Page 175 of King Luna

I grip my forehead, struggling to unpack her words. “Hang on—Ritchie was shot, not challenged to death!”

“I know that, Aliya.”

“And you really believe this? You believe your badass, powerhouse of a son, our world’s King Alpha, who went through all of this bullshit even though you’re telling me he never wanted to,stillwouldn’t have stepped in to protect his father fromanyone and everyone he could? Of course he would’ve, Lilian!” I hiss, and Lilian’s focus drops to her lap. My heart wrenches with her watering eyes. “You know what really would’ve happened if Noah was there? We’d never have to have this conversation because your son would bedead.”

As Lilian slumps in silence, I cough, my lungs aching with how out of breath I’ve become lately. But when my eyes catch movement behind Lilian, I freeze.

Noah stands across the room, just as wide-eyed as I am.

The second his heart drops into pain with his mother’s sharp scent, I wince.

Fuck. Maybe this wasn’t my place, after all.

But Lilian straightens, her shifted irises desperate as they race across my features. “I just don’t want him to give up! I want him to be a top Alpha who lives!”

Lilian stands, and I scramble to my feet with her, afraid she’ll blow up once she sees Noah behind her—my mate shell-shocked, judging by his unmoving form.

But Lilian squeezes her eyes shut tight, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Of course I want Noah to be okay. Noah and Rainn are the only reason I lived, at all!”

My heart tears as Noah’s emotions somersault. Lilian’s warped expression shifts to confusion when she sees my eyes flick to Noah, but I’m more concerned about the genuine horror on Noah’s face. When he melts into grief, I mourn with him.

“Oh, no—” Lilian whips her head away from her son, hiding her tear-stained face. “You weren’t supposed to—”

Noah strides across the room, reaching for her. I have to press my fingers to my lips, suppressing tears at his empty arms outstretched for her like a child.

Lilian gathers her belongings, her voice quivering. “S-sorry, I didn’t mean to— I didn’t think—”

Noah’s expression warps further. “Please, Mom.”

She tries to pull away, and it sets off my final fuse. “Lilian!”

Both mother and son freeze, staring at me.

I don’t know what’s come over me. I don’t raise my voice like this. But as Noah’s bruised heart only worsens, my cheeks flush with upset. “If you think you’re going to lose your son someday too, enjoy him while he’s here!”

All at once, Lilian crumbles. I expect her to turn away again, but for the first time since we’ve all met, she drops her forehead against Noah’s chest, letting out a heavy, despairing cry. Closing his eyes, Noah shields his mother’s face from the world, his big arms curling around her head as his cheek settles on top of her hair.

Drooping into my chair, I attempt to pull my gaze away from them—to let them have their moment—but as their quiet, shy voices kickstart a raw, whispering conversation, I can’t help but stare. They’re opening up before me by the second, reforming their relationship in ways I’m positive they never have since Ritchie's death.

As they dive into an extended series of talks, I leave them be at the table, returning my focus to cooking tonight’s pack dinner while still remaining at arm’s reach to mediate, if needed. Most of their conversation is calm, and sometimes it flares hot, but after an initial awkward period, I’m stunned by what I’m witnessing.

Within the span of an hour, theylaughtogether. As I witness this shift from the corner of my eye, a flurry of electricity shoots up my spine; they’re not just laughing. They’ve scooted closer, Lilian daring to gather her son’s hand in hers.

As I watch their relationship reseed itself, I slip from the kitchen as quietly as I can. Pressing my back against the closed door, I hitch through silent, hot tears, caressing our growing baby.

I didn’t realize I was furious for another reason, but as Little Wolf kicks beneath my palms, I close my eyes, cherishing every second with them. I wish I could hold my mom’s hand too, to hear Dad’s goofy jokes about my pregnancy, and to watch them both cry the first time they hold Little Wolf. I’ll never have that with Mom and Dad, but every inch of me craves the possibility for Noah. Watching Lilian throw that away insulted me to my core.

But as Noah’s tumultuous heart gradually softens in our bond, he proves my fears wrong; it’s not just possible, it’s happening. Not only does he still have his mom on this earth, but Little Wolf will have one surviving grandparent—one whose claws can defend them from the greatest of enemies, and whose gentle tone can heal a steeled heart.

Chapter 38

It’s time to let go.

Not only are we selling our current cabin that originally belonged to Noah, but we’re also letting go of my parents’ old cottage, all for the sake of starting our baby’s life in a brand-new home, organized specifically for our growing family.

That, and I’ve avoided digging up the past for far too long now. The cottage is cozy and sweet—far too lovely to sit here, empty. Guilt pangs at my heart every time I think of it.

It’s finally time to let a new family create loving memories there—and for me to let go of the ones Steven created that tainted my beautiful childhood home. I’m bringing with me the memories that really matter in my parents’ keepsakes.

---