King Luna (My Shy Alpha #3)

Chapter 1

C losing my eyes, I tip my head back, inhaling fresh forest air. My Lycan side has taken over my senses lately, with scent taking charge—even in my human form. Between my nose and ears, I can almost pinpoint the exact location of each Greenfield Pack member around me, doing their best to scope out a safe place to build a new community structure: the Greenfield Daycare.

This morning’s raindrops trickle from the trees. Tuning into their soothing song, I can picture it: a flurry of pups dashing around the forest floor in their raincoats, filling the precious first decade of their lives with connection and laughter. I can envision them nourishing their wolves’ inner curiosity with hands-on examples of the world around them, tucked away in the safest area of our forest. Not only would the daycare sit a half mile from Noah’s den, allowing our top Alpha to swoop in to protect them in a heartbeat, but this spot is also within walking distance to the Greenfield Pack’s main neighborhood, giving parents the convenience and care we’re hoping to provide.

And our pack’s current pups aren’t the only ones who will benefit from this future daycare building. Allowing the voices surrounding me to fade in the background, I draw my focus to the life budding in my womb.

I still can’t believe I’m pregnant. Our pup is already so dear to me—scarily so. Since my first trimester began, I’ve had endless, OCD-stricken nightmares that everything I care about is a lie. What if my mind conjured up our desire for this child, or Noah’s love for me, or even Noah’s existence? Or maybe our mate connection was never mine to experience, even if the idea of him being fated to another guts me. But my mind especially loves to doubt that we’re actually having this baby together. I keep waking up panting, gripping my belly to make sure they’re still here.

I’ve never been so terrified to lose something before. Even now, my heart pounds at the mere possibility.

I love you so much, that’s all, I mindlink to where I envision our baby is inside me, broadcasting my thoughts in the hopes they can feel it. Lilian, our Elder Luna and Noah’s mother, thinks it’s possible, claiming she formed blood bonds with each of her children before they were even born, similar to the emotional, spiritual tie Noah and I hold as mates. I want to believe her.

And I also want to believe I’m strong enough to care for this little one. Instead, I can’t stop thinking about how I might be allowing a poisonous level of anxiety to seep into our baby through their umbilical cord. My stomach somersaults, souring my throat with nausea.

You okay? My best friend interrupts my thoughts, her mindlink grounding me back into Greenfield Forest.

I blink a few times at the rustling evergreens before turning to Amy beside me, her eyebrows pinched in concern.

Meeting Amy’s big brown eyes, I give her a soft smile. She’s framed by a sea of towering trees, their stormy greens a stark contrast to her soft auburn hair. She’s snuggling her little one, Lexi—my dearest “niece.” Lexi is passed out, asleep, and drooling against Amy’s shoulder.

Biting my lips to stifle my adoration, I tuck Amy’s silky hair behind her ear, allowing her to stop tilting her head away from Lexi’s squishy cheek. Huddling in beside them with a gentle hug, I let out a slow exhale. I’m okay. This is just surreal.

Amy leans against me, providing cozy counterpressure until our waterproof jackets crinkle. The fact that we’re both becoming moms this year, or that we might be standing where the Greenfield Pack’s daycare will begin being built by the time you come back from your trip?

I shake my head in disbelief. Both. All of it.

Amy gives me a gentle smile, likely smelling my reeking nerves. I can’t help myself lately; uncertainty surrounds me. I keep waiting for the bad news. Or I catch myself looking over my shoulder, expecting another hulking, angry Alpha to appear behind us with how on edge Noah has become beneath never-ending tension at our pack’s borders.

On instinct, I press closer to Amy, inhaling lungfuls of Lexi’s sweet scent to calm my racing heart. Amy frowns. But before my best friend can pull more secrets from me, a cheery voice calls out from the brush.

“What do you think, Luna?”

Just as my focus zips to the bushes in the direction of Rainn’s voice, her head pops out of them with an explosion of flora. Leaves remain sprinkled throughout her dark brown, wavy hair as she smiles, awaiting my approval of our future Greenfield Daycare.

