Chapter 0035

“Can I talk to you?” Noah asked, taking a hesitant step forward before his eyes flickered to Viona. “Alone?”

Viona scoffed from behind me. “Whatever you have to say to Hannah, you can say in front of me,” she said coldly.

Noah shot me an almost pleading look, and I sighed. “Viona, could you give us a moment, please?” I asked, turning to fix my friend with a meaningful look.

Viona’s gaze flickered between Noah and me, clearly annoyed by his presence—and I didn’t blame her. But finally, she nodded and picked up her skirt, striding out of the room.

An awkward silence took over the room as Noah and I were left alone. I watched as his eyes raked over me, openly drinking in the sight of my body dressed in the slinky black gown. The fabric draped on every curve, leaving just enough to the imagination—something I was sure Noah had already noticed.

Then, with his face reddening and his jaw clenched, he looked away.

“I’m still your wife for now, you know,” I said, unable to resist a teasing lilt in my voice. “You’re allowed to look.”

Noah’s gaze snapped up to meet mine, the tips of his ears turning faintly pink. He cleared his throat roughly.

“Actually… that’s not why I’m here.” Moving further into the room, Noah extended a small gift box, carefully wrapped in shimmery silver paper. My brows shot up in surprise—gifts between us were unheard of outside of holidays and special occasions, and even then it was a rare treat to receive anything from him.

“What’s this?” I asked warily, making no move to take it.

“Just open it, will you?”

There was an edge to Noah’s voice, a hint of impatience that put me on guard. My earlier bravado faded as a nagging sense of unease took root. He wanted something—I could sense it.

Still, curiosity got the better of me. Slowly, I stepped forward, taking the small box from Noah’s outstretched hand. My fingers tore away the wrapping paper, revealing a black velvet box nestled inside. Drawing in a sharp breath, I cracked open the lid… and felt my heart stutter in my chest.

“Oh…”

Nestled on a bed of pink satin lay an exquisite diamond necklace—a delicate platinum chain dripping with a constellation of glittering white stones. It was breathtakingly beautiful, the sort of fine jewelry he hadn’t gifted me since our wedding.

“Noah…” I lifted my stunned gaze to his face, searching for answers in his unreadable expression. “This is too much. I can’t accept—”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he cut me off gruffly, already reaching to take the necklace from the box. “It’s nothing. And besides, it’ll go with your gown.”

My cheeks flushed at the unexpected situation as Noah circled behind me. His cool fingertips brushed the nape of my neck, making me shiver, as he carefully fastened the chain. Heat bloomed across my skin from even that barely-there touch.

I stared at my reflection as Noah stepped away—at the glittering gems nestled in the hollow of my throat, throwing off sparkling refractions like captured starlight. It was a stunning piece, opulent and eye-catching against my simple black dress.

“Well?” Noah prompted in that same impatient tone, his gaze burning into the side of my face. “Do you like it?”

“It’s beautiful. Thank you.” I could still feel that sense of unease in my stomach, and I turned to fix him with a level look. “But let’s not pretend there isn’t a catch here,” I continued before he could speak. “You didn’t give me this out of the goodness of your heart, Noah. What is it you want from me?”

Anger flashed across Noah’s ruggedly handsome features, twisting his mouth into a fierce scowl.

“You never buy me gifts,” I interrupted. “I know you’re just trying to butter me up. Just spit it out.” We stood there, chests heaving, the air practically crackling with tension between us. Then, slowly, the fire in Noah’s eyes seemed to fade ever so slightly. His shoulders slumped, and he looked away.

“Alright. You got me,” he murmured, something dark and unreadable flickering in his gaze. “I… have a request for you.”

I felt my heart sink. For a moment, I had almost let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, Noah was spoiling me purely to make me happy. But he was still the same old Noah—he would never do such a thing. Not for me, at least.

Just then, a sharp rap at the door made us both start violently. I whirled toward the sound as the door swung open to reveal Scott stepping into the room.

“Apologies for the intrusion,” he began smoothly, clearing his throat. “But the Alpha Council members have just arrived. The banquet hall is prepared to receive them.”

Noah exhaled a low curse. “Thank you, Scott. Inform everyone that Luna Hannah and I will join our guests momentarily.”

Scott nodded and withdrew, leaving a loaded silence in his wake. Noah turned back to me, his green eyes glinting with something I couldn’t quite read.

“We’ll revisit this discussion later,” he said in a low voice. “After the banquet.”

“Fine.”

Without another word, Noah swept out of the room and left me.

Chapter 0035

Noah was nowhere to be seen as I finally stepped through the gilded double doors and made my entrance into the banquet hall. Instantly, all eyes turned toward me, admiring murmurs rippling through the crowd.

I lifted my chin confidently, mustering every ounce of poise I could manage as I sauntered toward the nearest group of guests. A flute of champagne was pressed into my hand by a waiter, and I accepted it even though I knew I wouldn’t drink it, just waiting for a good moment to sneakily replace it with sparkling juice so as not to raise suspicions.

“Luna Hannah, you look stunning this evening,” an elderly council member’s wife gushed, her eyes darting to the necklace around my throat. “And that necklace… Absolutely exquisite.”

Despite myself, I felt a pleased flush warming my cheeks. “Thank you,” I said with a warm smile. “Actually, it was a gift from Alpha Noah. He wanted to surprise me.”

I didn’t dare mention that it was just a bribe. No, it was better this way, to keep the public thinking that everything was just dandy. Although, I didn’t have to wear the necklace. I could have taken it off before I arrived, but I didn’t. I wasn’t sure why I didn’t.

“Oh, how sweet!” the woman exclaimed, her hand fluttering over her heart. “Alpha Noah certainly has wonderful taste.”

“Mmm, yes… doesn’t he just?”

My gaze drifted over the crowd, searching until my eyes at last found Noah across the way. He stood beside someone else, listening intently to something the other man was saying—but it clearly wasn’t holding his full focus.

Those piercing green irises slid toward me like they were magnetized. Our eyes locked, the world around us fading into a hazy blur of colors and sounds. Noah’s gaze almost seemed to sear into my throat, then slid down my body, down the silky smoothness of my dress like skates on ice.

Then, finally, his stare settled on my belly. Something indecipherable flickered in Noah’s expression, and for a moment, I felt panic rise up inside of me. He didn’t know, did he? No… how could he? There was no way he could know, and I wasn’t even close to beginning to show yet.

Finally, his features smoothed once more into that infuriatingly blank mask, and he let out a sigh of relief. You’re being paranoid, I thought to myself. He turned away, and I made my way to the bar for something to replace the champagne.