Chapter 0387

Hannah

I stared at my phone, my thumb hovering over the “Message” button on David’s profile. His main picture was incredibly handsome—he wore an expensive suit, dark hair neatly slicked back, and his black beard freshly trimmed. A roguish handsomeness emanated from him; his eyes crinkled slightly at the corners, highlighting a sharp, prominent nose.

We’d matched instantly, signifying he’d already swiped right on me. The Alpha of the Darkmoon Pack had matched with me. He was almost as arrogant as his father, but he was young, handsome, and apparently interested. But was I ready for this?

“Come on, Hannah,” I muttered, raking a hand through my hair. “It’s just a date. Not a marriage proposal.”

Still, I couldn’t help but consider the implications. Darkmoon and Silvermoon had been at odds for years. If something were to develop between David and me—not that I was getting ahead of myself—it could potentially bring our packs closer.

A new era…

I shook my head, trying to clear those thoughts. One step at a time.

Taking a deep breath, I typed a message: “Dinner tomorrow night? I know a great place in neutral territory.”

His response came almost immediately: “Sounds perfect. Looking forward to it.”

The next evening, I found myself outside the trendy restaurant I’d chosen. It was in an area where people wouldn’t readily notice who we were, minimizing unwanted tabloid attention. I smoothed down my dress, a simple black number that hugged my curves without being too revealing. My heart pounded; I couldn’t tell if it was from nerves or excitement. Maybe both.

David arrived right on time, looking dashing in a tailored suit—just like the picture. His blue eyes caught the light as he approached.

“Alpha David,” I said, turning.

“Hannah.” David leaned in, planting a polite kiss on my cheek. His cologne smelled like cedar, though the pleasant scent didn't overshadow his pointed avoidance of my title. But I chose not to mention it. Not yet, at least.

As we entered the restaurant, David placed his hand on the small of my back, guiding me to our table. The gesture sent a small shiver down my spine. It had been so long since I’d been touched like that. Not since…

No. Don’t think about the baby shower, I thought. Just think about tonight. Nothing else.

We settled into our seats, and I couldn’t help but notice David’s eyes scanning the area.

“Everything okay?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He turned back to me, eyebrows raised. “Who is taking care of your child tonight?”

I stiffened, my guard immediately rising. “Excuse me?”

“Well, you brought her to the meeting,” he said with a shrug. “‘Where I go, she goes,’ I believe you said.”

“I wouldn’t bring my daughter on a date. Perhaps you misunderstood.”

Those blue eyes flicked up and down my body. “Perhaps.”

A few moments later, the waiter arrived with a bottle of wine and the menus. I sipped my wine, savoring the taste. I’d only recently resumed drinking since Melody’s birth, and the dark red liquid soothed my nerves.

It’s just one date, I kept telling myself. Not a marriage proposal.

As the evening progressed, I found myself both intrigued and irritated by David. He was charming, no doubt. But an underlying arrogance grated on my nerves. Every story seemed designed to impress me, every joke a little too self-congratulatory.

Still, it felt nice to be wanted, to be looked at with desire again. Even if there wasn’t much of a spark, I decided to enjoy the evening for what it was—a nice dinner and a step back into the dating world.

After we finished our meal, David insisted on walking me to my car. The night air was cool, and I found myself hugging myself.

“Cold?” David asked, already shrugging off his jacket.

I waved him off. “I’m fine, thanks. My car’s just over there.”

“Suit yourself.”

We reached my car, and an awkward silence fell between us. David cleared his throat.

“So, are you coming to my place, or am I going to yours?”

His words shocked me. Was he seriously suggesting…? I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. “The date was nice, David. But I’m not looking to extend the evening.”

His face darkened; a sneer replaced the charming smile he’d worn all night. “I bought you lobster for dinner.”

“And it was delicious,” I said, flashing my teeth. “But I don’t need to ‘put out’ over some seafood.”

He scoffed. “I figured a woman like you would just try to get a free meal,” he hissed, turning away.

Anger flared. Without thinking, I reached out and caught his wrist, yanking him back to face me. “Watch your tongue,” I growled, my eyes flashing. “I am an Alpha, not a floozy.”

For a moment, David looked shocked. Then, without warning, he surged forward, pressing his lips against mine in a deep, forceful kiss.

I shoved him away, hard enough that he stumbled back. “You bastard!” I spat, wiping my mouth. Reaching into my purse, I took out a wad of cash and slammed it against his chest. “Here. For the lobster. Disgusting prick.”

David merely smirked, his eyes glowing in the dim parking lot light. His fangs flashed as he stuffed the cash into his pocket. “See you around, Alpha Hannah,” he cooed, before turning and sauntering away.

Still growling and seething from that unwanted kiss, I climbed into my car and slammed the door shut. My heart raced, and I could feel my wolf bristling beneath my skin. How dare he? The arrogant, entitled, disgusting bastard!

Was this what the dating world was like? To be treated like a piece of meat? To feel obligated to sleep with someone just because they bought me a meal?

I gripped the steering wheel, trying to calm my breathing. This had been a mistake. I shouldn’t have agreed to the date. I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be ready, honestly.

To my horror, tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. I leaned forward, resting my forehead against the cool leather of the steering wheel to calm myself.

A sob escaped my lips. Goddess, I missed Noah. I shouldn’t have been missing him, not after everything he’d done, but I did. I missed the way he used to look at me, the way he made me feel safe and loved. I missed the father of my child, the man I thought I would spend the rest of my life with.

I missed Noah. And yet, he was marrying Zoe.