Alpha's Regret After Her Rebirth (Hannah and Noah) novel Chapter 167

Chapter 0167
“You’ve gained weight,” he said suddenly, stopping to turn and look at me fully.
My mouth hung open. If my hands hadn’t been full, I would have smacked him. Suddenly, I lost the urge to drink my soda or eat my pretzel, no matter how tantalizing they both looked.
Before I could utter a response, though, he rolled his eyes at me. “Don’t look at me like that, Hannah. That
I
was a compliment.” He paused, his tongue momentarily darting out to wet his lips as his eyes roamed my body for one last fleeting second. “You look… Good. Keep up the good work.”
“You… You think so? I blurted out, glancing down at my own body now. It was true; I had gained a few pounds. Four pounds, actually. I was still on the fence about it because of that damned little eating disorder voice in the back of my head, but to hear him say that it looked good on me..
He nodded and turned on his heel again. “Yes. So drink the damn soda and eat the pretzel, alright?”
With that, he strode off toward our seats. A tiny smile tugged at my lips as I jogged after him, taking a big bite out of my pretzel.
A few minutes later, the next fight began. The crowd rose into a deafening roar as the two men battled each other in the ring, fists and feet flying. My favorite part was when their fangs dropped and their pace picked up, tapping into the strength of their wolves.
Goddess, how I wished I could do that. I hadn’t borrowed my wolf’s strength in years, and I wasn’t even sure if I could anymore. I hadn’t sparred since I was a kid in training, back when my parents forced me to attend my lessons like all of the other kids.
I hated it back then, but now, I felt a sudden urge to feel that rush for myself again.
Maybe it was impending motherhood that had me wanting to train again; to stay strong if I ever needed to protect my child. If I ever needed to protect myself, too. After all, I wouldn’t have an Alpha husband to be my bodyguard for much longer.
At some point during the fight, Drake leaned close and pointed at the fighters, his shoulder brushing mine. “See how the guy in red just started pulling his punches?” he asked. “He’s toying with the other guy.”
I nodded, narrowing my eyes to watch intently. “Oh, I see it now,” I said as I watched the fighter in the red shorts start slowing his pace, placing more energy into dodging and egging on the crowd. He was not only trying to tire the other guy out, but also to make a fool out of him in front of
everyone-
Suddenly, I felt a warm arm slide around me. In an instant, I was pulled roughly away from Drake and against someone else: Noah. Right up against the hard expanse of his side, so close I could practically feel his pulse thrumming through his skin.
I gasped softly and glanced up at him, my face instantly reddening at the sudden proximity. His expression remained impassive, his jaw set hard above me as he continued to watch the fight.
Something warm radiated out from my lower belly at that. Something deep and primal, yearning and, frankly, pathetic. But I didn’t pull away. I couldn’t bring myself to. Some part of me wouldn’t let me do anything except lean into his warmth, feeling his arm tighten around my waist and his fingers dig into my skin.

Out of instinct or something like it, I glanced over at Drake and Zoe.
But Zoe was gone.