Chapter 0010
Viona turned around to look where I was staring.
“Huh,” she said, “I think that is. I wonder what he’s doing here.”
“I don’t know,” I replied. “He’s acting rather sketchy, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just watch him.”
We watched as Scott continued to stare at us, failing to be surreptitious and remain hidden behind his newspaper. (Someone really should have told him that print media went the way of the VHS tape many years ago.)
We were rather amused by the display but also uncertain as to its purpose. It’s not as though Scott was unwelcomed in the bar or that we would have objected to him coming over and talking to us.
Why all the secrecy? Did this have something to do with the alliance that he and I had come to the night before?
Soon, the bartender approached Scott’s table with a beer in hand.
“Excuse me, sir,” he said, attempting to set the beer down. “This is from that young lady over there.”
He pointed to a table seated just behind Scott’s. A pretty young woman with auburn locks and a generous bust waggled her fingers at Scott.
I rolled my eyes and mentally gagged at her desperation. I hoped that I would not get that way once I got my divorce and finally started looking for another man. 1
Scott did not so much as glance back at the woman. He merely waved away the drink and kept his on Viona and me. I was just as confused as the bartender as he walked away.
Viona was trying to get my attention, but I was too busy trying to decipher Scott’s puzzling behavior. Why would Scott turn down a drink from a pretty woman? And why was he acting so nervous? Then a thought occurred to me.
“I’ll be right back,” I told Viona. I got up and walked over to Scott’s table before she could object.
eyes
Scott saw me approaching and tried to hide behind his newspaper. I took one finger and used it to push down the top of the paper, forcing Scott to look up at me. He smiled sheepishly.
“Good evening, Luna Hannah,” he said. “What a surprise it is to see you here-”
“Save the formalities,” I snapped. Kindlier, I added, “Why did you turn down that girl’s drink?”
Scott set down his newspaper and rubbed the back of his neck.
“You saw that?” he asked.
I nodded.
He sighed.
+25 BONUS
Chanter 2010
“I’m worried about you, Luna.”
I tilted my head at him. He was worried about me?
“Is Noah here…with Zoe?”
Scott’s face flushed. He glanced back towards the bar’s private room, where a large group had gathered. I didn’t see Noah or Zoe, but the group had grown pretty thick, and they were probably at the heart of the festivities, where they belonged.
Scott turned back to me.
“Noah isn’t here alone,” he explained. “Zoe grew up in the Nightcrest Pack, and she has many acquaintances here. They’re all throwing Zoe a welcome back party.
“And why aren’t you with them?” I asked.
Scott shrugged
“I just didn’t want to participate,” he said, “but I was worried about you, so I showed up anyway.
He didn’t need to say anything more. It was all because of Noah.
Noah was ignoring me in favor of Zoe, again. Well, two could play that game.
I flipped my hair over my shoulder and leaned closer to Scott.
“You were worried about me?” I brushed my finger across his hand and whispered in a husky voice,” You’re really cute.”
Crimson splashed across Scott’s cheeks.
A small smirk spread over my face. Time to snag him.
“Woah,” I sai
as I put my hand to my forehead. “What was in that drink they gave me?”
“Luna Hannah?” Scott asked, leaping to his feet to assist me.
| feigned a stumble and fell in the direction of Scott’s awaiting arms. As I was about to make contact with him, another pair of large hands grabbed a hold of me and gently pulled me in the opposite direction, directly into another masculine body. I was suddenly bombarded by a very familiar scent.
Noah.
Noah was beyond frustrated. Shortly after he had left his home to return to work, Scott had called him to go out to The Tipsy Wolf with some old friends. He would have normally said no, but after the day he had had between Zoe’s return and Hannah’s demand for a divorce, a drink with some friends sounded like Just the break that Noah needed.
What did he find in the private room instead? A welcome party specifically for Zoe.
Upon seeing Zoe in her party dress, Noah felt a pull within him, a desire to go see her.
Go to her,” Noah’s wolf urged him.
Noah shook his head.
Chapter 0010
+25 BONUS
“I can’t do that to Hannah,” he argued. “It’s not fair to her to meet Zoe behind her back.”
Noah’s wolf growled.
“It’s unavoidable,” his wolf said. “It’s fated.”
Noah could not deny that the pull of the mated bond was strong. He was like a hunger that he could not satiate without Zoe. He would give anything-almost anything-to have it satisfied. 1
He also wanted to know why Zoe had come back. Had Drake mistreated her? The very thought made him growl internally and want to rip the other Alpha’s head off, but he maintained his outer appearances.
Zoe smiled at Noah as she caught sight of him and wayed to him. She raised her wine, as though to ask if he was going to join in the festivities.
Noah held one finger up, trying to buy himself a moment to straighten out his thoughts. He moved to the edge of the partygoers to catch his breath when he saw Hannah talking with Scott. His eyes widened.
What was she doing there? Had she come for Zoe’s party, too?
Noah shook his head, No, she wasn’t friends with Zoe. She wouldn’t have come to a welcome back party for her.
Then again, she had been doing a lot of things that he hadn’t expected from her within the past day alone: being friendly with Zoe, asking for a divorce.
What was going on with her? Was it possible that she had another man?
No, she was too infatuated with Noah. She would never….
Noah stared in disbelief as Hannah leaned intimately close to Scott and placed her finger on his hand.
Even though she whispered, he could hear it as loudly as though he stood right next to them as she said, You’re really cute.”
Noah’s disbelief quickly morphed into anger. His hands curled into fists, and the muscles in his neck and arms tensed. He wasn’t sure why he cared so much about his loveless political marriage, but he would not allow his Luna to embarrass him in public like this. 1
Noah charged over to Hannah and Scott. Just as Hannah fell into Scott’s arms, Noah grabbed her and snatched her away from the other man, pulling her close to his torso. He snarled as she stared up at him, open-mouthed and eyes wide from shock.
“Using my brother to play hard-to-get?” he blurted out. “Hannah, I’m afraid you’ve picked the wrong target.”