Chapter 0252

Hannah

“Preposterous?” The word felt like venom on my tongue. The boardroom had gone so silent you could hear a pin drop; even Noah shifted uncomfortably beside me. When I looked to him for support, he only gave a tiny nod—silent encouragement.

I supposed that was exactly what I needed, even though I really just wanted him to do all the talking.

“Explain what you mean, Leonard,” I said, my earlier polite tone replaced by a colder, more authoritative one.

Leonard leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. Sunlight streaming through the large windows cast harsh shadows across his aged face, making him seem even more intimidating.

“Gladly. Firstly, $50,000 is an absurdly high amount to fundraise in a single night. Secondly, the opera troupe you mentioned is notoriously selective. And lastly, renting the opera house would be exorbitantly costly, not to mention the additional expenses for food, decorations, drinks, security, and so on. Those are the main issues.”

I felt a twinge at his dismissive tone but quickly pushed it aside. I wouldn’t back down because of one man’s statements, even though I sensed he was trying to unsettle me.

“I appreciate your concerns, Leonard,” I said, my voice cool and collected. “But I think you’ve misunderstood something fundamental about this meeting.”

“Oh?” Leonard raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with condescension. “And what would that be?”

I straightened my shoulders, pressing my fingers into the hard mahogany table. “You seem to have forgotten that I am your Luna. You will speak to me with respect.”

An even deeper hush fell over the room. I felt Noah stiffen beside me, the other board members watching with rapt attention; but my focus remained on Leonard, whose smug face had paled.

“Furthermore, I never intended to use pack funds for this event,” I stated firmly. “I’ve been saving my own personal funds for years and plan to use those to cover all expenses.”

A murmur of surprise rippled through the room. Noah’s eyebrows shot up, but he remained silent, his green eyes fixed on me with profound intensity.

“And finally,” I continued, riding the wave of confidence surging through me, “I’ve already ensured the opera troupe’s participation. I intend to invite the Luna Queen herself to the gala.”

The room fell silent. The tension shifted from skepticism to shock.

“The Luna Queen?” Noah spoke, breaking the silence. “Are you serious?”

I nodded, smiling slightly as I turned to him. “Absolutely. She’s Drake’s aunt, after all, and she adores the opera. Her presence will compel the opera troupe’s acceptance and attract more high-profile attendees.”

And help me get on her council, I thought, but didn’t say it aloud.

Leonard sputtered, his face turning from white to a vibrant red. He looked like he was about to burst a blood vessel. “But… but that’s…”

“Ambitious?” I asked, a hint of smugness in my voice. “Or will you say that it is preposterous, too?”

Leonard was silent.

“Perhaps you still think that,” I said. “But I’d like to reiterate that I am Nightcrest’s Luna, and I have every right to plan such events. And since I’m using my own funds, not pack funds, I don’t believe you have grounds to argue, Leonard. Despite being Noah’s CFO.”

I turned to Noah, my heart pounding. This was the moment of truth. The room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the Alpha’s verdict.

Noah was quiet for a moment, his green eyes unreadable. Then, to my surprise and relief, he nodded.

“If my Luna commands it, then it will happen,” he said calmly.

I felt my face flush at his words. My Luna. It had been so long since he’d referred to me that way, outside of necessity. Something in his tone told me he meant it.

Leonard remained still except for his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. The other board members looked between Noah and me, unsure how to react.

“Well,” I said, breaking the silence, “if there are no further questions, I believe we can conclude this meeting. I’ll keep everyone updated on the gala planning.” Papers rustled, chairs scraped. Leonard was the first to leave, shoulders tense and lips pursed. As the others filed out, murmuring, I gathered my things.

I was surprised to find Noah still there, the scent of his cologne a soft breeze through the open window.

“That was… impressive, Hannah,” he said, his voice low.

I looked up, startled by his proximity and praise. “Really?” I sputtered.

Noah nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. It was a rare sight, and it made my heart skip a beat.

“It’s refreshing to have some female perspective on the board,” he said, “especially for planning public events. You handled Leonard masterfully.”

I watched, eyes wide, as he stretched and walked to the window, hands clasped behind his back. He was silent, watching the gardeners tend the garden beds.

“Thank you,” I said, feeling bashful. “I feel like I have a knack for event planning.”

“I can tell,” Noah said, pausing, his fingers twitching. The sunlight caught in his hair. “It’s a shame you won’t be around much longer to help plan the Summer Hunt this year.”

My heart skipped a beat at the reminder of the upcoming hunt and our impending divorce—exactly one month away. The warmth I’d felt dissipated, replaced by a cold feeling.

“Oh,” I said, swallowing hard as I gathered my papers. “Well, we don’t have to be complete strangers after… you know. Perhaps Nightcrest and Silvermoon packs could create a Summer Hunt together.”

Noah turned to look at me, his face darkened. He regarded me for a long moment before he uttered one word.

“Perhaps.”