Chapter 0038

Noah

Noah watched Hannah stalk off, a scowl on her face, her hips swaying with each step. His jaw clenched as she disappeared into the crowd without a backward glance, her long black dress trailing behind her.

She looked so different lately. Was it just because she’d been eating more? No, he thought. It’s not just that. It wasn’t just her appearance; it was her demeanor. She was more confident, but also more abrasive. Noah couldn’t decide if it infuriated him or turned him on.

Downing the last of his champagne, he set the empty flute on the bar with a soft clink and asked the bartender for another. As he waited, his jaw worked beneath his skin. That little display with Drake had been entirely unnecessary. Did she have to play up the fawning devotion quite so much? No, of course she didn’t. She was trying to anger him, to make him feel… what? Make him feel bad for getting her a gift?

“It’s not just a gift,” Noah’s wolf rumbled in the back of his mind. “You know that.”

Noah clenched his jaw harder and exhaled through his nostrils. “I know. But how else am I going to get her to listen? I need her to—”

“Alpha Noah,” the sound of an all-too-familiar voice made Noah stiffen. “A word?”

He turned to find Drake regarding him with an inscrutable look, his piercing dark gaze far too knowing for Noah’s liking. With a deferential nod, Noah replied, “Of course, Alpha Drake. Shall we?”

Without waiting for Drake’s response, Noah strode down the nearby hallway, putting some distance between them and the prying eyes of the gala crowd. Drake fell into step beside him, their footfalls echoing against the marble floors.

Noah hated having to see Drake tonight—for Zoe’s sake. She was still an old friend and a member of the Nightcrest pack under his protection. Of course, he didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable or unsafe. But what was he supposed to do? Drake was on the Alpha council. There was no changing that.

“I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised to see you and Hannah so close,” Drake began once they were relatively isolated, his tone conversational. “I’ve heard some nasty rumors about the two of you. I’m glad to see they’re just that: rumors.”

Noah fought back a derisive snort. “What did you want to talk about, Drake?” he asked. A ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of Drake’s lips. “Ah, Noah. You’ve never been one to mince words. I’ve always admired that about you.” He paused, clearing his throat before continuing. “Zoe returned to Nightcrest.”

“She did.”

Drake raised an eyebrow. “Did you have anything to do with that? Your wife seemed to handle it so gracefully at your acceptance ceremony, I thought…”

“Hannah handled the situation with about as much grace as possible,” Noah responded evenly, remembering how Hannah had hugged Zoe like old friends and had even given little Adam a toy. “But I assure you, I had no prior knowledge of Zoe’s choice to come here. It was a surprise.”

“To both of you?”

Noah pursed his lips. “To me, at least.”

Drake hummed under his breath, his face betraying no emotion as they fell into a tense silence. Noah could practically taste the weight of what Drake was about to say next.

Finally, Drake spoke again, this time making no attempt to veil the undercurrent of steel in his tone. “I would appreciate the chance to speak with Zoe while I’m here, Alpha. Privately.”

Noah narrowed his eyes and folded his arms across his chest, leveling Drake with an unyielding stare. “With all due respect, Alpha, I don’t believe that would be wise.”

Drake’s brows hiked upward. He was feigning ignorance; Noah could tell. “Why not?” he asked.

The muscle in Noah’s jaw ticked with barely restrained irritation. Of course Drake would play dumb—it was just like a scoundrel like him. Tamping down the urge to put the bastard in his place, Noah responded in a clipped tone:

“I think we both know you have something of a… reputation, when it comes to the fairer sex.” He held Drake’s gaze, letting his words sink in. “I simply would hate to see Zoe made uncomfortable in a place that’s supposed to be her refuge.”

“Refuge?” Drake laughed. “It’s not like she fled her home.”

“Are you sure about that?” Noah asked.

For a fleeting moment, Drake’s icy veneer cracked—a flash of something dark and volatile flickering across his features. Noah braced himself for the cutting retort, the heated denial, the thinly veiled threats.

But then, just as quickly as it had come, the look was gone. Replaced by one of cold, practiced indifference.

“You seem to have formed some… misconceptions about me, Alpha Noah,” Drake said in a low, measured tone. His eyes bored into Noah’s with an accusatory glint. “Tell me—were these notions planted by Zoe herself? Or did they perhaps stem from your own… indecent feelings toward my wife over the years?”

The insinuation hit Noah like a knife to the gut, his entire body going rigid as he struggled to keep his expression impassive. Yes, he and Zoe had a history—but that was all before any of them got married. He never would have touched another woman, especially a married woman, when he was sworn to someone else.

“I can assure you, there is nothing unsavory about my relationship with Zoe. She is my packmate—my friend. Nothing more.”

“Of course,” Drake said with an infuriatingly placid smile. “My mistake. It’s just that Zoe was never one to run away from her problems before. I can’t help but wonder if certain… outside factors influenced her recent choices.”

There it was again—that not-so-subtle implication that Noah had played a part in driving a wedge between Drake and Zoe. As if Drake were utterly blameless in the matter.

“Believe me, Alpha, your wife’s decision to leave had nothing to do with me,” Noah bit out, struggling to keep his tone even and respectful. “I’m afraid your reputation alone precedes you in that regard.”

Drake smirked. “And so does yours,” he said, his eyes flickering over Noah’s shoulder. “Tell me, Noah…” He took a step closer. “You have such a beautiful wife at your side, yet you feel the need to steal mine?”

Noah furrowed his brow and opened his mouth to retort, but before he could, the familiar lilt of Hannah’s voice and the clicking of her heels on the marble floors made him shut it again.

“Noah? Is everything alright down here?”

Noah turned to see his wife round the corner toward them. Drake’s eyes raked over her with unmistakable hunger, drinking in the elegant lines of her gown and the glittering diamonds at her throat.

Noah felt his blood begin to simmer just below the surface. How long had she been there? How many of Drake’s words had been perfectly curated for her ears?

Before Noah could react, Drake was already sidling closer—close enough that the scent of his sandalwood cologne made Noah’s nose wrinkle. Noah shifted to put himself between them, fixing Drake with a warning glare. Drake merely smirked back, utterly unfazed.

“Luna Hannah,” Drake said silkily, peeking around Noah. “How nice to see you again.”

Hannah stopped beside Noah and shot him the briefest of glances before inclining her chin toward Drake. “Alpha Drake,” she said. “I was just looking for you.”

“Looking to continue our conversation from earlier?” Drake asked, a serpentine smile curving his lips. Hannah paused, shooting Noah another glance, then nodded. Drake’s smile widened. “Come, show me to the bar. I’m parched.”

Conversation? Noah felt the tips of his ears burn as Hannah’s gaze flickered uncertainly between them, clearly picking up on the charged atmosphere. Still, she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin with a polite smile.

“Of course, Alpha. Allow me to show you the way.”

Drake dipped his head gracefully, looping his arm through hers without a moment’s hesitation. As Hannah turned to lead him away, Drake paused, glancing over his shoulder to pin Noah with one final, weighted look.

And Noah felt his blood turn from simmering to boiling as he watched Drake walk… with his wife.