Chapter 57

Hannah squared her shoulders, steeling herself as she approached Noah’s idling SUV. With a sharp rap on the tinted window, she made her presence known, watching as he startled slightly before rolling it down.

“Can I help you?” he asked, his tone clipped.

Hannah arched a brow. “You’re the one lurking outside the pub like some kind of creep. I should be asking you that question.”

Noah’s jaw tightened. “I wasn’t lurking,” he countered. “I just happened to come here for a drink.”

Hannah snorted, crossing her arms. “Right. And I’m the Alpha of Nightcrest.”

His eyes narrowed. “Believe what you want, Hannah. I don’t have to explain myself to you.”

Smirking, she leaned down to his level. A piece of her hair caught the breeze and ruffled toward his face.

“You’re right, you don’t,” she agreed, her voice low. “But if you were so desperate to see me, you could have just asked me out on a date instead of following me around like some kind of stalker.”

Noah’s brows hiked upward. “A date?” he echoed, amusement flickering in his steely gaze. “Is that what you think this is about?”

She shrugged, feigning nonchalance even as her heart hammered. “Well, since you’re clearly too in love with Zoe to care about me anymore, I decided to go on a date with a real man instead.”

The words had barely left her lips before Noah threw his head back with abrasive laughter, making her face flush with humiliation. She straightened, clasping her hands tightly as she waited for his amusement to subside.

Finally, he shook his head, regarding her with mock pity. “You really are something else, you know that?” he mused. “But I saw you come out with Emma, so I know you weren’t on a date. If you want to play games and make up stories to get my attention, be my guest. But don’t insult us both by lying about it.”

She sighed, feeling weary. “Alright, fine. You got me,” she admitted. “I was bluffing about the date. But then why are you really here, Noah? Don’t tell me you just randomly decided to stop at this dingy little pub for a drink.”

He studied her for a long moment. “You’re right, I didn’t just randomly end up here,” he confessed. “I was going to stop for a drink at the bar down the street, but I saw you through the window and decided to wait.”

She frowned, folding her arms. “Wait? For what?”

“To make sure you got home safely,” he said matter-of-factly. “How were you planning on getting back, by the way? Were you going to call the chauffeur?”

She nodded, utterly perplexed by his concern—but she knew it was bullshit. “Yeah, I was going to have him pick me up,” she said, omitting the fact that she wasn’t drinking.

Noah grunted. “I can drive you home instead, if you want. But I’d like to have my drink first.”

She hesitated briefly before nodding. “Sure. I guess that would be alright.”

Noah pulled the key from the ignition and opened the door, gesturing for her to lead the way back into the bar. She did, trying to ignore her quickening pulse at the thought of spending more time with him—though she couldn’t decide if it was excitement or loathing.

They settled onto stools at the bar, Noah ordering a whiskey neat while she asked for a soda. As the bartender placed their drinks before them, Noah cast a sidelong glance at her.

“No alcohol for you tonight?” he asked, something unreadable in his gaze. “You haven’t had anything to drink in a while.”

She shook her head, running her finger through the condensation on her glass. “No, I just… don’t really like the taste anymore,” she lied smoothly. “And I like feeling clear-headed.”