Page 185 of King Luna

I need to reach him.You’re terrifying me.

Noah doesn’t respond.

That’s when I smell something putrid. I slam a hand over my mouth, stifling a sharp gag; it’s the scent of an old, rotten wolf pelt.

But the rancid scent guides my eyes to the treeline at the edge of Mrs. Jensen’s property. That’s when I spot the rifle. A man. A fur coat.

Everything clicks into place.

In my heart, I know I’m looking at Jack Hart. And Noah isn’t responding because he’s 100% wolf and 100% petrified.

As this abusive Alpha who we were convinced would never sacrifice his pride to kill with a gun marches straight for Noah, I know in my heart that Mason’s confession was true. This is the man—the Lycan—who joined Mason in shooting our fathers.

But only after traumatizing Noah for life. And I’m willing to bet Noah's trauma was perpetrated, decades in advance, for this exact moment: the moment Jack decides Noah is at his most defenseless, most nervous, and in one of the final days he’s alive without an heir. The day Jack Hart can become the top Greenfield Alpha.

Chapter 41

Igrip our baby in both palms. It’s my sole responsibility to keep them alive.

But as Jack aims at Noah, charging from the forest on human feet to come into range, time slows into the slowest crawl I’ve ever experienced. Each of my ragged breaths deepen, and instinct silences me as my fangs extend.

Noah’s ears perk up.Oh Goddess, you’re here. This is my worst nightmare. You can’t die.

Don’t get shot!

Noah bristles.I can’t let him shoot you instead.

I don’t answer; that’s exactly how I feel.

Yasmine, we need backup at the Jensens’ farm. I’m staring down Jack Hart’s barrel,Noah mindlinks Yasmine and me.Aliya, I love you.

My heart shatters as despite his fear, Noah rears up in defense, hardening his resolve to face Jack head-on. Blood-curdling panic blasts through the numbness in our bond, along with the deepest, most rageful sadness that steals my breath.

I knew this day was possible. I just didn’t want to believe it would come true.

Like his father, Noah is ready to die for his pack. His fearful, yet mortifyingly fierce form ripples, and I grieve every inch of his gorgeous, midnight black fur.

Despite our best laid plans, I race toward him. I won’t let him die. I can’t.

But I’m too far. I stumble closer, unable to reach him fast enough even if I were to shift.

I know Noah can feel my panic, raising up in snarling, ferocious defense. Despite our best laid plans, he charges at Jack.

That’s when I see it; Jack hesitates.

That single, fleeting pause sends my wolf ripping through my human skin. My pregnant belly hangs low as she flies through the field, shifting before I can process her control over me. I haven't sprinted as my wolf like this for months, stumbling as my back legs have to widen to give our baby room. But I need to protect Noah and our baby—no,allof our babies.

As Jack raises his gun, Noah’s snarl shreds past my pelt, the desperate sound scraping across every inch of my skin.

Jack lifts the rifle to his eye, taking aim. He’s ready—steely, weathered eyes intending to rip my mate’s life from his wolf’s proud body. To steal the Alpha’s soul, replacing Noah’s title with his.

But Jack is mistaken; this pack has two top Alphas.

And I can run faster than anyone.

Before I’ve taken another breath through my heaving snout, I burst through the brush at Jack’s side, leaping with both paws outstretched. He barely has time to flit his eyes in my direction before one bat of my extended claws slash the entirety of Jack’s face and torso, sending him flying into the treeline. His rifle spins across the forest floor, over fifteen feet from where he lands with how hard I hit him.

Skidding back into the brush to hide and assess the damage I’ve done, I’m startled by how frail Jack felt beneath my furious paws—enough to halt in panic that I’ve actually killed someone this time. But Jack rolls on the forest floor, his hands muffling his screams as he cups what he can of the blood cascading down his shredded face.

---