Chapter 0044

Hannah

I slipped my feet into a pair of black flats and smoothed my hands over the pale yellow dress I’d chosen for the day. It was a little tighter and more revealing than I would normally wear, but I wanted to make an impression—on Drake and on anyone else who might be watching.

Noah wasn’t here, of course. He’d left the house last night after our argument and still hadn’t returned. Part of me was annoyed he wasn’t here to see me leave with Drake, but I knew he’d be hearing about it later.

When I stepped into the foyer, Drake was already waiting, looking handsome in a crisp button-down shirt and slacks. His eyes widened slightly as he took in my appearance, but he quickly recovered with a charming smile.

“Good morning, Hannah,” he greeted, taking my hand and brushing a gentlemanly kiss over my knuckles. “You look lovely today.”

I returned his smile, although I couldn’t deny the lingering annoyance at his presence. I supposed I’d dug this grave for myself. “Thank you, Drake. Shall we get going?”

The chauffeur waited outside with a sleek black town car, and we slid into the back seat together as he pulled away from the mansion. I leaned back against the plush leather, letting my legs cross at the knee in a way that hiked my skirt up just a bit.

“So, where would you like to go first?” I asked, watching Drake’s gaze flicker from the window to my exposed knee.

“Surprise me,” he replied with a grin. “I don’t know much about what Nightcrest has to offer, anyway.” With a nod, I directed the driver to take us on a tour of Nightcrest’s most impressive sights—the grand, sweeping lawns of our estate grounds, the pristine athletic facilities, the glittering shopping district. We stayed in the car for the most part to avoid public scrutiny, at least for the time being.

Drake whistled low under his breath as we cruised past each new location, though he didn’t seem all that surprised.

“Nightcrest has certainly done well for itself,” he murmured, leaning in a bit closer.

I nodded. Noah had made sure to pour a large portion of our yearly budget into pack beautification. It was one of the few things I admired about him; he was always a staunch supporter of green initiatives and cleanup efforts. “We take a lot of pride in our pack’s greenery,” I said.

Eventually, I instructed the driver to pull over in the center of town. Drake raised an eyebrow as I gathered my small clutch, but he didn’t protest when I looped my arm through his and led him onto the bustling sidewalk—right into the public eye.

I could feel the weight of curious stares boring into us as we strode past the high-end boutiques and cafes, and I reveled in it. Let them look—let them wonder and gossip and speculate all they wanted about the nature of Drake’s visit. The rumors would be flying soon enough, and then perhaps I could do another interview to smooth it over, to paint myself as the ever-welcoming and gracious Luna.

“Care to do a little shopping?” I asked Drake, quirking an eyebrow.

His lips curved into an amused smile. “Lead the way.”

We dipped in and out of a few of the fancier clothing stores, and I made a point of trying on a few decadent outfits. It was nice to try on clothes again—it had been a while since I’d been able to wear normal sizes, and although many of the smallest sizes still hung a bit loosely, it was a start.

By the time we made our way out of the boutique, our arms laden with shopping bags, I was even starting to feel a welcome rumbling in my stomach.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m famished,” I said, pitching my voice to carry as I sidled up next to Drake; I wanted the eavesdroppers to hear that Luna Hannah was indeed no longer starving herself. “What do you say we get lunch?”

Drake nodded. “That sounds like a fantastic idea.”

The little French bistro I chose was easily the most upscale restaurant in town, with sleek modern décor and an extensive wine list. I could sense Drake’s surprise as the host led us to a table right next to the floor-to-ceiling windows, as though we were on display, but he didn’t comment—not that he needed to. I could see the approving look in his eyes.

As we ate, I made sure to keep a smile on my face and my voice just high enough to be overheard as we conversed about lighter topics—his travels, his interests, his plans for the future.