Chapter 0266

And in my current state, only one thought came to mind: I need to get out.

Without thinking, I bolted from my bed and ran to Noah’s room next door. I pounded on the wood, unconcerned about the sound echoing through the empty house. “Noah! Noah, please!”

The door flew open, and Noah stood there, his eyes glowing amber, his white fangs bared. With a low growl, he pulled me into his arms, his other hand raised as if to fight an invisible attacker.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

I sobbed into his chest. “Jake… he came back… in my dream… He was trying to take me again…” It was only then that I realized the figure was a lingering hallucination from my nightmare, but the terror remained real.

Noah’s body relaxed, but he didn’t let go. His arm tightened around me, one hand stroking my hair. “It was just a nightmare. You’re safe, Hannah. I’ve got you.”

As my tears subsided, embarrassment crept in. I pulled back, wiping my eyes. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—”

“Don’t,” Noah said, wiping away a stray tear. “Don’t apologize. You have nothing to be sorry about.”

I swallowed, nodding and stepping back. He led me downstairs to the kitchen, his hand warm on my back. The house was quiet, our footsteps echoing softly.

“Let’s get you some warm milk. It’ll help you sleep.”

As Noah busied himself at the stove, I sat at the kitchen island, watching him. So tender, so loving. So unlike him. Perhaps, while I’d been having nightmares, he’d been dreaming of happy moments. That was the only explanation I could find for his sudden kindness.

“Noah,” I said quietly, “about your proposition earlier…”

He turned, one eyebrow raised. “It’s late, Hannah. You don’t have to talk about it now.”

I shrugged, clenching my jaw. The gala had ended hours ago, the music fading in my memory, but his question—and his promise—lingered. Even in the wake of Jake’s dripping corpse.

“I accept,” I said, cautiously meeting his gaze in the dimly lit kitchen.

Noah blinked, clearly surprised. “Are you sure?”

I nodded. “What’s another two months?” I asked. My hand moved to touch my belly, where his child was taking root, but I managed to push away the urge to reveal it now. “And after tonight…”

The memory of our kiss at the gala returned. His lips, so warm and soft against mine. The way he had dipped me low, and now, his tousled hair as he warmed milk for me.

Something had changed tonight. I wasn’t sure what, or how, or when, but something had. Maybe I was just scared again, like that night at the hospital, clinging to any sense of familiarity.

Without a word, he brought the mug of warm milk. As he handed it to me, our fingers brushed. Neither of us let go, our eyes locked. The air crackled with electricity.

“If you’re certain,” he said quietly, tentatively, “I promise to uphold my end of the bargain—about ending things amicably.”

Ending things. The thought made me shudder, and my fingers instinctively tightened around his.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I leaned forward and kissed him.

Noah responded immediately, his free hand cupping my cheek. The kiss was soft, tender, filled with unspoken emotions—but it was also harsh, necessary, intense. Clearly, he yearned just as much as I did. Was he scared, just like I was? No; impossible. But he yearned.

When we pulled apart, both slightly breathless, I whispered in a trembling voice, “I don’t want to sleep alone tonight.”

For a moment, Noah hesitated, his eyes searching mine. Then, without a word, he scooped me up into his arms, carrying me toward the stairs. We left the milk untouched on the counter.