Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Chapter 0012 Chapter 0012 I was laying out a tray of cheese and meats on the ottoman in my walk–in closet when I was alerted to a presence at my front door by the security camera app installed on my phone. I took a quick look, and a smile stretched across my face when I saw that it was Viona and Amber, each carrying two bottles of wine. I rushed off to answer the door.

“Hey, girls!” I said as I opened the door.

I was answered by a chorus of squeals that made me want to laugh and plug my ears at the same time.

“Woah, take it down a pitch,” I said, stepping aside to let them in.

“Sorry, sorry,” Viona said as she pranced inside. “We’re a bit excited, that’s all.”

“It’s just been so long since all three of us got together like this,” Amber added.

“I know,” I said, feeling a bit guilty for not making more time for my friends. I had been so focused on trying to make Noah happy that all the other aspects of my life had been pushed to the side. No more. 1 “Come on,” I continued, motioning for them to follow me. “Everything’s already set up in my closet.”

“So,” Viona said as we entered my closet, “what kind of dress code are we dealing with for this charity ball?”

“Formal, definitely,” I replied.

Viona and Amber set the wine bottles next to the ottoman and started circling my closet, searching for an appropriate dress.

“So, what....schoolmarm?” Amber ran her hand down one of my more conservative, long–sleeved, long- skirted dresses.

I shivered.

“Ew. No, definitely not. Just...elegant and sophisticated, but definitely not boring.”

“So, you want to make a statement without looking slutty?” Viona pulled out a low–back, sequined red number that I had worn maybe twice the entire time that I had owned it.

I shook my head, gesturing for her to put the dress back. She pouted but put the dress back on the rack.

“That’s the general idea,” I said, regarding her statement. “There are going to be a lot of movers and shakers at this ball, so I want to dress to impress.”

Amber chuckled as she poured us each some wine.

“Dress to impress.‘ That’s a phrase that I haven’t heard in a minute,” she said, I stuck my tongue out at her but accepted the glass of wine, nonetheless.

“I wonder who else is going to be there,” Viona remarked. She looked at me pointedly. “twonder if Zoe will be there.”

I huffed and took a sip of wine.

+25 BONUS Chapter 0012 “Based on what I learned from Scott, she likely will be livited,” I replied. “Noah is worried that she won’t” fit into the pack.“”

Viona and Amber groaned.

“This is ridiculous.” Amber rolled her eyes. “Zoe and Noah just have no boundaries.”

“I’ve gotta set you up on some blind dates,” Viona skimmed through my collection of cocktail dresses.” Anything to divert your attention and keep you away from Noah.”

Amber appeared as though she were about to spit out her wine.

“So, you were serious?” she asked. “You’re actually going to divorce him?”

I nodded.

“I thought that you were just venting some anger,” she continued. “You were always the hopeless romantic–out of the three of us.”

“Well, I’m not that hopeless romantic anymore,” I countered. “I need to look out for myself now.” Amber shook her head, topping off her wine.

“I’ve seen a lot of couples argue one day and make up the next.”

“This isn’t just one little argument. It’s been building up for quite some time.”

“You do realize what a big scandal a divorce in an Alpha family is, right?”

I scrunched up my nose.

“Yeah, well, Zoe divorced Drake, and no one seems to be giving her any trouble over it.”

“Not yet,” Amber remarked. “They’re only talking behind closed doors right now, but just you wait. She’ll be a pariah soon enough.”

She frowned and brushed her hair behind her ear.

“I only want you to think this through before you pull the trigger. The last Alpha and Luna divorce was, like, 50 years ago, if I remember correctly. Maintaining marital stability, at least outwardly, is of utmost importance to Alpha families.”

I motioned for Amber to pour me some more wine and nibbled on a piece of cheese.

“I’m tired of playing by the rules,” I asserted. “I will get what I want, one way or another.”

Viona raised her brows at me, and Amber laughed.

“Where has this Hannah been?” Viona commented.

I smirked.

“She’s just been waiting for the right time to come out and play,” I said.

“Well, as I see it,” Viona replied, “Noah only needs you to play the role of a good Luna.”

“But seeing as you’re about to divorce,” Amber continued, “you might as well get back at him a little bit.”

+25 BONUS Chapter 0012 I smiled. This was why these women were my best friends.

“The question is, how?” I asked.

I set my wine down and grabbed a black dress with a low–cut front and a crystal–encrusted skirt. I walked to the full–length mirror and held it in front of myself, contemplating whether it would still fit me or if I had gotten too skinny “I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but you’ve really gotten thin,” Viona said bluntly.

“Yeah, a bit too thin,” Amber agreed.

I placed the dress back on the rack and returned to the mirror. I lifted my shirt up and looked at my ribs, which were a bit too visible for my liking. Viona and Amber were right; I was too skinny.

“I know.” I reluctantly replied.

“Have you been eating?” Viona asked, her tone suddenly concerned.

“Not as well as I should be.”

“How long have you been doing this?” Amber added.

I frowned.

“Since I got together with Noah.”

Silence fell among us.

I hadn’t always been like this. In high school, I was beautiful with many suitors. Once I became so concerned about gaining Noah’s love, though, I became obsessed with dieting and, eventually, picked up bulimic behaviors.

I especially grew concerned about having a bloated stomach on our monthly intimacy nights. I would skip eating the day before just to address this concern.

Stroking my stomach, I shook my head. I had been so crazy to go to such lengths, all for a man.

“You don’t need to worry about me,” I told Viona and Amber. “I’m done trying to make myself into Noah’s perfect woman.”

They both smiled at me.

“Good,” Viona said, wrapping her arms around me from behind. “I really don’t want to do an intervention on you. It doesn’t sound like fun.”

“Not for this, you won’t.”

“With that settled,” Amber said, walking towards my clothes, “let’s find you a dress for this charity ball thing.”

Amber strolled around the walk–in closet before stopping at a particular spot.

What about this one?”

Amber pulled out a dress from a collection that I had not worn since I had married Noah. It was an over- the–shoulder black piece with a skirt that fell a few inches above the knee. Best of all, the folds would +25 BONUS Chapter 0012 hide my lack of curves resulting from my recent bulimic behavior.

“If you wear it, you’ll definitely infurlate Noah,” Amber said with a I laughed as well.

“Good choice.” I hold the fabric between my fingers, running my thumb along the smooth silk. “I think this will be fun.”