Chapter 0424

Hannah

The festival was in full swing by the time Viona, Drake, and I arrived. String lights zig-zagged between towering trees; food stands emitted the fragrant aroma of fried dough and roasted walnuts; couples strolled hand-in-hand. And up ahead, I saw Noah approaching.

My spine straightened the moment I saw him. He wore an army-green jacket and dark jeans cuffed around leather boots; his dark hair peeked out from beneath a black beanie. He looked so relaxed, so casual—nothing at all like the rigid Alpha I’d once been married to.

Viona smirked and nudged me with her elbow as he approached. “Here comes Prince Charming.”

I blushed, but didn’t have time to retort before Noah stopped in front of me, a serene smile on his face, his hands stuffed in his pockets.

“Hannah. You look nice.”

Blushing even harder, I looked down at my outfit—a simple pair of jeans and a sweater. It was chilly that evening, and since the festival was entirely outdoors, I’d prioritized practicality over style. But the compliment was nice.

“Thanks. You don’t look half-bad yourself.”

Noah’s smile widened slightly, and he turned to Drake and Viona. “Are you guys—”

“Nope. You two can be all lovey-dovey on your own,” Drake said, draping his arm around Viona and leading her away. They immediately disappeared into the crowd, clearly wanting no part of our awkwardness.

“Well then.” Noah turned back to me and extended his hand. “Shall we?”

Nodding, I tentatively took his hand—trying not to dwell on how warm and comforting his palm felt against mine—and followed him into the festival.

As we walked, I couldn’t help but think about my recent visit with Alvin. It had been on my mind all week, keeping me up at night. “So,” I said, glancing at Noah, “I talked to Alvin. Well, tried to, at least.”

“Oh?” Noah raised an eyebrow. “How did it go?”

I shrugged. “He remained silent, of course. This is all so… frustrating.”

“You can say that again.” Noah’s face hardened, and I knew he was thinking about Zoe. Noticing me looking, he sighed and said, “They’ll all be behind bars soon. I know it’s not the most satisfying thing, the waiting, but it’s almost over.”

I pursed my lips, considering for a moment. “Sometimes I just wish the big comeuppance at the wedding had been the final part of it. That it could be like the movies, and they’d all be thrown in prison immediately, with no trial, confessing to all their crimes from the get-go.”

Noah snorted. “If only the real world were that simple.”

Noah was right; it wasn’t that simple. Maybe once, many years ago, Alphas could take whichever prisoners they liked, make their own laws, treat their pack land like its own independent country. But those days had also been rife with trouble—thanks to Alphas who could essentially do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted. That was why the Alpha Council had been created—a world government of sorts. A standardized set of laws and policies across all packs, with actual repercussions for Alphas who clung to the old ways. It was a way to protect people’s rights and avoid outright civil war. But while the Alpha Council created much good, the bureaucracy could sometimes be… tiring.

“Our trials are in a month,” I mused as we meandered through the densely packed stalls, our hands still intertwined. “I have no doubt the Council will deem Alvin guilty. But Zoe…”

Noah stopped at the mention of her name and turned to look at me. “Hannah, I think I’d just like to enjoy tonight without thinking of them, if that’s okay.”

I felt a heat creep up my cheeks. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just hard to shut that part of my brain off sometimes.”

“I understand completely.” Noah gave my hand a squeeze, his expression reassuring. “But I, too, have no doubt the Council will put Zoe behind bars.”

I nodded, managing a small smile. I was certain Noah was diligently collecting evidence in preparation for the trial. We both were.

“A flower for the lovely couple?”

The sound of an old woman’s voice caused us both to turn, facing a flower peddler with a basket of roses hooked over one arm. She held one rose out to Noah, a smile on her weathered face. “Such a beautiful Alpha and Luna.”

Oh, great, I thought, wondering if I should correct her on the title or if it wasn’t worth it. But Noah beat me to it.

“We’re actually both Alphas.”

“Oh?” The woman raised her eyebrows and looked at me, shocked. I would have said something had I not been just as shocked as she was. I supposed I shouldn’t have been so surprised anymore at Noah’s change in demeanor, but… still. Hearing him use my title like that made something flutter in my chest.

“Yes. Women can be Alphas, too,” Noah said kindly as he reached into his wallet and withdrew a few bills.

The woman cocked her head. “But you are Noah and Hannah, are you not? I thought you got back together after that whole ordeal with that awful girl… I saw it on the news!”

“We’re dating,” Noah continued to smile politely and held out the bills. “I know it seems like we’re back together, but…” He glanced at me. “Well, don’t get me wrong, I would love to marry Hannah all over again. But I didn’t treat her as well as I should have during our marriage. So right now, we are rebuilding trust, one step at a time.”

I didn’t know what to say. My mouth worked uselessly, like a puppet on strings. And all the while, those green eyes just looked at me, a soft smile stretched across Noah’s slender lips.

With a chuckle, the woman took Noah’s cash and handed him the rose. “How sweet,” she said, already spotting more customers. “Best of luck to you!”

Once she was gone, Noah turned to me and held out the rose. “For the lady.”

In those moments, the rest of the festival seemed to slip away. There were no string lights, no vendors, no other couples. Just us and a single red rose.

I gingerly took the rose, our fingertips touching.

“Thank you,” I murmured, carefully prodding the petals with my index finger. “Did you… did you really mean all that?”

Noah nodded. “I hope it wasn’t too much.”

I quickly shook my head, my eyes meeting his. “No. It was perfect. Thank you for saying that.”

Noah’s shoulders almost seemed to slump with relief. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but before he could, a voice suddenly boomed over the loudspeakers.

“Ladies and gentlemen… Ultimate Frisbee is about to begin! Join us on the athletic field if you’d like to play!”

My eyes lit up at the thought of a game, my wolf bristling with excitement. “Frisbee,” I echoed, feeling like a little kid again. “I haven’t played in so long…”

Noah, noticing my fervor, chuckled and began pulling me toward the field.

“Come on, then. Let’s play.”