Chapter 44: Chapter 45

Chapter 0045 Chapter 0045 #26 BONUS I was an engaged listener, laughing at all the right moments and politely sipping my coffee. To any outsiders who were listening, we were like old friends spending time together.

Eventually, though, the curious bystanders seemed to lose interest. The restaurant began to thin out, and finally, our conversation was able to shift toward... darker topics. Our voices dropped a bit, and it became just a bit more difficult to keep my smile plastered to my sore lips.

“I have to ask,” Drake said, swirling the wine in his glass pensively, “how did things get so... complicated between you and Noah? Aside from the obvious, I mean.”

I felt a pang in my chest at the vague mention of Zoe, but I pushed it aside with a soft snort.

“That’s the million–dollar question, isn’t it? Noah and I we really were good together. We got along in a lot of ways.”

I took a sip of my coffee, letting the bitterness of it linger on my tongue for a long g moment.

“But somewhere along the way, things shifted. He grew distant, cold, always putting the pack’s interests before my own. And...

her...” I trailed off with a clench of my jaw, but I didn’t need to continue. Drake knew who I was referring to.

as He let out a soft, humorless laugh. “They always were the star–crossed lovers, weren’t they? And what were we? Unwilling bystanders?”

I quickly shook my head. “No. Not unwilling.”

Drake’s brow furrowed as his eyes searched my face. “What do you mean?”

I shrugged, thinking back on some of my... old behavior. My inability to stand up for myself. My lack of confidence and low self esteem. And then I thought about Drake’s cheating, and I met his gaze. “Maybe we’re not as blameless as it seems.” I paused, sucking in a deep breath. “I don’t see her as a bad guy anymore.”

“You don’t hate her, then? Even after everything?”

“Hate her?” I echoed with a wry smile. “Goddess, no. It’s not Zoe’s fault that she was once fated to Noah.”

I leaned back in my chair with a sigh. “Although I do wish it had been different, that’s all.”

Drake’s eyes widened a fraction, his fingers stilling on the stem of his glass. “It sounds like you have a very unique perspective on the whole situation.”

“Maybe I do,” I said with a shrug, trying not to picture the moment I had died in my bathroom. “But I’m learning to accept it all and move on, one way or another. Speaking of...”

I trailed off as our car pulled up to the curb outside the restaurant. The chauffeur stepped out and opened the door for us, and I gathered my clutch as Drake settled the check with the waiter.

Soon, we were on our way back to the mansion. The car was silent, each of us lost deep in thought. Finally, the mansion came into view, its dark brick edifice standing in stark contrast against the deep green pines surrounding it.

“Well... This was nice,” I said, unbuckling my seatbelt.

+25 BONUS Chapter 0045 Drake nodded. “We should do something like it again.”

Just before I could slide out of the car, though, Drake caught my wrist with his free hand. “Wait, I almost forgot...”

He fumbled in one of his shopping bags for a moment before extracting a small gift bag, elaborately wrapped with crisp white paper and a satin ribbon. My brows hiked up as he pressed it into my palm.

“I picked that up for you while we were out,” he said with a sheepish grin. “You know, as a little thank–you for... showing me around.”

My lips curved up in a grin as I peered into the bag, catching a glimpse of something silver nestled inside. “Drake, you shouldn’t have...”

“I wanted to,” he insisted firmly, his fingers tightening around my wrist for a fraction of a moment. “It was my genuine pleasure, Hannah. Truly.” He shot me a wink, and realization dawned on me; the Lunar Festival. I had almost forgotten that that was the real reason why we had done any of this “Thank you,” I murmured, flashing him a tight smile as he released his grip on my wrist.

Then, with a deep breath, I straightened my spine and slid out of the car. I was just turning to head up the front steps when a flicker of movement in the mansion’s front window caught my eye.

Noah was there, staring out at me with an inscrutable expression on his face.