Chapter 244

Hannah

I hadn’t even bothered to change or make myself look presentable. The thin fabric of my robe still revealed my bare body, my hair was wild and unkempt, and I likely smelled like a vagrant after my stint in Darkmoon’s prison.

But none of that mattered now. All that mattered was getting to Noah before it was too late.

I’d clutched the seashell in my palm, so hard I almost broke it.

“Drive faster, Drake!” I had urged, my fingers digging into the car seat. “We have to get there before they say ‘I do’!”

Drake had pushed the accelerator pedal to the floor, his knuckles white on the steering wheel as we sped down the winding roads. “Hannah, are you sure about this? This is crazy!”

I had nodded emphatically. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Zoe’s been messing with Noah’s mind. She’s not his mate—I am. And I think she’s done something to him again. We have to stop this wedding before she marries him and names Adam the heir.”

As we sped toward Nightcrest, I explained everything to Drake and Viona—the seashell, Noah’s revelation, my suspicions about Zoe’s manipulations. By the time we had screeched to a halt outside the chapel, my friends both looked as determined as I felt.

“I knew something wasn’t right,” Viona had said. “He was so in love with you at the baby shower, Hannah.”

We burst through the doors just as the priest was asking Noah if he took Zoe as his wife. My heart pounding, I shouted at the top of my lungs, “Stop this wedding!”

The entire congregation gasped, heads whipping around to stare at me. I saw shock, confusion, and disgust on their faces as they took in my disheveled appearance. But I didn’t care. My eyes were locked on Noah as I chucked the seashell down the aisle, watching as it came to a stop near Noah’s feet.

A deafening silence fell. Noah stared down at the seashell, eyes narrowing and then widening.

Zoe recovered first, her face twisting with fury. “Guards! Remove this woman at once!”

Several burly men rushed toward me, but I was ready. Fueled by adrenaline and desperation, I fought against their grip. Drake jumped in to help, and together we managed to break free while Viona sprinted up the right side of the chapel, headed straight for the altar.

I stormed up the aisle, my bare feet slapping against the cold marble floor.

“Zoe has been messing with Noah’s mind!” I shouted, pointing an accusing finger at the bride. “She cut our mate bond by force, wiped his memories, and is now holding him hostage! She is using him to make Adam the heir to Nightcrest!”

A gasp rippled through the crowd. Noah stared at me, his eyes wide with confusion.

“Hannah? What are you talking about?”

Zoe let out a high, brittle laugh. “Oh, please. Look at her!” She gestured to my robe, my hair, my eyes. “She has clearly lost her mind. Isn’t she supposed to be in a Darkmoon prison right now for beating an innocent man half to death? Guards, get this madwoman out of here!”

But I wasn’t about to be silenced. Not by her, not by the guards, not by anyone.

With Drake holding off the guards, I marched right up to Noah, snatching up the seashell necklace I had thrown and pressing it into his hands. “Noah, please,” I begged, my voice breaking. “Remember. Remember us. I know Zoe did something to you, filled your mind with false memories, but this…” I tapped the seashell. “This is real. We are real.”

For a moment, I saw something flicker in Noah’s eyes—a flash of recognition, of doubt.

“Hannah…” he murmured, his brow furrowing as he stared down at the shell.

But then Zoe was there, inserting herself between us. “Noah, don’t even look at her,” she hissed. “She’s just a desperate, pathetic woman who can’t stand to see us happy. She would do anything to ruin our special day.”

“No.” I tried to shove her away. “Noah, don’t listen to her. Remember. Just remember.”

Suddenly, hands were on me. Zoe’s face was twisted as she shoved me, and I fell to the marble floor, the tiles slamming into my back.

“You fat, ugly cow,” she growled, stepping toward me as I moved backwards on the floor. “You are nothing but a stupid, good-for-nothing whore. Did you really think Noah would ever want you? You’re unlovable. A nobody. A cheaper version of me.”

The crowd gasped at Zoe’s vitriol, but she didn’t seem to notice or care. She advanced on me, picking up the skirt of her white dress. “You will never be good enough,” she snarled, spittle flying from her mouth. “You will never be me!”

Suddenly, reeling back her leg, she kicked me in the ribs. Blinding pain shot through me; someone screamed somewhere, a child began to cry. As I gasped for air, I caught sight of Noah out of the corner of my eye. He was clutching his head, sinking to his knees as if in terrible pain.

Zoe loomed over me, her white dress billowing around her like some twisted angel of vengeance. She kicked me again, and again, and again, each brutal impact sending a new wave of pain through my body.

“I should have just killed you when I had the chance in that haunted house,” she hissed between kicks. “It would have been so much easier. So much cleaner. No one would have missed you.”

Just as I thought I couldn’t take anymore, strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me to safety. Drake helped me to my feet, supporting me as I swayed unsteadily.

I took a deep, shuddering breath, wincing at the pain in my ribs. But I refused to back down. Lifting my chin, I pressed one hand into my side and slowly raised the other, pointing a trembling finger at her.

“You are the ugly one, Zoe,” I choked out. “You are ugly on the inside. Look at yourself. Look at what you’ve become.” I swallowed hard, drawing in a rasping breath. In the background, I saw Viona crouching beside Noah, whispering to him.

Even though my legs were unsteady, I broke free from Drake, stepping toward Zoe.

“You say I’ll never be you,” I rasped. “But I don’t want to be you, Zoe. Maybe once, but not anymore. Not now that I know what you truly are. Not now that we all know.”

My words seemed to hit Zoe like a punch to the gut. She stared at me, her face contorted with rage, spittle running down her chin, her veil torn. It was only then that the magnitude of what she had done seemed to dawn on her.

Slowly, as if in a daze, she turned to face the congregation. Her bouquet slipped from her fingers, falling to the floor with a soft thud. The entire chapel was deathly silent, hundreds of shocked faces staring back at her.

In the front pew, I saw Adam crying, clinging to his grandmother. “Mommy’s a monster,” he whimpered.

And there, being helped to his feet by Viona, was Noah. His eyes were clear now, filled with a mixture of horror and dawning realization.

“I... I remember,” he said, his voice ringing out in the silent chapel.

He turned to Zoe, his expression hardening. “Get out,” he growled.

Zoe’s face crumpled. “Noah, please,” she pleaded, reaching for him. “I-I didn’t do anything, I swear. She’s lying!”

But it was too late. Everyone had seen the truth behind her beautiful mask. Even her own parents looked stunned and disgusted, keeping Adam far away from her.

For a moment, Zoe stood frozen, her eyes darting around wildly like a cornered animal. Then, with a strangled sob, she gathered up her skirts and fled, the sound of her heels echoing through the chapel as she ran.

As the doors slammed behind her, I felt all the strength leave my body.

My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the floor in a heap.