Chapter 0036

After politely excusing myself from the cluster of council members' wives, I made a beeline for the bar. My throat felt parched, an anxious dryness lingering from Noah's presence even after his departure. The flute of champagne was already warming in my hand; I couldn't drink it. Sidling up to the sleek marble counter, I caught the bartender's eye. "Could I get a sparkling water, please?" I asked, sliding the champagne flute toward him.

The bartender eyed the untouched champagne glass. "Is the champagne not to your liking?"

"Oh, I'd just prefer not to drink tonight," I replied, meeting his gaze with a coquettish smile that made the young bartender's ears turn pink. "I actually prefer water."

His brows furrowed slightly, but he didn't question me further. With a slight bow, he turned to prepare my drink. I let my shoulders slump once his back was turned and leaned on the counter. I was going to have to get used to this whole no-drinking thing. But it did feel good to have a clear head.

"Hannah? Is that you?" Zoe's gentle voice made me turn. She stood just behind me, looking beautiful in a maroon silk gown that brought out the color of her eyes. A warm smile curved her lips as she regarded me. It took all my energy to smile back.

"You look stunning this evening," she said, gesturing to my simple black gown before her eyes fell on the diamonds around my throat. "And that necklace is exquisite… Is it vintage?"

Heat pricked my cheeks at the compliment and at the glittering reminder of Noah's actions tonight. Too bad he hadn't given me the gift out of the goodness of his heart, but rather because he wanted something. I didn't know what he wanted, but I knew I would find out soon. Unconsciously, my fingers drifted up to trace the diamonds as I offered Zoe a small smile in return.

"It was a gift from Noah, actually. A bit… unexpected."

Zoe's eyebrows arched in surprise, and for a moment, something unreadable flickered in her eyes. But only for a moment. "A gift?" she asked. "How lovely of him. Is there a special occasion?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but the bartender reappeared with my drink. With a murmur of thanks, I accepted the sparkling water and took a sip. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the shift in Zoe's expression again—the subtle tightening of her gaze as she watched me drink water instead of alcohol. Clearly, it hadn't gone unnoticed.

"You're abstaining from alcohol tonight?" she asked lightly after a beat of silence. "Is everything alright?" Tamping down a flare of panic, I responded with a casual shrug. "Just taking a bit of a break from alcohol on my doctor's recommendation. I've been having some… stomach issues lately."

It wasn't a complete lie. The thought of alcohol did make my queasy belly churn even more violently than usual these days. But Zoe's gaze had sharpened shrewdly, her lips pursing slightly.

She didn't believe me. Not fully, at least. But to Zoe's credit, she didn't push the matter further. Instead, she simply lifted her wine in a silent toast, a small, almost knowing smile playing on her lips.

"Well, I certainly don't blame you for keeping a clear head," she said breezily. "It would be wise for all of us to be on our best behavior with the Alpha Council here."

My stomach plummeted at her words as I followed her pointed gaze toward the grand double doors. They had just swung open, framing the entire Alpha Council as they entered the room in their black-and-white tuxedos and perfectly groomed hair.

Finally, a deep voice rang out over the ballroom as one of the stewards announced the Alphas by name. I recognized Drake at once as they drew nearer—that bold sweep of raven hair, those chiseled features so like Adam's, if not as cherubic.

Chancing a glance at Zoe, I softened a bit upon seeing her pained expression when she saw Drake. I sidled a little closer and placed a gloved hand on her arm. She startled at my touch and looked over at me. I said nothing, but merely shot her a small nod and a smile. She seemed to relax a bit—perhaps bolstered by my support. I then turned back to look at Drake and the other Alphas.

He moved with an easy, predatory grace befitting his title as an Alpha. But it was Noah, now at his side, his face practically carved from marble, who drew my gaze like a magnet. I braced myself for the storm brewing behind those inscrutable emerald eyes and found myself reaching up to touch the diamonds around my throat.

One by one, each Alpha offered a shallow bow or nod of acknowledgment as their names were called. When Drake's turn came, he cast a sweeping glance across the ballroom—his eyes glittering like shards of blue topaz as they raked over me.

I looked over to see that Zoe had slipped away into the crowd. She was gone.

A slow, serpentine smile curved Drake's mouth as his gaze met mine. The tips of my ears flushed hot as he made his way through the crowd, headed straight for me. I couldn't decide whether I felt more heat from his approaching figure or from Noah, trailing alongside him with fire burning in his clenched jaw.

"Luna Hannah," Drake said, bowing at the waist once he had stopped a few paces away. "It's been a while since we've met. You look stunning tonight."

Drake reached for my hand, his lips brushing across my gloved knuckles in a gentlemanly gesture as his eyes bored heatedly into mine. "And that necklace… The diamonds bring out your eyes exquisitely."

Over his shoulder, I met Noah's stony glare. It was almost a challenge, Drake's bold move—testing the boundaries of civility and Noah's control. Without a word, Noah strode over to stand beside me.

Well, two could play at this game.

Curving my lips into a brilliant, dazzling smile, I gently extricated my hand from Drake's grip. The other curled confidently around Noah's bicep, giving it a pointed squeeze.

"Why, thank you, Alpha Drake," I practically purred, shifting to press my body subtly against Noah's side. His frame went rigid, although I refused to look at him. "Isn't it lovely? It was a gift from my loving husband."

Noah drew in a sharp breath. Drake, too, had gone silent—his gaze flickering calculatingly between us as the pieces clicked into place. He was no idiot, I'd give him that.

"I see," he said with a shark's smile—a smile that told me our conversation had only just begun. Then, with another bow, he said, "I'll leave you two to it. I'm afraid I have some mingling to do. Luna. Alpha."

"It was a pleasure seeing you," I said in a tilting voice, dipping into a curtsy. Noah, still stiff as a board, merely inclined his chin at Drake and sipped his champagne as he watched him go.

"Are you drunk already?" Noah blurted out, glancing at the water in my free hand. "You're not acting like yourself."

"No."

With nothing more than that singular, curt word, I released my grip on his arm so quickly it was almost as though I had been burned. I turned on my heel and strode off, my pleasant smile instantly dropping from my face the moment he could no longer see me.