Chapter 235

Hannah

I stared at the wedding invitation on my dresser, my fingers tracing the ornate gold lettering. Noah and Zoe’s wedding was coming up soon. The thought still made my stomach churn, but now there was a new emotion mixed in with the hurt.

Determination.

“You know what?” I said to Viona, who was sprawled on my bed, flipping through a magazine. “I’ve decided I’m going to look amazing at this wedding.”

“You do look amazing.” She licked her thumb and flipped the page.

I turned to the mirror, prodding my belly. The baby bump was gone by now, and I didn’t at all mind the little bit of fat and loose skin that lingered there. I had carried an entire life inside of me for nearly nine months, after all. But still…

“I know,” I said. “But is it so wrong to want to show up looking like a million bucks?”

“Not at all.” Viona sat up, tossing her magazine aside. “And besides, it’s been far too long since we had one of our good old-fashioned shopping sprees.”

The next day found us at the upscale mall in the heart of Silvermoon. Racks of designer dresses surrounded us, a rainbow of fabrics and styles.

“What about this one?” Viona held up a slinky black number.

I shook my head. “Too funeral-ish. I want to look hot, not like I’m still mourning my marriage.”

After trying on what felt like a hundred dresses, I finally emerged from the dressing room in a forest green silk gown that hugged every curve.

Viona’s jaw dropped. “Hannah, that’s it. You look incredible.”

I turned to the mirror, barely recognizing myself. The dress was daring, with a plunging neckline and a high slit that showed off my leg. But what struck me most was how powerful I looked.

Not to mention the color; forest green, just like Melody’s eyes. Just like his eyes.

It would be a real slap in the face for him. Teach him for doubting that my baby was his when he was the one who’d been lying and cheating for months.

“I love it,” I breathed. “But... I’d like to lose some of this baby weight to really pull it off.” I paused, then added, “In a healthy way this time.”

Viona rolled her eyes. “You look amazing as is. But if you really want to tone up, why not ask Drake to start training you again?”

The idea of getting back into shape appealed to me. Not just to look good in the dress, but to feel strong again. To be able to protect Melody with everything I had.

“You’re right,” I nodded. “I’ll give him a call.”

The next morning, I found myself in the pack’s training facility, facing off against Drake in the sparring ring just like old times. Viona sat on the sidelines, scrolling through her phone—although the way her eyes occasionally flicked up to gawk at Drake’s shirtless torso, muscles glistening in the dim light, wasn’t lost on me. I don’t think it was lost on Drake, either, because he flexed unnecessarily.

“Ready to get your ass kicked, Alpha?” Drake grinned, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

I snorted and adjusted the wraps around my hands. “In your dreams, pretty boy.”

We circled each other, muscles tense, ready to strike. Drake made the first move, lunging forward with a swift jab. To my surprise, I dodged it easily, my body reacting on instinct.

As we continued to spar, I found myself matching Drake blow for blow. My muscles remembered the training, even if I hadn’t worked out in months. In fact, I felt stronger than ever.

After an hour of intense training, we both collapsed onto the mat, breathing heavily.

“Damn, Han,” Drake panted. “You’re tougher than ever these days. I thought you’d be rusty after the baby, but you’re kicking my ass.”

I sat up, wiping sweat from my brow. “Really? I feel out of shape.”

Drake shook his head. “If anything, you seem stronger. Maybe becoming an Alpha and a mother strengthened your wolf.”

That made sense. But then I thought back to the hunt last year, where I’d taken down a deer single-handedly. “I guess I was pretty tough at last year’s hunt,” I mused.

Drake smirked. “Maybe you’re just a badass by nature.”

I rolled my eyes, but couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips. “Oh, stop it, you flatterer. I’m going to go change.”

As I showered in the locker room, letting the hot water soothe my aching muscles, I found myself imagining the upcoming wedding. In my mind’s eye, I saw myself walking into the venue, turning heads in that green dress. I pictured myself not necessarily skinny, but strong and confident. I wanted to show everyone, especially Noah, that I was thriving without him.

Maybe once, I would have wanted to look skinny above all else. But not anymore.

The image of Noah’s shocked face when he saw my tanned muscles brought a smug smile to my face. I was going to knock his socks off, and then walk right past him without a second glance.

Feeling reinvigorated, I dried off and changed into fresh clothes. As I exited the locker room, I rounded the corner and stopped short.

There, by the sparring ring, were Drake and Viona, pressed up against one another on either side of the ropes. Viona’s fingers were tangled in his hair, and Drake was grunting into her mouth as she tugged him closer. I think I saw a tongue somewhere in the mix.

“Ew!” I yelled, causing them to spring apart, looking like deer caught in headlights.

“Hannah!” Viona squeaked, her face turning bright red. “We were just... uh…” She looked to Drake for support, but he just grinned and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

I couldn’t hold back my laughter. “Relax, I’m just messing with you. Though maybe next time, get a room or something?”

Drake chuckled, wrapping an arm around Viona’s waist—much to her chagrin. “Noted, Alpha.”

As we walked to the parking lot, I felt a pang of loneliness watching Drake and Viona together. They looked so happy, so in love. It made me realize how much I missed that connection. It was a lonely existence, being an Alpha and a single mother.

Viona must have sensed my mood shift, because on the way home, she glanced at me from the driver’s seat. It was just the two of us now. “You know, Hannah,” she said carefully, “have you thought about getting back out there? In the dating scene, I mean.”

I sighed, staring out the window. “I don’t know, Vi. I’m not sure if I’m ready for that just yet.”

“It doesn’t have to be anything serious,” she pressed. “Just go on some dates, have fun. Sometimes it just feels good to get out there and feel wanted, you know? You don’t even have to have sex.”

I chewed my lip, considering. “I don’t know. Maybe. I’ll think about it.”

Viona didn’t press further, but her words lingered in my mind. The idea of dating was intriguing, but it just felt… wrong. My heart didn’t feel ready for it after what Noah had done to me.

But maybe that was exactly why I needed to get back out there; if only to help myself move on, realize that there were other fish in the sea.

And maybe it wouldn’t hurt to bring a date to the wedding, either.

That night, as I sat in bed with Melody sleeping peacefully in her crib nearby, I found myself staring at my phone. The wedding invitation sitting on my dresser seemed to taunt me.

I sighed, rolling over. Maybe Viona was right. Maybe…

Before I could talk myself out of it, I opened the app store and downloaded a popular dating app. My fingers trembled slightly as I set up my profile, choosing a recent photo where I was smiling and holding Melody.

“Here goes nothing,” I muttered, starting to swipe through potential matches.

Suddenly, a familiar face popped up on my screen. My eyes widened in shock as I read the name.

David. Alpha of Darkmoon Pack.

Looking handsome as hell.

Without thinking, I swiped right. It was an instant match.