My mate’s sweetheart of a sister breaks me out of my anxiety in an instant, leaving Amy and me in a fit of giggles.

“What do I think? Other than that you’re the cutest, Rainn?” I turn over my shoulder, taking in the breezy, beautiful sight around us. Rainn’s laughter widens my smile, easing the tension from my body. “To be honest, I think it’d be a shame to cut down these trees, even though I’m interested in building here. It’s so peaceful.”

The brusque, bulked-out Alpha woman we hired as our contractor pops out from behind Rainn, wringing her hands. “We just finished sniffing out the trees in the whole area. They were the product of improper re-seeding by humans, so a majority of them are dead, and they’re way too close to each other. If they fall on their own, they might take down the healthy ones. Basically, we’ve gotta take a ton of them down anyway. That’s why we wanted to show you this patch.”

Tugging her shirt back into place, Rainn joins my side. “Can you picture it?”

Gazing out at the forest floor, I smile. “More than picture it. I can feel it. You all did an incredible job. I can’t wait to show Noah.”

The contractor’s chest puffs in pride, tempting me to laugh at the precious, clear vision I’m given of how giddy her wolf side must look. I don’t want to steal her moment by making her think her pack Luna is laughing at her instead of in adoration of her, so I turn my back, running a hand over my tiny, swollen belly.

Unfortunately, it’s the first time in many minutes I’ve taken a single step. And one step is all it takes for me to wince, another stab of ligament pain shooting up my abdomen.

Before I can take a breath, every wolf around me dashes to my side.

“What’s wrong?” Rainn asks.

“Did something hurt?” Amy asks.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” I laugh, but it’s too late.

The poor contractor’s excitement has fallen from her blanched face. “Did we walk too much?”

I grip my stinging heart. “Oh, gosh, no, no, please don’t worry. I’m just—”

Lexi pops up, likely from the sudden influx of distressed pheromones. As she hitches into a cry, Amy strokes Lexi’s bountiful curls with gentle whispers of comfort, parting from my side to leave me with a crowd of hovering wolves.

I sigh. It’s been like this since the day Noah declared me the Pack’s maternal protector: the Luna. Or rather, the day we announced we were also pregnant, and all 20,000 Greenfield Pack wolves decided it was their job to do anything and everything for their pregnant Luna. It’s sweeter than any community support I could imagine in my lifetime, especially before discovering my hidden Lycan side, which is exactly why it’s so difficult for me to accept their kindness. I’d like to think our baby deserves it, but a quiet, dark voice in the back of my head whispers, Am I really worth all this effort?

I know exactly where it comes from— who it comes from. The thought of my ex, Steven, deepens my frown.

Rainn grips me by the elbow, guiding me to sit on the nearest mossy boulder. “Are you okay, Luna? What’s going on?”

Worried puppy-dog eyes surround me. I have to laugh. “Okay, let’s all pause for a second before we get so stressed out.”

The wolves quite literally pause, freezing in place; Rainn even halts her lungs mid-breath, her mouth hanging open.

I sputter out a laugh. “I didn’t mean to literally pause yourselves! Keep breathing, at least.” After a quick glance at one another, the women slump in relief. But of course, my laughter tenses my abdomen just enough to make me wince again. “Ow.”

Rainn huddles against my side. “Sorry, I know I’m our pack’s teacher, but despite it all, I don’t know how to sit still and listen very well—especially when someone I love is hurting. Do you mind if I call Noah to come get you checked out?”

I gasp. “Don’t! You’ll terrify him. It’s just round ligament pain. I freaked out about it last week too since it’s happening early, but Natalia says it’s all okay.”

Rainn tilts her head, sniffing me close. “Well, you do smell fine. But if you’re not fine, and my big brother finds out I’ve allowed our pregnant Luna to be not-fine, he won’t be happy. And I wouldn’t blame him.”

Frowning, all I can do is exhale. This conversation only heightens my anxiety. I’m tempted to smile and laugh it all off, but as Amy makes her way back to my side, I shoot her a quick glance—a silent “help.”

