Chapter 124

Hannah

I had the driver pull up to the pub that Viona had specified—Crescent Pub, our usual hangout spot. It was one of the few places in town where we could talk without being overheard by nosy gossips, thanks to the smoky atmosphere, dim lighting, and generally rough-and-tumble patrons.

Thanking the driver and telling my bodyguard to keep a distance, I climbed out and headed into the restaurant. It didn’t take me long to spot Viona at our usual booth in the corner. As I approached, I saw that she had already ordered us drinks and a plate of nachos to share.

“What’s all this about?” I asked, sliding into the booth across from her and shrugging off my jacket.

Viona looked pale. Before answering me, she said, “Your drink is non-alcoholic, by the way. And I got you the nachos with chicken, since I know they’re your favorite.”

I raised my eyebrows and let out a wry laugh. “Okay, now I’m seriously concerned,” I teased. “You’re acting like you’re trying to butter me up right before telling me some bad news.”

Viona just blinked at me.

Instantly, I felt my stomach drop. I swallowed, glancing over both shoulders as though I expected someone to show up and clock me on the back of the head, then leaned closer. “What is it?”

Wordlessly, Viona held one finger up and began tapping furiously at her phone. When she was finished doing whatever it was that she was doing, she slid the phone across the table to me. I narrowed my eyes and picked it up.

“Just read it,” she whispered.

Frowning, I read the text on the page; it appeared to be a forum thread for Nightcrest pack titled, “I know what the Alpha and Luna have been up to.”

I lifted my gaze to shoot Viona a curious look. She just widened her eyes ever so slightly, silently urging me to keep reading.

“I know what Alpha Noah and Luna Hannah have been up to,” the post began. “They’re getting a divorce, and I have proof. Real proof, none of that fake shit. It’ll blow your minds.”

“Oh yeah? Share the proof, then,” another user replied.

“I’ll share it when this post gets ten thousand likes,” the initial poster shot back. “And then I’ll share the video of Luna Hannah and Alpha Noah openly admitting to not only preparing for a divorce, but… that Luna Hannah is having an affair.”

The phone slipped from my fingers before I could even stop it. Viona snatched it away, her eyes like saucers, and quickly slid it back into her purse.

“What the…” I murmured, shaking my head incredulously. “That can’t be true.”

Viona shrugged and took a sip of her drink, no doubt to steel herself. “It could just be a troll,” she said. “I mean, the way that they said they want ten thousand likes before they’ll post it is a bit of a red flag.”

“Yeah.” I scoffed, even though there was no denying the fact that I was actually terrified. “I’ll say.”

“But,” Viona continued, “it’s worth paying attention to. They might not be bluffing.”

“But I don’t see how they have this so-called ‘proof’,” I retorted quickly. I took a chip, swirled it around in the cheese, and popped it in my mouth—although it tasted like ashes on my tongue. “I mean, it’s not like Noah and I have talked about it with anyone. Just you. And Scott.”

Viona pursed her lips. “Amber and Emma know. And we don’t know who else Noah could have told.”

I opened my mouth to let out a retort, but the words died on my tongue; I trusted Amber and Emma, of course, but there was no knowing what they could have accidentally let slip. And Noah… Well, if he was seeing Zoe behind my back, then surely she knew. And if she knew, then I wouldn’t put it past her to scream it from the rooftops.

A grimace tugged at my upper lip. “Well, even if the divorce thing gets out, we’re nearing the end of our three-month agreement,” I said. “So we could handle that. But as for the affair…”

Viona shot me a withering look. “Just tell me, Hannah—”

“Oh, Goddess, no.” I waved my hand before she could even get the question out about me and Drake. “Never. Not in a million years.”

She huffed. “You’re sure? With all that stuff you guys have been doing lately… I mean, I’m not judging, but it’s risky, Hannah.”

“I’m not. I swear,” I growled. “It’s never gonna happen. Drake and I are just friends.”

Viona, believing me, nodded and leaned back in her seat. “Well. I think that you should talk to Noah about this at the very least. If someone is traipsing around with this kind of gossip, it could spell the end for you. And with your little one on the way…”

Her voice trailed off, but the implication remained; with a baby on the way, I needed to be careful. I couldn’t risk any public upset until I was safely back in my rightful pack as the female Alpha.

“I know,” I said softly. “I’ll keep an eye on things.”

“Hannah.” Viona narrowed her eyes at me and folded her arms across her chest, leveling me with a stern glare. “You have to tell Noah. You have to tell him everything.”

My eyes widened into saucers. “You mean—”

“Yes, Hannah. You have to tell him about…” She mouthed the last two words: “Your baby.”

“No. No way.” I shook my head, waving both hands together. “Not happening, Viona. He can’t know. He. Can’t. Know.”

She furrowed her brow. “Why not?”

“Because,” I huffed, “if he finds out that I’m pregnant with his baby, he’ll forbid the divorce. You know I can’t stay with him. I can’t live like that, and neither can my child.”

“So you’d rather put your child in danger?” she asked. “Hell, Hannah, you’re making all of these assumptions about him and—”

“I’m sorry, Viona, but I know him better than you do.”

Viona quickly shut her mouth and sighed. “Fine, fine. I understand,” she said. “But I think it’s worth considering. If someone really is out there trying to start shit on this scale, you’ll want him—the Alpha of Nightcrest—on yours and your baby’s sides.”

Another retort died in my throat. Viona was right, of course; it would be safer with Noah knowing the truth. We could tackle whatever nefarious bullshit that was going on together. He wouldn’t let anyone do anything that would harm our baby, and that was a fact.

“Listen,” Viona said softly, reaching across the table to touch my hand, “you could just talk to him. Tell him what you want. Maybe you could still have a divorce while figuring out something that works for you two and the baby…”

I sighed. “I… I can’t handle joint custody, if that’s what you mean,” I said.

“It doesn’t have to be like that. But I think you really should consider just talking to him.” Viona blinked at me after she spoke, jutting her chin out—silently urging me to think about her proposal. And she did have a point, no matter how much it hurt.

“Fine,” I finally said after a beat of silence. “I’ll consider talking to Noah.”

“Talk to Noah about what?”

The sound of an all-too-familiar voice caused us both to jerk our heads up in panic. Turning, I saw Scott headed toward our table.