Chapter 16

“Did you just bite me? Are you insane?” Noah exclaimed.

“It would be strange if I weren’t going crazy,” I muttered, licking my lips and savoring the taste of his blood. “In fact, going crazy is quite enjoyable.” The thought that it might keep him away from me added to the enjoyment.

“Does it hurt?” I trailed my fingers over his forearm, and he shivered. I half-expected him to pull away, but he didn’t. “But it’s nothing compared to the pain I’ve been through. Ha, consider that a joke, Alpha.” A thrill of revenge surged through me.

Before leaving, I noticed Noah staring at his injured arm. There was even a hint of a smile.

“It seems you’ve finally learned how to fight back,” he murmured, more to himself than to me.

I paused, anger and a peculiar pride warring within me. “I had a good teacher,” I retorted, the weight of our past hanging between us.

Noah’s gaze met mine, a complex mix of emotions in his eyes. “Indeed, you did. Maybe too good.”

“You think this changes anything?” I asked defiantly.

He considered this, a slight twitch at the corners of his lips betraying an unreadable expression. “Maybe not… But it does make things more interesting.”

Noah rolled up his sleeve to protect his shirt and clasped his injured forearm. He stared at me curiously, seemingly unprepared for my reaction. His gaze sent a chill down my spine.

I couldn’t help responding to his challenge; the tension between us escalating into something dangerously exciting. “Be careful, Noah. I’m not the same person you knew.”

“And I’m not the same Alpha you think you know,” he countered, his low, husky voice sending an unexpected thrill through me.

“Here,” he said, tossing me a wet washcloth. “Clean your face and hand.”

My eyes narrowed. I strutted to the mirror, showcasing my figure in my dress, and cleaned my lips and hand. The pristine white cloth was stained light red with dried blood.

I reapplied my lipstick before turning to see Noah bandaging his arm. A half-smirk played on my lips. At least I’d left my mark.

I dropped the washcloth onto the first-aid kit and headed for the door.

“Where are you going?” Noah snapped.

“Back to the ball,” I said nonchalantly, placing my hand on the doorknob. “We aren’t done here.”

“I think we are.”

Before he could protest, I walked out and closed the door.

I tossed my hair back and headed towards the dining hall, holding my head high, shoulders back, swaying my hips to draw attention to my dress. Drinking in the admiring glances, a proud—if somewhat arrogant—smile spread across my lips.

Then I saw Luna Emma running towards me. My smile faltered, but I didn’t let it disappear. Appearances were everything.

“Luna Hannah!” Emma cried. “Luna Hannah, how good it is to see you!”

I forced a smile in place, my heart tightening. Emma had never been friendly, so I braced myself for whatever she wanted.

Emma grabbed my hands and kissed both my cheeks. I returned the gesture, though it made my stomach churn.