Chapter 0261
Noah stood at the edge of the crowded reception hall, his eyes scanning the sea of elegantly dressed guests. The soft strains of the string quartet blended perfectly with the hum of conversation. Chandeliers cast a warm glow over the room, their light catching on jewels and polished glasses. But Noah was only looking for one person.
His gaze kept returning to Hannah, who flitted from group to group, her black gown shimmering as she moved, a perfect smile on her face. She had truly outdone herself—far more than Noah expected. Her charity gala was a smashing success; he had even seen the Luna Queen eyeing her. There was no doubt in Noah’s mind that Hannah would surpass her donation goal.
He had been trying to return to her side all evening, but the universe seemed to have other plans. During the opera, Zoe had constantly tapped his shoulder, whispering questions and comments in his ear. “Noah,” she had said, leaning close, “what do you think that aria means?” Or, “Noah, what do you think of their costumes?” Or, “Noah, doesn’t that dance remind you of our senior prom?” Noah, Noah, Noah. He had struggled to focus on the performance, too distracted by Zoe’s constant interruptions to truly absorb the show. At one point, he felt Hannah touch his hand, and neither of them pulled away. An unexpected warmth spread through him. But then, she yanked her hand away and had been cold ever since.
Now, at the reception, Leonard kept steering him toward various high-profile individuals. He barely had a chance to breathe, let alone find his way back to Hannah. “Alpha Noah,” Leonard said, appearing at his elbow for what felt like the hundredth time that night, “there’s someone else you simply must meet.”
Noah suppressed a sigh, his fingers tightening around his glass stem. “Leonard, I appreciate your efforts, but I really need to—”
“I promise it will only take a moment,” Leonard insisted, already guiding Noah toward a cluster of well-dressed people with a broad hand firmly planted on Noah’s shoulder. Zoe was among them, though he wasn’t sure why. “This is an Alpha from one of the southern packs. He’s been eager to discuss a potential trade agreement to solidify ties between the north and the south.”
As they approached the group, Noah’s wolf stirred restlessly. He sensed Hannah’s scent fading, and it made him uneasy. He had promised to stay by her side, and so far, he had done a terribly poor job of it.
“Alpha Noah,” the southern Alpha greeted, extending a thick, meaty hand. “It’s an honor to finally meet you. Zoe has told me much about you.”
Noah shook his hand, forcing a polite smile. Zoe giggled, touching Noah’s arm. “Noah may look gruff, but I promise, he’s always open to negotiations,” she said.
“I understand you’re interested in discussing trade?” Noah asked.
“Yes, indeed. I believe I may have some goods that would be valuable to you…”
The conversation dragged on, filled with political niceties and careful negotiations. Zoe remained by his side—she was friendly with the Alpha’s wife and apparently prided herself on helping Noah make a connection. Although grateful, Noah’s attention kept drifting, his eyes searching for Hannah. Each time he caught a glimpse of her blonde updo meandering through the crowd, he was pulled back to the conversation.
After what felt like an eternity, Noah finally managed to extricate himself. “We’ll keep in touch, Alpha. If you’ll excuse me,” he said, already sidestepping away, “I need to check on my Luna.” He turned, his eyes immediately seeking Hannah. He spotted her across the room, deep in conversation with the Luna Queen herself. The sight made him pause.
Hannah’s face was lit up, her slender hands moving animatedly as she spoke. The Luna Queen listened intently, a small smile playing on her lips as she sipped her champagne. Despite his reservations, Noah felt a surge of pride for his mate. Hannah had worked incredibly hard for this night, mostly on her own. She deserved this moment in the spotlight, and he wasn’t about to interrupt. Deciding to give her some space, Noah made his way to the bar. The bartender nodded as he approached.