Page 123 of King Luna

He smells like an Alpha-Omega.

Noah’s Omega side is here to compete today—out in the open. The thought flips my heart, tempting me to hope for the best outcome.

I just can’t shake what I also know to be true; dangerous men like Matthew will strike without mercy, especially once they smell him. Like I warned our allies, men like Steven don’t have rules.

Annika rushes over, the front of her dress covered by a wrapped, white fabric I can't seem to figure out.

“Sorry, um... A small fistfight broke out on the sidelines, and Viktor had a lapse of judgment and overestimated an Alpha-dom cultist's strength. He may have—um—knocked out another rude Alpha. All medics are occupied.”

Noah rubs his temples. “Shit...”

Annika laughs sheepishly, her shoulders raising. “Yeah, I’m sorry, but... Hi, Luna. Can I help, somehow?”

The second I see her cautious, fearful face, reminding me of the danger ahead, my heart rate spikes, and I gag again. Thankfully, all that’s left is air.

Annika stabilizes me as I reel over the bushes, groaning. “Oh, Goddess, someone needs to get you some wolf-strength tinctures for nausea! Let me mindlink them.”

I shake my head, clinging to her arm. “Pregnancy made me hate that herb’s smell, so I always puke the second it's in front of my nose.”

Annika’s eyes brighten. “Ah, wait! I have an idea—”

At first I think she’s turning to leave, but she untucks the wrapped fabric from her dress, propping up something heavy behind her.

Annika beams. “I know how to soothe both an Alphaandan Omega!”

She wasn't wearing a wrap; a tuft of tight brown curls poking out of her fabric bundle tells me she’s actually carrying a little sleeping wolf.

Gripping my heart as it throbs with delight, I let out an uncontrollable coo. “Oh, Goddess, Anni, you brought your youngest! He’sbeautiful.”

Annika shuffles his sleeping body from her back to her chest, giving me a better view of her pup’s sleepy, squishy face. Her infant stays sound asleep through all of it, so cozy that his quiet purr only intensifies as she repositions him against her chest.

“This is my little Omega boy, Markus. He’s almost seven months old, but still such a sleepyhead.” Annika giggles with pride as I gaze at him, my heart exploding with affection.

“Oh, what a sweetheart. I’m so happy for you and Vik.”

She beams. “Would you like to hold him, Luna? Here—”

The instant Annika plops Markus’s warm body into my arms, a rush of doting hormones ooze from me.

“Oh, Goddess—” I swallow hard, not having held a Lycan baby since Noah got me pregnant. Markus is extra warm, and just like Noah’s sleepy wolf—loose and unbothered, no matter what happens around him.

But as Markus settles against my chest, I’m startled as his eyes open—not only because they’re a gorgeous, deep brown, but because for the first time, I feel a light fluttering in my stomach.

Shifting Markus to one arm, I gasp, gripping my belly. Was that just my upset stomach? But no, it’s there once more: a delicate pittering stirring within me.

“What? What is it?” Noah zips to my side, his eyes racing over my form.

I gape at Annika as Markus stirs, nestling himself closer to me with gentle purrs. Yet again, I feel the same, featherlight sensations in my stomach.

“M-maybe it’s a gas bubble in there, but—” My eyes widen as I stare at Noah, his eyebrows shooting up his forehead as the biggest smile forms. “Noah, I— I think I just felt—”

Placing his hands over my belly, Noah gazes into my eyes, holding his breath with me. But as that fluttering sensation stirs within me again, I grip Noah’s arm, releasing a trembling exhale.

“Did you feel that?” I whisper.

Smiling up to his eyes, Noah drops his forehead against mine. “Not yet. But I felt every second of your emotions with you through it, and it’s beautiful enough to make me cry.”

Sure enough, Noah’s eyes spill over despite his vivid grin. I laugh, swiping him free of tears as I shake my head. “Oh,Goddess, I can’t believe this, Noah. It didn’t feel like gas, it felt like—” Looking back up from my belly, I do a double-take at Noah’s shining, elated eyes above me. I burst into giddy laughterat his rapt attention. “My sweet, curious, Alpha. It felt a bit like this...”

---