Chapter 290

Hannah

The weeks following the Council’s approval of our merger were nothing short of chaotic. Meetings, paperwork, and planning sessions filled every available hour, leaving little time to breathe, let alone reflect.

But somehow, we made it work. Night after night, Noah and I pushed through the aching backs and exhaustion like a well-oiled machine. Slowly but surely, we began to piece together a foundation for Silvercrest.

The town hall meeting was set to take place in what was once Nightcrest’s grand meeting hall, which turned out to be just barely big enough to fit everyone who arrived. Members from both packs were crammed into every available chair, and many more had to sit on the floors or stand against the walls once the chairs ran out.

It was strange to stand there, with Noah at my side as allies and no longer enemies. The last time we had been here, after all, had been at the acceptance ceremony last year—when everything had begun. Back when we hated each other’s guts.

Soon enough, the meeting began. Our announcement was met with a mixture of reactions ranging from shock to interest, although some were not thrilled by the idea. And there were a lot of questions.

“What about the hunting territories?” a voice called out from somewhere near the back “Are they going to be redistributed?”

“No,” Noah answered. “The current hunting grounds will stay exactly as they are, just shared amongst all pack members.”

Another voice cut in before Noah had even finished. “And our businesses? Our jobs?”

“Nothing changes,” I said, leaning into my microphone. “Your businesses, your jobs, your homes—all will remain exactly as they are. No one will be uprooted—at least, that is our plan. And we intend to stick to it.”

The questions kept coming, one after the next, stretching the meeting far into the evening. We fielded concerns, clarified points of confusion, and watched as doubt slowly gave way to a cautious sort of acceptance.

When the votes were cast and finally counted late that night, the majority had spoken in favor of the merger. Relief rippled through me, and I nearly collapsed as we finally made our way out of the grand hall.

But that was only the beginning. Over the next few days, meetings with other pack Alphas were scheduled back-to-back, leaving barely enough time between them to regroup. One meeting had been particularly grueling—discussing the treaty between Silvermoon and Darkmoon.

“I see no reason why I should hold true to the treaty if Silvermoon, for all intents and purposes, no longer exists,” David sneered, leaning back in his chair. “You never specified that I’d have to follow the treaty’s principles in an event like this.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, my patience wearing thin. “David, Silvercrest is officially the largest pack to walk the planet,” I sighed. “Do you really want to start a potential fight over semantics? Can’t you just keep things civil?”

David merely shrugged, a smirk touching his lips. “Perhaps I’ll consider honoring the treaty if some… amendments are made.”

Hours passed, arguments and insults flying back and forth across the table until at last, David conceded to a revised form of the original treaty—thanks to a few well-placed threats on our part. I was on the verge of punching him again by the time we left the room, but at least it was over.

The next big event was a visit to the Luna Council a week later. As I hurried through the familiar marble halls, memories from past meetings flashed through my mind—conversations, debates, and decisions made in this very space, each one having more of an impact on me than I’d expected it to.

It broke my heart, knowing that today would be my last meeting.

Luna Alanna greeted me as I entered, gesturing to my empty seat. “Hannah. We were just about to get started without you.”

I managed a small smile, taking my usual seat, and found myself looking around at the familiar faces—women who had become friends, allies, sisters in arms. It was hard not to cry, if I was being honest.

“Actually,” I said, “I have an announcement to make.

The room grew quiet as I explained my reasons for stepping down from the Council, my gratitude for their support, and my hopes for Silvercrest’s future. Truthfully, I hadn’t been giving the Luna Council as much thought as it deserved lately, what with all of the responsibilities of an Alpha, the merger, an upcoming wedding, and motherhood.

And besides, I wasn’t a Luna anymore. Not even in spirit. I was an Alpha now, through and through. And who was I to take that spot on the Council away from someone else? Perhaps there was another Hannah out there, a Luna with big dreams, who deserved a chance.

When I finished, I was met with silence. My hands shook under the table as I began to wonder if I had offended the Luna Queen or the other Lunas.

But then, with a sniffle, the Luna Queen rose from her chair and bowed her head to me. “We understand completely, Hannah. You will be missed dearly.”

“Actually,” I added, “I have a recommendation for my replacement—if you’re open to hearing it.”

The Luna Queen tilted her head thoughtfully. “Of course.”

“Emma—a friend of mine, an ex-Luna. She is recently divorced, but she’s one of the most intelligent, compassionate leaders I know. I believe she’d be an invaluable asset to the Council.”

Luna Alanna’s eyebrows shot up, and she nodded to the Luna at her left side, who made a note in her leather-bound notebook. “Emma… yes, I remember her from last year’s charity gala. Sharp mind, that one. Thank you, Hannah—I’ll be in touch with her for an interview.”

The goodbyes that followed were bittersweet. There were hugs, well wishes, and promises to keep in touch, and by the time I finally made it home, the sun had long since disappeared behind the horizon.

I wasn’t sure what I expected as I walked through the front door, but the scene that greeted me was nothing short of chaotic. Music blared through the speakers—a ridiculously catchy pop song that had taken over the radio recently.

And there, in the center of the living room, was Drake, holding Melody in his arms, singing loudly and twirling her around. Drake belted out the words like he was born for it, sending Melody into a fit of giggles as he tickled her side.

Meanwhile, Noah was sprawled across the couch, grinning at his friend’s antics, while Viona sat curled up in the armchair, watching her boyfriend with begrudging amusement.

She caught my eye as I slipped in, her cheeks coloring slightly as I whispered, “You know you’re in trouble now, right?”

“Oh?” she raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. “Why’s that?”

“That man is going to start wanting a baby of his own after this,” I muttered, nudging her in the ribs with my elbow. “And if I’m not mistaken, you’re starting to want one of your own, too.”

Viona’s eyes widened, her face turning crimson. She looked away and covered her mouth with her hand, saying nothing, but we both knew I was right.

I drifted toward Noah after that, who had extended a hand out to me, an invitation I gladly accepted as I sank onto his lap.

He slid his arm around my waist and pulled me close. “Long day?”

“The longest,” I murmured, resting my head against his shoulder. My whole body felt heavy as the past few weeks finally caught up to me.

But being here, surrounded by the chaos that was my life…

How could I be tired now, when the party was only just beginning?