Estelle’s POV
I resisted the urge to instantly spit out laughing.
Beside , Janice slowly turned to look at , her eyebrows scrunched up together in confusion.
The crowd around us erupted in excited murmurs and gasps. Several people stepped closer, their eyes wide with awe and envy.
“The Blackmoon Pack?” soone whispered.
“That’s the most powerful werewolf pack right now!”
“Hannah, you’re so lucky!”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my expression neutral. The irony was almost too much to bear. Here I was, the actual Luna of the Blackmoon Pack, watching Hannah claim to be mated to Caleb.
Caleb, who I knew for certain didn’t have a mate yet.
Hannah basked in the attention, her chin lifted high despite the wine still dripping from her hair. “That’s right. My fated mate is the Beta of the most powerful pack in the region, second only to the lycan royalty.”
The crowd pressed closer, suddenly treating Hannah like royalty herself.
“Hannah, you must introduce us soti!”
“Does this an you’ll be moving to the Blackmoon territory?”
“What’s it like being connected to such power?”
I watched the spectacle with growing amusent. Either Hannah was a complete liar, or so man had scamd her into believing he was Caleb Jackson.
Janice leaned closer to , her voice barely a whisper. “But didn’t we just et—”
I quickly grabbed her arm, stopping her before she could finish the sentence. The last thing I needed was for her to reveal that we’d literally been with Caleb just hours ago.
I shook my head as subtly as I could.
Janice’s eyes widened in understanding. She nodded slightly and stepped back.
Hannah continued soaking up the praise, her gray eyes sparkling with triumph. “It’s been such a whirlwind romance. He swept off my feet completely.”
“Tell us more!” soone called out.
“How did you et?”
“When’s the mating ceremony?”
I decided it was ti to have so fun. I stepped forward, my voice cutting through the excited chatter.
“Hannah, that’s wonderful news. I’m so happy for you.” My tone was perfectly sweet and sincere. “But I have to ask—why didn’t you invite your mate tonight? After all, everyone here is a leader of an up-and-coming werewolf pack. This would be an excellent networking opportunity for him.”
Hannah’s smile faltered slightly, but she recovered quickly. “Please! As if the Beta of the Blackmoon Pack needs to network with the likes of you people.”
The crowd fell silent at her dismissive tone.
Hannah seed oblivious to the shift in atmosphere as she continued. “The Blackmoon Pack is the most powerful werewolf pack at the mont! What makes you think you lot have the right to be in the sa room as the Beta of such a prestigious pack?”
Uncomfortable murmurs rippled through the crowd. I could see the change in their expressions—the earlier admiration turning to offense and annoyance.
Perfect.
Janice caught on to what I was doing. Her scared deanor lted away, replaced by confident mischief. She stepped forward with exaggerated awe.
“Oh Hannah, you’re so right!” Janice gushed, her acting obvious to but apparently convincing to Hannah. “We’re just so beneath your mate’s notice. I feel so silly for even thinking we could be worthy of eting him.”
Hannah preened under the fake praise. “Well, I suppose I can understand your curiosity. It’s not every day you get to et soone connected to such power.”
“You’re so generous and understanding,” Janice continued, laying it on thick. “We’re just simple pack mbers. We could never hope to reach such heights.”
I bit back a smile as I watched Hannah eat up every word.
“If we apologized properly,” Hannah said magnanimously, “maybe I’d be kind enough to introduce you to my fated mate. Even though he’s an incredibly busy man with very important responsibilities.”
“There’s no need for that,” I said smoothly.
Hannah turned to , eyebrows raised.
“I’m actually good friends with the Beta of the Blackmoon Pack myself.”
The crowd went dead silent.
Hannah’s mouth dropped open before she burst into laughter. “You? Good friends with my mate?”
“That’s impossible,” soone from the crowd called out.
“Estelle, there’s no way a small-pack girl like you would know soone so high up in the hierarchy.”
Hannah wiped tears from her eyes, still giggling. “Oh Estelle, you’re daydreaming now. First you tried to act tough, now you’re making up connections you don’t have.”
She shook her head with mock pity. “You must be so mistreated in Moonveil that you’ve gone completely delusional.”
Hannah’s laughter grew louder and more mocking. “Next thing you know, you’re going to claim that you’re actually the mysterious new Luna of the Blackmoon Pack too!”
The crowd erupted in laughter at the absurdity of the suggestion.
I smiled serenely. “Yes, actually. I am the new Luna of the Blackmoon Pack.”
The laughter doubled in volu. Even Janice had to cover her mouth to hide her grin, though I could see the amusent dancing in her eyes.
“Oh Estelle!” Hannah clutched her stomach, laughing so hard she was gasping for breath. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all evening!”
“The Luna of the Blackmoon Pack!”
“Can you imagine?”
“Poor thing really has lost touch with reality!”
I waited patiently for the laughter to die down. When it finally did, I spoke with perfect calm.
“You know what, Hannah? If you think I’m lying about being the Luna of the Blackmoon Pack, then maybe your mate is also lying about being the Beta.”
The laughter stopped abruptly.
I continued, my voice reasonable and logical. “After all, if my claim sounds so impossible, shouldn’t we question yours too? Maybe we should call your mate and verify his identity.”
Doubt flickered across several faces in the crowd.
“That’s ridiculous,” Hannah sputtered, but I could see uncertainty creeping into her expression.
“Is it?” I asked innocently. “I an, you’re asking us to take your word for it. But if I’m clearly delusional for claiming pack connections, what does that say about your story?”
“My mate really is the Beta!” Hannah protested, but her voice had lost so of its earlier confidence.
“Then prove it,” I said simply. “Call him. Let us all hear from the Beta of the Blackmoon Pack directly.”
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