Chapter 369: Chapter 388

Chapter 0387 Hannah I stared at my phone, my thumb hovering over the ‘Message‘ button on David’s profile. His main picture was an incredibly handsome one–he was wearing an expensive suit, dark hair neatly slicked back and his black beard freshly trimmed. There was a roguish sort of handsomeness about him, eyes crinkling slightly at the corners, sharp, prominent nose.

We’d matched instantly, which only meant one thing: he had already swiped right on me.

The Alpha of Darkmoon Pack had matched with me. He was almost as arrogant as his father, but he was young, handsome, and apparently interested in me. But was I ready for this?

“Come on, Hannah,” I muttered to myself, raking a hand through my hair. “It’s just a date. Not a marriage proposal.”

Still, I couldn’t help but think about the implications. Darkmoon and Silvermoon had been at odds for years. If something were to develop between David and me–not that I was getting ahead of myself–it could potentially bring our packs closer together.

A new era...

I shook my head, trying to clear those thoughts. One step at a time.

Taking a deep breath, I typed out a message: “Dinner tomorrow night? I know a great place in neutral territory.”

His response came almost immediately: “Sounds perfect. Looking forward to it.”

The next evening, I found myself standing outside the trendy restaurant I’d picked. It was in an area where people wouldn’t care to notice who we were, which meant no unwanted tabloid articles.

I smoothed down my dress, a simple black number that hugged my curves without being too revealing. My heart was pounding, although I couldn’t tell if it was from nerves or excitement. Maybe both.

David arrived right on time, looking dashing in a tailored suit–just like the picture. His blue eyes caught the light as he approached.

“Alpha David,” I said, turning.

“Hannah.” David leaned in, planting a polite kiss on my cheek. His cologne smelled like cedar, although the sweet scent didn’t outweigh the fact that he had pointedly avoided referring to me by my title. But I chose not to mention it. Not yet, at least.

As we entered the restaurant, David placed his hand on the small of my back, guiding me to our table. The gesture sent a small shiver down my spine. It had been so long since I’d been touched like that. Not since...

No. Don’t think about the baby shower, I thought to myself. Just think about tonight. Nothing else.

We settled into our seats, and I couldn’t help but notice David’s eyes scanning the area around us.

“Everything okay?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

+25 BONUS Chapter 0387 He turned back to me, eyebrows raised. “Who is taking care of your child tonight?”

I stiffened, my guard immediately going up. “Excuse me?”

“Well, you brought her to the meeting,” he said with a shrug. “Where I go, she goes,‘ I believe you said.”

“I wouldn’t bring my daughter on a date. Perhaps you misunderstood.”

Those blue eyes flicked up and down my body. “Perhaps.”

A few moments later, the waiter arrived with a bottle of wine and the menus. I sipped my wine, savoring the taste. I had only just gotten back into drinking since Melody had been born, and the dark red liquid soothed my nerves.

It’s just one date, I kept telling myself, Not a marriage proposal.

As the evening progressed, I found myself both intrigued and irritated by David. He was charming, no doubt about that. But there was an underlying arrogance that grated on my nerves. Every story he told seemed designed to impress me, every joke a little too self–congratulatory.

Still, it felt nice to be wanted, to be looked at with desire again. Even if there wasn’t much of a spark, I decided to enjoy the evening for what it was–a nice dinner and a step back into the dating world.

After we finished our meal, David insisted on walking me to my car. The night air was cool against my skin, and I found myself wrapping my arms around myself.

“Cold?” David asked, already shrugging off his jacket.

I waved him off. “I’m fine, thanks. My car’s just over there.”

“Suit yourself.”

We reached my car, and an awkward silence fell between us. David cleared his throat.

“So are you coming to my place, or am I going to yours?”

His words left me in shock. Was he seriously suggesting...? I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. “The date was nice, David.

But I’m not looking to extend the evening.”

His face darkened, a sneer replacing the charming smile he’d worn all night. “I bought you lobster for dinner.”

“And it was delicious,” I said, flashing my teeth. “But I don’t need to put out over some seafood.”

He scoffed. “I figured a woman like you would just try to get a free meal,” he hissed, turning away.

Anger flared inside of me at those words. Without thinking, I reached out and caught his wrist, yanking him back to face me.

“Watch your tongue,” I growled, my eyes flashing. “I am an Alpha, not a floozy.”

For a moment, David looked shocked. Then, without warning, he surged forward, pressing his lips against mine in a deep, forceful kiss.

I shoved him away, hard enough that he stumbled back a few steps. “You bastard!” I spat, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. Reaching into my purse, I took out a wad of cash and slammed it against his chest so hard he stumbled back slightly.

“Here. For the lobster. Disgusting prick.”

+25 BONUS Chapter 0387 David merely smirked, his own eyes glowing in the dim light of the parking lot. His fangs flashed as he stuffed the cash into his pocket. “See you around, Alpha Hannah,” he cooed, before turning and sauntering away.

Still growling and seething from that unwanted kiss, I climbed into my car and slammed the door shut behind me. My heart was racing, and I could feel my wolf bristling just beneath the surface of my skin.

How dare he? The arrogant, entitled, disgusting bastard!

Was this what it was like in the dating world? To be treated like a piece of meat? To feel obligated to sleep with someone just because they bought me a meal?

I gripped the steering wheel tightly, trying to calm my breathing. This had been a mistake. I shouldn’t have agreed to go on a date. I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be ready, if I was honest.

To my horror, I felt tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. I leaned forward, resting my forehead against the cool leather of the steering wheel in an attempt to calm myself.

A sob escaped my lips before I could stop it. Goddess, I missed Noah. I shouldn’t have been missing him, not after everything he had done to me, but I did. I missed the way he used to look at me, the way he made me feel safe and loved. I missed the father of my child, the man I thought I would spend the rest of my life with.

I missed Noah.

And yet he was marrying Zoe.