Chapter 203

Hannah

My legs were still trembling when the door opened and Lily poked her head in, already dressed for the day. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in the scene: me, flushed and disheveled against the wall, and Noah, casually drying his hands on a towel.

“Lily!” I breathed, shooting her a withering glare. “Don’t just walk in like—”

“Sorry, sorry!” Lily exclaimed, holding her hands up innocently, although there was no hiding the way her gaze darted knowingly between us. “Breakfast is on the table. Mom sent me to fetch you two.”

“Thanks, Lily,” Noah replied, smooth as ever. “We’ll be down in a few minutes. Hannah was just about to shower.”

As soon as the door closed, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding. “I’ll… I’ll shower, then,” I muttered, pushing away from the wall.

He nodded, stepping aside to let me pass. “I’ll wait for you downstairs.”

The hot water did little to wash away what we had just done. As I scrubbed my skin until it was pink and practically raw, I couldn’t help but replay what had just happened over and over again in my head.

The way Noah’s fingers had felt, the intense pleasure he had given me... and the revelation that I had been his first. His only.

That thought alone made me shiver. He had never told me before, but then again, I supposed I had never asked. I had just assumed that he and Zoe had sex all the time during their relationship.

I found it hard to believe him—but it was even harder to find a reason not to. Still being a virgin by the time one was twenty didn’t seem like something that most guys, especially Noah, would openly admit unless it was true.

After showering, I quickly threw on a light sundress and a cardigan, roughly combing my hair before heading downstairs.

By the time I joined everyone at the breakfast table, my hair was still damp and my cheeks were flushed from more than just the hot shower. Noah was already seated, chatting amicably with my father about pack business.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” my mother greeted me, completely oblivious to my tension. “Sleep well?”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak as I took the only open seat—which was right next to Noah. His leg brushed against mine under the table, and I had to suppress a shiver.

Across the table, I caught a glimpse of my sister eyeing me over her coffee cup. I met her gaze, and a tiny smirk touched her lips, making my face redden even further. I narrowed my eyes, hardening my features—a silent order for her to keep her mouth well enough shut.

She did. But my mother noticed.

“What are you two on about?” my mother laughed, passing me the fruit platter. “Are you turning into teenagers again?”

Lily quickly shook her head and grinned impishly. “Of course not,” she cooed. “It’s nothing.”

Throughout breakfast, I found it increasingly difficult to act casual. Every time Noah’s leg touched mine under the table, I squirmed, memories of his touch flooding back. It was maddening, trying to maintain a normal conversation while my body was on high alert like this.

Part of me was angry at myself for letting Noah touch me earlier. But another part... another part couldn’t stop thinking about how good it had felt, how I had wanted more. I still wanted more, even though I knew it was bad.

After breakfast, we said our emotional goodbyes and packed our bags into the car. My mother’s hand found mine, and she pulled me aside, hugging me tightly.

“Are you two going to be okay?” she whispered, low enough so only I could hear.

I stiffened in her arms. “Mom, I—”

“Just… think about what I said,” she murmured, gripping both of my shoulders tightly as she pulled back. “Really think about it, Hannah. For you both, and…” She paused, placing her hand over my belly.

I nodded stiffly. “I’ll think about it, Mom,” I responded.

Once we had said our goodbyes, Noah and I headed out to the car. I found myself hesitating before getting in. Was I really going back to Nightcrest? After everything?

It felt like the right thing to do, all things considered. Noah had promised to care for me throughout the pregnancy, and carrying the heir to a pack could be dangerous once the wrong people found out. I would be safe, comfortable, healthy…

Or maybe I was just rationalizing it because I was sentimental. Because what had happened this morning had been all too… missed. His touch had become so foreign to me that I hadn’t even realized how much I craved it until his hands were all over me.

And a traitorous part of me wanted to experience as much of that sensation as I could before we parted ways.

As we pulled away from my childhood home, I watched it disappear in the side mirror. Part of me wondered if I had made the right choice, but I pushed the thought aside. This was for the baby, I reminded myself. Nothing more.

The drive was mostly silent, with Noah occasionally asking if I needed anything or wanted to stop. By the time we reached the hotel where we had stayed on the way to Silvermoon, I was exhausted.

We made our way up to the room, and I immediately flopped onto the bed, kicking off my shoes.

“Tired?” Noah asked.

“Exhausted,” I mumbled into the pillow.

Noah didn’t stop me as I slumped into the bed, even though it wasn’t even dinnertime yet. Soon, I had drifted off into a much-needed nap.

Although, my dreams were filled with a confusing mixture of memories and fantasies. Noah’s face floated through my mind, interrupting each dream as it came and went. It wasn’t very restful at all.

I woke up disoriented some time later, and found that the room was completely dark except for the soft glow of Noah’s reading light.

“What time is it?” I asked, my voice groggy.

“Just past midnight.”

I groaned and sat up, running a hand through my hair. “I missed dinner.”

Noah gestured to a covered tray sitting in the center of the room. “I ordered you room service. If it’s not to your liking, you can order something else.”

It was hard to hide the small smile that tugged at my lips as I rose, walking over to the rolling cart in the middle of the room. I lifted the silver cover and found a thick burger and glistening fries waiting for me, still warm from the cover and the heating pad beneath.

The room was silent as I ate, savoring the rich taste of the meat and the greasy potatoes. A few months ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed of eating so much as a bite of this; but now, I ate the whole thing. Every last crumb.

When I was finished, I wiped my mouth with my napkin and looked up to find Noah smirking at me on the bed.

“What?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Nothing. It’s just… good to see you eating.”

I blushed slightly, glancing over at the mirror. My belly had, as of late, had finally begun to swell—both from gaining weight and from the pregnancy. I ran my hand across it, already dreaming of the day when I would really look pregnant.

“I guess it’s a good thing my dad announced it last night,” I said quietly. “Before I start showing too much.”

Noah nodded, setting his book aside. “It’s better than the tabloids finding pictures of you in public and publishing those damn ‘baby bump’ articles.”

I scoffed slightly and rose from my chair. Noah’s eyes were fixed on my belly, his face softer than I had ever seen it.

Sighing, I walked over to him and gestured to my tiny bump. “Do you want to…?”

Noah’s eyes widened slightly as he looked up at me. He jerked upright, his movements somehow both slow and quick at the same time. Tentatively, he reached out and placed both hands over my belly.

The touch sent a jolt through me, but I stayed still. Even when he leaned forward and pressed his forehead against my belly.

Tears pricked the backs of my eyes at the sensation. To think that we would be divorced once this was all over, that our little one would never experience their parents being together…

When he pulled away, he said quietly, “Hannah, about this morning—”

“Can we not talk about it?” I interrupted, quickly blinking away my tears. “Please?”

He nodded, but there was a glint in his eye that made me nervous. “Sure. We don’t have to talk.”

Before I could react, Noah’s hand had lowered, coming to rest on my thigh. “But maybe you need another release? To help you sleep better?”

Gasping, I went to slap his hand away, but Noah was quicker. He caught my wrist mid-air, his eyes blazing in the dim light.