Chapter 0385 Chapter 0385 Hannah I stared at the wedding invitation on my dresser, my fingers tracing the ornate gold lettering. Noah and Zoeâs wedding was coming up soon. The thought still made my stomach churn, but now there was a new emotion mixed in with the hurt.
Determination.
âYou know what?â I said to Viona, who was sprawled on my bed, flipping through a magazine. âIâve decided Iâm going to look amazing at this wedding.â
âYou do look amazing.â She licked her thumb and flipped the page.
I turned to the mirror, prodding my belly. The baby bump was gone by now, and I didnât at all mind the little bit of fat and loose skin that lingered there. I had carried an entire life inside of me for nearly nine months, after all. But still...
âI know,â I said. âBut is it so wrong to want to show up looking like a million bucks?â
âNot at all.â Viona sat up, tossing her magazine aside. âAnd besides, itâs been far too long since we had one of our good oldâ
fashioned shopping sprees.â
The next day found us at the upscale mall in the heart of Silvermoon. Racks of designer dresses surrounded us, a rainbow of fabrics and styles.
âWhat about this one?â Viona held up a slinky black number.
I shook my head. âToo funeralâish. I want to look hot, not like Iâm still mourning my marriage.â
After trying on what felt like a hundred dresses, I finally emerged from the dressing room in a forest green silk gown that hugged every curve.
Vionaâs jaw dropped. âHannah, thatâs it. You look incredible.â
I turned to the mirror, barely recognizing myself. The dress was daring, with a plunging neckline and a high slit that showed off my leg. But what struck me most was how powerful I looked.
Not to mention the color; forest green, just like Melodyâs eyes. Just like his eyes.
It would be a real slap in the face for him. Teach him for doubting that my baby was his when he was the one whoâd been lying and cheating for months.
âI love it,â I breathed. âBut... Iâd like to lose some of this baby weight to really pull it off.â I paused, then added, âIn a healthy way this time.â
Viona rolled her eyes. âYou look amazing as is. But if you really want to tone up, why not ask Drake to start training you again?â
The idea of getting back into shape appealed to me. Not just to look good in the dress, but to feel strong again. To be able to protect Melody with everything I had.
âYouâre right,â I nodded. âIâll give him a call.â
The next morning, I found myself in the packâs training facility, facing off against Drake in the sparring ring +25 BONUS Chapter 0385 just like old times. Viona sat on the sidelines, scrolling through her phoneâalthough the way her eyes occasionally flicked up to gawk at Drakeâs shirtless torso, muscles glistening in the dim light, wasnât lost on me. I donât think it was lost on Drake, either, because he flexed unnecessarily.
âReady to get your ass kicked, Alpha?â Drake grinned, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
I snorted and adjusted the wraps around my hands. âIn your dreams, pretty boy.â
We circled each other, muscles tense, ready to strike. Drake made the first move, lunging forward with a swift jab. To my surprise, I dodged it easily, my body reacting on instinct.
As we continued to spar, I found myself matching Drake blow for blow. My muscles remembered the training, even if I hadnât worked out in months. In fact, I felt stronger than ever.
After an hour of intense training, we both collapsed onto the mat, breathing heavily.
âDamn, Han,â Drake panted. âYouâre tougher than ever these days. I thought youâd be rusty after the baby, but youâre kicking my ass.â
I sat up, wiping sweat from my brow. âReally? I feel out of shape.â
Drake shook his head. âIf anything, you seem stronger. Maybe becoming an Alpha and a mother strengthened your wolf.â
That made sense. But then I thought back to the hunt last year, where Iâd taken down a deer single- handedly. âI guess I was pretty tough at last yearâs hunt,â I mused.