#Chapter 81: Accolades

Hannah The lights of the grand ballroom seemed to blur together as Noah and I took center stage, the Luna Queen’s attendants placing ornate crowns on top of our heads and sashes around our shoulders. My heart pounded in my ears, the roar of applause fading into the background as I turned toward Noah. This was all so much—far more than I had anticipated. It seemed as though the Luna Queen’s frivolities had no limit, and I was growing tired of the crowd. But then Noah’s gaze met mine, the corners of his lips twitching upwards into the faintest hint of a smile. In that moment, it didn’t matter that this was all for show, that he wasn’t truly smiling for me but rather for the cameras. That spark of warmth in his eyes made my breath catch despite myself, and I couldn’t help but return the smile even though I knew I shouldn’t. “Congratulations,” Drake said, shaking our hands amongst the line of other members of the Alpha Council. His eyes flashed ever so slight