Page 108 of King Luna

My heart drops.

Lips curling, fur sprouting from his limbs—Viktor looks ready to fight Noah to the death, for real.

Noah shifts back, a quick glare sending wolves darting in the other direction until he forms a clear path to me. My heart skips the second I see him—sweat and blood mix across his skin, leaving him stained red.

He gives me a weary smile, rubbing the back of his head. “H-hey, Luna.”

“Oh, my God...” My whines overpower my voice as I dash for him. The second we touch, I frantically clean his wounds, my breath shaky and urgent.

But Noah stops me. He’s still out of breath, but his puppy-dog stare has returned. “Please, don’t stress. I know it looks bad, but it’s for a good reason. I’m ending this as quickly as possible from here on out.”

Before I can respond, Viktor storms over.

Oh, no. His ego is probably bruised with all the attention on Noah.

Noah hugs me to his side, his chest puffing. It forces Viktor to a faster halt than he likely intended, all to keep from bumping into me.

But it doesn't halt Viktor's rage. “You’re sitting out the next battle. Reid is mine to defeat.”

In a flash of anger, Noah grips Viktor’s arm hard enough for his nails to turn white.

The two wolves lock eyes, burning holes into each other’s skulls.

The entire Summit quiets to a vibrating simmer, ready to lunge into action if the Alphas break into an early fight.

But Noah keeps me tucked close. When he speaks, it's through his fangs. “You better not fucking hurt him. Not truly.”

Viktor scoffs, ripping his arm from Noah’s grip. “So, what do you want, then? You wanted to fight your favorite Alpha so you can submit to him instead of me this year?”

Noah takes a deep breath, closing his eyes. When he opens them, he’s back to the cool Alpha I see in our Pack Safety meetings. “Vik, you’re still my King. I’ll fight you seriously.”

Viktor’s lips draw into a tight line, his musk burning with deeper anger by the second.

That definitely isn’t how Viktor wants Noah to view their fight.

I know it seems like his ego needs protecting, but he actually needs you to make him lose. He knows you’re stronger than everyone here, Noah. You're not fooling him.

Noah sucks in a subtle breath at my mindlink, drawing Viktor’s attention.

But the second Noah reaches for Viktor’s shoulder, no one dares to even breathe.

Noah’s heavy hand lands on Viktor’s stocky frame. Viktor doesn’t budge—although he glares harder.

And Noah grins.

“I have something to prove this time.” Noah steps closer, lowering his soft voice so that even Lycans have to strain to hear. “You’re misunderstanding my intentions last year as pitying you, when really... I was so fucking tired. I wasn't fit to be King, and I trusted you to be the one to take care of us.”

Viktor gapes. His jugular pulses at his throat, his eyes dancing over Noah’s face. It’s as if Viktor never anticipated this reasoning, at all.

Noah nods. “But this year is different. I have a kickass Luna that changed my world, a growing pup I'd already die for, and there are forces beyond our reach that I want to stop before they grow even larger. It might be the first year I'm choosing to be King.”

Excitement ripples through Viktor’s angry musk, stirring my heartbeat.

Noah chuckles, but no one laughs with him. Then his smile drops. “You won’t even know what hit you.”

With a small shove, Noah knocks Viktor back way farther than any of us expect, forcing the surrounding wolves to catch him.

Viktor’s eyes bulge. He scrambles back to his feet, and I grip Noah, afraid of what he’s done.

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