Chapter 0406
+25 BONUS
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?”
naway my
Noah stiffened, glancing at me as if asking permission to leave me behind. I nodded, wiping 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
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0406
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 event 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.”