Hoisting a settled Lexi higher on her hip, Amy breaks into a mischievous grin. “I’ll blame it on Aliya for you, Rainn.”

Rainn gasps, but I burst into laughter. “Thanks a lot, Amy.”

She winks. “You’re welcome, babe.”

Thankfully, my rockstar best friend swept the tension from the forest air, and these wolves live up to their short attention spans. The contractor spots our Elder Luna in the distance, her eyes widening as she sucks in an elated breath at the sight of Lilian’s graceful form. And I get it; Noah overwhelms me into flustered delight each time I lay eyes on him, and Lilian is just as stoic and regal as her son.

Waving her hand over her head with a beaming smile, the contractor shouts, “Over here, Luna!”

“And... She’s off.” Amy laughs.

But I catch Rainn’s arm before she has a chance to scamper off too. “Wait, I have a baby question for you both.”

Rainn’s eyes light up even brighter than the contractor’s, my sister-in-law letting out a shrill squeal. I giggle, beckoning Rainn and Amy closer.

They follow my eyes as I glance behind myself, ensuring we’re alone. As Lilian dives into the details with the contractor, I turn back around to find Rainn and Amy leaning in close, their eyes alert as I lower my voice.

“I have my next important ultrasound with Natalia at the Pack Doctor’s Office before we leave for Sweden, but I’m really startled by how big I am. I mean, seriously, I’m only twelve weeks pregnant. Do you think this might be normal for hybrids too, or do you think we could be having... twins?” I swallow harder than I mean to, my breath cutting short. “What if she missed one on the first scan, or something?”

Amy grins, barely containing her amusement at my expense. But since she hasn’t been pregnant before either, we both turn to Rainn.

Noah’s younger sister is wide-eyed, but not in concern. She’s smiling even brighter than Amy, gripping my arm. “Twins? Maybe.”

My voice deepens in horror. “Oh, Goddess...”

Amy turns away to laugh at me over her shoulder.

“But!” Rainn whispers, tugging me closer by the arm to sniff my neck.

I blink a few times, clinging to Rainn’s arm back as I allow her to sniff me. “But what?”

She nods, releasing me. “Yep, I thought so. You just smell super ridiculously pregnant.”

“Well, I certainly feel it,” I mutter.

Rainn laughs. “You remember the first pup I birthed, right?”

“Yes, Goddess, he’s so precious.” I groan, picturing the energetic little tree-climber we met on the first day Rainn allowed me to observe her Forest School class. “He looks so much like Noah.”

Rainn beams, her eyes seeming to sparkle for the Lycan pup she carried as a surrogate. “Right? Well, do I have news for you.”

I freeze, hanging on her words. Even Amy grows serious, her stare locked onto Rainn’s animated hands as Rainn wildly gestures to her abdomen.

“ Huge, ” she hisses. “He was huge! He grew like a little beast!”

“Oh, my God...” I groan. “Don’t tell me. Your mom already terrified me with her eight-month, full-term Lycan pregnancy for a twelve-pound Noah, and I already know Noah carries the biggest-of-big-boys gene, so—”

Unfortunately, Rainn’s eyes bulge wider, her voice barely containing her laughter as she whisper-yells. “I gave birth within seven and a half months, Luna. And he was also full-term.”

My jaw drops. All I can do is grip my best friend for dear life.

But Amy’s mouth gapes just the same. “ Seven? ”

“And a half, she said,” I rasp. “But not premature?”

Rainn shakes her head, using her hands to give us a vivid picture of her pulling that massive baby out of herself, my eyes bulging at the gap between her hands as she widens her legs, reaches between them, and pulls the imaginary pup from her vagina. “ Huge! I screamed my freaking ass off. The second he came out, Natalia took one look at him and told me he was camping out at least a week longer than he needed to. He was just a big, beefy Alpha pup.” As Rainn’s focus drops to my stomach, I glance at Amy in desperation. But she’s staring at my baby bump in stunned silence just the same. “Which could mean...”

I’m so shocked I can’t even speak, holding my belly that’s already as big as I expected it to be at four months or more, not three.

