Page 90 of King Luna

The more wolves circle us, the more my Alpha musk shows itself.

Luna, I don’t know what’s wrong with me this year. Please, don’t think differently of me—

My wolf pushes to the surface, stealing the color from my vision as she prepares to defend Noah.

Oh, Goddess, help us. Something must’ve severely triggered Noah’s trauma. He’s in a purely primal panic state, and his Alpha scent is fading.

Viktor turns to Noah with a deep growl. “Why the fuck are you groveling? Shift back and apologize.”

As Viktor towers over my mate, the last thread of control over my wolf snaps.

I step closer to the King Alpha. “Are you serious? Do you want him to go all out, or not?”

Viktor faces me head on, staring me straight in the eyes in a true challenge. To my surprise, he doesn’t appear offended about me holding his stare, meeting me face to face to challenge me back. “I do want him to go all out. Withme. He knows this is too far, Luna.”

“So now you’re shaming him for showing remorse? Maybe his dangerously cocky opponents could learn a thing or two from it. They should also realize when it’s time to protect themselves and accept defeat when they’re outmatched.” I gesture to the crying Alpha on the ground, howling as wolves fasten his leg to a thick tree branch. “And isn’t lunging for a throat kill not allowed? If Noah didn't guard himself, our baby and I could've died with him!”

Viktor's eyes widen, turning his sights to the shattered Alpha on the ground. “Did you go for his fucking throat, Alpha Logan? Claws or fangs extended?”

Logan groans, not daring to meet Viktor’s eyes.

Clarice strokes her mate’s fur, tears streaming down her cheeks as she stares between us, wide-eyed. “M-maybe Alpha Noah isn't even an Alpha! He doesn’t smell like it.”

My fangs ache, extending further. “His paw just shattered another Alpha's leg. Omega or Alpha, you can’t deny he’s powerful. And I’m proud of who he is.”

Noah gives out a soft whine, finally meeting my eyes again. Our bond erupts with his gratitude.

But my breath shakes. Circling Alphas stare at me in a new light, and Lunas cower from me.

Clarice sharpens her stare, her voice lowering. “Are you sureyou’renot the Greenfield Alpha? Why do you get a free pass from the fight?”

A laugh rumbles behind us. Before I turn around, chills race down my body, but when I see who it is, my stomach coils. Matthew Hillcrest, Florida’s top Alpha, steps behind Clarice—likely the only time he’ll side with an Omega, since his pack’s volatile stance toward Omegas has him on our yellow list.

Sandy blonde hair over a jacked chest, Matthew sets his wolven glare on me, raising my wolf’s hackles. “You want to know why she gets a free pass? Because she's yet another irrational, violent mother wolf. And you all complain about us Alphas being out of control? Well, look at her. She’s a pregnant, hormonal Omega who reeks of fake Alpha. Where the fuck would we place someone like her?”

My mouth opens and closes, my eyes flitting from one wolf to the next. Some are disgusted by me, others terrified.

Waimarie scoffs. “Compared to tantruming grown men like you, placing a mother wolf should be a simple task.”

Tane snorts, crossing his bulky arms—and forcing Matthew to shut his mouth before he even tries to retort. But when my focus lands on Annika, in particular, cowering behind Viktor, my heart overflows with shame.

What if there really is something wrong with me?

Noah leaps to his feet, widening the circle of wolves around us.

His Alpha musk returns in full force, but the ache in our bond is undeniable. It physically hurts my heart.

Things are different now. Our status with other packs might not ever be the same again, now that everyone knows Noah and I are... Well, “like this.”

No one relaxes, even when Noah shifts back into his human form. He hugs me into his side, inhaling my mark before giving it a gentle kiss.

“I willneverbe embarrassed by who you are,” he breathes.

My chin wobbles through fresh tears.

When Noah turns to the crowd, they all flinch. But his voice comes out soft and even.

“I’m sorry for using excessive force. That was not my intention.” Noah steps away from me, his open demeanor allowing the surrounding wolves to relax their taut arms. “As a traditional peace offering in my pack, I’d like to offer my help in healing your wounds.”

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