Chapter 300

Hannah

The room was silent as I cautiously approached the table, though my heart pounded so hard in my chest I wondered if everyone could hear it. The eyes of every Luna in the room were fixed on me, their gazes stern and appraising. I had never felt so small, not since my rebirth.

“Ladies, this is Luna Hannah of Nightcrest,” Luna Alanna announced as I took my seat.

“It’s an honor to be here,” I said, bowing my head politely.

The other Lunas’ faces betrayed nothing. “Welcome,” they all said, almost in unison.

I settled into the empty chair, acutely aware of the scrutiny. But no sooner had I sat than Alanna jumped into the day’s agenda, clearly unwilling to waste time on pleasantries.

“Now, let’s begin with our ongoing humanitarian efforts,” she said, glancing at a notepad—a notepad absolutely covered in notes and scribbles. I resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow. To think that the perfect Luna Queen had sloppy handwriting, often crossing things out and making little notes, even doodling shapes and animals in one corner… It was a bit comforting, to be honest.

“As you all know,” she continued, “we have been funding the construction of homes for impoverished communities in the packless territories for the past two years. And now, thanks to our hard work, we are planning to visit the sites within the next six months to oversee progress and raise additional funds.”

My heart sank despite the smattering of murmurs and applause. In six months, I would be nearing the end of my pregnancy. There was no way I could travel overseas in that condition. I hoped this wouldn’t hurt my chances of being accepted into the council, but I kept my concerns to myself.

Luna Melissa, a petite woman with fiery red hair, spoke up. “I have been in contact with our team on the ground. They’re making excellent progress, but there’s still so much to be done. The last report indicated that we’ve completed thirty percent of the planned homes, but resources are stretched thin.”

“What about local support?” I asked impulsively. All eyes snapped to me, and I swallowed hard before continuing. “Have you considered partnering with local organizations to help sustain the project long-term? It could provide job opportunities for the community and ensure the project’s success even after we’ve left.”

There was a moment of silence, and I feared I had overstepped. But then Luna Alanna nodded thoughtfully, tenting her fingers. “That’s an excellent point, Luna Hannah. I’m surprised we haven’t considered that yet. Luna Evelyn, could you research potential organizations we could work with in the territories?”

Luna Evelyn, an elegant woman with salt-and-pepper hair, nodded and began writing on her own notepad.

“Of course. I’ll have a comprehensive report ready for our next meeting, including potential risks and benefits of each partnership.”

The discussion continued, touching on various aspects of the project. I listened intently, offering input when I felt I had something valuable to contribute. To my surprise, the other Lunas seemed to be warming up to me, their initial suspicion gradually fading. I wasn’t immediately drowned out or brushed off as I expected.

Next, we moved on to discussing fundraising efforts. The council already had plans for a summer campaign: a camp for underprivileged children. The camp would include various programs ranging from arts and crafts to survival training—all practical skills that could still be fun for kids.

“But I think we need to discuss the issue of illiteracy in the packs,” Alanna mused, tapping her chin. “Many children don’t continue practicing their reading and writing skills outside of school, unfortunately.”

“We need a program that will make it fun without making it seem like school or homework,” one of the other Lunas muttered.

“Yes,” another Luna sighed. “Last year, our book club was a flop—too many kids didn’t want to do their assigned reading, feeling like it was too much like work.”

Alanna turned to me. “Thoughts, Luna Hannah?”

Suddenly, my eyes widened. Once again, I was transported back to those two years Noah had conveniently forgotten—the two years I had written until my hand cramped, my fingers stained with ink.

“What about… a penpal program?” I breathed before I could stop myself.

The other Lunas murmured and nodded in agreement, jotting the idea down. They were oblivious to my emotional strife—all except for Alanna, who seemed to eye me for a moment before suddenly closing her notebook with a soft thud.

“Well, I think that concludes our business for today. Thank you all for your time and input. We’ve made excellent progress.”

As the other Lunas began to gather their things, I sat there, unsure of what to do. Had I said something wrong? Was I invited back or not?

But Luna Alanna simply nodded at me and left the room with one of the other Lunas, their hushed voices fading as they walked away.

I must have looked disappointed because Luna Melissa approached me with a kind smile.

“Hey, don’t worry,” she said in a low voice, placing a hand on my shoulder. “This is actually a good sign.”

I blinked in surprise. “It is?”

She nodded. “Alanna only speaks privately with new members if she has complaints. The fact that she didn’t pull you aside means you did well. You should come to the next meeting in a month. And a word of advice…”

She leaned in closer, glancing over her shoulder. “Come prepared with that penpal program plan. Luna Alanna will be expecting it.”

“Oh. Th-Thank you,” I managed, blinking owlishly at her. “I’ll make sure to do that.”

Melissa smiled and patted my arm, straightening. “You did great, especially for your first meeting,” she called over her shoulder as she strode away.

She left me alone in the grand council chamber. I took a moment to collect myself, still hardly able to believe I had made it through my first Luna Council meeting. Did this mean I was on the council? And most importantly, was this the next step to getting out of my marriage with Noah?

The driver was waiting for me as promised, and I felt like I could hardly breathe from excitement as I slid into the back seat. Meeting my eyes in the rearview mirror, he said, “Home, Luna Hannah?”

I opened my mouth to say yes, but then paused. There was that word again: home. Was it home? It certainly didn’t feel like it. My house with Noah was a prison, not a home. But after today, I felt like I was one step closer to returning to my true home—to Silvermoon. To my rightful place as female Alpha. And so, in a way, returning to the mansion felt like the next step in that journey.

“Yes,” I finally said, buckling my seatbelt. “Home.”