Chapter 240 240

Chapter 240 240
Nova's POV

Noah was already seated when I arrived at the same cafe we'd met before when he'd introduced me to Hannah.
"Nova." His voice was warm but his eyes scanned me like he was checking for injuries. "Are you alright?"
I slid into the seat across from him. "I'm fine. Really. I'm sorry I made you worry and didn't return your calls."
"You didn't sound fine on the phone the other day." He settled back down, his gaze steady on my face. "You said someone tried to run you off the road."
There was no point in deflecting. Noah had heard everything while it happened.
"Yeah, and it was Lucas Steele," I said, wrinkling my nose in distaste. "Or someone he paid to do his dirty work as usual."
Noah's jaw tightened. "You're sure?"
"Yeah." I quickly told him about the driver and how he'd confessed to being hired, as well as Zayn's involvement while Noah listened, his eyes narrowed, mouth set in a straight line.
"And he's doing all these things because he thinks you're the one who got him detained at the bureau?"
I nodded, then remembered what Caden had told me. "That was your doing, wasn't it?"
“It was." He admitted, expression sour. “And now I wish I'd had them throw away the damned key back then."
"Goddess! And to think he even got one of Caden's people to help him…" Noah leaned back in his chair, his expression dark. "You need to get out of there, Nova. Go back to Strongvale where your family can protect you properly."
"I can't." I said quietly, shaking my head.
"Why not? Your father has the resources, the security. You'd be safe there."
"I need to stay because my son needs his father's presence." I explained softly. “He has a medical condition. Dominant Bloodline Manifestation Syndrome. He needs constant exposure to his father's scent or his wolf will try to emerge too early and it could kill him."
Understanding dawned in Noah's eyes, followed by resignation. "So you have to stay at Shadowcrest."
"Until he's stable. Yes."
He was quiet for a moment, studying me in that perceptive way he had. Then he asked, "Is that the only reason you're still there?"
I sat up straight and gave him a sharp look. "What do you mean?"
"Is Hudson's health the only thing keeping you at Shadowcrest?" His voice was gentle but direct. "Or are there other reasons you haven't left?"
"I don't..." I started to deflect, to give him the easy answer about Hudson being the priority, about doing what was best for my son. But the words stuck in my throat because Noah deserved better than my lies.
And maybe I deserved to stop lying to myself.
"I don't know," I said finally, my shoulders slumping in defeat. The admission felt like something breaking open in my chest. "I keep telling myself it's just about Hudson. That once he's stable I'll leave and go back to my life. But every time I think about actually leaving, about walking away again, I..."
I couldn't finish. Didn't know how to put into words the sick feeling that twisted through me at the thought of being gone from there, to not have Caden constantly around. To go back to the loneliness of my apartment.
Noah reached across the table and covered my hand with his. The gesture was kind, understanding, and it made my eyes sting.
"You still have feelings for him," he said quietly. Not a question, more like a statement of fact.
I wanted to deny it, pull my hand back and insist he was wrong, that what I felt for Caden was just physical, just the complicated mess of co-parenting and forced proximity and nothing more.
But I couldn't make myself say it.
"I'm sorry," I whispered instead.
Noah's smile was sad but genuine. "Don't be. I think I've always known, if I'm being honest with myself. From the moment I found out you two had a child together, I knew you'd choose him in the end."
"It's not a choice. I'm not choosing anything."
"Aren't you?" He squeezed my hand once before letting go. "You could have brought Hudson to Strongvale and had Caden visit for scenting sessions. You could have kept your distance, maintained boundaries. But you're living in his house, Nova. You're letting yourself be pulled back into his orbit. That's a choice, whether you want to admit it or not."
I fought the urge to squirm, his words hitting me right where it hurt. I'd been telling myself I had no options, that circumstances had forced my hand. But Noah was right. I'd had choices all along. I just hadn't wanted to make the hard ones.
"Noah…I…”
"I understand, Nova." Noah smiled quickly before his expression shifted to something more serious. "Just promise me you'll be careful. Not just with your heart. With everything to do with Shadowcrest."
"What do you mean?"
"I've been hearing things. Disturbing information coming out of Shadowcrest." He kept his voice low. "There might be a conspiracy brewing among some pack members and if Caden doesn't do something to nip it in the bud, it could spiral out of his control."
My pulse kicked up. "What kind of conspiracy?"
Noah hesitated, choosing his words carefully.
"Tell me." I urged.
“I don't have any specifics yet, more like speculation and nothing concrete, but from what I understand, Lila might just be at the centre of it all again.”
I almost laughed. "When hasn't she been at the center of trouble? I'm sure she's panicking now that Hudson is in the picture and Josh's future is now uncertain."
"Speaking of Josh," Noah's voice dropped even lower. "Have you ever questioned the DNA results?"
"Umm…I thought we already found out the truth?” I said. "Josh isn't Caden's son. He's Paul's child. Caden's nephew."
Noah's expression didn't change, but something shifted in his eyes. "What if I told you Josh might not be Paul's child either?"
"What?" The word came out sharp and loud, drawing curious glances towards our table, but I could only stare at Noah in shock. “What do you mean?"
"I mean Lila may be playing a deeper game than even Caden himself realises. I have reason to believe the paternity question goes deeper than anyone's investigated."
I had to take a moment for it all to sink in. Then I asked, "If Josh isn't Paul's son, whose child is he? And why would Lila lie about it?"
“That my dear, is a question only Lila can answer.”