Page 163 of King Luna

My shoulders droop. “Oh, Noah—”

Rushing for me, Noah clasps me tight to his chest. I embrace him just as tightly, scrunching my eyes as if it’ll squeeze the fear from the sweet heart hammering against my ear.

His soft voice buzzes against my cheek. “How are you not freaking out?”

I sigh. “I’m sure it’ll hit me once I see him. Otherwise, I’m strangely done with him.”

Noah groans. “Still.”

“Still, yes. It’ll always be hard. But I have so much to live for now, my love. I think he’ll see it on my face, and he’ll never want to fuck with another soul.”

Sucking in a sharp breath, Noah freezes. Pulling back, he stares deep into my eyes. Whatever he sees hardens his shoulders. Planting a heavy kiss against my lips, Noah huffs until his fear morphs into determination—and our friends cheer at how thorough our kisses grow.

Releasing his lips with breezy laughter, I finally manage to pull a hint of a smile from Noah.

Slipping from my fingers, he strides down the hall, forcing two massive Alphas to tag on his heels. Glancing over his shoulder at me one last time before he turns the corner, Noah flashes vivid yellow eyes.See you soon, Omega-Alpha.

Chapter 34

Mere minutes pass before Annika, Waimarie, and I jump; a furious shout echoes from the confinement den’s depths, dousing my skin in goosebumps.

The Lunas grip me tight, turning to meet my eyes; that wasn’t either of their mates.

“Shit,” I whisper, glancing at Reid’s tight frown above me.

He’s guarding our row of chairs—only a hallway and a spiraling stone staircase away from the basement’s high-risk confinement den.

What’s going on?I mindlink Noah.

Noah doesn’t respond at first, but I can feel his emotions whirring.

I grip Reid for stability, keeping a protective palm on our baby. “I need to go in there, Reid. But I don’t want Mason to look too closely at me.”

Reid nods, gripping the back of my chair to bring it in with us.

Waimarie rubs my back, her voice low. “Would you like us to come with you, darling?”

I sigh. “It’s up to you both. He has a mouth on him, and I’m sure it could be triggering.”

As I suspected, Annika pales. “I-I’m sorry, Luna, I—”

My heart drops. Gripping her hands, I stare Annika in the eyes. “Never apologize for what someone did to you. You should always have the choice whether it feels safe to confront this. I’m not offended that you need to stay safe—not in the least.”Turning to Waimarie, my chest puffs. “Will you stay with our dear Queen Luna, Waimarie—”

As Waimarie breaks into a smile, I blink a few times, realizing my mistake; Annika isn’t Queen Luna anymore. I am.

Annika breaks into breathy giggles, her shoulders loosening. “Thank you, Omega-Alpha Aliya—who is absolutely not our Queen. We’ll both be here when you’re done.”

I’m surprised I still have the ability to laugh at a moment like this, except I also know who I’m looking at—what their kind presence stands for. This is a different world of our own making. Someday soon, it could be one where Mason/Stevens will no longer thrive.

Either way, nothing can prepare me for the face I’m assuming I’ll find on Mason’s human form.

Descending the stone staircase, dim lighting does little to warm the basement’s stinging chill. I’m grateful there’s a hall leading to each cell in the confinement den, preventing us from having to be seen by any captured Alphas we don’t want to associate with today; their murky hatred clings to the air as it is, chattering my teeth with nerves.

When we enter the confinement den, Noah’s angry brows lift, revealing his underlying panic. “Luna, what—”

Viktor rushes over, grabbing the chair from Reid. Multiple wolves follow him, instinctually protecting me from the dangerous figure locked into his cage.

I huddle into Noah as he guides me from Reid’s side. With everyone's help, I’m stationed with a chair facing Mason’s cell.

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