Chapter 0417

Hannah

“It… it’s true,” I said, my heart pounding so hard I was sure Noah could hear it. “Last year, I died, and… when I woke up, it was three months before the event of my death. I think it was a gift from the Moon Goddess or something. I don’t know.”

A long, agonizing silence followed as Noah stared at me, his green eyes wide and unblinking. The gentle lapping of the river against the shore seemed deafening in the quiet between us. My palms began to sweat, and I resisted the urge to wipe them on my dress, holding Noah’s gaze instead.

What was he thinking? Did he believe me? Or worse, did he think I had finally lost my mind completely? I could almost see the gears turning in his head, probably wondering if he should call for a straightjacket and a nice, cozy trip to the mental institution right then and there.

But then, to my utter shock, Noah threw his head back and began to laugh. It started as a chuckle, a low rumble in his chest, and then it grew into a full-bodied guffaw that echoed across the water.

“Oh, Hannah,” he gasped between fits of laughter, smacking his knee with his open palm, “that’s hilarious! I didn’t know you were taking comedy classes lately.”

I blinked at him, shocked into letting out a tiny chuckle of my own. Did he really think…?

“Noah,” I began.

He nudged me with his elbow, tears of mirth streaming down his face. “You really had me going there for a second. ‘Died and came back to life,’ that’s rich!”

My face burned red hot with embarrassment. Of course, he wouldn’t believe me. Who would, aside from Viona? It sounded insane, even to my own ears, and the only reason my best friend believed me was because she was just as unconventional as I was.

I forced another laugh, hoping it didn’t sound as hollow as it felt.

“Yeah, just an attempt at some drunken humor,” I said, trying to keep my voice light despite the agony churning in my gut. “I guess I need to work on my delivery, don’t I?”

Noah wiped his eyes, still chuckling. “Maybe stick to your day job, Alpha.”

I smiled and nodded, but inside, I was kicking myself. Idiot, idiot, idiot! Why was I so afraid to tell him the truth? He needed to know eventually. I felt like a coward, hiding behind a veil of false humor instead of being honest with the man I loved.

But I couldn’t tell him now. Not tonight. Not after… that.

In an attempt to salvage the moment, I cleared my throat. “Um… actually, Noah, there is something serious I need to tell you about. Not a joke this time.”

His laughter subsided, his expression growing concerned as he looked at me. “What is it?”

I took a deep breath and launched into the story about White Rabbit and Alvin. I told him everything—the conversation with White Rabbit, who was now known as Jen, the political asylum, the truth about the contraceptives ultimately boiling down to my own cousin.

With each word, I could see Noah’s expression darkening, his jaw clenching in anger.

“That bastard,” he growled when I was finally finished. “I always knew Alvin was good for nothing, but I never expected him to do something like this.” He shook his head, dark hair falling into his eyes. “Was he working with Zoe and Scott? He had to have been.”

I shrugged, feeling utterly drained. “It’s possible. We don’t know for sure yet, and he asked for a lawyer right away. He’s in custody now, though, and the truth will come out eventually.”

Noah nodded, turning to face me fully. I was shocked when he suddenly gripped my hands in his, his expression intense.

“We’ll handle it together. The whole legal battle—everything. I want us to be allies in this, despite everything that happened in the past.”

Chapter 0418