Chapter 373

Suddenly, I stood and dropped to one knee before her. “The honor is mine. I pledge my loyalty to you.”

The Luna Queen laughed. “Rise, Hannah. There’s no need to kneel. We’re friends.”

Friends. I never thought I would hear the Luna Queen herself refer to me as such, but it made my heart soar.

As I stood, one of the council members spoke up. “In light of the… upcoming wedding,” she said delicately, “we want you to know that our packs will not ally with Alpha Noah. He has proven himself to be a lying cheater.”

“You don’t have to flatter me—”

“We’re not flattering you, Alpha Hannah. We’re fully supportive of you and your leadership.”

As they left, my heart pounded like a war drum in my chest. I barely had time to collect my thoughts when Alvin approached, although his smile—unlike everyone else’s—didn’t reach his eyes. I felt a sudden lump form in my throat at the sight of him. I hadn’t yet heard how he’d reacted to being told he wouldn’t be taking my father’s position.

“Congratulations, cousin,” he said, extending his hand. “Care for a dance?”

I glanced at his hand, unsure. But finally, I accepted, allowing him to lead me onto the dance floor. As we moved to the music, I could feel the tension in his grip, his fingers tightening around my waist. His eyes flicked past me, roving the crowd. It seemed he couldn’t bear to look me in the eyes for longer than a moment.

“Are you disappointed about not becoming Alpha?” I asked softly.

Alvin’s smile tightened. “What gave it away?”

I shrugged. “Perhaps you should consider going on one of your usual trips overseas. Find a new woman, or get a dig in. Maybe both, to comfort yourself.” I couldn’t decide if I was trying to make him laugh.

His eyes lit up at the suggestion. “You know what? I think I will.”

As the song ended, I placed a hand on his arm. “Alvin, you’re still my cousin. You have a place in my court. When you return from your trip, I’d like you to join my personal council. I’m looking for a new public relations officer, and you’re skilled in that field. I’d like to have you on my team.”

Alvin’s eyebrows rose slightly. “You’re certainly a gracious Alpha, cousin,” he said with a dip of his head, his tone unreadable. As he walked away, I was left with an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

He’ll get over it, I told myself as my fingers came up to touch my crown. He never wanted this. Not really.

The rest of the feast passed in a blur. The party would last all night and likely well into tomorrow, but around midnight, I finally excused myself. My feet were sore from my heels, and my back hurt from having to sit ramrod straight all night.

Throughout the night, I couldn’t help but look for one face amongst the crowd: Noah’s. I’d never admit it, especially not to my friends and family, but I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed that he never came.

But that was just wishful thinking. Of course, he wouldn’t come; he was too busy warming what used to be our marriage bed with Zoe.

As I prepared for bed, removing my crown and the intricate phoenix-inspired gown, I couldn’t help but reflect on the whirlwind of events that had led me here. From being Noah’s Luna to becoming Alpha of Silvermoon in a matter of days… It felt surreal.

I was just about to climb into bed when my phone chimed with a message. Curious, I picked it up, my heart skipping a beat as I read the sender’s name.

WhiteRabbit01: “Hey, Alpha. Long time no chat.”