“But I— I’m part human, so we thought— I mean, my mom had a regular, human-like pregnancy, right? Didn’t your mom say that she heard that from my dad, Rainn?” Glancing at Lilian in the distance, I debate on calling her over to double-check I understood the true story of my mom’s pregnancy. “Isn’t this just some extra bloating?”

But there’s no point in rationalizing this away; the second I look at my best friend, Amy’s voice lowers to the this-shit’s-serious zone. “Girl, he straight up put a massive Lycan child in you.”

Fanning myself, I blink a few times. “I need to sit back down.”

“Oh, jeez—” Amy catches my elbow, guiding my wobbling legs to the nearest boulder.

“Hey, it’s a good thing!” Rainn’s voice heightens as she chases after us, waving frantically like she’s wafting my worries away. “If your pregnancy is more Lycan than human after all, that means you’re probably closer to the second trimester now, and in the clear like you were worried about, right?”

It fully hits me just as Amy says it aloud.

“Oh, Goddess . That baby could be coming out in like...” As Amy counts quietly on a single hand, I slap my palm over my mouth, only a pained whimper escaping my lips.

Noah! I mindlink.

My mate freezes in our bond’s inner world, the image of his wolf form sharpening in my mind’s eye. Noah’s black, puffy ears stand at full attention like I just caught him digging holes in our new rose garden again.

You got me pregnant with a huge wolf baby! And they really might pop out of me sooner, like we were worried about!

His wolf’s ears slink back, his dark, fluffy tail wagging furiously. I’m so sorry, I know. I was going to ask Natalia what she thought about how rapidly you’re growing, I just didn’t know for certain if it’d happen as quickly for you since there are still human genetics at work too. Especially since I still believe you when you feel like you’re mainly just bloated.

Well, I’m starting to think I might be wrong. All I can do is let out another whimper, unable to blink as Amy fans my flaming cheeks.

“Is she okay?” Rainn whispers to Amy.

“Yeah. She’s probably just grilling Noah.”

“Oh yeah, she does have her blank mindlinking face on again.”

I glare at them before responding to Noah. What are we going to do if we have a full-grown kid coming out of me in four, teeny tiny months?

Noah’s tail wags even harder. I guess we’ll just have to see the truth on the next ultrasound and figure things out in those four months. Plus, it could end up being five. Maybe we still have some time?

Dropping my forehead into my hands, I have to blubber through a delirious laugh. “Oh, Goddess. I guess this is what I get for mating with the biggest Alpha any of us have ever seen.”

Amy lets out a sharp bark of a laugh, capturing Lexi’s full attention.

Rainn giggles, her eyebrows raising. “I mean...”

I groan, gripping my twinging back and abdomen muscles as I stand. “Maybe I should’ve known, especially after doing our research. Speaking of which, I need to get home. Noah brought home as many books on Lycan pregnancy as he could check out from the Greenfield Pack library, and I have to sort through which ones to pack for Sweden.”

Rainn chases after me as I stand from the boulder, helping me massage my cramping back. “Oh, wow, the Alpha Summit is already in two weeks, isn’t it? Have you been shifting every day yet?”

Amy bites her lips, catching my eyes.

Don’t look at me like that, I mindlink Amy, then turn to Rainn with my most convincingly sweet smile. “Almost every day.”

Rainn’s eyebrows furrow, and I struggle to retain my composure. “You haven’t? Oh, Luna... You didn’t believe me that it’s safe?”

Pretending to fix my ever-tightening waistband, I duck my head with a wince. Every damn time someone mentions shapeshifting into my wolf, unfairly realistic intrusive thoughts permeate my mind, vivid imagery appearing of our baby suffering a variety of catastrophic effects.

“Why don’t you shift right now? We’ll be right here, cheering you on!” Rainn says.

I meet Amy’s eyes again. She flicks her focus away from me, turning to Lexi. “Hey, did you hear that? Mommy’s on her way!”

Lexi blinks the sleep from her eyes, a gap-toothed smile forming. “Mommy!”

