Page 45 of King Luna

She continues to argue with him in Swedish, but Viktor fights against Noah's grip, his deep brown eyes flashing to green. Noah’s fangs have extended, and I cower into Annika, all traces of my Alpha vacant.

“N-Noah? P-please,” I sputter.

He releases Viktor the second he hears my shaking voice, dropping back into his seat with his head in his palms.

“Fuck. Sorry, Omega... Goddess, I’m so sorry. That was fucking immature.”

A heavy silence hangs in the air as Annika rubs my back. Everyone’s eyes are on Noah. Waiting for him to shift the collective energy...

Like a king.

But like Noah keeps insisting, he's not the King Alpha. There’s definitely more going on here. I have a feeling this Summit will be rocky, even between our allies.

Viktor scrubs Noah’s head until his hair pokes out in every direction. “No, man, that was my bad. I know how it is, especially with your first pup.”

Nudging Noah’s shoulder, Viktor laughs nervously. But Noah keeps his head buried in his hands.

“Seriously, it was my bad. Anni and I flirt with everyone—you know how it is. It’s ridiculous of me, actually. For a second, I forgot your sweet little Luna wasn’t another Alpha I had to be worried about. Maybe her mother wolf energy is extra strong, or something. They are rightfully fearsome, after all.”

My stomach drops to my heels, spiking through our bond so heavily that Noah sucks in a sharp breath.

Noah, I did accidentally release my Alpha scent while talking about who we’re up against at the Summit. I'm sorry.

It's okay, Luna. I've got you covered.

His wolf gathers himself into a brooding calm I recognize from our Pack Safety meetings, sitting on his haunches with collected, solid stoicism in our bond. Human Noah shakes his hair out. When he relaxes back into his limo seat, Viktor’s shoulders soften almost imperceptibly.

Noah’s low chuckle sends a shiver down my spine, his arm draping over my shoulders. “No, I lost my cool too. I should know my Luna knows her way around angry Alphas. You should’ve seen her: only a week before this one guy left, the dude took one look at her snarl and bolted with his tail tucked. He probably couldn’t bear to stay after that, so he made a show of threatening her, orchestrating the biggest Alpha split from my pack.”

Viktor’s expression hardens, leaning in with tense fingers gripping his spread knees. “Yeah? Which guy was this?”

Noah’s jaw ticks, losing a bit of his calm. My stomach groans in complaint.

“Mason Hart.” Noah’s soft murmur escapes more like a growl.

Viktor’s eyebrows lift, but they settle just as quickly. “You mentioned him over the summer, but I didn’t get to ask at the time...”

Noah grumbles. “Go ahead.”

“You meant Hart, like... Jack Hart? The same family?”

When Noah doesn’t answer, my instincts urge me to rub his chest. He barely softens.

Viktor nods. “Alright, I’ll keep an eye out. For both of them.”

I swallow hard, fighting off nausea. That's right. Jack Hart is still out there too, and every wolf I've met so far seems terrified of him.

Noah kisses my temple, breathing me in.You're safe, Luna. No one working with Vik would let the Harts anywhere near here.

When Noah’s musk becomes stronger still, I’m tempted to comfort Annika; she leaves my side, plastering herself into her mate with tense shoulders.

But Viktor’s scowl scares me too much to approach his mate again. His musk sharpens alongside Noah’s until I have to breathe through my mouth to lessen the smell.

Viktor scoffs. “Alright, are you still pissed at me, or what? Spit it out. You’re freaking out my Luna.”

Noah sighs. “S-sorry, Annika. I'm not pissed at either of you. A-and I really am sorry I overreacted. I already have someone else on my mind today to warn other Alphas about, and it has me on edge.”

“Shit, well, then let's talk about it. A little scuffle doesn't change things between us. Right, King?” Viktor’s smirk churns my insides.

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