Page 22 of King Luna

Jenny nods, and I flush; I didn’t expect my voice to come out so shaky when I finally admitted this aloud. Tears sting my eyes, and I swallow hard.

“Guess what?”

I laugh. “I know. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t.”

Jenny grins. “More like you most likely will. We can’t avoid making any mistakes ever, can we?”

My heart flips. “Unfortunately.” Jenny laughs, and I’m grateful to have a reason to smile again.

“Now, I don’t want to give you reassurance here, but could it be possible that you’ve developed the tools by now, to where even if your child does end up with similar mental health conditions, or inevitably experiences trauma in this crazy journey of life, that you might be able to support them far better now? Not because you suffered, but because you now hold the knowledge of how to heal?”

My lip wobbles, forcing my voice to come out as a strained whisper. “It’s definitely possible. I hope it’s possible.”

Jenny nods, her eyebrows contorting in reflection of mine. “I think it is. And I think this could be hitting you so hard because you care so deeply.”

“Which is also why my harm fears are resurfacing,” I mutter.

Jenny smiles bright. I know what she’s thinking even before she says it; Idohave the tools. I just have to give myself a chance to use them before jumping to the worst conclusions possible.

But I huff. “It’s just hard to grasp still sometimes when I’ve had so much proof the world is unsafe.”

Jenny hums. “It is unsafe.And...”

“And then there’s Noah. And Amy. Kira, Yasmine, Rainn...”

As my body softens, I run my hand over our budding child, imagining how many loving hands will hold them alongside mine and Noah’s.

I can hear Jenny’s proud smile in her gentle words. “Exactly. Just like there are unsafe pockets in this world, there are pockets of safety that you’ve created for yourself too. There can be both.”

My eyebrows furrow. Logically, I know she’s right. I’m just having trouble believing it.

Chapter 6

Anticipatory jitters charge my exhausted limbs the night before our flight. I shuffle through our luggage, hiding a sexy surprise for Noah during our trip to Sweden. I think he’ll need it; whether it’s the Alpha Summit or the additional Alpha-domination Lycans he had to chase away from our borders thirty minutes ago, Noah’s stress has increased to a level that seeps through his scent glands, soaking the air in a persistent sense of unease.

As I approach him, Noah’s tight shoulders droop. “Sorry, I know I reek, it’s just—”

“I know. I’m not upset, just concerned for you.”

Noah shakes his head. He says nothing more.

Wrapping my hand around Noah’s limp arm at his side, I guide him to our cushy mattress. But when he plops down on it beside me, he bounces me in the air, pushing a yelp from me.

Despite his upset, Noah cracks a smile, grabbing me by the hips to stabilize me. “Oops. Sorry, Luna.”

I laugh, sorting his hair out of his eyes. “I know what I signed up for when I mated you.”

Giving me a soft smile, Noah kisses my forehead. But then he drops his head into his palm, scrubbing his face with a growl. “I had to addtwentyfucking people to the blacklist today. Just that I know of.”

Dread creeps up my throat. But I know the only reason I haven't panicked over our rising outbreak of domineering, violence-focused Alphas is because Noah is there to protect notjust me, but everyone. He’s shouldering that fear for us. I’m afraid it’s wearing him down by the day, digging into the corners of his eyes.

“You’re undersomuch pressure, my love,” I say.

Noah slumps.

And I can’t take it anymore. “Forget the bed chat: you’ve probably had enough of talking about this all day, every day. For tonight, let me wash your body.”

That came out before I could stop it. I freeze, realizing I didn’t phrase my offer as an option, but a demand. That, plus my Alpha musk is showing. What if I didn’t leave enough room for Noah to consent to what he wants?

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