Chapter 0262

“What can I get for you, Alpha?” the bartender asked.

“Whiskey, neat,” Noah replied.

He had just received his drink when he felt a tap on his arm. He turned to find Zoe standing there, a glass of champagne in her gloved hand.

“Noah,” she said, raising her glass, “now that we have a moment alone, I just want to say that your gala is beautiful. The decorations, the music—it’s all so elegant.”

He raised his glass with a nod, but pursed his lips. “Thank you, but I had very little to do with it. This is all Hannah’s hard work. It’s her gala, not mine.”

Zoe’s face fell slightly, her smile faltering. But only for a moment. “Oh, of course. Still, it must be nice to see it all come together.”

Before Noah could respond, Leonard appeared once again. “Alpha Noah, a word in private?” Leonard’s tone was urgent, his eyes darting around the room.

Noah suppressed a growl of frustration. “Can it wait, Leonard? I was just about to—”

“I’m afraid it’s quite important,” Leonard insisted, already steering Noah away from the crowd.

Once they were in a quieter corner, partially hidden behind a large floral arrangement, Leonard leaned in close and dropped his voice. “I’ve just overheard something concerning. The Luna Queen intends to place Hannah on the Luna Council.”

Noah blinked, surprised—and proud. “And why is that concerning?”

Leonard scoffed, his eyes narrowing. “Isn’t it obvious? Your Luna is outshining you tonight. The people love her more and more each day, and now, with this huge event, she’ll gain at least two weeks of intense positive media attention.”

Again, Noah found himself puzzled by Leonard’s concern. “I still don’t see the problem. Hannah has worked hard for this. She deserves the recognition.”

I hope she’ll still be considered for the council if she becomes a female Alpha following our divorce, he thought, although he didn’t say it aloud. He hoped the divorce wouldn’t ruin her chances.

Leonard’s expression hardened, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. “You’re the Alpha, Noah. Not Hannah. You. You shouldn’t allow your Luna to outshine you, especially not a woman like Hannah.” Noah’s wolf bristled at the biting tone. “What exactly do you mean by that, Leonard?” he hissed, making no effort to hide his annoyance.

Leonard lowered his voice further, glancing around to ensure they weren’t overheard. “A woman should always take second place to her husband, never the other way around,” he said. “Plus, I find it hard to believe that Hannah could do all of this on her own. She must have another man—perhaps Drake—secretly controlling everything to give her a boost. Perhaps Drake even pushed his aunt to give Hannah a chance on the Luna Council.”

Noah felt a surge of anger at Leonard’s words. His wolf growled, bristling at the insult to both Hannah and Drake—Drake, who had proven himself to be a trustworthy ally. “That’s enough, Leonard,” Noah said, his voice sharp.

“But Alpha—”

“No,” Noah cut him off, his eyes flashing with anger. “I trust Drake now, and I know he wouldn’t do something like that. And Hannah has clearly been working hard. I’ve even found her sleeping in her office during her planning of this event.”

Leonard opened his mouth to argue further, but Noah held up a hand. “Keep your sexism to yourself, Leonard. I won’t hear another word of it.”

Without waiting for a response, Noah turned and walked away, his wolf still simmering with anger. He scanned the room, finally spotting Hannah near the dance floor. She was alone for the first time all night, and Noah seized the opportunity.

He strode across the room, setting his now-empty glass aside on a passing waiter’s tray. Hannah’s eyes widened in surprise as he approached. Without a word, he took her hand and led her onto the dance floor.

“Noah?” Hannah’s voice was uncertain as he pulled her close enough so that their bodies were flush against one another—far closer than necessary, but he couldn’t help himself right now. “What are you doing?”

The scent of her perfume enveloped him, calming his agitated wolf. He looked down at her, taking in the confusion in her eyes, the slight flush on her cheeks. At that moment, he made a decision. Something that would benefit both of them.

“Hannah,” he said, “I have a proposition for you.”

Chapter 0263