Page 2 of King Luna

I grip my stinging heart. “Oh, gosh, no, no, please don’t worry. I’m just—”

Lexi pops up, likely from the sudden influx of distressed pheromones. As she hitches into a cry, Amy strokes Lexi’s bountiful curls with gentle whispers of comfort, parting from my side to leave me with a crowd of hovering wolves.

I sigh. It’s been like this since the day Noah declared me the Pack’s maternal protector: the Luna. Or rather, theday we announced we were also pregnant, and all 20,000 Greenfield Pack wolves decided it was their job to do anything and everything for their pregnant Luna. It’s sweeter than any community support I could imagine in my lifetime, especially before discovering my hidden Lycan side, which is exactly why it’s so difficult for me to accept their kindness. I’d like to think our baby deserves it, but a quiet, dark voice in the back of my head whispers,Am I really worth all this effort?

I know exactly where it comes from—whoit comes from. The thought of my ex, Steven, deepens my frown.

Rainn grips me by the elbow, guiding me to sit on the nearest mossy boulder. “Are you okay, Luna? What’s going on?”

Worried puppy-dog eyes surround me. I have to laugh. “Okay, let’s all pause for a second before we get so stressed out.”

The wolves quite literally pause, freezing in place; Rainn even halts her lungs mid-breath, her mouth hanging open.

I sputter out a laugh. “I didn’t mean to literally pause yourselves! Keep breathing, at least.” After a quick glance at one another, the women slump in relief. But of course, my laughter tenses my abdomen just enough to make me wince again. “Ow.”

Rainn huddles against my side. “Sorry, I know I’m our pack’s teacher, but despite it all, I don’t know how to sit still and listen very well—especially when someone I love is hurting. Do you mind if I call Noah to come get you checked out?”

I gasp. “Don’t! You’ll terrify him. It’s just round ligament pain. I freaked out about it last week too since it’s happening early, but Natalia says it’s all okay.”

Rainn tilts her head, sniffing me close. “Well, you dosmellfine. But if you’re not fine, and my big brother finds out I’ve allowed our pregnant Luna to be not-fine, he won’t be happy. And I wouldn’t blame him.”

Frowning, all I can do is exhale. This conversation only heightens my anxiety. I’m tempted to smile and laugh it all off,but as Amy makes her way back to my side, I shoot her a quick glance—a silent “help.”

Hoisting a settled Lexi higher on her hip, Amy breaks into a mischievous grin. “I’ll blame it on Aliya for you, Rainn.”

Rainn gasps, but I burst into laughter. “Thanks a lot, Amy.”

She winks. “You’re welcome, babe.”

Thankfully, my rockstar best friend swept the tension from the forest air, and these wolves live up to their short attention spans. The contractor spots our Elder Luna in the distance, her eyes widening as she sucks in an elated breath at the sight of Lilian’s graceful form. And I get it; Noah overwhelms me into flustered delight each time I lay eyes on him, and Lilian is just as stoic and regal as her son.

Waving her hand over her head with a beaming smile, the contractor shouts, “Over here, Luna!”

“And... She’s off.” Amy laughs.

But I catch Rainn’s arm before she has a chance to scamper off too. “Wait, I have a baby question for you both.”

Rainn’s eyes light up even brighter than the contractor’s, my sister-in-law letting out a shrill squeal. I giggle, beckoning Rainn and Amy closer.

They follow my eyes as I glance behind myself, ensuring we’re alone. As Lilian dives into the details with the contractor, I turn back around to find Rainn and Amy leaning in close, their eyes alert as I lower my voice.

“I have my next important ultrasound with Natalia at the Pack Doctor’s Office before we leave for Sweden, but I’m really startled by how big I am. I mean, seriously, I’m only twelve weeks pregnant. Do you think this might be normal for hybrids too, or do you think we could be having... twins?” I swallow harder than I mean to, my breath cutting short. “What if she missed one on the first scan, or something?”

Amy grins, barely containing her amusement at my expense. But since she hasn’t been pregnant before either, we both turn to Rainn.

Noah’s younger sister is wide-eyed, but not in concern. She’s smiling even brighter than Amy, gripping my arm. “Twins? Maybe.”

My voice deepens in horror. “Oh, Goddess...”

Amy turns away to laugh at me over her shoulder.

“But!” Rainn whispers, tugging me closer by the arm to sniff my neck.

I blink a few times, clinging to Rainn’s arm back as I allow her to sniff me. “But what?”

She nods, releasing me. “Yep, I thought so. You just smell super ridiculously pregnant.”

“Well, I certainly feel it,” I mutter.

---