Page 127 of King Luna

But I’m certain there’s a reason for Matthew’s subtle shift in behavior. That something has altered his strategy, even if I don’t know what yet.

Racking my brain for answers, I think about what Yasmine taught me: never show them your back. Always stay on your feet, if you can. Evade, evade, evade.

Each of these tactics put me more on the defensive—a far more common strategy for surviving wolves, rather than the attacking beasts they’re painted as in folklore. If we really went around killing one another, we’d never have enough energy to protect ourselves. By instinct, we’re too good at defending one another’s lives, hunting only what we need for food.

But here at the Summit, Alphas are forced to exert their wolf bodies to the max if they want to win against the best of the best. Which means they have to act on the offensive, draining their wolves faster than they would during the average territorial fight.

So I analyze Matthew’s angles of defense and offense—looking for patterns in how he approaches Noah.

Almost immediately, I notice it: he only shows Noah one side.

I perk up, my heart lurching.He’s protecting his left flank!

Noah hops in a zig-zag around Matthew, and sure enough, the brown wolf won’t let Noah see his left side.

Genius, Luna! We’re unstoppable together with your observant mind.

Even though my teeth are chattering, I laugh at Noah’s goofy tail wag, his supercharged ears pointing to the sky.

When Noah’s jaws snap at Matthew’s left side, it forces the Alpha into full defense mode. Each bite seems to shrink Matthew further into the ground, only making Noah bristle larger.

Good job, Noah! Keep overwhelming him!

Matthew can hardly keep up with Noah’s relentless lunges to fight back.

His tail droops.

Matthew tucks his tail tight between his legs...

And rolls over in submission.

Towering over the cultist, Noah’s bragging, puffed-up wolf gives one last irritated sneeze, and I burst into laughter.

His alert ears rotate to me before his head, and I laugh even harder. “You adorable, powerful goofball! Come here!”

The Lunas flinch beside me as Noah’s enormous wolf scampers over. He flattens one ear in apology—before shifting back to be stark naked in front of all of us.

But my only concern is Noah's wounds. My skin washes in an icy chill, my eyes skating down his clawed-up chest, blood mixing with sweat everywhere I look.

I grip my heart. “Goddess, Noah—”

The second we meet eyes, Noah tightens his jaw, barely restraining his rising desperation in our bond. We dart forward at the same time, crashing into each other’s arms. As my wolf whimpers through me, forcing me to lick her mate’s face clean, Noah whisks me away from the crowd, tucking me behind the garden entrance to the field.

“Shh, Luna. It’s all okay, gorgeous.” He nuzzles over my whimpering lips, stroking my hair back with soft, shaky sweeps.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” My eyes water even worse from his sharp Alpha musk, his scent potent enough to force any Omegas at the edge of the field to cover their noses.

“I’ll be fine, but... I heard you scream earlier. I felt so bad.” Noah’s voice breaks as he kisses me all over. “Please, tell me the truth. Is this too much for you? Say the word, and we’ll leave.”

I swallow hard, rubbing my belly in an attempt to stifle my rolling emotions.

But the tears come anyway. “I want our pup to have their dad.”

“Oh, my sweet—” Noah curls me in his embrace until I’m marinating in his scent. This time his musk is even stronger, but it’s laced with such a heavy sweetness that goosebumps cascade down my limbs, drawing a sigh from my lips.

“That feels good,” I whisper.

“There you go.” Noah tilts my jaw until I reveal my mark.

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