Chapter 0439

Perhaps he was simply unsurprised. Perhaps he had planned on suggesting the same thing. It was the most logical outcome, after all.

Melody’s soft coos filled the air as I gently bounced her in my arms, pacing back and forth across the carpeted nursery floor. Quiet lullabies played on her little moon-and-stars mobile; a gentle purple glow cast on the crib from the low LEDs lining the walls.

Before Melody was born, I painstakingly designed this nursery to be a relaxing space—not just for her, but for me as well. I’d picked out the most comfortable chairs I could find, filling the room with plush pillows and stuffed animals and soothing lighting. I knew I would be in here a lot, often in the middle of the night, so I wanted to make it a space I enjoyed being in.

But tonight… I felt anything but relaxed. Melody was sweet as ever, drinking her milk and getting ready for bed like a champ. She wasn’t the source of my anxiety. Rather, it was my father’s words that kept roiling in my head. The most logical outcome…

I was elated to be back together with Noah, don’t get me wrong. But I never wanted to give up my status as Alpha. Maybe I wasn’t the best at the job, maybe I made a lot of mistakes, but it was the one thing in this world—aside from being a mother to Melody—that I felt was meant for me. How could I give it up so soon?

“You don’t have to do it, you know.”

The sound of Noah’s voice caused me to jerk my head up. He was leaning against the doorframe, his hands in his pockets, hair slightly mussed from drinking downstairs with my father. I flushed and looked away, setting Melody in her crib.

“Noah, if we wanted to get married again at some point…”

“Then we’ll figure it out,” Noah whispered, crossing the room to meet me. He placed both hands on my shoulders, his eyes serious. “We’ve figured everything else out so far. Why not this?”

“This feels different.”

“Why?”

I shrugged and went to turn away again, but Noah wouldn’t let me. He wrapped his arms around me and tugged me close. It was impossible not to inhale his sweet scent, and it made my wolf yip with excitement.

“My father was right,” I murmured into the warmth of Noah’s chest. “It’s tradition. Challenging tradition is difficult. Especially when it comes to anything that has to do with what a woman is expected to be.”

Noah fell silent for a moment, although his arms tightened around me.

Finally, he said, “I would give up my title, you know. For you.”

My eyes widened, and I pulled back. “You… You would do that?” He nodded, and I quickly said, “I don’t want you to do that. I’d rather give up my own title.”

Noah chuckled. “Then it appears as if we’re at an impasse, because I don’t want you to give it up, either. So we’ll have to find another way.”

I bit my lip and stared at the floor. Maybe he was right… Maybe we could find another way. Just like how we found our way back to each other, even though the odds were all stacked against us.

“I love you, Hannah,” Noah murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “And Melody. As long as I have you two… I know I can handle anything.”

My heart skipped then, as he leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips. He tasted like sugar and whiskey, a heady combination of the cake we’d had earlier and the drink he’d shared with my father. But I didn’t need alcohol to feel intoxicated tonight. Because being here with him, hearing him say those words… it left my head feeling pleasantly dizzy.

Which was why, without a word, I took his hand and led him from the nursery.