Chapter 0431

Noah sighed and leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking softly under his weight. His green eyes scanned the cluttered desk before him, piled higher than ever with documents and evidence for the upcoming trials—not to mention the other responsibilities of being Alpha. He had no Luna. No Beta. He'd fired Leonard months ago for trying to force Hannah to drink truth serum. Noah was essentially a lone Alpha, and hadn't even hired an assistant to answer his phone calls.

“Too bad my Beta turned out to be a snake,” he muttered, passing a hand over his weary face. The betrayal of his half-brother left a bitter taste in his mouth. But at least Scott was in prison now—his full confession had made it easy. Hopefully, Zoe would soon join him. The thought of seeing her behind bars, her pretty manicure ruined and mascara streaked down her face, brought grim satisfaction.

But justice wasn't as straightforward as it once was. Hannah had summed it up perfectly at the Full Moon Festival: “If only it were like the movies.” Yes, if only. Many years ago, an Alpha's word was absolute law within their pack lands. In those times, Noah could have thrown Zoe and Scott into a dungeon and thrown away the key without a trial. But times, and the laws governing their world, had changed.

Now, the Alpha Council would ultimately decide Zoe's guilt. Noah could jail her temporarily, but without a proper trial, he would have to release her eventually. It was frustrating, but he knew it was for the best. Unchecked power leads to tyranny. Darkmoon, with its militaristic and antagonistic ways, was a prime example of the old ways. Even Alpha David was subject to the Council's punishments if he overstepped.

Noah's gaze fell upon a particular document amidst the chaos on his desk—Adam's DNA test results. He picked it up, rereading the contents though he'd memorized them. “Well, Scott,” he said to the empty room, “looks like you were telling the truth about one thing, at least.” The test confirmed Adam was Scott's son, not Drake's. It was the final piece of evidence Noah needed, the last nail in the coffin of Zoe's lies. Combined with Scott's confession, it should be enough to ensure Zoe faced the consequences.

Then, Noah and Hannah could finally move on, rebuild what those bastards had broken. The thought of Hannah brought a smile to his face, easing some of the stress. Tomorrow, she would face her own trial, confronting Alvin. He had no doubt she was well-prepared and the trial would go smoothly. His eyes drifted to his computer screen, displaying a news article about Hannah's upcoming trial. He traced the outline of her face in the accompanying photograph.

It had been a month since the Full Moon Festival, a month since a kiss that still lingered on his lips. They hadn't had a moment alone since, consumed by trial preparations. But that kiss… he could still feel the electricity, the way the world had faded until there was only Hannah. That night, the mate bond between them—destroyed by Zoe and Scott's selfishness—had begun to reform. Noah had felt it, could still feel it. And he knew Hannah felt it too. Sometimes, lying awake in their former marriage bed, he felt a tug on that bond, like her soul reaching for him.

Noah intended to officially ask Hannah to be his girlfriend once the trials were over. He wanted to marry her immediately, but Hannah had set boundaries, and he intended to honor them. Girlfriend it would have to be. The idea both thrilled and terrified him. What if she said no? What if the wounds of the past were too fresh? But then he remembered the look in her eyes that night, the way she had melted into his arms, and hope bloomed.

Their reunion—assuming they remarried someday—wouldn't be simple. Two Alphas marrying… it had only been legal across all packs for the past thirty years, by decree of the Alpha Council. Even then, if two male Alphas married, one had to take the title and responsibilities of 'Luna' while the other remained 'Alpha'.

Okay, so maybe the Alpha Council wasn't perfect. But it was something, allowing pack leaders to marry whomever they loved without having to pass as straight. But for two Alphas to marry and keep their titles… it wouldn't be easy to convince the Council. Especially since Hannah was a woman, and female Alphas were still seen as a joke by many. In fact, Hannah was the only female Alpha currently—not the only one ever, but the only one in this political climate.

Still, Noah intended to keep his word. He'd told Hannah he would give up his station if necessary, and he meant it. Not that giving up Nightcrest was a decision he took lightly; he loathed the idea. Silvermoon could absorb Nightcrest, and Hannah could rule both packs, but not everyone would accept that. He would be seen as weak, and Hannah instantly labeled a dominatrix.

It was bound to be contentious, causing unrest. But which was worse, he wondered? Struggling to legalize Alpha-Alpha marriages? Giving up his station at the expense of their reputations? Or not being with her at all? The third option was the worst.

But for now, one step at a time; he was getting ahead of himself. Hannah hadn't even agreed to be his girlfriend yet, and before that… before that, he had to ensure their enemies were behind bars, where they belonged.