigh. Not a sound. But if my mouth could form words, I would whisper six of them. Why did this happen to me? Time starts blurring together, the minutes, hours, days distinguishable only by before and after. When I look down at my hands, I don\u2019t recognize them. Nails bitten to the quick. Freckle on the left thumb. Fingers so pale they belong on a corpse. Fitting. It feels like a part of me died. I let my body rot in the bed I rarely leave anymore, and I stop going to school until they notify my parents, who have no idea I\u2019ve skipped six consecutive days.<\/p>\n

Mom throws a hissy fit in the doorway to my bedroom, and Dad gives me the I\u2019m so disappointed in you speech, and once they\u2019re finally done ranting and raging, they forge me a doctor\u2019s note to give to the main office.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.<\/em><\/p>\n

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