Page 144 of King Luna

“Not until you’re safe. The global pack's hierarchy has been thrown off,” Reid shouts over the noise.

My eyes widen as bodies clash, threatening to shift and break all further control. Does this mean Noah was the one keeping it all stable, even more than we realized?

But as Reid keeps me high in his arms, fending off anyone coming too close, I have a better view of the field from up high.

Viktor slinks toward the tree in fear, his ears slicked to his head. That’s when I realize I’m still screaming at the top of my lungs.

“Noah!Noah!Get up,please!”

Reid hitches through the end of his breath, clutching me tighter. “Oh,Goddess, Luna...”

Just when I’m ready to jump out of Reid’s arms, the fallen tree rustles over Noah.

Everyone freezes, craning their necks.

Viktor nudges the fallen tree trunk out of the way, freeing Noah’s wolf.

Please, Goddess, let him be okay. Let him stand up.

But Noah doesn't stand up; with the tree no longer crushing him, heleaps.

With a roaring snarl that drops hundreds of wolves to the ground in fear, Noah tackles Viktor’s face.

But a tackle isn't enough for Noah. As Noah sinks his teeth into Viktor, Viktor’s screeching wolf pierces my eardrums, splitting my heart with pain for him. He’s terrified, pinned to the ground beneath Noah’s angry teeth and claws.

Even though Viktor manages to squirm free of Noah's jaws, my mate rips out fur as Viktor struggles to defend himself.

Noah’s wolf snarls through our internal link, shocking me out of my stupor.No one can make my mate scream like that again! He could've killed you with me!

I wriggle out of Reid’s arms, my eyes zipping straight to Annika's shiver-inducing scream.

“Vik! Vik,run!”

Oh, God, she’s just as scared as I just was.

I dash for Annika, reaching my fellow Luna just in time to catch her as she stumbles to the ground, nearly dropping Markus in her panic. She’s bawling and shrieking in Waimarie’s arms, and Markus screams with her.

Turning toward the field, I can’t stop my voice from coming out wracked with panic. “Stop, Noah! Don’t kill him!”

But Noah’s wolf has stolen full control, his side of our bond blazing with rage.He almost killed my mate by killing me! He's a threat!

He’s not listening.

Covering Annika’s eyes, Waimarie and I hold her, her youngest tucked between us as Tane envelops all four of usin his embrace. I hold them all tight, extending my protective pheromones until my surroundings are flooded with my Alpha musk.

Mustering every ounce of power in me, I shout. “Noah,stop!”

Whether it’s from my command or an unspoken body language between the massive wolves, they both come to a complete stop.

Noah’s fangs ooze over Viktor’s neck, his jaws wide open...

Hovering over Viktor’s throat.

Viktor is frozen, his bright wolf eyes as wide as they can stretch. I gasp, hugging Annika even tighter. Noah won't kill Viktor, but if it was a real fight, hecould,judging by the position Viktor's in.

Which means Viktor just lost, even if he doesn’t want to officially submit.

Unfortunately, it’s not over—not if Viktor refuses to admit he did, in fact, lose.

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