Alpha's Regret After Her Rebirth by Aurora Starling

Chapter 0387

Hannah

| stared at my phone, my thumb hovering over the ‘Message’ button on David's profile. His main picture was an

incredibly handsone-he was wearing an expensive suit, dark hair neatly slicked back and his black beard

freshly trimmed. There was a roguish sort of handsomeness about him, eyes crinkling slightly at the corners,

sharp, prominent nose.

We'd matched instantly, which only meant one thing: he had already swiped right on me.

The Alpha of Darkmoon Pack had matched with me. He was almost as arrogant as his father, but he was young,

handsome, and apparently interested in me. But was | ready for this?

“Con, Hannah,” | muttered to myself, raking a hand through my hair. “It’s just a date. Not a marriage

proposal.”

Still, I couldn't help but think about the implications. Darkmoon and Silvermoon had been at odds for years. If

something were to develop between David and me-not that | was getting ahead of myself-it could potentially

bring our packs closer together.

Anew era...

| shook my head, trying to clear those thoughts. One step at a time.

Taking a deep breath, | typed out a message: “Dinner tomorrow night? | know a great place in neutral territory.”

His response calmost immediately: “Sounds perfect. Looking forward to it.”

The next evening, | found myself standing outside the trendy restaurant I'd picked. It was in an area where

people wouldn't care to notice who we were, which meant no unwanted tabloid articles.

| smoothed down my dress, a simple black number that hugged my curves without being too revealing. My heart

was pounding, although I couldn't tell if it was from nerves or excitement. Maybe both.

David arrived right on time, looking dashing in a tailored suit-just like the picture. His blue eyes caught the light

as he approached.

“Alpha David,” | said, turning.

“Hannah.” David leaned in, planting a polite kiss on my cheek. His cologne smelled like cedar, although the

sweet scent didn’t outweigh the fact that he had pointedly avoided referring toby my title. But | chose not to

mention it. Not yet, at least.

As we entered the restaurant, David placed his hand on the small of my back, guidingto our table. The

gesture sent a small shiver down my spine. It had been so long since I'd been touched like that. Not since...

No. Don’t think about the baby shower, | thought to myself. Just think about tonight. Nothing else.

We settled into our seats, and | couldn't help but notice David's eyes scanning the area around us.

“Everything okay?” | asked, raising an eyebrow.

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Chapter 0387

He turned back to me, eyebrows raised. “Who is taking care of your child tonight?”

| stiffened, my guard immediately going up. “Excuse me?”

“Well, you brought her to the meeting,” he said with a shrug. “Where | go, she goes,’ | believe you said.”

“I wouldn't bring my daughter on a date. Perhaps you misunderstood.”

Those blue eyes flicked up and down my body. “Perhaps.”

A few moments later, the waiter arrived with a bottle of wine and the menus. | sipped my wine, savoring the

taste. | had only just gotten back into drinking since Melody had been born, and the dark red liquid soothed my

nerves.

It's just one date, | kept telling myself, Not a marriage proposal.

As the evening progressed, | found myself both intrigued and irritated by David. He was charming, no doubt

about that. But there was an underlying arrogance that grated on my nerves. Every story he told seemed

designed to impress me, every joke a little too self-congratulatory.

Still, it felt nice to be wanted, to be looked at with desire again. Even if there wasn’t much of a spark, | decided

to enjoy the evening for what it was-a nice dinner and a step back into the dating world.

After we finished our meal, David insisted on walkingto my car. The night air was cool against my skin, and |

found myself wrapping my arms around myself.

“Cold?” David asked, already shrugging off his jacket.

| waved him off. “I'm fine, thanks. My car's just over there.”

“Suit yourself.”

We reached my car, and an awkward silence fell between us. David cleared his throat.

“So are you coming to my place, or am | going to yours?”

His words leftin shock. Was he seriously suggesting...? | hesitated, choosing my words carefully. “The date

was nice, David. But I'm not looking to extend the evening.”

His face darkened, a sneer replacing the charming smile he'd worn all night. “I bought you lobster for dinner.”

“And it was delicious,” | said, flashing my teeth. “But | don’t need to put out over sseafood.”

He scoffed. “I figured a woman like you would just try to get a free meal,” he hissed, turning away.

Anger flared inside ofat those words. Without thinking, | reached out and caught his wrist, yanking him back

to face me. “Watch your tongue,” | growled, my eyes flashing. “I am an Alpha, not a floozy.”

For a moment, David looked shocked. Then, without warning, he surged forward, pressing his lips against mine in

a deep, forceful kiss.

| shoved him away, hard enough that he stumbled back a few steps. “You bastard!” | spat, wiping my mouth with

the back of my hand. Reaching into my purse, | took out a wad of cash and slammed it against his chest so hard

he stumbled back slightly. “Here. For the lobster. Disgusting prick.”

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Chapter 0387

David merely smirked, his own eyes glowing in the dim light of the parking lot. His fangs flashed as he stuffed

the cash into his pocket. “See you around, Alpha Hannah,” he cooed, before turning and sauntering away.

Still growling and seething from that unwanted kiss, | climbed into my car and slammed the door shut behind

me. My heart was racing, and | could feel my wolf bristling just beneath the surface of my skin.

How dare he? The arrogant, entitled, disgusting bastard!

Was this what it was like in the dating world? To be treated like a piece of meat? To feel obligated to sleep with

someone just because they boughta meal?

| gripped the steering wheel tightly, trying to calm my breathing. This had been a mistake. | shouldn't have

agreed to go on a date. | wasn’t ready. | wasn’t sure if I'd ever be ready, if | was honest.

To my horror, | felt tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. | leaned forward, resting my forehead against the

cool leather of the steering wheel in an attempt to calm myself.

A sob escaped my lips before I could stop it. Goddess, | missed Noah. | shouldn't have been missing him, not

after everything he had done to me, but | did. | missed the way he used to look at me, the way he madefeel

safe and loved. | missed the father of my child, the man I thought I would spend the rest of my life with.

I missed Noah.

And yet he was marrying Zoe.