Page 199 of King Luna

Noah skates heavy pressure up both of my arms, raising them over my head. Allowing his body to weigh down my squirming hips, Noah and I lace hands, squeezing as hard as we can.

We breathe through the last of our pleasure together, staring into each other’s heavy-lidded eyes until we fall into a puddle of contented, purring breaths.

Since we’re knotted facing each other, we lazily blink between gazing at each other for minutes upon minutes, not saying a word. We brush over each other's faces, chests, and sides, goosebumps replacing the blissful ache our pleasure inspired just minutes ago. We share low, luscious kisses,humming at how sweetly our bond stirs with happiness each time our lips meet.

Eventually, Noah's knot settles, yet we can't bear to let each other go. We’re both so deliriously sleepy that we force ourselves to get ready for bed anyway, compromising with heavy cuddles all the way to the bathroom. I can't stand—my legs wobbly and delightfully sore—so Noah holds me to his chest while I brush my teeth. He can’t even keep his eyes open above me, lazily stroking my head.

I let out a sleepy giggle.You accomplished your goal, my shy Alpha-Omega. I could sleep for a year with how satisfied I am.

Noah chuckles, but like me, he’s far too giddy and tired to speak.

But I know he’s feeling the same, peaceful bliss. Even outside of our bond, I can feel it in the heaviness of Noah’s breath, his clingy arms cinching our cuddle ball tighter than ever.

My ever-vigilant mate falls asleep before I do. It warms my heart, filling me with happiness. All I want is for him to feel at peace like this. And I want to be here to witness his peace.

Just before I drift off, I snuggle in deeper, pressing tiny nudges of affection into his cheeks as I give him one last hug for the night.

Noah purrs in his sleep, but in our bond, his wolf stirs. He tucks my wolf closer, interlocking his neck over my back just like I’ve done to him. With a deep, sleepy grunt, his wolf tells me just how good he feels to be cuddled up with me.

Especially because now, we’re not alone.

Between us is Ari’s little wolf, nestled into Noah’s fluff. Their tiny paws stick into the air while they sleep on their back—an even more awkward sleeper than Noah.

I’m struck by the life Noah and I have created—both our new life together in our home, and the new pup between our soft wolf bellies. I don’t just feel safe beside him, I feel free to be me. Thethought of Ari growing up feeling the same peace in their heart brings smiling tears to my eyes; I never dreamed such safety to be possible.

And I get to live every second of it with Noah.

Sucking in a deep breath, Noah purrs. I freeze, worried I’ve woken him up somehow.

But big, eager palms squish me into him. He rolls over me with a low growl, drawing a squeak from my lips.

His deep, drowsy voice rumbles against my cheek. “Do you feel smothered with love yet? If so, it’s still not enough.”

I sputter out a laugh, squeezing him back as hard as I can. “That’s how I feel! I can’t stop thinking about how much I love every bit of you.”

Pulling back with a smile, Noah gazes down at me in the dark, his nocturnal eyes glimmering. With soft, slow caresses over my face, he sighs. “You hold my heart so tenderly, Aliya. It’s such a gift to love you in return.”

A momentous warmth fills my soul. When Noah presses his hot palm over my heart, I place my hand over his chest, copying him. Every beat thudding against my palm widens my smile.

“Thank you for letting me hold it,” I whisper.

Noah smiles alongside me, but as his body weighs me down in a cozy warmth, his eyebrows warp with emotion.I know fate might’ve brought us together, but I hope you know you’d still be my choice.

My smile gushes from me.

And you’re mine, Noah. Every piece of me knew it from the moment I dreamed of you, but once I saw you in the flesh...

I know. I felt it too; like it all felt okay again. Like I finally had someone who could see me at my worst, but still love me like I’m at my best. And you, do, Aliya. Just like I love you to the absolute depths of my soul.

Before we met, I never thought I’d trust someone again. But as my mate settles over me in a sweet, cuddling kiss, I close my eyes, a sense of surrender overcoming me.

Tonight, the unknown doesn’t scare me. Not because I’m no longer alone in it, but because Iwantto experience the unknown—with him.

And maybe this sense of peace is temporary, or maybe it’ll stay with me, ebbing and flowing as we traverse this life together. All I know is I love him. I love the baby we birthed together, the pack we hold dear, and the home we create whenever we morph into our cuddle ball at night. I love us, and I love who I am through us—flaws and all. I’m ready to be seen.

EPILOGUE

Four years later...

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