Chapter 0449 âBut only if weâd truly be equals, Noah,â I added firmly. I wonât be relegated to âLunaâ duties, hosting charity events and serving as some kind of trophy wife!
I frowned, the thought turning my stomach. âNot that thereâs anything wrong with being a Luna,â I amended quickly. âItâs a respected position, and I admire those who choose that path, but itâs just... itâs not me.â
Noahâs expression softened, his serious gaze never leaving mine. âI know, Hannah,â he said quietly. âAnd I wouldnât expect you to change for me. Youâre meant to be an Alphaâyou possess the gene. I wouldnât want you to be anything less.â
A soft laugh escaped my lips, the tension in my chest easing just a little. But before I could say anything else, Noah grinned, that familiar mischievous spark returning to his eyes. âBesides,â he said, leaning in closer, âyou were always pretty terrible at being a Luna.â
I gasped, feigning outrage as I smacked his arm. âI was not!â
Noahâs laughter filled the air, rich and warm, and for a moment, everything felt light again.
But then, he swam up between his legs and his hands found their way to my face, cupping my cheeks as he gently brushed a strand of wet hair from my eyes. His fingers lingered there, tracing the curve of my jaw, and when his gaze met mine, it was so intense, so full of emotion, that I could hardly breathe when i looked at him.
âI want you to be happy, Hannah,â he said, his voice low, serious. âWould you really be interested in pursuing this? Combining Silvermoon and Nightcrest, becoming the first Alpha/Alpha couple?â
âHypothetically?â I whispered.
Noah didnât respond to that. Just kept looking at me with those forest eyes.
My heart stuttered in my chest. I wrapped my arms around his neck, letting myself sink into his embrace as I mulled over the enormity of what he was asking.
âI... I would,â I whispered after a few moments. âBut itâs not something we could just... decide on our own. The Alpha Council would need to approve it. And that could take months. Maybe even years.â
I pulled back slightly, searching his face. âAre you really willing to go through all of that? To fight the Council, possibly letting it drag on until Melody is old enough to remember the strain of it all?â
Noahâs smile widened, that allâtooâfamiliar glint returning to his gaze. âWhat if I told you it would only take six months?â His voice was teasing again, that same playful edge creeping back in. âAnd what if I told you... those six months were already up?â
I stared at him, incredulous. âYouâre joking. Again,â I laughed, shoving him away from me. I sank down so the bubbles came up to my chin and said, âIf that were true, Iâd say yes in a heartbeat. But come on, Noah. Stop messing with me.â
But Noah didnât laugh. His expression suddenly turned more serious than Iâd seen it all day, the playful glimmer in his eyes replaced with something far more... intense.
âYou... You are joking, right?â I whispered, sitting up a little straighter. âRight, Noah?â
Chapter 0449 +25 BONUS Noah didnât answer. Instead, he climbed out of the hot tub, water cascading off his nude body as he strode across the deck with purpose. I turned and watched, my confusion growing, until he returned with a small bundle of papers in his hand.
âWhatâs that?â I asked, my voice trembling.
Without a word, Noah handed me the bundle. âSee for yourself. Then tell me if Iâm messing with you or not.â
The moment my eyes landed on the familiar seal of the Alpha Council, my breath caught in my throat. My hands shook as I flipped to the first page, the words blurring in front of my eyes.
âAlpha Noah and Alpha Hannahâs Appeal for Equal Leadership,â the documentâs title read.
I felt my stomach turn to air as I saw the green stamp below it. Slowly, I lifted my tearâfilled gaze to meet Noahâs, and he nodded, his jaw set hard.
âItâs already been approved, Hannah,â he whispered. âAll we have to do is sign it.â
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