Alpha's Regret After Her Rebirth

My nostrils flared with a burst of fresh anger. "Are you implying you want to volunteer with me?" I asked incredulously. "I would have asked if you wanted to join me, but you're hardly ever home. And Goddess knows you don't answer your phone when I'm the one calling." Before he could answer, I allowed a mocking little laugh to escape my lips. I raked my eyes over his pristine suit and silk tie and gestured to him. "But let's be real, Noah. You would never deign to sully your shoes and get your hands dirty volunteering down at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. We both know that you're only interested in doing it now because you don't want to be upstaged by me." In the blink of an eye, Noah was on his feet, his broad frame towering over me as he closed the distance between us with a few long strides. My heart stuttered in my chest as the familiar earthy, masculine scent of him enveloped me, his shadow practically blotting out the setting sun. "What makes you think that?" he asked. His voice was a low growl, barely more than a whisper, but deep enough to rumble through my chest and make me waver ever so slightly. "Just because you've only just started getting involved because you want to look good for the divorce doesn't mean you have some moral high ground over me, Hannah." I swallowed hard, fighting to keep my voice from wavering as I met his icy green-eyed gaze.

"You've never done anything like that, though. Not since we were married, at least. And everyone knows you like keeping up that perfect Alpha image-can't have the Alpha of Nightcrest getting dirty or disheveled, right?"

As I spoke, I tugged absentmindedly at the silky lapels of his suit jacket-a gesture that, I was just learning, made him shudder. He tried to hide it, but I could see the goosebumps beginning to raise his neck.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

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"No," I said, tugging him a little closer. "You're too concerned with your perfect image. You always have been." Finally, I released my grip on him and took a step back, and felt the hot air between us go cool." Behind closed doors, though... I let my words trail off, but was satisfied to see them strike home. Á muscle in Noah's jaw ticked with

close they really had struck.

barely restrained frustration, revealing ho

"So because I've simply lived up to a certain standard," he growled, "that must mean that I think I'm too good to help the less fortunate?"

"I didn't say that, exactly," I replied, hating the way my pulse raced beneath his searingly intense scrutiny." But I also can't seem to recall the last time anyone even asked you to volunteer for that sort of thing. Or the last time you offered."

His nostrils flared as he sucked in a sharp breath. "Maybe not," he hissed through gritted teeth. "But that doesn't give you the right to make me feel like some kind of selfish, lazy a***le, either."

I shrugged one shoulder, striving for nonchalance even as that same smug look from earlier ghosted across Noah's rugged features and made my heart flip "Whatever you say. What time should I be ready

tomorrow?"

Noah held my gaze for a few more moments before finally giving me a reluctant nod. He turned on his heel, turning his back to me, and began shuffling papers on his desk.

"Be ready by nine a.m, sharp," he said without so much as looking at me. "Or I'm leaving without you."