Alpha's Regret After Her Rebirth

"Alright. Well, the director just told me that she set something up in the rec room. We should get the photo opportunity and then get out."This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

I blinked at his words. Photo opportunity. Right; we had come here for positive press, after all. That was, ultimately, why I was doing... well, everything lately. But wasn't sure if I was seeing it that way anymore. "Right." Straightening my spine, I brushed a stray strand of hair away from my face and squared my shoulders. "Let's go."

The moment I stepped through the doors to the orphanage's rec room, I was assaulted by the high-pitched shrieks and giggles of several dozen excited children all clustered around a makeshift collection of tables shoved haphazardly together. "Look who decided to join us!" the director called out as soon as Noah and I walked into the room. "Luna Hannah! Alpha Noah!" One little girl with wild auburn curls was practically vibrating with excitement as she beckoned us over. "We're gonna play chutes and ladders! You gotta play with us!"

Almost against my will, my lips curved into a helpless smile at her adorably insistent invitation. Who was I to deny the wishes of children? And besides, I couldn't remember the last time I had played a board game. I had certainly never seen Noah play one. Noah shifted uncomfortably beside me. "I don't know if we have the time-"

"Of course we'll play." I interrupted before he could finish, shooting him a warning glare over my shoulder. "Alpha Noah and I would be honored."

Striding back over to him, I hooked my hand around his elbow and tugged insistently. "Don't be such a sourpuss," I chided under my breath. "All work and no play makes Noah a very dull boy."

As expected, Noah's jaw clenched beneath his skin. To my surprise, however, he made no move to argue or pull free of my grip as I guided him toward the cluster of tables where the kids were waiting.

We wound up at opposite ends of one of the longer tables, kids wedged in all around us as the director meticulously set up the chutes and ladders board. The second she placed the final piece, tiny hands were already rolling the dice and moving the vibrant blue and red game pieces. Over the next couple of hours, one games into two, then three, then four. We played board game after board game, and there was no end in sight. By the time we reached that last one, I was breathless from laughter, my cheeks aching from smiling.

At one point, I happened to glance up to find Noah watching me from across the table, his expression inexplicably soft as the corners of his lips twitched upward in a hint of a rare, genuine smile. Our eyes met for a fleeting instant, and much to my utter astonishment, my pulse kicked up a notch as an unexpected flutter began to radiate outwards from my belly. Quickly, I dropped my gaze, my cheeks heating up. It had been so long since I had witnessed an unguarded, unforced expression of anything resembling happiness from Noah-least of all directed at me. Suddenly feeling self-conscious, I reached up to toy with a loose tendril of hair, chewing absently at my lower lip. When I finally dared to risk another glance toward Noah, he had already turned his attention back to the little girl next to him, his smile replaced by his usual brooding pout. Chapter 0068-

I tried to shrug off the odd fluttering sensation still lingering in my stomach. Clearly, it was just a coincidence, or maybe even just a trick of the light. Nothing more.

Noah and I were in the process of ending our marriage, after all. Any spark of tenderness that we may have once shared-if we had ever even shared such a thing-had long since fizzled out, replaced by bitterness and hatred. Less than three months, I told myself. Less than three months.