Chapter 45: Chapter 46

Chapter 0046 Hannah As soon as I stepped through the front door, Noah was there waiting for me like 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 time gallivanting around town with your new... friend?”

I rolled my eyes, brushing past him toward the sitting room with my shopping bags in hand. “Don’t be so dramatic, Noah. Drake and I 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, I arched a brow. “Well, how else was I 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,” I 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 I am trying to secure it; and if any of the other Alphas had asked for a tour, I 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,” I said.

Noah tightened his folded arms and scoffed. “Don’t play dumb, Hannah. I 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 to me as I got out of the car. “Is he showering you with gifts to get more out of you?”

“What’s it to you if Drake bought me a little something?” I asked coolly. “I’m a grown woman, Noah-I can accept gifts from whoever I 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 through me at his audacity. Yanking the bag away, I 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?” I hissed, jabbing a finger into his chest. “I’m +25 BONUS Chapter 0046 not some UMO possession for you to boss around and dictate terms to, Noah. I’m still a whole person on my with or without you. And I 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 some distance between us once more.

“Fine. Do what you want, Hannah,” he muttered gruffly. “Just don’t come crying to me when Drake’s true Intentions become clear.”

With that parting remark, Noah turned on his heel and swept out of the room, leaving me standing there. seething in his wake. I watched him go, my hands curling into fists at my sides as I struggled to rein in my temper.

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

Once I was safely locked away in my room, I carefully opened Drake’s gift.

A tiny gasp escaped my lips as I 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 I needed Noah to tell me-l knew very well what Drake’s true angle was. He was buttering me up, biding his time until he needed another favor in his scheme to win Zoe back.

I knew better than to fall for such cheap tricks.

Snapping the bracelet’s clasp closed around my wrist, I turned it this way and that, admiring the shimmer and sparkle on my skin. It truly was exquisite, I had to admit... but not quite exquisite enough to make me lose 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 I wanted was to slip into a hot bath and try to put the day’s events behind me. Maybe then h could find some semblance of peace, if only for a little while.

The next morning, I awoke feeling uncharacteristically refreshed, my mind clear and unburdened by the usual worries that so often plagued me. It was a welcome reprieve, and I intended to savor it for as long as possible.

I dressed leisurely, taking the time to style my hair into soft waves and dab on a bit of makeup to brighten my features. I got dressed in a matching skirt and top set, and slipped my feet into the same black flats | wore yesterday.

Once I was satisfied with my appearance, I 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 +25 BONUS Or so I thought.

I 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, I turned toward the movement, only to feel my stomach drop at what I 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, I pulled the bracelet out and immediately felt anger seethe through me.

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

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