Chapter 89

“It’s… actually not a bad idea,” he finally said.

I blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

“The picnic thing.” His broad shoulders lifted in an indifferent shrug. “Could be a good way to get people engaged and interested ahead of time, yes.”

Relief washed over me, quickly followed by surprise, and then a flicker of indignation. Noah was never the type to accept my—or anyone’s—ideas so easily. “But you should have told me sooner,” he added.

“Like you would have listened,” I retorted, folding my arms. “You’ve never shown any interest in what I do as your Luna. Why start now?”

Noah sighed. “You only started acting like a Luna, like, yesterday. And even that’s a stretch.”

“So if I had done more sooner, you’re saying you would have listened to me?”

A muscle ticked in Noah’s chiseled jaw, but he didn’t argue—either because he knew I was right or it wasn’t worth it.

After an awkward silence, I shook my head and sighed. “Anyway… why did you come barging in here?” I asked wearily. “I doubt it was just to critique my party-planning skills.”

Noah’s expression darkened. Without a word, he tossed his phone onto my desk, the screen open to a camera roll folder. “Look at this,” he said, jerking his head.

I stared, apprehension coiling in my belly, before picking up the phone. As the first image registered, my heart plummeted. It was me, with Drake, wrapped around him on his motorcycle, our bodies intertwined intimately. The next few shots only confirmed it—me caressing his shoulder, a soft smile on my face.

“What is this?” I whispered.

“I had to pay off an entire goddamn paparazzi agency to keep those from leaking,” Noah growled. “Six figures, Hannah. All to keep the Luna of my pack—and myself—from becoming a laughingstock because she can’t keep her hands off another man.”

My cheeks burned with shame and anger; the phone fell from my trembling hands as I met Noah’s hard glare. “It’s not like that with Drake and I,” I said.

“Then what is it?” Noah demanded, leaning forward, his hands on my desk as he towered over me. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks an awful lot like you’re being reckless. Selfish. Putting this pack at risk with your idiotic displays of—”

“I don’t see how this is any worse than the things you’ve done with Zoe in public,” I snarled, rising. “Holding her while she cries. Matching outfits with her at a gala. Showing up to welcome-home parties for her…”

Noah clenched his jaw. “So is that what this is? Revenge? And how many times do I have to tell you, nothing ever happened between me and Zoe?”

“It’s not about revenge.” I sighed, turning away. “Drake and I are just friends. I’m sorry I wasn’t more careful, but… I’d never cheat. We’re still married.”

Noah stared at me, his expression unreadable. Then, he nodded curtly. “Whatever.”

“Whatever?” I scoffed.

He shrugged. “Yeah. Whatever.” He paused, sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose. “Let’s just host this picnic thing of yours this weekend,” he said gruffly. “Be there, bright and early to make sure it all goes according to your plans.”

With that, he turned and strode out of my office without another word.