Chapter 28: Chapter 29

Chapter 0029 Chapter 0029 +25 BONUS Noah and I prepared to accept Drake into our home. Drake would be staying at Le Palais, the most luxurious hotel in the Nightcrest Pack territory, but for his first night there, we were holding an intimate dinner to welcome him to the area. It would only be Noah, Drake, myself–and Zoe and Adam.

“I don’t think you understand,” Zoe sald as she helped me to set the table.

After the fiasco of the family banquet, Zoe refused to cook anything for Noah again (not that I could blame her), and Noah did not believe that I could even try to make anything acceptable, so Noah hired a private chef for this meal. That left Zoe and me to do nothing more than place plates and silverware on the table while we anxiously awaited our guest of honor.

“What don’t we understand?” I asked.

“Drake might say that he’s here on business and custody matters, but I know that he’s not,” she insisted. He’s going to try and harass me. I’m just not sure how, yet.”

“We won’t let that happen,” Noah said from his seat at the head of the table.

I gave Zoe a tight–lipped smile.

“Of course, we won’t.” I paused. “It does make me wonder, though, why did you leave him in the first place?”

Before Zoe could open her mouth, Noah snorted.

“Everyone knows about Drake’s playboy reputation,” he said.

“Everyone knows about my what?” a deep voice startled us.

Noah, Zoe, and I turned toward the doorway to see the butler standing there anxiously. Beside him was a tall man–as tall as Noah–with broad shoulders, darker skin, and close–shaved hair. His white teeth flashed as he snarled at Noah.

“Alpha Drake,” Noah said flatly.

“Alpha Drake, Luna Hannah,” Drake replied. His eyes darted to Zoe. “Zoe.”

“Dad!” Adam cried, running up to Drake with his arms wide open.

Drake smiled and knelt down, stretching his arms out to accept Adam’s hug.

“There’s my big boy,” he said, squeezing his son with all his might. He pulled away, looking Adam in the eye. “Have you been good for your mother?”

Adam nodded enthusiastically.

“Do you like your new Pack?” Drake continued, a slight edge now in his voice.

Adam nodded again, though a little less ecstatically now.

“Luna Hannah gave me a new toy!” Adam exclaimed.

“Oh, she did, did she?” Drake glanced at me, a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. “You’re going to have to show me.

Chapter 0020 “Now?”

Adam’s eyes twinkled in a manner similar to his father’s as he ran over to where he had left the Transformer action figure.

+25 BONUS “Maybe later, sweetheart,” Zoe said, her eyes set firmly on Drake. “Mom and Dad need to talk about adult things with Alpha Noah and Luna Hannah.”

Zoe turned her attention to Noah.

“Is there somewhere that he can play while we wait for dinner?” she asked.

Noah nodded.

“Of course.” Noah gestured to our butler. “Zachariah, please take Adam to we talk.”

play in the sitting room while Zachariah nodded and approached Adam, holding his hand out to the little boy. Adam looked from Drake to Zachariah to Zoe, as though asking someone for permission to go.

“It’s okay,” Zoe said. “Go with Zachariah, and he’ll bring you back when it’s time to eat.”

Adam glanced at Drake, seeming to expect a different answer.

“Go ahead, buddy,” Drake said, somewhat reluctantly. “ll be here when you get back.”

Adam timidly took Zachariah’s hand, and the butler led him out of the room.

As soon as Adam was out of hearing range, Drake turned on Noah, his eyes flaring.

“So, what were you saying about my ‘playboy reputation?” he snarled.

Noah stood, and I quickly stepped into the space between the two men and raised my hands placatingly at both of them.

“Alpha Drake, I’m sure that Noah meant no offense by his words,” I said.

Drake sneered.

“Yes, I’m sure that the man that my wife rejected meant nothing by bringing up my reputation in front of my son.”

Chapter 0030