Chapter 0173

Hannah

I burst into the cool morning air, gasping for breath and clutching my stomach. The image of Drake and Noah pounding each other to a pulp was seared into my mind, terrifying and sickening. All I wanted was to learn how to fight again—to protect myself and my baby, to prepare for life as a single mom and female Alpha.

But thanks to a couple of Alpha males, I couldn’t even do that. They had to make today about themselves, nearly killing each other in the process. My car waited down the street, but I couldn’t drive; my belongings were inside. Instead, I found a nearby bench, sinking onto it, burying my face in my hands and pressing my knuckles into my eyes to fight back tears. Goddess, even my shirt was soaked through. I hadn’t realized how much water splashed on me in my frenzy to stop them. There were a few small blood splatters on my top, too, though I didn’t know whose. And all for what? So Noah and Drake could finally have their long-awaited showdown?

As I sat there, my shoulders shaking with barely contained sobs, I heard footsteps. I jerked my head up, baring my fangs, to see Drake approaching. Noah was a few paces behind him; both held ice packs to their bloodied and swollen faces.

“Fuck off,” I growled, baring my fangs. “I don’t want to see either of you.”

They paused. Drake shifted nervously; Noah remained stoic, staring blankly at the ground. Much to my chagrin, neither left despite my order. With a huff, I rose to brush past them, but Noah stepped in my way.

My breath caught. His eye was swollen, his lip black and blue, his shirt soaked with water and blood. He looked like death staring down at me from behind his ice pack. He didn’t move, not even when I bared my fangs again—fangs that hadn’t retracted since it all began.

For a moment, he just blinked silently, his stance unwavering. His lips were pressed into a downward line, one corner twitching slightly. And in that moment, I felt myself soften. My fangs involuntarily retracted, my eyes wandering his face. My heart stuttered at the sight of him. I wanted nothing more than to pull him into my arms and care for him.

But before I could speak, Drake broke the silence.

“I’m sorry, Hannah. This is my fault.”

I whipped my head around to face Drake, who looked even worse than Noah. His shirt was torn, his hair a mess, his face covered in blood and bruises. I knew he’d heal quickly, as would Noah, but it still made my knees weak.

“It’s both your faults,” I growled.

Drake sighed and glanced at Noah, who remained silent. “Well…” Drake shrugged. “I’m sorry. Really.”

I looked back and forth between them, feeling my shoulders slump. I felt like a schoolmarm scolding unruly children, not grown men.

“You know I’m not inclined to pick either of you as my sparring partner,” I chided.

Noah gritted his teeth and looked away. “Wouldn’t blame you.”

“But…” I sighed, throwing my hands up, “You’re both good fighters. I need a good fighter to train me.”

Drake raised an eyebrow. “You’re going to let me train you?”