Page 51 of King Luna

I laugh, turning my back to him. “I’m officially yourangryLuna now?”

“Sorry—angrypregnantLuna. That I forced to carry my ‘huge wolf baby.’”

As I groan-laugh, Noah growls against my neck, enveloping my entire back half in his body heat. Once we shuffle ourselves into our modified cuddle ball, he purrs over me in a smooth prowl, kissing me everywhere except my mouth.

I groan. “Noah! Why are you teasing me so much?”

“Because your fiery Alpha side came out to play with me a little, and now my wolf’s all excited.”

I burst into giggles as Noah nips at my neck, his wolf doing the exact same in our bond.

But as my toes curl in delight and my eyelids grow heavy, Noah nestles me into the curve of his body.

“I really am sorry, Aliya,” he whispers.

“I’m sorry too. I don’t like fighting with you.”

Noah doesn’t respond right away. After a few breaths, he mutters, “Weirdly enough, I do.”

I let out a loud, scoffing laugh, whipping my head over my shoulder to meet his eyes. “Noah!?”

“S-sorry, sorry, that came out wrong.” Noah ed into my neck, his ears flushing bright red. “I just mean, when we fight, we still treat each other like we’re on the same side. I’m not used to that.” His voice softens just above a whisper. “But I love it.”

My heart flutters into my throat as we nuzzle each other. Now that I think about it, that’s the key difference between my soft-spoken “fights” with Noah and my blowouts with Steven. I don’t feel like I have to defend myself from Noah, let alone "win" against him to survive. We're usually "fighting" to understand each other better, as a team.

If this is how Noah actually sees us, maybe I need to rethink the next time I’m reading his intentions.

He tucks my hair behind my ear, furrowed eyebrows creasing his forehead. “Oh, no. You feel sad again.”

“I’m sorry for acting like you were lying to me.”

“Oh. Is that what you’re worrying about? I was starting to think I just said something horrible again.”

I laugh through a whine, my heart aching with love for him. “No, it wasn’t horrible at all, and you're way too cute! I actually loved what you just said. It made me think.”

He traces my eyes as I sink into the mattress with him, our cuddle ball requiring us to share a pillow. “Let’s talk over it more tomorrow. Give that beautiful brain a rest.” He kisses my temple before settling back down, digging his fingers into the roots of my hair.

There’s no chance of keeping my eyes open with his big hands massaging heavy purrs from me. Slipping my loose t-shirtcollar down my shoulder, Noah kisses my bare skin, washing my body in a satiating warmth.

As my limbs loosen, Noah hums in delight. “There you go. Relax, gorgeous wolf. All you need to know right now is that I love you, and I feel so close to you.”

“Good. I feel close to you too. Closer than ever, now that we talked this out.”

My body blends into Noah’s, huddling into him like a calming anchor. Each slow draw of his lungs against my back eases me closer to sleep, sweeping away my worries.

But there’s one thought I can’t let go of.

I whisper as softly as I can in case he’s asleep. “Noah?”

“Hmm?” His voice still sounds awake, but it’s sweeter and gentler for me.

“I wasn’t scared of you when you attacked Vik. You’re not a scary Alpha to me, and you never have been. I trust you more than ever.”

Noah’s heartbeat gallops against my back, doubling the pace of his breath.

But Noah massages me slower, liquifying my limbs. After a few hesitant breaths, his deep voice comes out cracking with emotion. “I-I trust you with my whole heart, sweet Luna.”

With a soft hum, I’m too tired to respond with my voice. I tug his arm tighter around myself, nestling our joined hands at the base of my swollen belly.I love you so much.

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