Chapter 182

A grimace tugged at my upper lip. “Well, even if the divorce gets out, we’re nearing the end of our three-month agreement,” I said. “So we could handle that. But as for the affair…”

Viona shot me a withering look. “Just tell me, Hannah—”

“Oh, Goddess, no.” I waved my hand before she could even get the question out about me and Drake. “Never. Not in a million years.”

She huffed. “You’re sure? With all that stuff you guys have been doing lately… I mean, I’m not judging, but it’s risky, Hannah.”

“I’m not. I swear,” I growled. “It’s never gonna happen. Drake and I are just friends.”

Viona, believing me, nodded and leaned back in her seat. “Well, I think you should talk to Noah about this, at the very least. If someone is spreading this kind of gossip, it could spell the end for you. And with your little one on the way…”

Her voice trailed off, but the implication remained: with a baby on the way, I needed to be careful. I couldn’t risk any public upset until I was safely back in my rightful pack as the female Alpha.

“I know,” I said softly. “I’ll keep an eye on things.”

“Hannah.” Viona narrowed her eyes and folded her arms across her chest, leveling me with a stern glare. “You have to tell Noah. You have to tell him everything.”

My eyes widened. “You mean—”

“Yes, Hannah. You have to tell him about…” She mouthed the last two words: “Your baby.”

“No. No way.” I shook my head, waving both hands. “Not happening, Viona. He can’t know. He. Can’t. Know.”

She furrowed her brow. “Why not?”

“Because,” I huffed, “if he finds out that I’m pregnant with his baby, he’ll forbid the divorce. You know I can’t stay with him. I can’t live like that, and neither can my child.”

“So you’d rather put your child in danger?” she asked. “Hell, Hannah, you’re making all these assumptions about him and—”

“I’m sorry, Viona, but I know him better than you do.”

Viona quickly shut her mouth and sighed. “Fine, fine. I understand,” she said. “But I think it’s worth considering. If someone really is trying to stir up trouble on this scale, you’ll want him—the Alpha of Nightcrest—on yours and your baby’s side.”

Another retort died in my throat. Viona was right, of course; it would be safer with Noah knowing the truth. We could tackle whatever nefarious bullshit was going on together. He wouldn’t let anyone harm our baby, and that was a fact.

“Listen,” Viona said softly, reaching across the table to touch my hand, “you could just talk to him. Tell him what you want. Maybe you could still have a divorce while figuring out something that works for you two and the baby.”

I sighed. “…I can’t handle joint custody, if that’s what you mean,” I said.

“It doesn’t have to be like that. But I think you really should consider just talking to him.” Viona blinked at me, jutting her chin out—silently urging me to think about her proposal. And she did have a point, no matter how much it hurt.

“Fine,” I finally said after a beat of silence. “I’ll consider talking to Noah.”

“Talk to Noah about what?”

The sound of an all-too-familiar voice caused us both to jerk our heads up in panic. Turning, I saw Scott headed toward our table.