Page 194 of King Luna

As if he can’t help himself, Noah releases the most delicious cinnamon-sweet Omega scent, filling the air with soothing comfort. As Ari’s little body softens in my arms, easing their furrowed expression into relaxed bliss, my soul reels in awe. I have two sweet Omegas now too; after all the abuse Noah’s wolf has faced, he’s holding our Omega pup so tenderly. I can’t help but think that by holding our Ari, Noah’s also cradling the Omega side of his wolf. The one that saved him, then saved us all.

As Ari snuggles into us, limp in relief to be warm once more, I can’t stop kissing their soft little head, breathing in their sweet scent. Closing my eyes, I dive into our inner world. There, I’m stunned by what I find.

There aren’t two of us here; there’s three. The teeniest lump of fluff against Noah’s fur is all I can see at first, excitementracing down my spine. My wolf nibbles at Noah’s neck, her tail swinging wildly despite her exhaustion—rejoicing in Ari’s newly solid presence. But when I finally see them up close, I can hardly breathe through how cute our pup is.

Hiding within Noah’s fluffy, black belly fur, tufts of gray and black downy fuzz poke out in every direction. The littlest ears I’ve ever seen stick up, paws flopping like they don’t know how to orient themselves just yet. As Ari lets out a squeaky whine, Noah’s and my wolf break into a pant, overflowing with adoration. No matter how hard Noah tries to calm his vibrating wolf, Ari’s tiny body excites their father into uncontainable tail wags.

Opening my eyes, I’m delighted to find Noah’s slow, pleased blinks staring back.

After giving us our moment, Lilian, Rainn, Amy, Kira, Yasmine, and Dave take their turns stroking Ari’s little tuft of black hair, sharing birthday wishes and telling them how much they’re loved.

I pictured our little family as Noah, Ari, and me, but now that I see everyone together to celebrate this new pup in our arms, I realize they have the biggest, warmest family I’ve ever met, extending to the stranger wolves taking turns guarding our peace outside our den as the year’s very first snowfall mutes the forest into a soothing silence.

I’m awestruck. I never thought this could happen to me. Not only to finally have a chance to give birth and raise the baby I’ve always wanted, but to also have such a loving community surrounding them from the second they’re born.

There’s not a moment Ari isn’t cuddled—not even as Noah gently massages my belly through the afterbirth process, breathing through the last remnants of pain with me as we gaze into each other’s eyes. My soul has placed full trust in him, my body loose and limber in his loving touch. Between tracking our newborn, golden, alert eyes stare back at me, Noah breaking into a touched, weepy smile whenever he sees my face.

Sweeping my forehead free of stray hairs, Noah drinks me in with his roaming stare. “You look so peaceful. I didn’t think you could be, after all that.”

“I’m madly in love,” I whisper. “And I’m in love with how much you’ve fallen in love today too. I’ve never felt us so happy, Noah.”

Shaking his head through a gushing smile, Noah sighs against my lips. “Me neither. You’ve given me the best day of my life, over and over again. Even just holding you in my arms makes me feel like every struggle in my life has been worth it, but now you’ve given me a whole other person to hold? You’ve really outdone yourself this time, Luna.”

I giggle through fresh tears. “So have you, my King. And I’d do it all over again for you... But maybe in a few years.”

Noah’s bright laugh floats my heart to the ceiling, his vivid smile nourishing my soul.

And now I have his pup to hold too.

I can’t wait to spend every day of the rest of my life loving Ari’s sweet soul alongside Noah’s. As Amy returns Ari to our arms, I’m beautifully overwhelmed—Ari’s entire existence containing every droplet of cuteness I could ever imagine withinone tiny body, and Noah’s pupils expanding in adoration as he bundles our pup against his heart.

But as Ari’s emotions melt into a steady, thrumming comfort, some part of them recognizing our familiar safety, I’m in awe of us; we create the deepest peace in this little being, even though we’ve only just officially met. All we’re doing is holding them, nurturing them with milk and kisses, but that’s enough for Ari to feel safe.

The power behind this thought startles me. For most of my life, I thought I had to be perfect. Really, I just had to be here.

It hits me then; my love has grown for someone else here too.

My wolf nestles deep in my heart in pure glee, immeasurable love surrounding her from every angle.

I adore her. I worship her guiding presence, and the beauty she brings out in me. Her strength is mine, and mine hers. I love being Ari’s mother, Noah’s mate, and our pack’s King Luna alongside my King Alpha, and it’s all thanks to her. I’m so proud of her for drawing out the courage within me to be myself, and I’m proud of me for trusting her, taking the leap to exist as myself—no matter how imperfect I still may feel.

Despite never having the courage to believe it before, it’s true: I love myself.

I can’t wait to teach Ari how lovable they are too.

Chapter 44

Easing my hands beneath Ari in Noah’s arms, I nestle our bundled pup in their crib. Within six months, Ari has grown into the squishiest, cutest little being I’ve ever witnessed in my life, their mittened hands rubbing over their cheeks every time they wake up and their gummy smile sending my wolf into zoomies in our bond. Tonight, sleepiness overcomes their whole body, one cheek still red from snuggling against Noah’s warm chest. Their tranquil scent soothes my heart. As Noah and I gaze in absolute awe over them, just like the day we brought them home for the first time, Noah’s warm palm on my lower back helps me feel just as cocooned and safe as Ari seems.

I bite my lip, gazing up at Noah’s doting eyes over our pup. Adoration pours through me at the emotion in my mate’s eyes—a love for our pup that only grows every day.

It makes me want him.

Noah straightens at the hint of desire in our bond, his eyes zipping to mine. With my palms settling against his chest, I stretch on my toes to kiss Noah as quietly as possible. Noah leans into my kiss, pushing a yearning ache through my core. I cup his cheeks, kissing him even harder between desperate breaths.

We haven’t had penetrative sex since I gave birth, but I’ve told Noah I’m tempted to try tonight. Even as Ari has been sleeping on Noah, I’ve been planting sneaky kisses all over Noah’s arms, shoulders, and cheeks, unable to stop loving on him.

So the second we’re certain Ari is asleep in their crib, Noah draws closer, immersing me in an eager musk. I breathe him in, my wolf puffing her chest in pride at how riled up she’s made her mate.

---