Alpha's Regret After Her Rebirth by Aurora Starling

Chapter 0046

Hannah

As soon as | stepped through the front door, Noah was there waiting forlike a guard dog on duty, his arms

crossed over his chest and a stern expression etched onto his face.

“There you are,” he said, his tone clipped. “I trust you had a good tgallivanting around town with your new...

friend?”

| rolled my eyes, brushing past him toward the sitting room with my shopping bags in hand. “Don’t be so

tic, Noah. Drake and | were just having a friendly outing.”

“A friendly outing?” Noah echoed, following on my heels. “Hannah, the two of you were parading around the

most high-profile spots in town like you were on a honeymoon.”

Turning to face him, | arched a brow. “Well, how else was | supposed to show Drake a good time? He's our guest,

after all-and an important one, at that.”

Noah scoffed, raking a hand through his tousled hair. “Yes, because he’s the only Alpha on the council who has a

say in Nightcrest hosting the Lunar Festival,

“Oh, don't be so stingy,” | countered sharply. “I seem to recall you harping on endlessly about how vital it is that

we secure the right to host it this year. About how it could make or break our reputation, our standing, our place

among the other packs. Well, here | am trying to secure it; and if any of the other Alphas had asked for a tour, |

certainly would have given them one.”

A muscle ticked in Noah's jaw as my words hit home. For a long moment, we simply stared each other down in

tense silence.

Finally, Noah sighed, seeming to deflate a bit. “You didn’t have to make such a public spectacle of it, though.”

“I wasn’t trying to make a public spectacle,” | said.

Noah tightened his folded arms and scoffed. “Don’t play dumb, Hannah. | know that there's more than meets the

eye here. What did he promise you, hm?” He nodded his head toward the gift bag in my hand, which he had no

doubt seen Drake give toas | got out of the car. “Is he showering you with gifts to get more out of you?”

“What's it to you if Drake boughta little something?” | asked coolly. “I'm a grown woman, Noah-I can accept

gifts from whoever | please. And besides, not everyone buys people gifts just to get something in exchange. Or

have you forgotten that people do things out of kindness sometimes?”

Noah scoffed. “Drake’s a player. And he’s playing you like a fiddle.” He sighed, turning his head. “Don’t forget

you still belong to me. It’s not becoming of a Luna to be accepting gifts from another man. What did he even

give you?”

As he spoke, he reached for the bag, attempting to take it from me.

White-hot anger surged throughat his audacity. Yanking the bag away, | stalked toward Noah until we were

nose-to-nose, glaring up at him defiantly.

“I don’t belong to you or anyone else, do you understand me?” | hissed, jabbing a finger into his chest. “I'm

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Chapter 0046

not some

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possession for you to boss around and dictate terms to, Noah. I'm still a whole person on my with or without you.

And | make my own decisions and open my own gifts.”

Noah flinched almost imperceptibly at the venom in my tone, but he held my gaze, his own eyes blazing with an

intensity to match my own. For a long, charged moment, something seemed to crackle between us-a spark of

danger, of unresolved tension, of overwhelming want.

Then, just like that, the moment was gone. Noah blinked and averted his stare, taking a small step back to put

sdistance between us once more.

“Fine. Do what you want, Hannah,” he muttered gruffly. “Just don’t ccrying towhen Drake's true

Intentions becclear.”

With that parting remark, Noah turned on his heel and swept out of the room, leavingstanding there.

seething in his wake. | watched him go, my hands curling into fists at my sides as | struggled to rein in my

temper.

The audacity of him, | fumed, grabbing my bags and storming up the stairs.

Once | was safely locked away in my room, | carefully opened Drake's gift.

A tiny gasp escaped my lips as | pulled out the contents-a dainty silver charm bracelet, each link and pendant

sparkling almost blindingly in the low light. It really was lovely, much too thoughtful a gift for a shameless flirt

like Drake.

But then, Noah's words flashed through my mind. His true intentions. As if | needed Noah to tell me-1 knew very

well what Drake's true angle was. He was butteringup, biding his tuntil he needed another favor in his

schto win Zoe back.

| knew better than to fall for such cheap tricks.

Snapping the bracelet’s clasp closed around my wrist, | turned it this way and that, admiring the shimmer and

sparkle on my skin. It truly was exquisite, | had to admit... but not quite exquisite enough to makelose my

head.

With a soft hum, I unclasped it once more and padded over to my bedside table, tucking it neatly into the drawer

for safekeeping. Out of sight, out of mind-1 would deal with whatever Drake wanted in return another day.

For now, all | wanted was to slip into a hot bath and try to put the day's events behind me. Maybe then h could

find ssemblance of peace, if only for a little while.

The next morning, | awoke feeling uncharacteristically refreshed, my mind clear and unburdened by the usual

worries that so often plagued me. It was a welcreprieve, and | intended to savor it for as long as possible.

| dressed leisurely, taking the tto style my hair into soft waves and dab on a bit of makeup to brighten my

features. | got dressed in a matching skirt and top set, and slipped my feet into the sblack flats | wore

yesterday.

Once | was satisfied with my appearance, | made my way downstairs toward the kitchen in search of something

to eat. The house was quiet, the servants going about their own duties and Noah still gone.

Chapter 0046

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Or so | thought.

| was in the process of fixing myself a mug of strong, black coffee when something metallic glinted in my

peripheral vision, catching my eye. Frowning, | turned toward the movement, only to feel my stomach drop at

what | saw.

There, amongst the crumpled remains of a banana peel and a few discarded sugar packets, lay the delicate

silver charm bracelet Drake had gifted me-haphazardly tossed into the trash can like a worthless trinket when it

had been safely locked in my bedside drawer the night before.

Gasping, | pulled the bracelet out and immediately felt anger seethe through me.

“Noah,” | hissed, clenching my fist around the silver bracelet.

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