Chapter 0456

Hannah

I cursed under my breath, rereading Noah’s text and wishing it weren't real. His father was coming for dinner. This weekend. The words felt like stones sinking in my stomach. Marcus.

Years had passed since I'd last seen the man, and every memory was stark, black and white. He was a cold bastard, and I'd never liked him. I squeezed my phone, resisting the urge to throw it across the room.

A flood of unwelcome images returned—Marcus trying to prevent Noah from seeing his mother one last time; Noah's clammy hands as we snuck into the hospital; his relief upon leaving the room. What kind of father doesn't let his teenage son say goodbye to his mother?

As far as I knew, Marcus never discovered I'd helped Noah see his mother before she died. Indeed, I didn't think he knew Noah had spoken to her at all. I hoped it stayed that way. Noah and his mother deserved those moments. Even I hadn't asked what was said that night; it felt too personal. Noah never shared it, not even with me. If Marcus found out, he'd likely drain any beauty from that memory.

But this wasn't about me. I understood why Noah was doing this. Family could be a bitter, complicated mess, and if Noah felt it right to accept his father's invitation, I wouldn't complain. It was just dinner, after all.

Sighing, I texted my agreement, though the knot in my stomach remained. The rest of the week blurred by, my nerves steadily increasing, though I tried to hide it. When Saturday arrived, I found myself staring into my closet, rifling through my clothes in frustration.

"You're going to give yourself a headache," Viona teased from my bed. She held up a sleek black dress. "Just wear this. You need something that feels like armor, something that says, 'I'm an Alpha, and I won't be intimidated.'"

I turned, exhaling slowly as I examined the dress Viona had urged me to wear. It was perfect—structured, elegant sleeves, strong shoulders, long enough to trail my ankles.

"You're right," I murmured.

As I adjusted the dress, a thrill of confidence sparked. This wouldn't be like when we were kids; Marcus didn't have power over us anymore. Not over Noah. Not over me. Tonight, he'd see we were no longer the teenagers he controlled.

Viona smiled approvingly as I slipped into high heels. "You'll knock him flat," she said, smirking.

Chapter 0456

"Let's hope so," I muttered, mostly to myself.

Next was Melody. I searched her closet until I found a soft white dress with a little bow on the ruffled collar. I wanted her to look sweet and angelic for her first meeting with her grandfather, certain he'd try to demonize her.

As I dressed her, I wondered how Marcus would react to meeting the female heir to Silvercrest. Would he dismiss her like everything else that didn't fit neatly into his world? Would he see her as a threat to the pack he once controlled, a symbol of a future where Nightcrest no longer existed? Or would he simply not care? I couldn't decide which was worse.

Noah opened the door almost immediately when I arrived a little while later, and for a moment, all my tension vanished. He looked devastatingly handsome, as always, in a crisp white shirt and dark slacks. His hair was neatly combed except for one stray curl across his forehead. My heart skipped a beat as our eyes met, even more so when Melody instinctively held out her little hands to him.

"Hannah," he breathed, relief softening his features. "You look beautiful." I stepped inside, Melody balanced on my hip, and offered him a teasing smile. "You don't look so bad yourself," I said, leaning in for a soft kiss.

As soon as we touched, I felt the tension leave his body, his arm wrapping around both me and Melody, pulling us close. "I'm sorry about all this," he murmured into my hair. "I know it's…not ideal. But I promise, if he steps out of line, I'll send him away."

I pulled back to look into his eyes, my fingers brushing his jaw. "Noah, don't forget we're both Alphas now. Marcus controls nothing. He hasn't for a very, very long time."

His eyes flickered with something I couldn't quite read, and he kissed me again, firmer this time. "You're right," he said. "It's just been so long. I'm getting nervous over nothing."

As if on cue, the sound of tires crunching on gravel broke our moment. Noah stiffened, his gaze darting to the window. The guest of honor was here, right on time, as always.

Noah took a breath, as if steeling himself, before opening the door to reveal Marcus standing on the porch. The sight of him sent an icy chill down my spine. He looked almost exactly as I remembered—impeccably dressed, with that same harsh, judgmental glint in his eyes. Retirement hadn't softened him.

"Noah," Marcus greeted, his voice as cold as I remembered. He held out a bottle of wine to Noah without a smile. "It has been a while."

"Father," Noah replied, his tone carefully neutral. He took the bottle and stepped aside to let Marcus in. "Come in."

Marcus crossed the threshold, his eyes immediately landing on me and Melody. A flicker of something—surprise, perhaps—crossed his face, but it was quickly masked by the familiar coldness. He handed his coat to a nearby servant without looking at them.

"Hello, Marcus," I said, forcing a smile. "It's good to see you again."

Marcus simply grunted in response. But then his eyes slid to Melody, and for the first time, maybe ever, I saw something other than indifference. It wasn't warmth; it was something colder—calculating, angry. He narrowed his eyes, his lips thinning as he scrutinized my child. Even Melody seemed to sense the tension and nuzzled against my chest, hiding her eyes from her grandfather as if that might make him go away.

"Is this truly my granddaughter?" he finally asked, straightening. "I'm not sure I believe it."

Chapter 0457