Alpha's Regret After Her Rebirth by Aurora Starling

hapter 0421

Chapter 0421

Hannah

Years ago…

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The sun beat down mercilessly, the smell of hot pavement and summer flowers filling the air. I stood in front of the ice cream stand, counting the crumpled bills in my hand with growing dismay.

“Oh, damn…” I muttered, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “I’m a dollar short…”

Suddenly, I felt a familiar presence lean over me. I recognized the smell of his cologne immediately, mixed with the scent of sweet sweat and salt water on his skin.

“N–Noah!” I exclaimed, surprised–and wholeheartedly trying not to blush at the fact that he was shirtless, wearing only his swimming trunks and a pair of sandals, his dark hair still damp from swimming in the ocean. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“Buying ice cream?” He plucked the cash from my palm and counted it, his brow furrowing. “You’re a dollar short.”

“Lknow.” I took my money back and pocketed it, turning to the ice cream vendor. “Sorry, mister. I didn’t mean to waste your time-”

“Don’t go anywhere.” Noah fished into his beach bag and pulled out a wad of cash. The bills were slightly wrinkled, evidence of a summer job well–spent. “I’ll buy it for both of us.”

I felt my cheeks burn as Noah stepped up to the counter, holding out the bills. “Two cones, please. Vanilla, bean for me, and…” He glanced over at me, raising one dark eyebrow in silent question.

“Um… Strawberry cheesecake.”

The vendor scooped our ice cream into two waffle cones. Noah handed mine to me, our fingers brushing as the treat passed between us. I thought I might pass out from the contact.

“Thanks.”

sending a small spray of salt

at the corners of

up now. If he didn’t want to talk about it, then

drop that threatened to escape down the side of the cone. “Thank you for buying it for me.

a bit of vanilla ice cream on

about to cross the street, a car came speeding through the red

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Chapter 0421

“Hannah!”

and firm wrapped around my waist and yanked me back. The next thing I knew, the world was tilting into a

And the hard ground.

Noah on the hot sidewalk, my hands on either side of his head. Our faces were inches apart, and I could feel the warmth of his breath

throat bobbed. “Hannah… Are

myself. “I… I think

The world seemed to slow

saved me. Saved

spell. Our ice cream cones lay demolished on the sidewalk, melting

exclaimed, sitting

came rushing back, and I found myself staring at Noah in amazement. He had recounted

all that?” I

you, Hannah. How could I forget?” I was so stunned by his recollection that I completely forgot about the ice cream in my hand. A drop of melted strawberry cheesecake slid down the cone, threatening to

grabbing my wrist gently. His touch sent a jolt of electricity through me, reminiscent of that summer day all those years ago. Before I could react, he leaned in and licked around the rim of the cone, catching the melting ice cream before it could make a

caught in my throat. The sight of Noah’s tongue darting out, his lips so close to my skin, sent a wave of heat through me

charged with invisible electricity. The sounds of the farmer’s market faded away, leaving only the

sure what I was going to

turned his attention to her, cooing softly as he reached