Chapter 16
"Did you just bite me? Are you insane?" Noah exclaimed
"It would be strange if I weren't going crazy," I muttered to myself. I licked my lips, savoring the taste of Noah's blood. "In fact, going crazy is quite enjoyable." It would be even more enjoyable if it kept Noah away from me, I added mentally.
"Does it hurt?" I trailed my fingers over Noah's forearm, and for reasons I couldn't fathom, he shivered. I half-expected him to jerk away, but he didn't.
"But it's nothing compared to the pain I've been through. Ha, consider that a joke, Alpha."
I don't know why, but I have all the thrill of revenge in my heart.
Before I turned to leave, I caught 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, almost to himself than to me.
I paused, a mix of anger and a peculiar sense of pride swirling within me. "I had a good teacher," retorted, the shadow of our past encounters hanging between us. Noah's gaze met mine, a complex tapestry of emotions unfolding in his eyes. "Indeed, you did. Maybe too good."
"You think this changes anything?" I asked, my voice laced with defiance.
He considered this, the corners of his lips twitching with an unreadable expression. "Maybe not... But it does make things more interesting."
Noah rolled up his sleeve to prevent blood from getting on his shirt and clasped his injured forearm. He stared at me curiously for a moment, as though he had not expected that reaction from me and did not know how to handle it. His gaze sent chills down my spine, and I wasn't quite sure why.
I couldn't help but respond to his challenge, the tension between us morphing into something dangerously akin to excitement. "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 voice low and husky, sending an unexpected thrill through me.NôvelDrama.Org © content.
"Here," he said, tossing me one of the wet washcloths. Clean your face and hand.
My eyes narrowed at him. I strutted to the mirror on the far wall, making sure to show off how my figure looked in my dress, and started to clean off my lips and the back of my hand. By the time I was done, the pristine white washcloth was stained light red with dried blood. I reapplied my lipstick before I turned around to see Noah wrapping a bandage around his forearm. A half- smirk pulled at the edge of my lips. At least I left a mark on him.
I dropped the washcloth onto the first aid kit and headed towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Noah snapped,
"Back to the ball," I said nonchalantly as I placed my hand on the doorknob.
"We aren't done here."
"1 think we are."
Before Noah could protest any further, I walked out of the room and closed the door behind me.
I tossed my hair back and went towards the dining hall, I held my head high and my shoulders back, swaying my hips to draw as much attention to the short length of my dress as possible. Drinking in the looks coming from all around me, I felt a proud-if somewhat arrogant-smile spread across my lips.
Then I saw Luna Emma running right for me, waving her hand in the air. My smile wavered, but I did not allow it to disappear. Appearances were everything, after all.
"Luna Hannah!" Emma cried out as she rushed up to me. "Luna Hannah, how good it is to see you!"
I forcefully cemented my smile in place, even as my heart tightened. Emma had never been a friendly woman, especially not to me, so I could only imagine what she would want.
Emma grabbed my hands and kissed both my cheeks. I returned the gesture, even though it made my
stomach chum.