Chapter 200

Hannah

I felt the blood drain from my face as my father’s words echoed through the ballroom. He shouldn’t have announced that here, not without my permission. This was my news to share, on my terms, when I was ready.

But now everyone was looking at Noah and me, applauding and cheering and shouting their congratulations, and I had to plaster that damn smile on my face. The room spun slightly from it all, and I felt Noah’s arm tighten around my waist.

“It’s okay,” he murmured in my ear. “He’s just excited, and wasn’t thinking.”

I nodded stiffly, knowing that he was right; my father was just happy to be having a second grandchild, and he didn’t mean any harm. Would he be making this announcement if he knew that Noah and I planned to divorce, though?

I thought it was over, but it wasn’t. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” the crowd began to chant.

Oh, Goddess. Here we go…

Noah’s grip on me tightened further. “We should probably give them what they want,” he said softly, turning to me. “Just a quick peck, to make them happy. Is that okay?”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak at that moment. Noah leaned in, his lips brushing mine gently. The sensation was overwhelming, so familiar yet so foreign at the same time. I hadn’t tasted him since that night together, that night which felt so long ago now…

My knees buckled just from the intensity of that small contact, and Noah practically had to hold me upright as the crowd erupted in applause.

“To Hannah and Noah’s baby!” my father’s voice boomed over the noise. “May the little one be blessed with health and happiness!”

Glasses clinked all around us as the toast was made. Noah and I pulled apart again, although his arm remained, steadying me. The room suddenly felt too hot, too crowded. I needed air.

“I need a minute,” I whispered to Noah, slipping out of his grasp and making my way to the balcony.

The cool night air was a relief as I stepped outside. I gripped the railing, sucking in a few deep breaths to steady myself. The sounds of the party seemed distant now, muffled by the glass doors behind me. I started to feel better, if only a little.

I should have been happy. Elated, even. I should have been up there with my father, excitedly announcing my long-awaited pregnancy to the world. An heir to Nightcrest, finally, after all these years… The news would quickly spread. Dammit, I should have been the one screaming it from the rooftops.

But instead, all I could think about was how this would affect the divorce. How it would affect us.

“Here,” Noah’s voice suddenly came from beside me. I turned to see him holding out a glass of ginger ale. “I thought you might be feeling nauseous.”

I took the glass gratefully, sipping the bubbly liquid. “Thank you,” I murmured. I hadn’t realized that I had begun to feel a bit nauseous during the ordeal, but I felt better now.

Noah leaned against the railing next to me, his eyes searching my face. “Are you okay? You seemed a bit... weak after the kiss. Is my cologne too strong? I can stop using it if it’s making you nauseous.”

I shook my head. “No, the cologne is fine. It’s just...” I trailed off, unsure how to explain myself.

“Just what?” Noah prompted.

I sighed. “I don’t know how to act when we kiss anymore. It’s been so long since we’ve... you know. Especially in public.”

Noah was quiet for a moment. Then, “Do you... like kissing me?”

I couldn’t answer that. How could I tell him that his kisses still made my heart race, even after everything? How could I admit that my knees went weak whenever he touched me, even if I couldn’t say I loved him anymore?

Instead, I said, “It’s always felt strange kissing you in public, even when it’s just for show, like tonight.” I paused, then added in a shaky whisper, “I always wonder if you picture Zoe when we kiss. She’s so much prettier than me, and she knows how to act better in public.”

I thought that Noah might get upset; in fact, part of me almost hoped that he would get upset. Because fighting… that was easier. That was normal. Comfortable, even.

But to my surprise, Noah simply reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Hannah,” he said softly, “you are beautiful. I’ve always found you beautiful.”

My eyes widened, and I turned, my mouth working uselessly.

“Especially now,” he continued, “with the pregnancy glow and having overcome your eating disorder.” His fingers lingered on my cheek, then trailed down to pinch a strand of hair between his fingers. “And your hair... I like that you’re not bleaching it anymore. I always preferred your natural color. Strawberry blonde.”

I just stood there dumbly, stunned by his words and the tenderness in his touch. Was he…?

For a moment, I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, there was still something between us.

Maybe this wasn’t beyond repair. Maybe he really was trying to be better, and maybe I… Maybe I needed to be better, too.

But then a camera flashed, startling me. The party photographer had found us, capturing our intimate moment for tomorrow morning’s society article. Noah’s hand dropped away, and the spell was broken.

Oh, I thought bitterly. Right; we had to be a happy couple for the cameras. Noah had likely seen the photographer approaching, and had given them what they wanted—just like the kiss. That was all this was.

“Thank you for the ginger ale,” I said, stepping back. “You can go back to the party if you want. I’ll be fine out here.”

Noah hesitated, then nodded. As he turned to leave, I blinked back the tears that threatened to fall.

Eventually, I made my way back into the ballroom, pasting on my signature smile as I mingled with the guests. Everyone wanted to congratulate me, to ask about the baby, to give unsolicited advice. It was exhausting.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the mother-to-be,” a familiar voice drawled behind me.

I turned to see my cousin, Alvin, looking dashing as always in a perfectly tailored suit. His golden hair was artfully tousled, and his blue eyes sparkled with mischief as he sauntered up to me. Even from here, I could smell ladies’ perfume on him—and if I squinted, I could make out a smudge of red lipstick peeking out from under his collar.

“Alvin,” I greeted him, forcing a smile.

He grinned, raising his half-empty champagne glass in a toast. “Congratulations, cousin. Your child will one day be the heir of Nightcrest, if it’s a boy... you must be proud.”

I shook my head. “Actually, Alvin, since both Noah and I possess the Alpha gene, our child will have it regardless of gender.”

Alvin’s eyebrows shot up. “Right... I almost forgot you had the Alpha gene too. You could have been the Alpha of Silvermoon, if you wanted to. But you gave it up when you married Noah, didn’t you?”

I felt a twinge of regret at his words. “I suppose I did,” I admitted. “But you’ll be taking over if my father abdicates.”

Alvin’s grin widened. “That’s right. And rumor has it that might be sooner rather than later.”

We both paused, turning to observe my father, who was in the midst of a dance with my mother on the dancefloor. Even now, my father’s movements were a bit stiff, and I could see him wince ever so slightly every time he stepped on his right foot. The party was beginning to take its toll on his arthritis.

“He’s sixty tonight, correct?” Alvin asked.

I nodded, then turned, studying my cousin carefully. He was handsome and charming, I would give him that. But… “Do you feel prepared to run a pack responsibly, Alvin?” I blurted out. “It’s a big job.”

He merely shrugged, snagging another champagne flute from a passing waitress. His eyes lingered on her chest as she walked away. “I’m sure I’ll figure it out,” he said dismissively.

“Figure it out?” I hissed. “You should be prepared. You should—”

“Hannah. Hannah, Hannah.” Alvin turned to me, his lips curling up into a catlike smirk. “Don’t worry so much. It’s not good for the baby.”

With that, he turned on his heel and left.

I bit my tongue, fighting back the urge to say something cutting. But as I watched him walk away, I couldn’t help but worry about the future of Silvermoon.

If there was any doubt in my mind about divorcing Noah—any sliver of me that was debating staying and working on our marriage—that was gone now.

I needed to divorce Noah so I could take over my home pack. If I didn’t…

Well, I wasn’t sure what would become of Silvermoon with an Alpha like Alvin. But I knew it wouldn’t be good.