Amy laughs. “Yes! Here she comes—”

Spotting Kira’s antsy wolf sprinting for us in the distance, I let out a slow exhale in relief, rubbing Rainn’s shoulder. “You make a convincing point, Teacher Rainn. But I’m not feeling up to it, right this second.”

Rainn frowns. “Then when? What if you need to shift to protect yourself at the Alpha Summit?”

My stomach drops. Yet another person is telling me this Alpha Summit is not only an important global tradition for Lycans—allowing every pack’s top leaders to convene—but also a severely dangerous one. This barbaric gladiator competition determines this year’s strongest Lycan leader of all pack leaders in the world: the King Alpha. With ever-loyal Lycans, whoever ends up on top could tip the balance between relative peace and full-on Alpha domination.

While Noah will compete to represent Greenfield Pack, Yasmine and I trained hard for the Summit all month in case we need to defend ourselves amongst unpleasant company, so maybe I should expect everyone’s warnings by now. But since I’ve never been to a Summit before, anticipatory anxiety curdles my insides with every mention of it.

“Actually, I was planning on shifting in rapid succession later today to get myself accustomed to it. I just want to make some last-minute changes to our den before our trip, and Amy’s helping me.”

“Oh, perfect!” Rainn smiles, opening her arms for a hug, and I droop in relief. “I remember those intense nesting days. Good luck, Luna!”

With a satisfying, gentle squeeze at the end of our embrace, I separate from Rainn with a smile. “Thank you, sweet Rainn. Will I see you again before we leave?”

“Oh! I almost forgot—” Rainn pats herself all over until her fingertips land on her jeans’ left pocket. Digging in, Rainn whips out a thin, perfume-like spray bottle.

I recognize it instantly: Rainn’s favorite pregnancy-safe, topical scent blocker, allowing me to disguise my enticing scent at the Alpha Summit without risking any hormonal alterations that could impact my pregnancy.

Apparently, dominance-craving Lycans have a murder instinct around pregnant wolves. And unfortunately for me, that especially applies to the pregnant Luna of any pack; if I die, Noah will likely die of heartbreak, eliminating the worst of anyone’s competition for the top title.

So, yes, I have to travel to Sweden, knowing I’m a walking death trap for not only our baby and me, but also the love of my life.

Tipping my head back with a sigh, I cup the precious vial in Rainn’s hand. “Goddess, thank you! I feel like you’re literally saving my baby’s life.”

“Oh, poor Luna. I felt like a beacon of pregnancy scent too, both times I carried. But hey, you’ve got my big brother by your side, okay? And so many other incredible, strong allies from other packs.”

I sigh. “I am thankful for that. It’s just... scary. Knowing I’ll be an extra target.”

Swallowing hard, Rainn simply nods.

Dread strikes my core. If even Rainn is rendered speechless by the dangers of the Alpha Summit, will this vial truly help?

Am I doing the right thing?

That sounds like a classic OCD obsession, but it has a point this time.

Before I can ruminate further, Rainn leans in, her smile returning. “That’s not even mentioning that this pup has you for a mom. I know we can’t predict the future, but I’m willing to bet no one will dare mess with our Greenfield Luna.”

I laugh. “Oh, stop.”

“I’m serious! Yasmine told me she felt like absolute crap after sparring with your wolf yesterday, and she’s not even the pregnant one.”

My breath halts. “Wait, what? Who said that? Yasmine? ”

She couldn’t have said Yasmine. While Noah and I will be in Sweden, Yasmine is taking over as Greenfield Pack’s leader—our top Beta that Noah keeps by his side as his right-hand protector, rather than the ever-traditional Alpha other packs employ. Yasmine’s role is just like the protector my father was for Alpha Ritchie, Noah’s dad.

I blink a few times, still unable to grasp Rainn’s words. Since we confirmed I was pregnant, I’ve doubled my efforts to collect stories about Mom and Dad, attempting to fill in the gaps of this hidden side of their lives.

