Chapter 238

Hannah

I wiped the sweat from my face and neck with a towel, gulping down water from my bottle. My muscles ached pleasantly from the intense workout, my limbs feeling delightfully loose and limber.

“Great session today, Hannah,” Drake said, clapping me on the shoulder. He might have even been more breathless than I was. “You really gave me a run for my money.”

“I’m glad to know I’ve finally put you in your place, Drake.”

Drake grinned roguishly and guzzled down his own water.

“Speaking of putting men in their place,” Viona cooed, leaning against the ropes surrounding the sparring ring, “how was your date the other night? Was Alpha David just as much of a bastard as he seems?”

I groaned, remembering the disaster of a date with David. “It was awful,” I grunted, grabbing my towel and slipping beneath the ropes. “A complete waste of time, actually. I should have just stayed home.”

“That bad, huh?” Drake asked, raising an eyebrow.

I sighed as I shoved my things into my bag. “David was arrogant the entire time, barely listened to anything I said. And then at the end of the night, he got mad that I wouldn’t sleep with him on the first date. He even kissed me without my permission. Said something along the lines of me owing him for buying me an expensive dinner.”

“Ew.” Viona shook her head, short hair bobbing around her face. “I’m sorry, Hannah. Men are disgusting.” She glanced at Drake, who was hopping down from the sparring ring now too. “No offense.”

Drake smirked. “None taken. Men are indeed disgusting.”

I shrugged and waved my hand. “It’s whatever, really. I just don’t think I’m ready to get back into the dating scene, that’s all.”

“Hey, don’t let one bad experience put you off,” Drake said gently. “In all seriousness, there are some good guys out there.”

“I know,” I replied. “It’s just... it was kind of scary, you know? I forgot how vulnerable dating can make you feel.”

Viona nodded sympathetically. “I get it. Take your time, Hannah. There’s no rush.”

After a moment of silence, Viona spoke up again. “But... are you bringing a plus one to the wedding?”

I shook my head. “No, I’m going alone. At first, I thought about bringing someone just to shove it in Noah’s face, but... I’ve decided I would rather go by myself than with someone I don’t even like.”

Drake and Viona exchanged glances. “Are you sure?” Drake asked. “I can go with you, if you wa—”

“No,” I said quickly, glancing at Viona. Her face was impassive, and I knew she wouldn’t care, but still. It felt… wrong now that they were a thing. “I can handle it on my own.”

The parking garage was dimly lit as I made my way out to my car a little while later, the fluorescent lights flickering ominously. For all my big talk of being able to handle myself earlier, one thing was for certain: this parking garage always freaked me out. Especially this late.

As I made my way to my car, digging through my purse with my keys, I shivered. Maybe it was just the eerie atmosphere, but I felt like I was being watched. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I quickened my pace.

Fumbling with my keys, I dropped them on the ground next to my car. “Shit,” I muttered, bending to pick them up.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. My heart rate spiked as I recognized David, his eyes glazed over.

“Well, well,” he slurred, stumbling toward me. “If it isn’t the little tease herself.”

I backed up against my car, my hand instinctively reaching for my phone. “David, what are you doing here?”

He closed the distance between us, and this close, I could smell whiskey on his breath. He’d been drinking. A lot.

“I’ve been thinking about our date,” he said, his words blurring together. “You’re quite the little playgirl, aren’t you?”

“What are you talking about?”

Before I could slip away, David leaned in, his body pressing me against the car. “Don’t play dumb, Hannah. I saw the way you were looking at me during dinner. Your body language... I know you wanted me and you’re just getting off on the chase.”

I pushed against his chest, but he didn’t budge. “That’s ridiculous. I don’t want you, David. You’re full of yourself and rude.” I sniffed, nose wrinkling at the scent of alcohol. “And you’re drunk as hell right now.”

He chuckled, the sound sending chills down my spine. “Such a little minx. I bet you’re just as feisty in bed as you are in those meetings.” He traced a finger along my exposed collarbone. “You know, that one time you breastfed in a meeting, I couldn’t stop staring at your enormous tits. I had to… finish myself after you left. Right there in my chair.”

I swallowed hard. “You’re disgusting.” I shoved at him again, but he just moved forward, caging me against the car with one hand pressing into the car window beside my head. I fumbled for my phone, but he noticed and slapped my hand, sending my phone skittering across the pavement.

“Come on, Hannah,” he whispered, his breath hot against my neck. “I want to find out what the almighty female Alpha is really like behind closed doors.”

Before I could react, his lips were on mine, his hand sliding up under my shirt. I froze, panic rising in my throat. I was like a deer in headlights—something terrible was about to happen, but I was too dumb and frightened to move.

“Ooh,” he murmured, his fingers grazing my sweaty skin. “Just working out, were you? Maybe we can go back to my place and you can show me how fit you are. I bet you’re flexible.”

My mind raced, looking for a way out of this situation. Suddenly, an idea struck me. I was not a deer in headlights; I was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

“Or I can show you right here,” I purred, forcing myself to sound seductive.

David’s eyes flashed with excitement, a growl rumbling in his chest. “Hmm... I haven’t done it in a car in a long time. Let’s go for it.” He leaned in, his lips attacking my neck.

In that moment, while he was distracted, I saw my opening and I took it.

Using all the strength and skill I’d gained from my training, I brought my knee up hard between his legs. As he doubled over in pain, I followed up with a series of quick strikes to his face and torso.

David stumbled backward, shock and anger overtaking his lust. He clutched his face, blood instantly gushing from his nose.

“You bitch!” he snarled, lunging at me.

But I was ready. Channeling all my rage and fear into one final blow in the center of his chest, I sent him flying across the parking garage. He hit a concrete pillar with a sickening thud and slumped to the ground, motionless.

For a moment, I stood there, my chest heaving, adrenaline coursing through my veins. Then, panic set in. What had I done?

Without thinking, I jumped into my car and sped away, leaving him there.

…

The next morning, I tried to push the events of the previous night out of my mind as I fed Melody. She cooed happily, oblivious to her mother’s inner turmoil. I hadn’t killed David… I knew that for certain. Likely he had woken up moments after I’d driven away and had stumbled home, drunk and humiliated over getting beaten up by a girl.

Or at least, that was what I kept telling myself.

Suddenly, a sharp knock at the door startled me. Cradling Melody against my chest, I carefully made my way to the door, peering through the peephole.

On my doorstep stood David’s Beta, flanked by several Darkmoon officials. I swallowed hard and swung the door open.

“Can I help you?”

“Alpha Hannah, you are under arrest for the physical assault of Alpha David. You are ordered to come to Darkmoon pack with us immediately.”