Page 192 of King Luna

I shake my head again, gripping his hands. “What if I can’t do this? I don’t think I can, I—”

“Oh, A...” Amy’s careful touch as she tucks my hair behind my ear sends me into panting moans—one contraction only leading to the next.

But Rainn rubs my back. “Wait, this is such a good sign! That means you’re almost through it—this is just the toughest part before they’re here.”

I suck in a tight breath.

She’s right; I feel it in my soul.

Gripping Noah’s taut arms, I gaze up at him. “Oh, my God, Noah.”

“Holy shit.” Noah’s eyes are as wide as mine, a hint of golden peeking through his teal irises telling me this reality is hitting his soul just as deeply as mine. He lets out a breathy sigh, kissing me with careful, quick pecks. “Goddess,Aliya—” He kisses me harder before leading me to our nest. “You’re so beautiful—” His voice quivers through awe, pulling a touched whimper from my lips. “I’m so fucking proud of you, I can’t believe it.”

Despite my fear, the most vivid excitement I’ve ever felt in my body restarts my labor shakes, vibrating my body in Noah’s arms.

Noah’s chest tightens against my cheek. “Shit, let’s get you laying down in your nest.”

“I was about to say—” Rainn trails off as I speed-waddle from her side.

No one has to convince me to move: some sort of knowing guides me, urging me to pull my mate to my nest.

“Good girl. Follow your instincts.” Noah’s purring voice sends a pleased shiver down my spine.

With our hands clasped tight, we step into our nest, our dearest loved ones easing my body into a cushy blanket pile. No one has disturbed my nest—not even Natalia, our Pack Doctor waiting here with a bright smile despite her busy schedule.

This task feels like an insurmountable mountain trail, stretching miles above my head. Yet it’s here. My body is ready to bring Ari into the world.

I’m tempted to slip into fear, an icy chill striking my core at all that could go wrong.

But my wolf takes full control. Noah attempts to get behind me to hold me through active labor, but my wolf is adamant I remain on my side, clutching Noah tight.

“I can’t let go of you. Lay with me.” Nuzzling into Noah’s chest, I purr through my tightening abdomen.

“Okay. I’ve got you.” Noah holds my waist steady.

I blow out steady currents of air against his chest, my belly tensing as another wave drags my belly down, down, down. I have no qualms about yelling my heart out, the sharpest pressure I’ve felt yet weighing down on my pelvis.

“Holy shit, this is happening. I can feel it too,” Noah whispers.

My heart spikes in both excitement and fear as Natalia lifts my thigh.

“Pardon me, Luna. Let me make sure you’re not straining— Oh!”

My heart flips as I glance between my legs to find Natalia beaming.

But it’s Amy’s delighted cry of joy that sends a thrill through my chest. “Aliya—I can see their head!”

Rainn’s laugh is wet with giddy tears. “They have a ton of hair!”

Meeting Noah’s startled eyes, I shake my head in disbelief. Noah pants alongside me, readjusting his clammy grip on my waist. Tears prick the corners of his eyes as he strokes my sweaty hair off my forehead. “Goddess, Aliya. You’re the most incredible wolf—”

I cut off his words with a sharp cry, my features contorting as my body tenses.

Noah presses his forehead against mine. “You’re so fucking powerful. Good job, sweet girl—”

But my eyes zip open. I force my claws to unlatch from poor Noah’s arm, panting through each breath. “Noah, please—”

“Please, what?”

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