Page 71 of King Luna

Despite puffing his chest, Logan releases a strong whiff of fear. The pacing stranger stops, his eyes locked on Noah.

A deep, insidious chuckle reverberates through Noah’s chest, stealing my breath. Not a single eye blinks, the entire mass of us locked on his form.

Noah doesn’t raise his voice. He pats Logan’s shoulder, releasing him with a gentle shove. “I’ll see you on the field Friday... Illinois.”

Logan mumbles an excuse to drag his Luna and allies away.

That’s when my mate finally allows himself to scowl, mirroring the anger boiling in the depths of our bond. I don’t attempt to settle him; Noah’s annoyed scent diminishes the crowd for us, wolves eager to turn to smaller, safer groups of conversation.

But the lone, pacing Alpha remains, unafraid of Noah’s anger. He locks eyes with Noah.

Noah freezes.

My heart flips as a timid affection blooms in Noah’s heart. Their eyes linger a second longer than I’d expect, only broken by Noah’s duck of his head.

My jaw drops. But I have to laugh, nudging my mate with my elbow. “Who’sthis?”

His eyes widen. “T-that’s...” Noah resorts to scrubbing his face as it flushes bright red. “That’s y-your ally to turn to if you need protection. The Idaho Alpha. Reid Nordskov.”

Reid and I meet eyes, grinning at Noah’s shyness just the same.

I laugh. “Hi. Thank you, Alpha Reid—our dear friend.”

With a bashful nod, Reid leaves us.

And I put my hands on my hips, turning to my now-sheepish mate. In stark opposition to his brutish form that protected us mere seconds ago, Noah’s shoulders strain, rising to his ears as his wolf paces frantically in our bond.

Noah takes my hand, tugging me closer. “L-Luna, um...”

I break into giggles, rubbing his arm with my free hand. “Noah Greenfield.You naughty Alpha. I know you’ve crushed on other Alphas, but you didn’t tell me you had a hot Alphaex.”

Noah covers his eyes before diving for me, burying his expression with a heavy hug. “I don’t love him like that. Not like you.”

I laugh, allowing him to hide in my shoulder. He groans as I scratch his head, but I can’t stop giggling at how precious he is.

“Really, Aliya. We already weren’t working since we both wanted to lead our own packs in separate states, but the second I started dreaming of you and realized you could be real, we broke up. Before that, I thought I didn’t have a fated mate at all—just like him.”

My heart flips. This is new information too, but it’s one that burrows a giddy warmth in my belly. I still marvel over how we dreamed of each other, but my stomach flip-flops, touched by how seriously Noah took my existence, even when I was a merepossibility.

When I kiss his mark, Noah’s shoulders drop, relief flushing his anxiety from our bond. “I’m just teasing you, sweet Alpha. I know you might’ve sensed a little jealousy at first, but I don’t mind if you have a history, my love. I have a history too. And I’m happy you seem to still be in good spirits around each other. I’ve never felt any emotional romantic tug in our bond when you’vecalled him on the phone, or just now when you met. It feels like you have true friends in each other.”

Noah pulls back, biting his lip. “W-we do. H-he’s still my best Alpha friend. He’s—” Noah’s voice softens. “If I’m not by your side at any point this weekend and you need help, I’d recommend going to him. He’s safe.”

The hidden meaning beneath Noah’s words halt me in place: Noah hasn’t called a single other wolf outside our pack “safe.” Everyone else he’s introduced me to has been our “allies.”

I stroke Noah’s cheek, my eyes catching on the secretive Idaho Alpha disappearing into the crowd.

So that's the only wolf Noahactuallytrusts at this Summit, besides me. I hope we won't need Reid’s help.

Chapter 17

On the second day of the Alpha Summit, we gather outside, the sun whited out by smatterings of overcast clouds. Everyone else must be already acclimated to mountain temperatures or something. I’m plastered between Waimarie and Annika at the lakeside, shivering if they separate from me even a centimeter, but other wolves jump in and out of the water, some shifting to play and relax on the shore in their wolf forms.

Most of the other Lunas are inside, enjoying the sauna, but I can’t join them since I’m pregnant. Waimarie and Annika were sweet; they decided to stay with the Alphas and me outside so I wouldn’t be alone.

When Annika bends away from me to fetch another slice of pumpkin bread from our picnic basket, I tighten my jaw, attempting to keep my teeth from chattering. She does a double-take at me over her shoulder before erupting into laughter. “Oh, Goddess, Waimarie, snuggle her closer!”

Waimarie laughs, rubbing my arms. “I am! I think we’ll have to resort to desperate measures.”

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