Alpha's Regret After Her Rebirth by Aurora Starling

Chapter 0039

Hannah

I led Drake over to the bar, my heels clicking decisively against the marble floor with each step. Part of me felt like I was betraying Noah somehow, despite the fact that he was the one acting unreasonably jealous.

He has no right to be jealous, I thought to myself. He’s the one with the hots for his ex–girlfriend.

Still, I pushed those thoughts aside as I claimed two empty stools, gesturing for Drake to take a seat beside me. The bartender materialized in front of us almost immediately.

“What can I get for you, Alpha Drake?” he asked.

“I’ll have a whiskey, neat,” Drake replied coolly before looking over at me. “And for you, Luna Hannah…?”

My lips twitched faintly. “Just a water for me, thanks.”

Drake blinked once in apparent surprise, but didn’t question it further as the bartender moved to fill our orders. An awkward silence fell between Drake and I–one I felt compelled to break.

1, ah… I spoke with Zoe, like I said I would.”

Drake’s eyes sharpened with interest at that. “Oh? And what did my darling wife have to say?”

I hesitated, pinning him with a measured look as I considered how to respond. Finally, I opted for the truth -or some version of it, at least.

“She wasn’t too keen on seeing you, or letting you see Adam, I’ll be honest. She said…” My brow furrowed as I chose my words carefully. “She said you were unfaithful, Drake. Multiple times over the years. With… well, with other women.”

To his credit, Drake didn’t so much as flinch at the blunt accusation. He merely sipped his whiskey, his gaze carefully impassive.

“I see,” was all he said after a long pause.

I arched a brow at his nonchalant reaction, “Is it true, then? What she said?”

“Does it matter if it’s true or not?” he asked with an idle shrug. “Clearly Zoe has made up her mind about me either way.”

puff of air, I shook my head in disbelief. “You’re unbelievable, you know that? Do you honestly think for even a minute that I believe a

and truthfully, I was shocked by my candor, too. But I was tired of keeping my

surprise, Drake’s lips curved up into

at his words. “I’m

offense,” Drake replied. “It’s just that both of

thought to myself. Yeah, right. Noah was anything but honest. “Yeah, well, maybe you

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Chapter 0039

page out of my book,” I retorted. “And stop cheating on

+25 BONUS

voice and leaning in closer. I just want to apologize to her. And to

little. “Look, Drake…” I began carefully. “Whatever happened

Drake repeated, refocusing on me with that infuriatingly smug

words.

in conspiratorially, Drake’s lips curved into a slow smile

both know our interests here align more than either of us would like

went dry, panic fluttering in my chest as I searched his face. “I don’t know

about.”

“The lovely gown,” he drawled, letting his stare trail slowly down the lines of the black silk draping my body. “The diamonds at your throat that seem to weigh so heavily. The tension between you and your husband that’s so thick, I could cut it

averted my gaze, my nails digging into my palms.

know…?

of trouble in paradise in the very heart of Nightcrest and

make it ache. Drake’s reputation

“you want Noah’s attention just as badly as I want Zoe’s affection again. Perhaps we could… help each other

him, hardly able to believe what I was

Drake just leveled me with a knowing gaze. He said nothing for the longest time, and finally, I felt as if he had seen straight through to my core–maybe even more than I had ever seen myself. I quickly looked away, gritting

asked, taking

make them jealous,” he whispered. Upon seeing my eyes widen, he held up his hand in a placating gesture. “Nothing too indecent, I assure you. But a

falter, he pressed on in