Alpha's Regret After Her Rebirth

Chapter 0497 Chapter 0497 Hannah

By the time we stepped out of the ring, it felt as if my entire body was on fire. Every muscle seemed to be taut, every heartbeat one thump away from shifting. I couldn't tell if I wanted to run circles around the building or maybe tear up the walls like a caged animal. What was wrong with me today, I wondered?

I wiped the sweat from my forehead, letting the towel linger there for a second as I caught my breath. In, out. I just needed to cool off, and then I would feel normal.

Across from me, Noah leaned against the ropes, his chest heaving with a lopsided grin spreading across his face. I couldn't help but grin back after our impromptu spar, momentarily forgetting our discomfort.

"Well, that was... unexpected," he said, his green eyes almost seeming to shimmer with the thrill of it all. "I haven't felt you fight like that in a long time, Hannah. You were strong stronger than usual."

His gaze softened, and he looked at me as if he were seeing something new, something different. "It was almost like... I could feel your wolf fighting for control with you through the bond. Did you feel it? Everything okay?"

I paused, rolling his words around in my mind. Of course I felt it-it was like I was fighting my wolf for control. Okay, though? I didn't know about that. I felt like I was on the verge of a heart attack. But I didn't want to worry him. "Yeah," I admitted, lowering the towel and catching Noah's eye. "I guess my wolf was in a good mood today." I didn't mention that she still felt like she was raring to go, even now that I was no longer in the ring.

Drake, who had been sitting on the bench nearby, raised an eyebrow. "I noticed it too, actually. Thought maybe you had taken something-a little extra strength tonic or something?" He smirked, teasing but curious all the same.

I let out a laugh as I swatted him with the towel "No, nothing like that. Maybe my wolf is just in... high spirits today."

As I spoke, I shot Noah a meaningful glance. The tips of his ears reddened ever so slightly at the subtle implication. Yesterday, our run through the woods-and the events immediately following the run-had been more than exhilarating, to say the least. Maybe that was why my wolf was so excitable today. She was happy after being let loose like that. I couldn't blame her.

But inside, I felt a stirring a quiet murmur from my wolf, something almost like a purr. No... It's something more than that..."

((

The words struck me, stopping me in my tracks as I was making my way toward the exit. A strange chill crept over me, sending goosebumps along my skin.

It was just a whisper, just a feeling, but it left a mark, lingering My wolf wasn't usually cryptic, and she rarely spoke up when I wasn't expecting it. "What do you mean?" I asked. But she didn't answer. Noah's hand was suddenly on my arm, pulling me back to reality. "Hey, are you alright?"

I nodded, forcing a quick smile even though my pulse was pounding beneath my skin. " Yeah, I'm fine. Just... thinking." I glanced away, trying to laugh it off. "Maybe I went a little too hard today."

Drake chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, whatever you're doing, it's working Just don't go too hard, or else your heart will give out from the effort."

I laughed, managing to keep the smile on my face, but inside, my thoughts were racing, Something more...

What could she mean by that? Was it possible-?

No, it couldn't be. It was just a feeling. A leftover spark from the sparring or the run, maybe. Nothing more. Still, that strange warmth lingered in my chest.

And it only seemed to grow stronger as I made my way home.

The rest of the day passed in a haze. Every now and then, I would catch myself pressing a hand to my stomach, feeling that warmth simmering there, a quiet presence that both comforted and unnerved me.

It was a familiar feeling, but at the same time, it felt new, different. And every time I thought about it, my wolf would stir, her quiet purr echoing in the back of my mind. Something more.

That night, as I rocked Melody to sleep, the feeling was there again, only much stronger this time. I pressed my hand to my stomach once more, just below my ribs, and took a deep breath, letting the warmth flow through me.

My wolf was quiet now, but I could feel her there, steady and strong, as if she were watching over me, waiting for something.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

Could it really be...?

The thought sent my heart into overdrive. I tried to ignore it, tried to push it away, but the more I thought about it, the more the pieces seemed to fall into place. The increased strength, the sharper senses, the feeling of my wolf being so close, so present.

It was the same as before, back when I first found out about Melody, back when I felt her tiny heartbeat inside me for the first time. Not quite the same, because my wolf had been

so weak at the time, but it was that feeling-that knowing-that was similar.

That night, I barely slept, tossing and turning as possibilities flickered through my mind. By morning, I knew I couldn't wait any longer. I had to know for certain.

As soon as Noah left for a meeting, I kissed him goodbye, pretending that everything was normal. But as soon as the door closed, I grabbed my coat and rushed to the drugstore.

I made my way to the right aisle, grabbing a box of tests and heading straight for the checkout. The cashier raised an eyebrow at me, likely wondering if there would soon be another heir to Silvercrest, but I didn't meet her eyes, just focusing on the counter as she rang it up.

"Have a nice day," she said, handing me the bag, but I barely heard her. I was out the door in seconds, clutching the bag to my chest like my life depended on it.

Once I made it home a little while later, I locked myself in the bathroom. My heart was racing a mile a minute as I set the box on the counter and tore it open. My hands were shaking as I followed the instructions, holding my breath as I waited.

Those ninety seconds seemed to stretch on forever. I felt like I was going to go insane, but I didn't peek at the results until the timer on my phone went off. I paced back and forth, bouncing on my toes to keep myself occupied.

And then, finally, my alarm went off. I raced over to the counter and turned it off, then took a deep breath as I looked at myself in the mirror.

"Okay, Hannah. You can do this."

Holding my breath, I looked down at the results, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst clean out of my chest.

Positive.

Those two lines stared back at me, clear and undeniable, and for a moment, I couldn't let out the air I was holding. I felt a rush of emotion, a mix of fear, hope, and overwhelming joy all at once, swirling together until I couldn't tell where one feeling ended and the next began.

It was real. It was happening.

We were having another baby.