Chapter 233

Hannah

I took a deep breath as I approached the imposing gates of Darkmoon Pack’s council building. The utilitarian iron bars of the fence that stretched across the entire border between our packs seemed to loom over us, casting a shadow on the ground despite the warm and sunny day.

I frowned as I looked up at those bars. Ridiculous, I thought to myself. As if Darkmoon needed a fence spanning the entire border between our packs. This wasn’t the dark ages anymore. We weren’t going to invade.

Melody cooed softly in my arms, her tiny fingers grasping at the fabric of my blouse.

“Are you sure about this, Han?” Viona whispered from beside me, her eyes darting nervously around the perimeter.

I nodded, squaring my shoulders as my head of security pressed the buzzer to let us in.

“We have to go. Alpha David requested this meeting, and we can’t afford to strain our relationship with Darkmoon any further.”

The gates creaked open, and we were greeted by a stern-faced Beta with gray hair who led us through the winding paths of the Darkmoon compound. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel the eyes of countless pack members on us as we passed.

The relationship between Silvermoon and Darkmoon, the pack that hugged our southern border, had always been tenuous. I remembered my father often arguing with the Alpha, Mikhail, about all kinds of things since I was a kid. Mainly land disputes.

Which I assumed was why the new Alpha, David—Mikhail’s only son—had called us here today. They likely wanted some piece of land of ours or another. Likely one that was too valuable to us to give up.

The doors to the meeting hall swung open, revealing a long table surrounded by men—not a woman in sight. At the head sat Alpha David, square jaw set hard beneath a jet black beard, his piercing blue eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my skin crawl.

As I entered with Melody in my arms, flanked by my all-female security team and with Viona at my side, I saw David’s lip curl in barely concealed disdain. The room fell silent, especially as Melody cooed in my arms.

“Alpha Hannah,” David said, his voice dripping with forced politeness. “How... kind of you to join us. And with your... entourage.”

“Alpha David. Thank you for the invitation. I hope we can address whatever concerns you have promptly and efficiently.”

David’s eyes flicked to Melody, then back to me. “Indeed. Though I must say, I’m surprised you brought an infant to such an important meeting.”

I felt a flare of irritation but kept my voice level. “My daughter goes where I go, Alpha David.”

He grunted noncommittally, gesturing for us to take our seats. As we settled in, I could feel the disapproving glares from the other pack members. I was used to this by now; many still looked down on me for being a female Alpha, let alone one who insisted on keeping her child close at all times.

I’d even breastfed at a meeting once. It had pissed off the men in the room, but I’d run out of fucks to give after laboring for nearly 24 hours to bring my daughter into the world. I’d breastfeed at this meeting, too, if necessary.

“Now,” I said, adjusting Melody in my lap, “what was so urgent that you called this meeting, Alpha David? I hope it’s not another dispute over the border.”

David’s eyes narrowed. “No, though that’s a matter we'll need to revisit soon. This is about something... or rather, someone else.”

I quirked an eyebrow. He nodded to his Beta, who placed a folder on the table and slid it toward me. With one hand still supporting Melody, I flipped it open, trying to look as bored as possible.

But there was no helping the way my eyes widened as I took in the contents.

Inside the folder was photo after photo of Alvin in various compromising situations throughout Darkmoon territory. Public intoxication, urinating on buildings, even soliciting prostitutes. I felt like I was going to be sick.

“I see,” I said, keeping my voice neutral. “And what do you propose we do about this... situation?”

David leaned back in his chair with a smug look on his face. “Well, as it happens, we have your wayward cousin in custody. I thought you might want to deal with him personally.”

He snapped his fingers, and the doors opened once more. Two burly guards entered, half-dragging a disheveled and handcuffed Alvin between them. I resisted the urge to let my jaw drop.

“Hannah! Oh, thank the Goddess,” Alvin slurred, his eyes bloodshot. “Tell these barbarians to unhand me! Don’t they know who I am?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. “Oh, Alvin,” I sighed. “What have you done now?”

David rose from his seat. “I’ll release him into your custody, Alpha Hannah. But know this: if he sets foot in Darkmoon territory again and causes any more trouble, I won’t be so lenient. He’ll find himself in our prison, diplomatic immunity be damned.”

I nodded, standing as well. “Understood, Alpha David. You have my sincerest apologies—and my word that this won’t happen again.”

And to think that we almost let this fucker become Alpha of Silvermoon, I thought to myself, although I didn’t dare say that out loud. Not in front of so many people.

With that, David and his entourage left. As the guards released Alvin, I handed Melody to Viona and approached my cousin. Without warning, I whacked him upside the head with my open palm.

“Ow!” he yelped. “What was that for?”

“For being a complete and utter moron,” I hissed. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve just caused? You’re lucky I don't throw you in our own prison.”

Alvin rubbed his head, glaring at me. “You’re the one who told me to go on a nice little vacation,” he sneered.

I raised my hand to hit him again and he flinched, shutting his mouth.

“You’re sentenced to two months of community service in the Silvermoon soup kitchen,” I said, wiping my hand on my pants and turning away. “Maybe that’ll teach you some humility.”

I nodded to one of my guards. “Take him out of here. Make sure he doesn’t cause any more trouble on the way home.”

As the guard led Alvin past us, he sneered at Melody in Viona’s arms. The baby, sensing the hostility, began to cry.

I bit back the urge to shout at Alvin and took Melody from Viona. She quieted as I began to bounce her, and I ignored the looks of mockery and disdain as we made our way back to the car.

“Well, that could have gone worse,” Viona said quietly as we passed back through those ridiculous gates.

I snorted. “Surprisingly, David wasn’t as cruel as I expected—not quite like his father. Although his entourage looked at us like we were a circus act.”

“They’re just not used to seeing a woman in power,” Viona reasoned. “Let alone one who brings her baby to important meetings.”

I looked down at Melody, who had calmed down and was now contentedly sucking her thumb. “Well, they’d better get used to it. I’m not going anywhere, and neither is she.”

As we climbed into the car, I caught sight of Alvin being roughly shoved into another vehicle. He was still muttering and complaining, his words slurred and barely coherent.

I shook my head, feeling utterly exhausted. Viona and I shared a look of annoyance.

“Men…” we muttered in unison.