Chapter 81

Hannah

The lights of the grand ballroom seemed to blur together as Noah and I took center stage, the Luna Queen’s attendants placing ornate crowns on top of our heads and sashes around our shoulders. My heart pounded in my ears, the roar of applause fading into the background as I turned toward Noah.

This was all so much—far more than I had anticipated. It seemed as though the Luna Queen’s frivolities had no limit, and I was growing tired of the crowd.

But then Noah’s gaze met mine, the corners of his lips twitching upwards into the faintest hint of a smile.

In that moment, it didn’t matter that this was all for show, that he wasn’t truly smiling for me but rather for the cameras. That spark of warmth in his eyes made my breath catch despite myself, and I couldn’t help but return the smile even though I knew I shouldn’t.

“Congratulations,” Drake said, shaking our hands amongst the line of other members of the Alpha Council. His eyes flashed ever so slightly as they met mine. “You two truly earned it.”

Before I could answer, Noah was nodding. “Thank you, Alpha Drake. It’s an honor,” he said stiffly.

Drake’s smile widened. “Shall we pose for a picture?”

“We shall.”

The flashes from the cameras were near blinding, but I could have sworn I felt the ghost of Noah’s hand on the small of my back as we posed together. His arm absentmindedly tugged me a little closer, and for the briefest of moments, I felt like a little doll to be moved around as I vaguely stumbled into him.

Of course, once the photographers had their shots, Noah’s hand fell away immediately and we were ushered off to the side. Reality came crashing back in—yes, it was just as I thought.

Goddess, I felt like such a fool. He wasn’t touching me because he wanted to. He was touching me because he had to.

But, we needed to stick together for the remainder of the night. Here, beneath the Luna Queen’s discerning gaze, we were still on trial. One moment, one misstep, and we could lose the laurels that we had only just obtained.

As though reading my mind, Noah’s fingers circled around my wrist in a firm grip.

“Remember to stay close,” he murmured. I suppressed the shiver that raced up my spine at his touch and gave a small nod.

As the reception carried on, my eyes were continually drawn to Zoe across the room. Drake hovered by her side, his hand resting possessively on her lower back while she nursed a glass of wine. Her discomfort was palpable, her shoulders tense and her smiles tight-lipped whenever Drake would lean in close.

A pang of sympathy twisted in my gut. Perhaps Drake was taking things too far in his efforts to win her back. A woman should have the freedom to make her own choices, especially when it came to matters of the heart. Was it right for the Luna Queen to try and manipulate Zoe into this reunion?

My resolve wavered, however, as a tendril of guilt unfurled in my chest. I had been aiding Drake’s pursuit, motivated more by my own selfish desires to keep Noah and Zoe apart than any noble intentions.

Maybe I wasn’t better than any of them.

The entire situation left a bitter taste in my mouth. Perhaps I had been too hasty in throwing my support behind Drake without considering Zoe’s perspective. Perhaps—

“Hannah.”

I jumped at the sound of the Luna Queen’s voice, my head whipping around to find her beckoning me over to the high table she was seated at with a crook of her finger. Noah made a low sound of disapproval in the back of his throat as I began to step away without bringing him along with me.

“I won’t be long,” I assured him. “She likely just wants to complain about my hair or my dress.”

A muscle in Noah’s jaw ticked, but he said nothing as I turned and made my way across the room. I offered a small curtsy as I reached the Luna Queen’s table.

“You wished to see me, Your Grace?”

She regarded me for a long moment, her expression unreadable before she pulled out the chair beside her with a loud scrape. “Sit.”

I did as instructed as she leaned back, swirling her wine idly while regarding me down the length of her birdlike nose.

“You have been a busy girl, haven’t you, Hannah?” Her voice was low, barely audible over the other conversations around us. “Busy with my nephew?”

My heart stuttered in my chest at her words. Did she know about my discussions with Drake? About our efforts regarding Zoe? Or did she think that I was sleeping with Drake, just as others had tried to accuse me? I opened my mouth to respond, but she held up a hand to silence me.

“I must admit, when I first met you at my nephew’s wedding, I had my doubts.” She paused, taking a sip of wine. “I saw you as little more than a vapid trophy wife, content to simply look pretty on your Alpha’s arm.”

I felt the heat of shame creep up my neck—because it was true—but I remained silent as she continued.

“But you have proven me wrong, dear girl. This scheme of yours to assist Drake in repairing his marriage…” She shook her head slowly, something like approval glinting in her eyes. “It is a noble effort, and one I had not expected from you.”

My mouth worked uselessly, struggling to come up with a response to the unexpected compliment. “I-I… L-Luna Alanna—”

“Don’t stammer, girl. It doesn’t become you.”

I swallowed and lowered my gaze to my lap. “I’m sorry.”

“I chose you to host this Lunar Festival for a reason, Hannah,” the Luna Queen continued, leaning forward now—her perfume smelled strongly of sage. “Because I see great potential in you. Not just with my nephew, but with your entire pack. You are evolving, blossoming into a true Luna—one who places the needs of her people above her own.”

I could scarcely believe what I was hearing. All this time, I had been under the impression that the Luna Queen had utterly hated me. Maybe I had been wrong.

“Perhaps in time,” she mused, “you may even be considered for a seat on my Council.”

My breath stopped in my lungs as I processed her words. A seat on the Luna Council? That was quite literally the highest honor that a Luna could achieve. To be on the Luna Council meant working closely with the Luna Queen, practically being one of her most trusted advisors…

I blinked rapidly, my head spinning.

“Luna Alanna…” I started, then paused to collect myself. “I… I am humbled beyond words. To be seen as worthy of such a role…”

A small smile played across the Luna Queen’s lips as she reached out, laying her hand on top of mine in an uncharacteristically warm gesture.

“Then prove yourself worthy, dear girl. Continue on this path of service and compassion, and great things shall come your way.”

I could only nod mutely, my heart hammering in my chest as she pulled her hand away and took another sip of wine, effectively dismissing me.

“Oh, and do stop stammering,” she said just before I walked away. “You have such a lovely voice; it’s a shame to waste it on drivel.”

The walk back to Noah’s side passed in a daze, my mind whirling. By the time I reached him, the Luna Queen’s gaze had found mine once more from across the ballroom. She offered me a subtle wink, the faintest raising of her wine glass.

“Well?” Noah pressed impatiently when I rejoined him. “What did she want?”

For a moment, I almost told him the truth—that the Luna Queen offered me a potential seat on her very own council someday. That just once, my actions had meant something to somebody.

But I couldn’t. Because if he knew that I was valuable, then he would never divorce me. And then I would truly be trapped in this loveless marriage.

“Nothing,” I finally lied with a wave of my hand. “She was only giving me a lecture about…”

I paused, my gaze flicked towards the Luna Queen briefly before settling back on Noah’s expectant expression. “...About stammering.”