Alpha's Regret After Her Rebirth by Aurora Starling

Chapter 0031

Hannah

25 BONUS

That night, after the awkward tension at dinner, I found myself unable to finish my plate. The rest of the family banquet went by without incident, Noah keeping his distance after I had seen him watching me from the hallway. I pretended to eat, falling back into my old habits: pushing my food around on the plate, cutting it up into small pieces, always keeping myself and those around me talking so no one would notice. 1

But around midnight, the hunger pangs started kicking in.

That, and the nausea.

I was

Still extremely early in the pregnancy, maybe even too early for morning sickness. But, with so little food in my belly, it felt like a storm was roiling in my gut.

I knew I needed to eat, if even only a few bites.

Once Noah was out of the house and I was certain everyone was asleep, I quietly made my way down to the kitchen in my nightgown, my bare feet making no sounds on the marble floors. Cautiously, like scared animal searching for scraps, I gathered a small plate of food.

A few minutes later, I was back in my bedroom with a plate of cheese, bread, and fruit. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

And I wanted to start getting better. I wanted to nourish myself and the life growing inside me. So I thought that maybe trying to eat alone, in the privacy of my chambers, could be good practice.

I settled onto the edge of my bed, the plate balanced carefully on my lap. One slice of fresh bread, a few pieces of sharp cheese, and two strawberries–simple foods, but my stomach still clenched anxiously at the sight of them.

Steeling myself, I picked up a piece of the bread.

as

my tongue–the yeasty warmth of the bread, the slight tang from

though the tiniest taste of food had sent my body into survival mode, I didn’t hesitate before taking

slowly, savoring each mouthful. A warmth began to unfurl in my belly, like the little life inside of me–the

was still my baby–was singing with relief at finally

had tasted something so divine.

open. There, standing frozen in the doorway, was Noah. Our

Chapter 0031

clattered to the floor.

+25 BONUS

supposed to be here; he had left earlier, and I thought it would be safe… and besides, why was

I realized what he must think of what he was seetin- me shoveling food in like an uncouth pig, crumbs no doubt scattered across my

are you doing

answer my

crossed the room and bent down to retrieve the fallen plate. He picked up the few scraps that had touched the floor and brushed a

Much to my

Rather than answering, I deflected once again. “Why are you here so late? Don’t you usually leave the house in

once again, he didn’t respond. We regarded each other in silence, the distance between us seeming to

thought he might turn and leave without another word, he spoke

those words. I supposed, for the briefest of moments, seeing him

We hated

that, he turned and walked back toward the door without another word. I sat watching him, the taste of the

ashamed, you know,” he