Page 74 of King Luna

“The massage?” Annika calls after them.

“I have one question for our Alphas first,” Viktor says.

Annika sighs, but Waimarie simply smiles. “More time for us to chat!”

I smile with her, but my gut wavers; the distance between Noah and me increases, filling with unfamiliar wolves.

Keeping his eyes on me, Noah nods.I’m right here, if you need me.

Thank you, my shy Alpha. Actually, I’m a little worried, going into an enclosed space with so many wolves. Hasn’t it been a while since I applied the scent blocker?

Noah’s eyes widen. He smiles politely at the Alphas around him before slipping from their conversation, ignoring everyone else as he weaves back to my side.

Placing his hand in mine, Noah passes off the vial discreetly, leaning over me to kiss my cheek.Would you like help putting it on?

I kiss his cheek too. “I’m okay, thank you. Go have fun, if you’d like to stick with the Alphas a bit longer.”

“Yes, he’d like to!” Grabbing Noah’s arm, Viktor tugs Noah back down the hall, prompting an unhappy grumble from my mate.

I smile, shaking my head as I buddy up to Annika and Waimarie. “Before you go to your massage, can you hide me for a moment? I need to reapply this.”

“We’ve got you,” Waimarie whispers before raising her volume. “Luna, can I help you fix your hair? It got all windblown.”

Annika giggles, joining Waimarie in smoothing a stray hair behind my ear. “Can I just say I adore how sweet Noah has been around you? He’s so excited for your pup. I told him I'd answer pregnancy questions, so he asked me a million while you were asleep.”

My heart twirls. “He told me, and that was so sweet of you too, Anni.”

“Oh, I loved seeing him so invested. He even took notes! I had so much fun, but Viktor was sick of him talking to me by the end.”

I laugh, imagining Noah's serious-yet-excited focusing face. “I can't wait to see him with our pup.”

Annika beams, and that’s when I notice something missing: the conspiratorial glaze to her eyes has finally softened. This is an honest Annika, staring right back.

“I’m so glad you have him.” She hugs me close, rubbing my back.

I release a burst of grateful scent, Annika’s warmth easing my worries. “Thank you. I desperately needed a mom hug.”

Annika juts back from our hug to look me in the eyes, her forehead warping. “Oh, Luna... You don't have your mom?”

I can't bear to respond, my mouth gaping as it struggles to form words.

I can't believe I just told her that. I don't usually tell new friends these things, and I wasn't planning to.

But sheisthe Queen Luna, and she certainly feels like it. The second her maternal, reassuring emotions hit my nose, I swipe at my gushing eyes, the pang in my heart only deepening.

“Oh,sweetheart.” Waimarie strokes my arm, her sugary, comforting scent pushing more tears from me.

“Sorry—” I mutter.

“Don’t be, please. Oh, I can’t imagine going through this without my mom.” Annika digs out a fresh tissue from her bag for my tears. “Hey, you can ask me pregnancy questions too, you know? Let's stay in touch after you go home, mama.”

Waimarie grins. “Oh, me too! Please, let’s chat!”

I sigh, turning my back to the open door in response to Noah’s obvious fretting in our bond. “God, you have no idea how much I'd love that. You really are the sweetest Lunas we could have.”

My shoulders loosen beneath Annika’s and Waimarie’s gentle touches, allowing me to shut my eyes and relax my aching stomach.

“Let’s get that applied, eh?” Waimarie whispers, tapping my fingers clasped over the vial.

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