Which means I had to have misheard Rainn; I’m good at running away, but Dad was a menacing beast of a wolf, according to our pack Elders. I doubt my lean, sneaky wolf compares in the slightest. Plus, I thought Yasmine went easy on me yesterday. I am her pack’s pregnant Luna, after all.

But Rainn tilts her head like a curious puppy, seemingly perplexed by how startled I am by this news. “Luna, do you not think—”

“Lexi’s going home with Kira! Ready for nest cleaning time?” Amy calls out in the distance, tilting our focus to her.

“Yes!” I turn back to Rainn with a sigh. “I guess our den is in Amy’s direction, isn’t it? Anyway, Rainn, thank you so much for this blocker. I just have to massage it into my scent gland, right?”

Rainn perks up. “Exactly. I’ve used it both during and outside of pregnancy to make sure Alphas from other packs leave me alone, and it absolutely works; even my overprotective big brother still allowed me on my perimeter run duties if I wore it while pregnant, and he has the most annoying nose, I swear.” Rainn rolls her eyes, and I sputter out a laugh. “Hey, there’s an idea: have my brother apply it for you, if you want. Spice things up.”

“Oh— Oh, wow. I’ll, um—” I flush at the thought of Noah’s stimulating touch on my scent gland, unable to hold back an erupting giggle. “I’ll let you know how the blocker works. Love you, Rainn.”

“I love you too, Luna! We’ll see each other before you go, okay? Maybe for lunch?”

Giving Rainn’s hand a soft squeeze, I slip from her grasp with a smile. “I’d love to. See you then!”

“Wait.” Softly tugging me back by the hand, Rainn turns me toward her. Her smile is gone, but her eyes remain lit with excitement, staring deep into mine. “You’re still early enough in your pregnancy, so even though there’s a huge wolf baby in there, you don’t owe anyone news. Between the blocker and discreet clothing, no one has to know.”

I slump, my voice softening. “Thank you, Rainn.”

“And that pup will be healthier if you shift often, not hurt.”

Dropping my head, I laugh. “I know, I know. I believe you.”

She smiles. “You’re a fellow teacher, so I’m sure you know what I do right now.”

Rainn’s right: I can seek out a lying student with my eyes closed. Her soothing, sweet scent fills the gentle wind between us, the forest rain returning as a delicate drizzle. I soften my tense torso, allowing myself to smile.

I run my free hand over my belly. “I know what it looks like, but I really do plan to shift more. I just can’t bear doing a single thing wrong to hurt your brother’s precious baby.”

Rainn beams, squeezing my hand. “They’re your baby too. Which means they’re tough as hell—not to mention they’re tucked away deep in there, safely. Don’t discredit either of you as fragile.”

I blink a few times. I’m tempted to feel offended; is she implying I’m the one simply considering myself fragile? That Alphas targeting us is my fault?

But as I gaze at Rainn’s sweet smile, it’s clear what she actually means. And she’s right: I am underestimating myself. I can’t help it. It’s the only way I survived Steven. Otherwise, the truth of how deeply he hurt me—no matter how strong I was—would’ve been too gruesome to bear.

Pulling Rainn in for another hug, I shut my eyes, emitting the adoration I feel for her through my scent. “Thank you.”

She inhales, her lungs expanding beneath my palms before she releases a happy sigh. “Anytime, Luna. I’ll be just a mindlink away, even in Sweden, okay?”

As I return to Amy’s side, waving goodbye to my sweetheart of a sister-in-law, I’m stuck in a conflicting mix of comfort and terror. While I’m so deeply loved by the Greenfield Pack, how can I not also be afraid of the outside world, constantly being stalked by predators that want me dead? Good thing Jenny and I worked on stalking triggers for my PTSD in therapy. Otherwise, I don’t know how I’d survive this. I’m still unsure how I’ll manage if our situation worsens, like everyone seems to be warning me of.

But I’m ready to face it anyway. I’d do it over and over again if I had to, for the sake of Noah, Rainn, and my best friend—who already protected me with her life for years. Linking elbows with Amy, I take Rainn’s advice and allow myself to smile, trusting that I’ll figure this out, somehow. After all, I’m not alone.