But as every wolf hangs on the stretching silence, we tense as a collective global pack. Each wolf is as shocked as the next as Viktor relaxes onto his back, baring his belly to Noah in submission.
I sputter out a breath in disbelief. Annika breaks free from my hands, cradling her baby’s head to her chest to see the outcome for herself. As soon as she breaks into a relieved smile, I let out a weepy, giddy laugh.
Annika meets my eyes with an exasperated groan. “Thank the Goddess it's over!”
She crashes into my arms, laughing in near-delirium with me as Noah pops up, shaking himself off in a cloud of black fur. Noah’s big head towers everyone as wolves flood the field, howling and prancing around the two Alphas.
But when Noah's head dips down into the global pack, obscuring him from my view, my heart urges me to find mymate. To somehow reach him past the crowd of rowdy wolves, pulling him back to safety to never participate in this stupid shit again.
When he slowly rises, I realize he’s helping Viktor back onto his paws with gentle nudges and licks on his wounds: a loving nuzzle in truce.
Annika grips me, turning to me with a big smile. “My new Queen.”
My breath catches. “Luna...”
Nuzzling Markus’s cheek until his tears slow, Annika can’t stop sighing between every breath. “I wholeheartedly believed you, Luna, but I’m happy to report your prediction hasn’t come true. There have been no aggressive wolves sighted at our borders today.”
Waimarie cheers, diving into her mate’s arms. Tane nuzzles her into a deep kiss, sweeping her off the field into the forest.
Their celebration makes it real; it really is over. We’re okay. We’re safe.
Drooping in pure relief, I heave out a slow, raspy sigh. “Thank the Goddess.”
Annika and I huddle close as our mates lick each other’s gashes with gentle tail wags—a symbol of solidarity between two old friends.
Until Noah’s wolf tells everyone he's had enough with a quick, irritated sneeze. Wolves scurry away, clearing a path. As Annika dashes to Viktor, Noah pads toward me, dipping his big head to meet my gaze with golden eyes.
Luna. My gorgeous Luna.
I laugh, extending my arms for him.I want to run to you, but now that Annika told me there are no ambushes to report, my body decided it’s done walking for the month. My legs are like wet noodles.
My poor Luna. Stay there. These wolves won’t bother us now.Noah slinks down to crawl to me, easing his huffing snout into my arms once he’s finally close enough.
I whine over him, kissing every scratch on his silky face. “MyKing.”
Noah freezes. The next thing I know, I’m covered in a wriggling ball of fluff, Noah hardly able to control himself until he crashes back into the mud, his excited huffs fanning my lap. My heart fizzles with warmth as I burst into laughter.
Noah purrs, his big tongue giving my belly the softest lick he can manage.
I roll over onto my back on instinct, and Noah shifts into his human form, melting over me with soft, desperate whimpers. “I love you. My Queen.”
At the sight of Noah’s breezy smile over me, I finally allow myself to laugh. Wolves howl as our lips crash together, Noah’s overheated, bleeding, and naked body draping over me. Slipping my braid over my shoulder, Noah gives my exposed neck such a heavy lick that my legs tremble.
The intensity of my pleasure startles us both, but Noah hums in a pleased growl. He cups his hand behind my neck, pressing his tongue deeper into my mark.
I release an uncontainable, breathy moan. Wolves howl even louder, heavy courting erupting into action all around us.
“Oh, my God, Noah, we’re doing it again. Everyone's about to mate.”
He chuckles, switching to heavy suckling on my neck until my hips rapidly buck into the air for him. “Good. You like it, don’t you? The thrill of everyone’s eyes on us. How we drive the wild side out of them.”
A shiver races through me, my fangs extending at the thought of us marking each other again.
“Yes. But especially because I’m doing it with you. My wolf is rolling over for her King.”
He chuckles. “And mine is drooling. Let’s let them have their fun.”
Tearing off my coat, I hike up my dress, baring my bottom half to my mate. He happily slips between my thighs, ready to grind a few moans out of me.