Chapter 0428

“What’s that?” Viona asked, her expression turning serious again.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “If we got back together, I could lose my title. Nightcrest would absorb Silvermoon, which I suppose would be okay since Silvermoon residents wouldn’t be without an Alpha, but…”

My voice trailed off, and I thought back to my discussion with my father. He’d said I would have even more power if that happened, that it would be… better.

But it didn’t feel better. It just felt like I would be losing something I’d worked damn hard for.

“I just don’t understand why I would need to be the one to give up my title,” I mused. “After everything I’ve been through, everything I’ve fought for… it just feels wrong to give it all up so soon after taking my rightful place as female Alpha.”

Viona was quiet for a moment, her brow furrowed in thought. Then she suggested, “You know, Noah could always give up his title.”

I snorted, the idea seeming absurd. “Yeah, right. Can you imagine Noah stepping down as Alpha of Nightcrest? He’s changed, Viona, but not that much.”

“You never know,” Viona shrugged, her eyes serious. “People can surprise you. Especially when love is involved.”

I blinked, processing. Love. For an Alpha like Noah to give up his title so I could retain mine… It felt like a fairytale.

“Maybe,” I said quietly. “But even if he was willing, it would cause a whole other slew of problems—paint him as subservient and me as controlling. Create unrest in the pack, lose respect from outside the pack… I don’t know. It feels like we might be at an impasse here.”

I sighed, my gaze drifting to the framed photo of Melody on my desk. She was starting to show her own personality now, a feisty little firecracker—the perfect combination of me and Noah.

“I really do want Melody to grow up in a home with her parents together,” I continued. “It’s such a tough decision. I want it all—my title, my mate, a happy family. Is that too much to ask?”

Viona shook her head. “If anyone deserves to have it all, it’s you, Hannah. You—”

Just then, a sharp buzz cut through our conversation. I glanced at the security monitor on my desk—a new addition after my last unpleasant surprise visit from Darkmoon.

I wished I had installed better security sooner, but so much had happened since I’d become Alpha that it had slipped my mind. And my father, well… He never had to worry about intruders coming onto his pack lands. People respected him. So he’d never installed gates or proper security around our shared estate.

But better late than never, I supposed.

Leaning forward, I saw who was waiting for me. The screen showed a black car idling at the shiny new gates.

“Speaking of unwanted visitors,” I muttered, recognizing the face that appeared as the driver rolled down the window to speak to my security officer. Darkmoon’s Beta. Again.

“Oh, Goddess. What is it now?” Viona groaned.

“What do you want?” I asked, not bothering to hide the annoyance in my voice as I held down the intercom button.

“I’ve come with a request from Alpha David. He would like to meet tonight… on neutral territory,” the Beta replied.

Viona snorted. I couldn’t help but laugh. “What makes him think I would speak with him after what he did to me?”

A pause, then: “He has a… proposition for you, Alpha Hannah,” the Beta replied. “One that you won’t want to refuse.”