Alpha's Regret After Her Rebirth by Aurora Starling

Chapter 0120

Hannah

| couldn’t quite help the way my stomach grumbled as the scents of the reception’s lavish buffet wafted through

the ballroom. Plate after plate piled high with gourmet delicacles caught my eye-tender cuts of meat glistening

under a sweet glaze, buttery pastries dusted with powdered sugar, colorful displays of exotic fruits.

| chewed my lip, my gaze wandering over the spread as the voice of my eating disorder battled relentlessly

against the voice of logic.

One little voice toldthat this dress clung a little too snugly in certain areas for my liking. That if | took one

bite too many, | might just go and burst right out of the seams. That | was a fat pig who didn’t deserve food even

though my hip bones still protruded from beneath my dress.

But the other little voice, the more logical one, toldthat just one or two things wouldn't hurt, would they?

That | had worked hard today, and | deserved something good to eat. That everyone deserved food anyway, no

matter what, and | was no exception.

tiv as

That | was beautiful, and | deserved to be healthy, not only for myself, but for my baby

well.

It was when a tray of fresh, fragrant bread and various mouthwatering cheeses was finally carried pastthat |

couldn't take it any longer. | was starving, ***t. And that food looked *good.

With my decision made, | quietly excused myself and temporarily slipped away from Noah's side, heading, for

the buffet tables lining the far wall. Choosing carefully, | selected a few items-a couple chocolate- dipped

strawberries, a little watercress sandwich, a glistening jam tart. All definitely foods that were on the ‘safer side,

but still made my mouth water.

As | surveyed the rest of the food on display with envy, trying to decide if | should go for a slice of cheesecake to

top it all off, movement in my periphery drew my gaze upward.

There she was, across the room: Zoe. Watchingwith an inscrutable expression, her eyes glittering from over

the rim of her wine glass as she raised it to her lips.

| froze, feeling the hair starting to p**le a little on the back of my neck as her lips curved upwards into a smile

that didn’t quite reach her eyes. There was something almost... malicious about it. Predatory.

Like the cat catching the mouse trying to get the cheese.

Her gaze held mine for a moment too long before she looked away and strode off with a swing of her hips,

leavingto wonder if | had simply imagined the dark look, Surely | had-Zoe didn’t actually care if Late. If

anything, she probably even encouraged it.

But the brief moment was enough to dull my appetite, the knot of unease in my belly overriding the hunger

pangs Clarmming up, | set my plate down without taking a single bite.

Maybe next time.

“Not hungry?”

The sound of Noah's voice madejump ever so slightly. | turned around to find him frowning down at my

untouched plate.

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“Oh! Um...” | waved a hand in a dismissive gesture, unable to meet his probing stare. “Actually, I'm feeling a bit

off. Decided against it. Do you want my plate?”

Clearly unconvinced, Noah simply arched one eyebrow atand crossed his arms over his chest-his entire

stance radiating disbelief and annoyance. | couldn’t help but wince.

He knew | was lying. But it wasn't like | could tell him the truth, that just looking at his ex-girlfriend had made me

no longer want to eat for sinexplicable, ridiculous reason. He would just think | was even more nuts than he

already thought | was.

“You need to eat,” he stated simply.

Before | could protest, he was s**ng up my plate again and practically shoved it into my hands. Up close like

this, the masculine scent of his cologne clouded my senses, weakening my knees just a bit.

“I'm not hungry.”

“I don’t care. Take at least one bite,” he ordered, his voice low enough so only | could hear as he sidled a little

closer. “Or I'll have to force feed you myself.”

A shiver rippled throughat the stern edge in his voice. | quickly looked away, unable to stammer out a

response.

Noah's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, studying the side of my face. My cheeks flushed under his scrutiny as

arousal stirred deep in my core, makingshift my weight from foot to foot. Goddess, why did he have to say

things like that?

“Fine.”

With a resigned huff, | plucked up one of the chocolate covered strawberries and popped it in my mouth to

appease him. Noah's eyes remained locked on me, watchingchew and swallow. It was delicious, | had to

admit-the chocolate was rich and dark, and the strawberry was perfectly ripe despite the tof

year.

The look of approval that flickered across his chiseled features made my toes curl inside my high heels.

“Good girl,” he muttered, plucking up another strawberry from my plate. He popped it into his mouth, his lips

slowly expanding around the sweet fruit.

At the sound of his sultry words, | felt my belly clench reflexively around the sudden tightening in my groin. | bit

back a whimper as another rush of heat flooded my core. This wasn’t the tor place, but my body clearly

didn’t care.

| needed to get out of there. Now.

“Excuse me,” | managed in a strangled tone. | shoved my plate back into his hands, spun on my heel and

beelined away from Noah before he could see the full effect his words had on me.

| didn’t dare look back, keeping my eyes locked dead ahead as | half-ran, half-walked towards the nearest

hallway I could duck into. The heavy p**k doors groaned in protest as | pushed through them, finding myself in a

dimly lit corridor.

Air, | just needed sfresh air to clear my head and regain my composure.

With a shuddering exhale, | leaned back against the cool stone wall, screwing my eyes shut as | willed the

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Chapter 0120

throbbing ache between my legs to subside. This was utterly ridiculous.

So he had calleda good girl in that ssyrupy tone he used when commandingaround behind closed

doors. That shouldn't have been enough to makecompletely lose control.

But it had.

After drawing in a deep breath through my nose and out through my mouth a few times, | wrenched my eyes

shut and shook my head.

Get a grip. | thought to myself before pushing myself away from the wall and heading back toward the party.

They're just words. Nothing more. | just need to get back to the party and play it cool and-

Before | could fully formulate that thought, a hulking form stepped in my way. A jet black suit, a crimson tie, and

a pair of green eyes stared atfrom behind a head of dark hair.

Noah smirked down at me, pressing his palm into the wall behind me.

“You're embarrassed,” he murmured, his voice low and husky. “I can tell from the redness in your ch***ks.”