Alpha's Regret After Her Rebirth (Hannah and Noah)

The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately as Noah entered. He looked just as handsome as ever. clean-shaven and wearing a crisp black suit. I felt my breath catch as I saw him for the first time after all these months. For a moment, he just stood there in the doorway. I felt my wolf react to his presence, that primal part of me wanting to run to him, to shake him, caught somewhere between wanting to kiss him and slap him.

But he barely looked at me. Rather, his eyes briefly darted around, taking in the scene before landing on Drake holding Melody. His lip curled in disgust, and I could practically feel the jealousy radiating off of him. "Hannah," Noah said stiffly, his gaze flickering between me and the baby.

"That's Alpha Hannah to you," Drake hissed. Noah ignored him.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. "Noah. It's good to see you."

He nodded, his expression unreadable. "Same to you."

Yeah, right, I wanted to say. Instead, I ground out, "I'm assuming you want to see Melody?"

"That was the plan."

I gently took Melody from Drake, who was reluctant to let go. "I know this is why you really came," I said, my eyes flashing as I crossed the room to meet him. "Even though you said you didn't believe she was yours, you at least want to see if she bears a resemblance to you, don't you?" Viona, who had appeared in the doorway behind Noah, grit her teeth-clearly biting back a well-timed Bastard".

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Noah leaned forward to look at Melody, drinking in every detail of her tiny face. I watched as recognition dawned in his eyes, his stoic facade cracking slightly.

"She has my eyes," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

I nodded, looking down at Melody's face. "Forest green. Just like yours." I hated the way my voice cracked at the end, and I had to quickly blink away misty tears pricking at my eyes.

Noah was silent for a long moment, his eyes wide as he no doubt recognized his own blood in our daughter.

"Can I hold her?"

The request sent a jolt through me. My arms tightened around Melody instinctively. "No," I said firmly. You said once that she's not your baby, and now she really never will be. You were allowed to come to see if she looks like you, but that's all."

A strange look passed over Noah's eyes then, a mixture of regret and longing. He took a step forward, his hands reaching out toward Melody. "Hannah, please. I just want to-"

In an instant, Drake was between us, a low growl rumbling in his chest. "I think it's time for you to leave,"

he said, his voice hard.

Noah's jaw clenched, his eyes darting between Drake and Melody. For a moment, I thought he might argue, but then his shoulders slumped in defeat.

"Fine," he said, his voice bitter. "I'll go. But this isn't over, Hannah. You're holding the heir to Nightcrest in your arms."

"She's the heir to Silvermoon now. And you'd better watch yourself," I growled, baring my own fangs now.

T

As Drake escorted Noah out, I moved to the window, watching as he walked down the driveway. I let my eyes wander across the hard lines of his shoulders, the way that his dark hair fluttered in the afternoon breeze. Only then, with his back turned, did I allow myself to let out the breath I'd been holding.

I hated to admit, even to myself, that I missed him. That seeing his face did indeed bring up a whole host of emotions and memories that I'd been shoving down these past months. That Viona was right, and now I wasn't sure if I'd be able to handle a wedding after all But then Melody, as if sensing that her father had left her, began to cry loudly.

I held her close, bouncing her gently as I watched Noah's retreating figure. His car door slammed, the sound echoing across the quiet afternoon.

"Shh, it's okay," I murmured to Melody, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. I turned away from the window and held her close, hoping that she couldn't sense the tears in my eyes. "It's just us now. We'll forget about him."