Page 53 of Noah

A flicker of surprise crossed Adrian’s face as I advanced, forcing him back until his shoulders hit the wall.

My chest heaved, anger scorching through my veins like wildfire. I was so angry, I could barely think, let alone string two sentences together.

Adrian’s gaze darted to my hands—my left one had partially shifted without me even realizing it.

Sharp claws glinted under the dining hall lights, betraying just how much control I’d lost. My ears rang, the world blurring at the edges as my fury took over.

Someone was calling my name, but it was distant, unimportant.

The only thing that mattered was making Adrian understand—once and for all—that his advances were not welcome.

Adrian’s surprise melted into something colder. His lips curled back, his own wolf bristling beneath the surface.

He pushed against me, but I didn’t move, too far gone in my anger to back down. Then, realization crashed over me like a wave—I was humiliating him.

A proud alpha like Adrian wouldn’t take this lightly. The moment I stepped back, shame mixed with my fury. What had I just done?

Well, it was too late to have regrets now. Besides, someone really did need to put Adrian in his place.

Adrian stared at me now, his expression unreadable, his golden eyes flat and lifeless in a way that sent a chill down my spine.

I knew I should be wary, maybe even scared, but I wasn’t. Not yet. Anger still pulsed too strongly in my veins.

"The little wolf has claws," Adrian said, voice quiet, but edged with something I couldn’t quite name.

I didn’t like the eerie light in his gaze. It wasn’t anger, wasn’t frustration—it was something else. Something calculating.

I swallowed, recalling Griffin’s warning. Adrian wouldn’t take kindly to what happened today. Then again, he should’ve have pushed me.

Before I could say anything, Jackson stormed into the dining hall, his presence immediately commanding attention.

The second Adrian turned and walked away, Jackson was there, grabbing my shoulders, spinning me to face him.

Jackson’s grip was firm as he scanned me from head to toe. His jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle jump.

"I’ll kill him," Jackson growled, voice thick with barely restrained fury.

Still emotional, still raw from the confrontation, I shoved Jackson away. “Don’t do that. I handled it just fine,” I told him.

Frustration welled inside me. Couldn’t Jackson understand he was making things worse and not better?

Hell, he ought to be better than this. Where was the patient and level-headed wolf I admired?

Jackson’s dark eyes burned into mine. "Adrian is dangerous, Noah. You shouldn’t be alone from now on."

What was he saying? I shouldn’t be alone? Who was Jackson to decide something like that? I wasn’t some compliant and submissive wolf he could just order around.

Some part of me knew Jackson was just reacting to Adrian’s words and actions but at that moment, I was just so…mad.

I scoffed, stepping back again when he reached for me.

"I don’t need a damn babysitter. You’re being too overbearing, Jackson. It’s suffocating,” I told him.

The words were out before I could stop them, but I didn’t regret them.

The dining hall was too small, too many eyes watching, too much tension pressing down on me. Damn it, Jackson.

I felt caged, the weight of Jackson’s concern tightening around my ribs until I couldn’t breathe.

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