Chapter 232

Hannah

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

Viona leaned against the door of my study, hands in her pockets as she stared at the letter in my hands.

I nodded, carefully folding the letter that Noah had sent requesting to visit. Not so much a request as it was a demand.

“I don’t have much of a choice,” I said, tossing the letter aside. “If I refuse an Alpha’s formal request, it could have political ramifications.” I cringed just looking at that formal letterhead.

Viona sighed heavily, crossing the room to sink into the armchair across from me. The leather creaked under her weight. “I still don’t feel good about this. After everything he’s done... Are you sure you’re ready to face him? Especially now that Melody is here?”

I shrugged, glancing down at my daughter, who was swaddled and sleeping comfortably in the little bassinet next to my desk. She was two weeks old now, and growing more and more perfect and beautiful by the day. Motherhood was a dream. It was tough, especially when balancing Alpha duties along with it, but I loved it.

“Ready or not, it has to be done,” I replied, my voice tight. I went to touch my baby bump, but there was nothing there. I’d still had yet to get used to that. “It’s better to face this head-on than let him cause trouble later on down the road.”

Word had spread like wildfire, of course, when Melody had been born. It took less than a day for Noah to find out. Ever since then, he had been persistently trying to contact me. I’d ignored his calls, deleted his messages without reading them.

But this formal request couldn’t be brushed aside so easily.

There was no doubt in my mind that he was just curious to see if Melody looked like him at all. He wasn’t coming to give me his regards or bring a gift. He was coming to see if he needed to claim her as his heir and take her back to Nightcrest.

But I’d die before I let that happen.

“At least Drake will be here when Noah comes,” I assured Viona, noticing the slight blush that colored her cheeks at the mention of his name. She said nothing, but I caught the small smile she tried to hide.

“What?” I asked, a smirk playing on my lips.

Viona shook her head, her cheeks darkening. “Nothing. I’m just glad Drake will be here to support you, that’s all.”

I raised an eyebrow but decided not to push their budding romance. Instead, I rose from my chair and turned my attention to the window, watching as the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the lawn.

“He should be here soon,” I murmured, more to myself than to Viona.

As if on cue, a knock at the door announced Drake's arrival. He entered the room with a broad smile, his eyes immediately landing on Melody in her bassinet near my desk.

“There’s my favorite girl,” he cooed, scooping her up gently. “Uncle Drake is here to spoil you rotten.”

I couldn’t help but smile as I watched him cradle Melody. His large frame somehow made her look even tinier, her delicate features accentuated by his strong arms. She yawned, prising a tiny hand free from her swaddle, and reached for his nose as he went in to nuzzle her.

“You’re good with babies,” I mused, elbowing Viona in the ribs with a grin.

Drake grinned, not noticing the way that Viona suddenly looked fit to burst and quickly ran from the room because he was too busy staring at Melody. “This little one makes it easy. I can’t wait to spoil her to bits. Maybe a pony for her first birthday?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Let’s start with something smaller. Maybe a stuffed pony?”

Our peaceful moment was suddenly interrupted by another knock at the door. My heart rate spiked, and I felt my body tense. Drake turned, still holding Melody, and took a protective step in front of me, baring his fangs. But he relaxed when I put my hand on his arm.

“It’s alright, Drake.”

A moment later, my security team—I’d made a point of hiring all female officers, which I had no doubt Noah noticed—trailed in.

And there he was amongst them.

The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately as Noah entered. He looked just as handsome as ever, clean-shaven and wearing a crisp black suit. I felt my breath catch as I saw him for the first time after all these months.

For a moment, he just stood there in the doorway. I felt my wolf react to his presence, that primal part of me wanting to run to him, to shake him, caught somewhere between wanting to kiss him and slap him.

But he barely looked at me. Rather, his eyes briefly darted around, taking in the scene before landing on Drake holding Melody. His lip curled in disgust, and I could practically feel the jealousy radiating off of him.

“Hannah,” Noah said stiffly, his gaze flickering between me and the baby.

“That’s Alpha Hannah to you,” Drake hissed. Noah ignored him.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “Noah. It’s good to see you.”

He nodded, his expression unreadable. “Same to you.”

Yeah, right, I wanted to say. Instead, I ground out, “I’m assuming you want to see Melody?”

“That was the plan.”

I gently took Melody from Drake, who was reluctant to let go. “I know this is why you really came,” I said, my eyes flashing as I crossed the room to meet him. “Even though you said you didn’t believe she was yours, you at least want to see if she bears a resemblance to you, don’t you?”

Viona, who had appeared in the doorway behind Noah, grit her teeth—clearly biting back a well-timed “Bastard”.

Noah leaned forward to look at Melody, drinking in every detail of her tiny face. I watched as recognition dawned in his eyes, his stoic facade cracking slightly.

“She has my eyes,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

I nodded, looking down at Melody’s face. “Forest green. Just like yours.” I hated the way my voice cracked at the end, and I had to quickly blink away misty tears pricking at my eyes.

Noah was silent for a long moment, his eyes wide as he no doubt recognized his own blood in our daughter.

“Can I hold her?”

The request sent a jolt through me. My arms tightened around Melody instinctively. “No,” I said firmly. “You said once that she’s not your baby, and now she really never will be. You were allowed to come to see if she looks like you, but that’s all.”

A strange look passed over Noah’s eyes then, a mixture of regret and longing. He took a step forward, his hands reaching out toward Melody. “Hannah, please. I just want to—”

In an instant, Drake was between us, a low growl rumbling in his chest. “I think it’s time for you to leave,” he said, his voice hard.

Noah’s jaw clenched, his eyes darting between Drake and Melody. For a moment, I thought he might argue, but then his shoulders slumped in defeat.

“Fine,” he said, his voice bitter. “I’ll go. But this isn’t over, Hannah. You’re holding the heir to Nightcrest in your arms.”

“She’s the heir to Silvermoon now. And you’d better watch yourself,” I growled, baring my own fangs now.

As Drake escorted Noah out, I moved to the window, watching as he walked down the driveway. I let my eyes wander across the hard lines of his shoulders, the way that his dark hair fluttered in the afternoon breeze. Only then, with his back turned, did I allow myself to let out the breath I’d been holding.

I hated to admit, even to myself, that I missed him. That seeing his face did indeed bring up a whole host of emotions and memories that I’d been shoving down these past months. That Viona was right, and now I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to handle a wedding after all.

But then Melody, as if sensing that her father had left her, began to cry loudly.

I held her close, bouncing her gently as I watched Noah's retreating figure. His car door slammed, the sound echoing across the quiet afternoon.

“Shh, it’s okay,” I murmured to Melody, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. I turned away from the window and held her close, hoping that she couldn’t sense the tears in my eyes. “It’s just us now. We’ll forget about him.”