Chapter 246

Hannah

When my sobs finally subsided, Noah sat up with me still in his arms, his hands deftly brushing my tear-soaked hair back from my face. I sniffled, trying to regain my composure as I smoothed down his shirt, which was now wrinkled and damp from my outburst.

“I’m sorry,” I hiccuped weakly. “For hitting you, I mean. I shouldn’t have lost control like that.”

Noah shook his head, a sad smile playing on his lips. “I think I deserved it after everything I put you through.” He sighed heavily and looked away for a moment. “I wish I had realized what was happening sooner. You didn’t need to suffer for so long because of my blindness.”

I swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond. Part of me wanted to tell him it wasn’t his fault, that Zoe had manipulated him. But another part, the part still raw and bleeding from months of pain and rejection, couldn’t quite seem to let go so easily.

When I remained silent, Noah took a deep breath, his hands finding mine. His touch was tentative, as if he feared I might pull away at any moment.

“Hannah, I... I want to make everything right. I love you, and I want us to be together again. Properly this time.” His eyes searched mine, hope and desperation mingling in their green depths. “Will you marry me again? Or at least move back in with me? I’ll do whatever you want, just please... give us another chance.”

My heart raced at his words, a dizzying combination of longing and fear coursing through my veins. I wanted nothing more than to fall into his arms and forget everything that had happened, to pretend that the last few months were nothing more than a terrible nightmare.

But caution, as always, held me back.

“Noah, I... I can’t just jump back in like nothing happened,” I murmured. “Regardless of the apologies and explanations, we did get divorced for multiple reasons. You said and did some horrible things while we were married.”

I paused, gathering my thoughts, trying to find the right words to express the tangled mess of emotions inside of me. “Even though you were manipulated, those words, those actions of yours when we were married... they still hurt.”

Guilt flashed across Noah’s face, and he clenched his teeth. Instinct caused my body to tense, as if he might bite out some scathing retort or another, just as he used to do. It would take some time to get over that instinct, even knowing that his behavior hadn’t really been him.

But instead, he simply nodded slowly. “You’re right. I know I have a lot to make up for. My behavior was inexcusable, manipulated or not.”

“I know I’m not blameless either,” I added, thinking back on our… tumultuous relationship. The arguments, the pettiness, the schemes. “I made mistakes too. I think... I think we both need time to heal and rebuild trust. We shouldn’t just pick up where we left off and pretend that nothing happened.”

Noah’s shoulders slumped slightly, but he nodded again. “I understand. You take all the time you need, Hannah. I’ll wait until you're ready. I love you, and I’ll never want anyone else. So no matter how long it takes, I’ll be here.”

My cheeks burned at his words, and I looked away, suddenly feeling… shy.

This version of Noah, so open and affectionate, was incredibly foreign to me. Aside from those blissful couple of weeks leading up to the baby shower and our letters all those years ago, I wasn’t sure if I had ever heard him say such sweet things to me.

Suddenly, I didn’t feel quite so much like an Alpha anymore, but rather a lovestruck teen.

“Could I at least take you on some dates?” Noah asked. “I want to be a good man for you, Hannah, and a good father to Melody. I want to spoil you both and... and rekindle what we had. To show you the man I should have been all along. So at least let me take you out.”

The thought of dating made my stomach flutter with both excitement and anxiety. After the disaster with David, the idea of putting myself out there again was terrifying.

But with Noah... it would be different, wouldn’t it? This was the man I had loved for so long, the father of my child. Maybe, just maybe, we could find our way back to each other. One last time.

“I think I’d like that,” I said softly, offering him a small smile.

Noah’s face lit up, his eyes burning with little embers.

Suddenly, there came a knock on the door.

“Alpha Noah!” a gruff male voice boomed through the door. “We caught Scott and Zoe; they’re in custody now. Are you coming?”

Noah stiffened, glancing at me as if asking permission to leave me behind. I nodded, wiping away my lingering tears. “Go. You’ve got your work cut out for you with the two of them.”

He nodded, reluctantly rising and smoothing down his shirt. I watched as he strode over to the door.

But before he could go, a thought occurred to me then, and I suddenly shot to my feet—ignoring the sudden burst of pain in my ribs. “Noah, wait.”

He paused, glancing over at me.

I took a deep breath. “Would you like to meet Melody? For real this time, I mean. That could be a good start.”

His eyes widened. “Are you sure?”

I nodded. “I think it’s time. She should know her father, and you... you should know her.”

...

A few days later, I found myself in my living room, my heart pounding in my chest as I carried a sleeping Melody to her father. Noah sat ramrod straight on the couch, his large frame seeming almost comically oversized as he held his arms out toward her.

As I placed Melody in his arms, I watched his face carefully. The transformation was immediate; his eyes widened into saucers, his shoulders dipped, and his soft lips parted slightly as he stared down at her. He was more gentle than I had ever seen him, almost heartbreakingly so.

“She’s… perfect,” Noah whispered. “Absolutely perfect.”

Melody cooed softly as she began to stir at the sound of his voice. I expected her to fuss over being woken up from her nap, but to my surprise, her big green eyes—Noah’s eyes—immediately became fixed on Noah’s face with an unwavering familiarity.

As if they had met a thousand lifetimes before.

“Hello,” Noah murmured, reaching out to poke her little cheek with one finger.

I had to turn away to keep myself from sobbing openly. Drake and Viona, both perched on the window seat, met my gaze. Drake smirked slightly and Viona lifted her eyebrows at me, both still a bit skeptical of the whole situation.

Finally, Drake cleared his throat and stood, crossing the room to tower over Noah—although Noah didn’t lift his gaze from the tiny bundle in his arms.

“Ahem. Just so we’re clear,” Drake said, “if you try to steal Melody away to Nightcrest, or pull any bullshit, I’ll fucking kill you.”

Viona sucked in a sharp breath. I clamped my hand over my own mouth, my eyes widening in response to Drake’s candor.

Slowly, so slowly, Noah looked up at Drake with those little wildfires in his eyes. His arms tightened slightly around Melody, and I tensed, waiting for the moment he would explode on Drake for speaking to him like that.

But he didn’t. He took us all by surprise when a wry smile stretched across his lips—and surprised us even more when he shifted Melody over into one arm and held his hand out to shake Drake’s.

“You’re a good man, Drake,” Noah said, rising to his feet and clasping Drake’s forearm firmly. “And I hope that you would not just kill me, but anyone who tries to stand in the way of my daughter’s happiness.”

Drake’s eyes widened momentarily, but then his face split into a grin. He shook Noah’s hand back and clapped him on the shoulder with the other.

“It’s good to have you back, Noah.”