Page 53 of King Luna

Noah’s wolf perks up in our bond with a floppy tail wag. My laugh echoes throughout the marble bathroom.

I didn’t think you’d wake up just yet. I just bought a few things, and I’m on my way back,Noah says.

You bought a few things? Is there something we forgot to pack?

N-no, it wasn’t that. I know you were feeling like we researched human pregnancy too much when this one’s turning out to be pretty Lycan, so I was cross-checking the differences between Lycan and human pregnancy at the beginning of the second trimester and grilling my mom about it while you slept. She had some more ideas for your dizziness, other than forcing my poor Luna to eat a shit ton of red meat.

I’m tempted to cry.Noah, that’s so sweet.

It’s the least I can do while you carry that huge wolf baby for us. Wait for me, Luna. I’ll be right there.

After a quick brush-through of my hair, I exit the bathroom to find Noah entering our suite.

I can’t help it; I break into the widest smile my cheeks can manage. “There he is.”

Noah drops his stare to his feet with a grin. He accepts my glomping hug with just as heavy of a kiss, wrapping his arms around my waist to snuggle me in close. I didn’t realize how tense I felt to be alone in a different country until my entire body slackens, content to be immersed in Noah’s scent once more.

Hi, Luna.When Noah releases me with a happy purr, greeting our baby with a soft stroke on my belly, my heart skips a beat. “And hi, Little Wolf.”

My face flushes until I’m certain I’m beet red. Noah laughs, drawing me in for another kiss—or five.

But when Noah pulls back, my eyes widen at the bag in his hands; it’s stuffed to the brim. “What’s all this?”

“Just a few things.” The bag hits the table with a solidthunkdespite Noah carrying it with one finger.

I laugh. “A few, huh?”

“Mhm.” Rummaging through the bag with a tucked-away smile, Noah pulls out the usual morning sickness snacks for humans: crackers, ginger candies, and peppermint tea.

But my eyes widen when Noah hoists a hefty variety pack of Swedish baby food onto the table—a clear answer to why the bag sounded so heavy.

“Um... Wow, those are—” Biting my lip, a wave of nerves crawls over me, eating up my adoration at how sweet Noah is for trying. But how the hell am I going to explain this to him without crushing his pride? It’ll be over a year before our baby can eat any of those, and my wolf already tenses into a protective stance at the thought of not doing the proper research on each brand’s ingredients first to find the right fit.

Noah chuckles, kissing my cheek. “Cute. So fucking cute. I know it’s weird, but my mom, Rainn, and Annika swore by baby food for Lycan pregnancies, and so did the Pack Doctor. Theythink you need way more nutrients and salt, beyond more iron—especially on days you feel like you can’t stomach solids. I can try all the flavors with you if it feels too ridiculous.”

“Oh, that’s— That’s for me?” My heart hammers, tears pricking my eyes. “Y-you didallthis for me?”

“Oh, sweet Omega. Of course I did.” He cuddles me into his warm chest, settling my eager wolf with luscious strokes of my mark. I hum, and Noah sighs with me, our bond swirling with love for each other. “So, are you feeling up for dinner with our friends in an hour, or should we sit this one out?”

I gape at Noah, struggling to grasp his words. “That’s supposed to happen on Tuesday evening!”

“Ah, um— ItisTuesday afternoon, my love. 4:30, to be exact.”

“I slept that far into the next day?! What was that, twenty hours?” I cup my mouth, muffling a panicked groan before gripping Noah’s forearm. He simply shrugs. “Oh, God, this is terrible. After Annika and I planned to make things better today, I just blew her off? What’d I miss?”

Noah’s sweet laugh softens my pounding heart. “Nothing, Luna. No one’s flying in until tomorrow, except for Tane and Waimarie who arrived this morning, and they needed a nap before meeting us after flying across the entire world. Annika and I agreed you also needed your rest. She told me a lot more about Lycan pregnancies too, actually.”

I groan, wrapping my arms around my mate to cuddle into his warm chest. “Did she say anything about why I could eat the equivalent of three wolves’ meals, five times a day?”

“Actually, yes.” Noah digs into his bag, his wide back obscuring my view. I try to wedge my head beneath his arm to peek, but he turns his hip, blocking me with a giggle.

As a thrill crashes through our bond, I smile. “Hey, what else do you have in there? Something to hide?”

“Maybe. You’ll see later, when you’re feeling better.”

I quirk one eyebrow at Noah when he briefly glances at me over his shoulder, and he chuckles. When he turns around, he’s holding an aromatic, rustic loaf of bread, packed with colorful crunchy bits. I gasp, grabbing it before I even know what’s in it; my nose knows, and that’s all that matters.

Fuck, yes, this smells heavenly. I have no thoughts, only a deep, snarling urge welling up in my belly as my mouth gushes with drool.

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