Page 114 of King Luna

“No, my love. I just feel for you. I want to listen, and you probably wanted to share this for a while.”

“Did I? I feel like there was still something I was about to say... What were we talking about?”

My heart flips. “Wh— What?”

Noah’s wide eyes roam up and down my form. “N-no, I’m seriously asking. I don’t remember what we’re talking about, Luna. I'm trying really hard to pay attention.”

I stare at my mate for a while in pure confusion. All I can find is honest, equal perplexity staring back.

Oh, my God... Noah just blanked everything out.

His brain must really feel threatened. All it could do was reset, preserving our conversation for later processing when it felt more equipped to tackle such a dangerous subject.

For now, I open my arms. “Please, come back to me. Let’s cuddle and sleep. We can talk about it tomorrow.”

“No, I... I want to know what I did wrong to make you look so upset. Please, I’m dying to fix it.”

“You didn't do anything wrong. You just had a flashback, and now you look really tired. My heart is hurting for you.”

Noah drops his head and cries. It’s nothing like his sobs from a moment ago. Exhausted, weepy tears drip to the floor. “Look what I’m doing to you. You’re so stressed, and you’re pregnant. I’m awful—”

I let out a pained cry. “You’re not!”

Noah holds his breath, shaking his head.

I shrink. “Oh, God. I’m not mad at you or meaning to raise my voice either. But I understand what you meant now, every time I’ve talked about my ex. I’m angry that someone thought they could get away with hurting my mate. I’mfuriousno one helped you before it was too late. I’m really fucking mad someone made us both understand abuse like this. I don’t understand why he got away with it, but I can only imagine why, with this world we live in. No matter how much proof the cops had, Steven got away with it too, so I'm not surprised with allthese Omega-haters in charge—no matter how much I hate it.” I swallow hard, catching my breath. “I’m mainly just heartbroken that I wasn’t there to help you through it, either.”

Noah peeks up at me, his expression contorted with tears.

After a sharing long, uncertain look, my stomach knots from the tense silence. “Please, tell me what you’re thinking.”

Noah swallows hard before releasing a shaky breath. “I’m thinking I l-love you. I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

“And I didn’t forget what just happened between us, even if I can’t remember what triggered it. I won’t pretend to forget how I acted.” Noah drops his head. “So I-I remember you wanted to hold me during my flashback, but...” He huffs through fresh, quiet tears, meeting my eyes once more. “C-can I hold you instead?”

My shoulders droop. I nod, desperately biting back tears.

We rush across the bed and grip each other hard. No space is left between us as we burrow in, a mess of tears and snot.

I sigh. “Good thing this happened now instead of next week; my belly is still small enough to plaster myself to you, but not for long.”

Noah huffs out a chuckle over my shoulder, petting my head as he keeps my cheek smushed into his chest. “Please try to relax. I can’t stand thinking about how much I stressed you out with that pup. Breathe, Luna.”

I pull back just enough to see his face. “Only if you relax with me. We’re both under too much stress.”

Locking eyes, we stroke each other’s cheeks, arms, and sides for what feels like hours. When Noah’s eyes laze shut, my shoulders finally loosen in relief.

I’m still trying to relax, but I can’t stop thinking. Noah isn’t in a good place to talk about it, but I wonder if he’ll come around to seeing Jack had a motive.

Either way, I might be a horrible person like I’ve always been afraid of.

The next time I see Jack Hart, I might be tempted to... hurt him.

Noah’s eyes laze back open after seemingly being asleep. It snaps me out of my rage.

“Shh. Quiet that beautiful mind, Luna.” Noah strokes my forehead, lulling my heavy eyelids closed. He purrs. “There you go. You’re right: we’re safe. We’re here to protect each other. Thank you for protecting me tonight. And I’m sorry.”

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