Chapter 234

Noah

Noah stood by the window, his eyes fixed on the gardeners working diligently outside. The meticulously manicured lawn stretched out in front of him, a sea of green punctuated by vibrant flower beds. But his mind was elsewhere, replaying the moment he had seen his daughter for the first time.

Those eyes. Forest green, just like his own.

The image of that baby’s tiny face was burned into his memory, her delicate features a perfect blend of him and Hannah. His wolf had recognized her instantly, that primal part of him knowing without a doubt that this was his kin, his flesh and blood.

Melody. What a lovely name. Her soft coos and gurgles were like a song.

Noah couldn’t help but wonder, in that moment, why he had ever doubted that that baby was his.

Hannah… She wouldn’t cheat on him.

“No,” his wolf growled, “she wouldn’t. Why did we think she would?”

For the first time in weeks, Noah felt a strange clarity settling over him in those moments. It was as if… As if a fog was lifting from his mind, allowing him to see things more clearly. He frowned, trying to make sense of the jumbled memories and emotions swirling inside of him.

He remembered feeling so happy just days before the divorce. So at peace. But he couldn’t recall why.

When Hannah had left, something had taken hold of him and he had run out the door and called after her. Scott had found him running down the road in his wolf form, dazed and confused, and had brought him home.

“She cheated on you, man,” Scott had told him as he brought him a cup of jasmine tea later to soothe his nerves. “You’ve known this for months. Why try and get her back now?”

Noah had felt so confused, but the tea had helped clear his head. Right… Hannah had cheated on him. He’d known this for months now.

But he couldn’t help the pang of longing that shot through him now. It was so intense it almost took his breath away. He missed her. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks.

Noah turned abruptly, his eyes landing on his car keys resting on a nearby table. He could go to her. Go to his baby. Hannah wouldn’t—

Just as he was about to grab the keys and go, he heard a soft clinking behind him. A moment later, a pair of arms snaked around his waist from behind. The familiar scent of jasmine enveloped him as Zoe pressed herself against his back.

“What’s wrong, baby?” she asked. “You look troubled.”

Noah hesitated, his hand still twitching toward the keys. “I... I can’t stop thinking about Melody,” he admitted. “She looks just like me, Zoe. Those eyes... They’re exactly like mine.”

Zoe stiffened against him, her arms tightening almost imperceptibly. “Noah,” she said, her tone carefully controlled, “we’ve talked about this. I told you already that—”

“I know,” Noah interrupted, turning to face her. “You said Hannah was cheating on me with Drake for years. And I believe you. But Zoe, you should have seen her. The baby has my eyes.”

Zoe’s expression softened, a sympathetic smile playing on her lips. “Oh, Noah,” she sighed, turning to pour a cup of that jasmine tea on the nearby table. “Babies all kind of look the same at that age. And don’t you know that Drake’s father had green eyes? It must be a recessive gene. Skipped Drake and went to the baby.”

Noah furrowed his brow, trying to remember. “I... I'm not sure. I never met Drake’s father.”

“Trust me,” Zoe insisted, gently pressing the cup of tea into his hands. “That baby is not yours, Noah. You don’t need to worry about it. Drink. You’re just frazzled.”

Noah felt his resolve wavering under Zoe’s intense gaze. She always had a way of making him see reason, of calming the storm inside him. Nodding, he took a sip of tea, and the warmth spread through him like wildfire.

“Besides,” Zoe continued, “if you’re worried about having an heir, Adam will become your heir once we’re married. You know how much he adores you already.”

Noah couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Zoe’s son. The boy had quickly wormed his way into Noah’s heart over the past few months. He was a good boy. Not at all like his philanderer father.

Zoe’s cheeks flushed slightly as she added, “And... I wouldn’t be opposed to having another child. With you.”

The idea sent a thrill through Noah. He nodded, feeling some of the tension leave his body as he took another sip of tea. “I’d be more than happy to make Adam the heir to Nightcrest,” he said. “And having another baby with you... with the love of my life... That sounds wonderful.”

Zoe let out a relieved sigh, leaning up on her toes to press a soft kiss to Noah’s cheek. “I’m so happy we’re finally getting married,” she murmured. “After all these years, I still love you just as much as I did before our mate bond was severed.”

Noah’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of their mate bond. It was something that had been weighing on his mind lately. “Do you think…” he started, hesitating for a moment. “Do you think our mate bond will rejoin once we go through the wedding ceremony?”

Zoe’s eyes lit up, a radiant smile spreading across her face. “Of course it will,” she promised. “And then we’ll finally be one big, happy family... without her getting in the way and ruining everything.”

Noah felt a twinge of discomfort at her words, but he pushed it aside and took another sip of tea. Zoe was right. They were going to be happy together. This was what he wanted.

“Oh!” Zoe exclaimed suddenly, her eyes widening with excitement. “I almost forgot. I have some wedding samples I want to show you.”

She hurried over to a nearby drawer, pulling out a folder stuffed with fabric swatches and color palettes. Noah’s gaze followed her. He finished his tea and poured another cup. Zoe had introduced him to this jasmine tea a while back, and it really did soothe his nerves. It cleared his mind, made him realize the truth.

“What do you think about these for the napkins?” Zoe asked, holding up two nearly identical shades of cream. “I’m leaning toward the eggshell, but the ivory could work too.”

Noah squinted at the swatches, struggling to see any difference between them. “They both look nice,” he offered diplomatically.

Zoe rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “Come on, Noah. This is important. We want everything to be perfect for our big day.”

She continued to prattle on about table settings and floral arrangements, holding up various samples for Noah’s approval. He nodded along, making noncommittal sounds of agreement when prompted as he sipped his tea.

He wanted to make his bride happy, to be excited about their future together.

But as Zoe chattered away, Noah found his mind drifting. Despite his best efforts to focus on wedding plans and their life together, he couldn’t shake the image of Melody from his thoughts. Those forest green eyes, so much like his own, seemed to stare back at him from his memory.

And then there was Hannah. The way she had looked at him when he’d visited, a mixture of defiance and hurt in her eyes. The protective way she’d held their daughter—no, not their daughter, he corrected himself. Melody wasn’t his. Zoe had assured him of that.

But still, Noah couldn’t stop the nagging doubt that crept into his mind. He couldn’t stop thinking about that baby... and Hannah.

Noah poured another cup of tea.