Chapter 227

Hannah

That gaudy ring flashing on Zoe’s finger felt like an insult.

And it was. Noah had gotten engaged to her mere days after our own divorce had gone through. Three days—that was all it had been since I collapsed in the foyer of my childhood home. Three days since I had keened and dug gouges into the floor with my claws.

Three days, and he was already planning a wedding with that little…

“How?” I don’t know how I managed to choke that word out around the icy lump in my throat. “How could he do this? So soon after…?”

Drake’s hand on my shoulder tightened. Viona was still too stunned and furious to speak. “Because he’s a bastard, Hannah,” Drake hissed. “A lying, cheating bastard.”

Drake was right. Noah was a lying, cheating bastard.

My shock suddenly gave way to fury. I scrolled past that damning photo of the two of them and went down to the comments. My hand shook as I began to read—the top few comments were from verified accounts, other Alphas and celebrities who were wishing them well.

But the comments quickly turned into a different nature. And I felt a breath release from my lungs.

“Look at this,” I said, holding up the phone with righteous satisfaction. “‘You couldn’t even wait for your marriage bed to cool before you filled it again?’”

Viona took the phone and scrolled to the next comment, reading out loud, “‘Luna Hannah is a good woman and an even better Luna. She saved my son’s life with the funds she raised in her eating disorder campaign. What has Zoe done except for move from one wealthy Alpha to another? You should be ashamed.”

I leaned forward, reading another. And another. People were coming out in droves to comment on this post, many of whom were in support of me.

“I hear he kicked her out in the middle of the night with no warning,” one comment read. “Maybe he couldn’t wait to get his mistress into the house.”

“Zoe doesn’t hold a candle to Luna Hannah. I’ll NEVER see Zoe as MY Luna!”

“Typical man. Has something good and proceeds to fuck it up for no reason.”

Those comments gave me a shred of strength, and I pulled my shoulders back. A small, bitter smile tugged at my lips. “I guess I made an impression as Luna, didn’t I?” I muttered wryly.

Drake turned to me, still gripping my shoulder. “Hannah, I just want you to know that I’ll protect you if Noah and Zoe try to start anything. As an Alpha on the Alpha Council, I can make sure Noah never gets considered for things like the Lunar Festival or the winter solstice tournament. He’ll pay for this.”

I looked up at him, touched by his loyalty. “Drake, I—”

“And we can help too,” Viona chimed in. “Amber, Emma, and I can start spreading the truth back in Nightcrest. We’ll make sure everyone knows what kind of a man Noah really is.”

For a moment, I was tempted. The idea of ruining Noah, of watching his reputation crumble, was intoxicating. It would be so easy. So satisfying. He had already planted the seeds of distaste himself, and now we would simply nurture them to fruition.

But as quickly as the thought came, it vanished. I couldn’t do it. It wasn’t the type of person I wanted to be anymore. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

“No,” I said firmly. “There’s no need for any of that. Noah will meet his own downfall due to his own actions, not mine. And besides…” I couldn’t help the small smirk that formed on my lips.

“I have a coronation to think about.”

…

The days leading up to my coronation as Alpha of Silvermoon passed in a blur. It seemed like every time I turned around, there was another detail to attend to, another decision to make. But through it all, I felt a sense of purpose I had never experienced before.

It was finally happening. I was becoming a female Alpha despite everything—like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

And I made sure to lace that motif throughout the coronation theme, too.

“I want lots of red and gold,” I told my father. “And I want a banner with a phoenix on it.”

My ceremonial gown was the real star of the show. Bright red and gold skirts that glittered when I moved, made of the finest silk that pooled around my legs like liquid fire. The neckline was off the shoulder, with long sleeves that came down to a point on the back of my hand.

A long golden cape was connected to the sleeves, which unfurled like wings when I spread my arms. I wore my hair up in an ornate updo wound with braids that were laced with black feathers, and my gold and red eyeshadow fanned out around my eyes, making the blue of my irises pop more than ever.

And I made sure that the seamstress kept the silhouette tight down my body. I wanted to show off my baby bump, not hide it.

Because here I was, a female Alpha and a single mother who wouldn’t be cowed by her ex-husband’s despicable actions.

As Viona and I made our way to the grand hall where the ceremony would take place, I could hear the excited murmur of the crowd through the doors. It seemed like half the world had turned out for this event.

Drake met us at the entrance, looking dashing in a tailored suit. He wore a small engraved phoenix pin on his lapel. Viona wore one too; I’d had them custom made for both of them.

Viona was my Beta now, after all—I had told her just last night that I wanted her to fill the role, which had resulted in a lot of tears and screams of excitement.

And Drake was my closest ally. My unlikely friend through thick and thin.

“Ready?” he asked, offering me his arm.

I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. “As I’ll ever be.”

The doors swung open, and we stepped into the hall. The crowd fell silent, all eyes turning to me. I scanned the faces, recognizing friends and allies. There was Amber, grinning widely, and Emma, giving me a subtle thumbs up. The Luna Queen sat in a place of honor by my family, her serene smile a balm to my nerves.

But what surprised me most were the faces I didn’t recognize—people from Nightcrest who had come to support me despite everything. As we passed, I could hear their whispers.

“I can’t believe what Alpha Noah did…”

“She’ll be a much better leader…”

“Do you think Silvermoon would accept transfers?”

My heart swelled and I wanted to shed tears of joy, but I kept my chin held high and a wide smile plastered on my face. These people were counting on me, and I wouldn’t let them down.

As we reached the front of the hall, my father stood waiting, the ceremonial crown—a simple golden band that would perch around my head—glinting in his hands. I knelt before him, my head bowed. The room fell silent as my father raised his hand.

“Hannah… You kneel before us as my daughter, but you will rise as our Alpha. Do you swear to protect and guide the pack of Silvermoon, to put their needs before your own, and to lead with wisdom and compassion?”

“I swear.”

“Then rise, Alpha Hannah, and take your place as the leader of Silvermoon.”

As I stood, my father placed the crown on my head. Its weight was substantial, but not as heavy as I’d feared. It felt right, like it belonged there.

I turned to face the crowd, my heart pounding. The room was silent for a moment, all eyes on me.

Now, for the final moment. I took a deep breath and spread my arms—revealing my wings. The golden fabric of my gown pooling and rippling down the steps was my flames, and I was the phoenix.

I lifted my chin higher, and though my eyes pooled with tears, I smiled. Big and broad and real.

The crowd erupted into cheers. I saw Viona wiping tears from her eyes, Amber and Emma hugging each other, and Drake beaming.

“I present to you the Alpha of Silvermoon... All hail Alpha Hannah!”

“All hail Alpha Hannah!”