Page 183 of King Luna

We laugh even harder, Jenny swiping away tears as I’m forced to lean to the side again, tightening my thighs.

“Oh, God, I hope I don't pee again,” I rasp.

Gripping my shoulder through hearty giggles, Jenny struggles to quiet herself. “Sorry, sorry. But really, there’s no judgment here. No matter what it is.”

I sigh. “No, I can see why you thought that—about the cult thing. But I promise you, I've never felt more loved or safer in my community. I’ve just felt really guilty lying to my therapist about my other interests. Occult-y ones.”

Jenny’s wavering voice verges on laughter once more, and I have to bite my lip to prevent us from turning into another heap. “What part of the occult could it be thatI'venever heard of before? Some type of alien summoning?”

I sputter. “No!Although, I wouldn’t discount it being possible.”

Jenny grins and shrugs. “Maybe, maybe not, right?”

I laugh. “Right.”

Stroking my belly, I take a soothing breath. But just as my hand sweeps over my bulging belly button, a deep, relentless Braxton Hicks contraction rolls through. But this one feels different than my usual practice contractions: it tightens every muscle deep in my lower spine, taking my breath away.

Jenny is no longer laughing. “Oh, wow, are you okay?”

I nod, but Jenny helps me ease back against the couch cushions. I deepen and slow my breathing, struggling to not be too shocked by the contraction’s intensity. Thankfully, it subsides fairly quickly. Blowing out my last deep exhale, I smile. “Yep, we’re all good. No, what I'm really interested in is—” I bite my lips, gazing into Jenny’s eyes. “What do you think of shapeshifters?”

It’s no wonder I spurred on a contraction; my heart pounds hard and heavy, urging Ari to shuffle around again. I’m terrified of what Jenny might say next. What she’ll ask, and if I’m making a mistake by sharing something so deep from my heart. So dangerous.

But I want to trust her. I do.

As if her heart answers mine, Jenny grins even wider. “You know, I really think Sasquatch is actually a shapeshifter.”

My eyes widen—until I let out a huge laugh.

Jenny does too, but she also scoffs at me. “I'm serious! I swear, I saw this bulky, hairy,nakedman shift into a hulking black beast, just at the start of your pregnancy—right outside my office window too.”

I slap a hand over my mouth, muffling my words. “At the edge of the forest? Across the street?”

As Jenny laughs, her eyes nervously flit between mine. “Does that scare you?”

Holy shit, that’s a “yes, across the street.” I’m dying to answer her, but I have no idea what the hell to say.

All I can do is mindlink my mate.Oh Goddess, Noah, shedidsee you shift!

Noah’s wolf freezes in our bond, his tail jutting out perfectly taut. I have to laugh while gasping out of nerves and fear.

But she thinks you’re Sasquatch!

Giggles erupt from me uncontrollably as Noah’s wolf head quirks in confusion.

Jenny grips her forehead, her smile wider than it’s been all day. “Aliya, don’t laugh! I’m not kidding!”

I’m near tears. By some miracle, I know exactly how to remedy this situation, shaking my head in an attempt to ease Jenny’s worries. “No, no, no, I believe you! I’m just so relieved because I’ve seen something like that too, and I didn’t know who else to tell except Noah and Amy since they’re also believers.”

“Aww, you could’ve told me! They don’t call us weird here for nothing.” Jenny practically bounces on the couch cushions beside me, unaware her excited scent fills the room in front of a shapeshifter's nose. “What did you see? When was it?”

I sigh, shaking my head. “Right before meeting Noah. I saw it in the woods. A big, beast-like thing watching me before another big beast swooped in and saved my life.”

Jenny beams, nodding along with me. “Oh, I absolutely believe you. There are weird, unbelievable things in those woods.”

Chapter 40

Ican’t stop giggling until the end of our appointment, especially because it feels like a weight has been lifted off me.

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