Page 142 of King Luna

My black fireball bolts onto the field, forcing wolves to dart out of the way. Energy ripples from every strand of silky black fur, standing on end to make him tower over Viktor.

Waimarie and Tane wave at us from across the field. They’re by Annika’s side as she clutches Viktor’s shifted wolf, the King Alpha nuzzling baby Markus on Annika’s back.

Since we’re so late, a massive crowd spans the spectator seating, blocking our path to our allies. I’d like to support Annika through this battle too, but with the anticipatory jitters in the air, my wolf urges me to stick close to Reid’s side, not trusting the crowd enough to cross it.

And I need to keep my focus pinned on Noah; it’s almost time for the final Alpha Summit battle. Towering over Annika, Viktor’s beast of a wolf licks the tears off her cheeks before he turns to my mate. With a bloodthirsty snarl, Viktor’s glare sends most Lunas into hiding. I quiver along with them, a whiff of Viktor’s musk carrying on a gust of wind.

Viktor’s motivations aren’t the exact same as Noah’s, but he cares about stopping the Alpha-domination cult too, and his ferocious wolf looks dead serious. Did we push him too far?

Before I can panic, Reid settles in at my side, his soothing scent extending as his eyes track my mate. The steady faith in his gaze raises my hopes.

I return my focus to Noah.You’re going to crush this, gorgeous. Stay focused.

I will, Luna. Six months from now, this will all be resolved and we’ll be cuddling our new pup on the couch together.

Biting my lip, I cup my belly. I’m tempted to melt, but I can’t.

It’s time. Noah tenses into a crouch—ready to pounce.

The world’s top wolves stiffen, a hush falling over the field. Only the wind whistles past my ears.

It’s curious: the field was split into sections before, allowing us to spectate in rows of seating along the field’s edges. Butnow there’s only standing room, and a wide radius between the battle’s starting location and the crowd.

I lower to a whisper, afraid to disturb the silence. “Alpha Reid, why are they so far away? I feel like I can hardly see my mate, and he’s huge.”

The quiet Alpha nods. “You’ll see them closer in a second. I’ll help you, Luna.”

My eyebrows furrow. “Help me? What do you—”

The split second Johannes shouts the “start” signal, Noah lunges into a fierce sprint. His claws tear into the dirt, sinking in deep before erupting from the earth—each pulse of his paws launching him faster, faster, faster—until he crashes into Viktor with all four paws extended, clamping Viktor’s massive wolf down to the earth with athudthat echoes through the trees.

Reid pulls me out of the way—just in time for a mass of wolves to dart away from the tumbling Alphas.

But I saw it; Viktor’s ears drooped, just before Noah landed on him.

I was wrong. Noah isn’t a forever-puppy. He’s a predator who prefers to play around until he gets sick of it. I’ve never witnessed a wolf this terrifying in my life.

But is this fear I’m feeling? My body shudders as Noah’s fangs flash beneath the Swedish sunlight. The first drop of Viktor’s blood stains his lips.

A thrill zips through my veins.

With what Noah has contemplated the last few days, it’s like he’s letting his inner monster out, finally telling everyone to fuck off.

And I want to see more.

Hope surges through me so deeply that I can’t stop shaking, unaware how to process the depths of it. Someone is fighting for us. Someone isfinallyfighting for us.

We’refighting for us. Together.

With my excitement rising, Noah’s movements sharpen. Quick, untraceable snaps of his jaw set Viktor on the defensive, and it’s only been thirty seconds since the fight began.

But already, something is becoming clear to me about Viktor.

He wriggles from beneath Noah’s clenched paws until he bolts free, dashing for the treeline. His chest is already heaving, paws splayed at his sides.

Now that Noah isn’t holding back, Viktor is genuinely shocked.

And he’s unwilling to appear submissive around Noah, even a little bit.

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