Chapter 250

Hannah

Alvin’s apartment was a disaster, and not just from my guards forcing entry.

Empty bottles and takeout containers littered every surface, clothes were strewn across the floor, and what looked suspiciously like drug paraphernalia sat right in the middle of the coffee table. The large windows overlooking the city below were covered in handprints and lipstick smudges, and the hot tub on the patio outside was strewn with liquor bottles and womens’ bikinis.

“Clear,” one of my guards called from the kitchen.

“Bedroom’s this way,” another said, gesturing down a short hallway. I could hear the faint sound of giggling and rustling sheets coming from that direction, and knew instantly that my beloved cousin was behind that door.

I followed the guards, my heart pounding in my chest. As we approached the bedroom door, the sounds became more distinct—muffled laughter and the creak of bedsprings. My guard pushed the door open, revealing a scene that made my stomach turn.

Alvin was sprawled across the bed, surrounded by three scantily-clad women. His eyes were glazed over, a dopey grin on his face. It was clear he was high as a kite, and probably had been for days judging by the state of the apartment.

“Woah, woah—Ah, if it isn’t my dear cousin, the Alpha of Silvermoon!” Alvin slurred, not halting his… activities with one of the women.

I cleared my throat, trying not to show the shock on my face. “Ladies, I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” I commanded. “Now.”

The women glanced at Alvin, who shrugged and shoved the one who had been straddling him off of his lap. I stood in the doorway as the girls scrambled to gather their things, shooting worried glances at my security team as they hurried out of the room.

Once they were gone, I approached the bed. Alvin didn’t seem at all fazed by my presence, and simply reached for the oversized bong on his nightstand.

I kicked it out of the way before he could reach it, the glass shattering against the marble floor.

“Wha—Hey!” he grunted, sitting upright.

With a nod from me, my guards surged forward and took Alvin by either arm, hauling him to his feet. The lazy smirk faded from my cousin’s face, quickly replaced by confusion and then fear. “What the fuck?” he whined. “Let me go!”

“Why did you do it?” I asked, taking another dangerous step toward him.

Alvin blinked at me, confused. “Do what? What are you talking about?”

I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. The audacity of him to play dumb infuriated me even more. “Don’t play stupid, Alvin. I know you’re the one who was lacing me with contraceptives.” I leaned in closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Were you trying to kill my baby, or were you trying to kill me as well?”

Realization dawned on my cousin’s face, quickly replaced by panic. He struggled against my guards’ grip, but it was useless. Emily alone was practically twice the size of him.

“Whoa, whoa, wait a minute,” he slurred. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. This is crazy, Hannah. You can’t just barge in here and accuse me of—”

“Of what, Alvin?” I cut him off, shoving the arrest warrant in his face. “Of trying to prevent me from having a child? Of potentially putting my life at risk and my baby’s life at risk? Because that’s exactly what I’m accusing you of.”

He shook his head vehemently. “No, no. You’ve got it all wrong. I-I want a lawyer. I’m not saying anything else without a lawyer present.”

I nodded to my guards, who moved in to handcuff him. “That’s fine. You can have your lawyer,” I said, watching as they hauled him toward the door. He stumbled, still clearly under the influence of whatever drugs he had taken. “But you’re coming with us now.”

As we led Alvin out of the apartment building, I saw Viona waiting by the car. Her face was a mask of calm, but I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her eyes darted between Alvin and me. She watched silently as the officers helped Alvin into the backseat, his protests muffled by the closing door.

“Are you going to tell Noah tonight?” Viona asked, turning to me once Alvin was secured in the car.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Right… My date with Noah. In all the chaos, I had almost forgotten about it.

“I suppose I should,” I said. “It involves his daughter, after all. He deserves to know.”

It still felt strange, thinking of Noah as Melody’s father after everything that had happened. It would certainly take some getting used to—especially when it came to viewing him as an ally and not someone that I needed to hide everything from.

But I couldn’t deny the flutter of excitement in my stomach at the thought of seeing him tonight.

Viona nodded, a knowing look in her eyes. “You know,” she said carefully, “there’s one more thing you might want to consider telling him…”

I cringed, immediately knowing what she was referring to. The rebirth—which, I now knew, had been almost entirely Alvin’s fault.

It had been exactly one year since it happened. A year of carrying this secret, of wondering if I should tell Noah, of fearing what might happen if I did.

Maybe it had gone on long enough, but did I have the courage to tell him?

“I… I don’t know, Viona,” I said softly, shaking my head. “One bombshell at a time, maybe? I’m not sure if I can handle dropping both of these on him in one night.”

She squeezed my arm gently. “Just think about it, okay? He deserves to know the whole truth. And Hannah... you deserve to be free of this secret.”

…

Hours later, I found myself standing outside an expensive restaurant, butterflies dancing in my stomach. The street was busy with evening traffic, the sound of car horns and distant laughter filling the air. The restaurant’s facade was elegant, with warm light spilling out onto the sidewalk. Noah had stayed true to his word and picked a really nice place.

Noah had offered to pick me up, but I’d insisted on letting my own driver take me. Now, as I waited, smoothing down my sleek black dress for the hundredth time, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was actually going to show up.

Just as I was starting to worry, checking my phone yet again, I saw him round the corner at the end of the street.

My breath caught in my throat. He looked... incredible. Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that accentuated his broad shoulders, his dark hair slightly tousled by the evening breeze, long legs taking quick strides to meet me.

And in his hands, he held a dozen red roses.

“Hannah,” he breathed as he approached, his eyes roaming appreciatively over my silk black dress, leather jacket, and heeled boots. I’d opted for leaving my hair natural tonight, allowing it to fall down my shoulders in soft waves. “You look… beautiful.”

I felt my cheeks flush as I took the roses from him, their sweet scent filling my nose. “Thank you, these are lov—ouch…” I pulled my hand back, having pricked my finger on one of the thorns. A drop of blood welled up, bright red against my skin.

Before I could react, Noah gently took my hand in his. His touch sent a jolt through me, familiar and yet thrilling all at once. “Let me see,” he murmured, bringing my finger to his lips. My heart skipped a beat as he kissed away the drop of blood, his eyes never leaving mine.

The gesture was intimate, almost primal, and I was instantly reminded of that day in the forest when I had killed the deer—only now, the roles were reversed.

“All better,” he murmured, lifting his gaze to meet mine.

I nearly swooned at the look in those eyes. For the first time in years, Noah’s face was open and loving, no longer clouded by Zoe’s manipulations. He looked like the boy I had fallen in love with all those years ago, his green eyes sparkling with an emotion I dared not name. My gaze dropped to his neck, where the seashell necklace still hung on prominent display.

And, just like the bashful teenager I had been all those years ago, I was too shy to speak.

Noah finally released my hand and opened the restaurant door for me. “Shall we?”