Page 173 of King Luna

Thank the Goddess it’s dark. I’m speechless, my heart pounding as Noah’s breath speeds, reflecting the flustered, embarrassed vulnerability I feel in his side of our bond.

Stroking his hair back in the darkness, I soften my voice. “Noah, can you do me a favor, my love?”

“What’s wrong? Do you need to lay on your other side to get more comfortable?”

I smile. “No, I’m okay. Can you scoot closer for me? Until we’re belly to belly?”

Noah’s breath halts. When it restarts, he shuffles closer, enveloping me in his body heat until I let out a happy purr. Chuckling, Noah buries his fingers into my hair, rubbing the back of my neck. I groan in bliss, and Noah lets out a genuine laugh.

“Is this what you wanted, my sweet Omega?”

“Not quite, but I do love this.” I sigh, my eyelids fluttering as he massages me deeper.

Like clockwork, Little Wolf kicks me—hard. Noah’s wolf jolts upright in our bond, his ears as high as they can be; they kicked him too.

I giggle. “I know you can feel them already, but I want you to stay right there. I’m going to put a little more pressure on my belly, but not enough to hurt or be dangerous, so don’t worry, okay?”

“O-okay,” Noah whispers.

Wrapping my arm around Noah’s waist, I press us even closer, widening the surface area on our abdomens where skin meets skin. Every breath pushes my swollen belly against Noah’s stomach until our lungs sync, trading off inhales and exhales in tandem to each other’s movements.

I whisper as softly as I can. “Do you feel them?”

Sliding his palm around my belly, Noah’s breath hitches again when Little Wolf gives us another set of good, hard kicks. “Holy shit.”

“They’re strong, aren’t they? They’re definitely your pup.” I bite my lip, staving off laughter as Noah’s wolf zooms around in our bond, excitement overcoming him. “Can you get quiet with me for a second, and really try to feel into their presence in our bond? I don’t know if it’s possible, but sometimes, I see our inner world, just by feeling extra connected to you. Maybe we can meet there for a moment, and really focus in on this pup we’re holding? I wonder if we can feel their bond to us clearer if we try it together.”

Noah doesn’t respond, instead falling silent as he softens his breath. I close my eyes, diving into my connection to him in the center of my soul.

As Little Wolf does a mini somersault, pressing their tiny legs into the lowest part of my belly against Noah, my mate laughs beneath his breath. “I think they’re not appreciating the lack of room we’re creating.”

I giggle, following his hand until we cup their pittering feet in Noah’s palm. “I think they might also like feeling snuggled. Lately, they seem to get sleepy and stop stirring as crazily when you hold my belly.”

Joy trickles through our bond, widening my smile. But as we both grow quieter, our hands holding the base of my stomachtogether, I sink deep into the pillow, my head drooping until Noah’s forehead presses against mine.

Laying in silence with Noah, I’m surprised how easy it is for me to venture into our inner world—even without renewing our bond with a fresh mark. Fluffy, fresh snow coats the field like a sea of clouds. My wolf is snuggled up in the center of it, her tail furled over the distinct energy I’ve come to recognize as Little Wolf. Their faint presence blinks brighter as soon as I nuzzle in, curling tighter around them.

But within a span of a minute, two black, fluffy ears perk up from the snow in front of my snout, startling my wolf’s head into popping upright.

Noah shakes his fur, unburying himself from the snow. A bit of it sticks to his nose, but he couldn’t care less; his full focus locks onto the little glowing ball peeking from beneath my bushy white tail.

His alert ears tempt me to laugh, threatening to pull me from my focus. Instead, my tail thumps wildly in our bond, smacking snow in every direction. Meeting my eyes, Noah’s wolf happy-squints, his tail wagging so hard it nearly smacks his sides. Lowering to his belly, he keeps his chin low to the ground—inching closer to Little Wolf.

When we’re face to face, Noah huffs in excitement, glancing between me and our pup’s soul. We gaze down at Little Wolf together, growing quiet as I nuzzle them delicately. Their outline is faint, but they’re certainly here; Little Wolf’s paws pop into the air as they flop on their other side.

My ears pull back as Noah breaks into delicate whines, his heart bursting with love alongside mine.

In our bed, Little Wolf kicks against Noah’s stomach once more, startling us both into taking a sharp breath.

I stroke Noah’s arm as he rubs my belly. Softening my voice, I press my nose against his. “Noah, are you still looking at them in our bond?”

After a long pause, Noah breathes out the quietest whisper he can. “Yes. They’re beautiful, like you. I always love finding your wolf holding them here.”

My throat thickens with emotion. I smile, drawing my hand up his warm side until I cup the back of his head. “That’s why I wanted to bring you there: they’re not tied to my wolf’s body in our inner world. While I carry them here, in person, why don’t you hold our pup there, in our special place—keeping their soul safe for us through the rest of my pregnancy?”

The silence heightens my throbbing heartbeat, but as soon as I hear a shaky exhale, my eyelids pop open.

“A-are you sure?” Noah’s words are watery.

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