Alpha's Regret After Her Rebirth (Hannah and Noah)

+25 BONUS Chapter

0119

She regarded me for a long moment, her expression unreadable before she pulled out the chair beside her with a loud scrape. "Sit."

I did as instructed as she leaned back, swirling her wine idly while regarding me down the length of her birdlike nose.

"You have been a busy girl, haven't you, Hannah?" Her voice was low, barely audible over the other conversations around us. "Busy with my nephew?"

My heart stuttered in my chest at her words. Did she know about my discussions with Drake? About our efforts regarding Zoe? Or did she think that I was sleeping with Drake, just as others had tried to accuse me? I opened my mouth to respond, but she held up a hand to silence me. "I must admit, when I first met you at my nephew's wedding, I had my doubts." She paused, taking a sip of wine. "I saw you as little more than a vapid trophy wife, content to simply look pretty on your Alpha's arm." I felt the heat of shame creep up my neck-because it was true-but I remained silent as she continued.

"But

you have proven me wrong, dear girl. This scheme of yours to assist Drake in repairing his marriage She shook her head slowly, something like approval glinting in her eyes. "It is a noble effort, and one I had not expected from you." My mouth worked uselessly, struggling to come up with a response to the unexpected compliment. "I-I... L-Luna Alanna-" "Don't stammer, girl. It doesn't become you."

I swallowed and lowered my gaze to my lap. "I'm sorry.

1 chose you to host this Lunar Festival for a reason, Hannah," the Luna Queen continued, leaning forward now-her perfume smelled strongly of sage. "Because I see great potential in you. Not just with my nephew, but with your entire pack. You are evolving, blossoming into a true Luna-one who places the needs of her people above her own."

I could scarcely believe what I was hearing. All this time, I had been under the impression that the Luna Queen had utterly hated me. Maybe I had been wrong.

"Perhaps in time," she mused, "you may even be considered for a seat on my Council."

My breath stopped in my lungs as I processed her words. A seat on the Luna Council? That was quite literally the highest honor that a Luna could achieve. To be on the Luna Council meant working closely with the Luna Queen, practically being one of her most trusted advisors...

I blinked rapidly, my head spinning.

"Luna Alanna..." I started, then paused to collect myself. "I.. I am humbled beyond words. To be seen as worthy of such a role..."

A small smile played across the Luna Queen's lips as she reached out, laying her hand on top of mine in an uncharacteristically warm gesture. "Then prove yourself worthy, dear girl. Continue on this path of service and compassion, and great things shall come your way." +25 BONUS

Chapter 0119

I could only nod mutely, my heart hammering in my chest as she pulled her hand away and took another sip of wine, effectively dismissing me.

"Oh, and do stop stammering," she said just before I walked away. "You have such a lovely voice; it's a shame to waste it on drivel."

The walk back to Noah's side passed in a daze, my mind whirling. By the time I reached him, the Luna Queen's gaze had found mine once more from across the ballroom. She offered me a subtle wink, the faintest raising of her wine glass. "Well?" Noah pressed impatiently when I rejoined him. "What did she want?"

For a moment, I almost told him the truth-that the Luna Queen offered me a potential seat on her very own council someday. That just once, my actions had meant something to somebody.

But I couldn't. Because if he knew that I was valuable, then he would never divorce me. And then I would truly be trapped in this loveless marriage.

"Nothing," I finally lied with a wave of my hand. "She was only giving me a lecture about..."

I paused, my gaze flicked towards the Luna Queen briefly before settling back on Noah's expectant expression."...About stammering."