Chapter 16
A fter cleaning ourselves up, we rearrange my ponytail in a bun behind my head, pinning back any stray hairs. I’m forced to use a dress I had set aside for later this week, but it matches Noah’s outfit well enough, a halter dress with a ruched skirt draping over my bump in a classic Luna white. With a touch of mascara and lipstick, I decide I look fine enough, considering the fresh, hot red bite mark on my neck; it’ll draw far more attention than anything else about me. Noah eyes his bite pattern with pride when he thinks I’m not looking, his wolf’s chest puffing in our bond. I stifle my amusement, grabbing my scent blocker vial on the way out the door.
Thankfully, Annika and Viktor stumble out of their room upstairs a few minutes after us. Their outfits are even more rumpled than ours, Viktor yanking his suit jacket back into place as Annika’s thumb scrubs off her red lipstick from his bottom lip in an emergency spit bath.
We take one whiff of one another, the hallway’s air suddenly reeking of deodorized sweat and relieved lust, and we all laugh.
“You both ready?” Viktor grins.
“Absolutely,” Noah says.
He tucks me to his side as we follow Viktor and Annika to the event space, their harmonizing pheromones stinging my eyes; now that Noah mated every last drop of lust from my bones for the night, I find their combined scent way too overpowering to be alluring.
Noah spots me wrinkling my nose from the corner of his eye, breaking into a smile. When I said they seduce anyone and everyone, I meant it. They’re into group sex and host an orgy every year. We might’ve dodged a bullet by all four of us getting sex out of the way.
I hug Noah tighter, my cheeks flushing as Annika eyes my mark, giving me one quick wink behind Viktor’s back.
I try my best to smile until Annika turns back around. Do you think it’s to manipulate their friends too, or just for enjoyment’s sake?
I think it’s both. It’s easier to keep someone on your side when they’re whipped for you.
I bite back a laugh. So... Does that mean you’ve tried it with them?
Noah drops his head, stifling a smile. They only create groups with even numbers. A-and I usually come here with my mom, so I’ve never been invited. Or, well, I have, but I would’ve been paired with some random, unmated Alpha, so I don’t even consider that an invite.
I see. That doesn’t tell me what you’d think about joining now, though.
Noah can’t bear to meet my smile, his bright teal eyes dropping to our feet. I giggle, stroking my shy Alpha’s back. Is he flustered because he wants to join, or because he absolutely does not want to?
Before he can reply, Annika returns to my side at the dinner party’s entrance, lowering to a whisper. “We’ll head in first, then you and Alpha Noah. Stay strong, Luna. Remember what I said in the car ride over, okay?”
I swallow hard, forcing a smile. “Thank you. I’m by your side too.”
Annika props herself at Viktor’s side, kissing his hand before entering the hallway across from the event space.
As my heart pounds faster and faster, I cuddle deeper into Noah. He wraps his arm around me, stroking my side. I’ve got you, Luna. Just be yourself.
They’re going to want to smell me, right?
Noah leans in, taking a deep sniff of my neck. You’re golden. I hardly want to eat you alive anymore.
I roll my eyes. But what if I get all Alpha-y and weird again?
Noah stoops over me, lifting my chin for a deep, toe-curling kiss. Then everyone will be lucky enough to see another side of the badass Luna who stole my heart.
Stuffed with happiness, I beam at my loving mate as we enter the Alpha Summit’s introductory event, hand in hand. No matter how many eyes are on us, I step forward with my chest held high, my wolf standing proud in our bond thanks to Noah’s encouragement.
It’s easy to trust the world under his lead. He remains serious but relaxed, his warmth flowing through our clasped hands.
Viktor’s top Beta, Johannes, stands at the edge of the room, his lean, toned figure streamlined by a jet-black, pristine suit. While Johannes is nowhere near as physically powerful as Viktor must be, there’s no question why his wide shoulders were chosen to aid Viktor in protecting their pack.
As we meet eyes for the first time, Johannes’s warm smile greets me, settling my shoulders.
Gesturing to us with an open palm, Johannes directs the crowd’s focus in our direction. “Introducing our next guests of honor, the Luna and Alpha of Greenfield."
Wolves gawk at us, skyrocketing my nerves as they display a range from clapping to glaring.
But Noah isn’t looking at anyone else but me, his adoration flourishing in our bond. You’re sexier every day I know you.
I flush, squeezing his arm. Noah, don’t wake up my horny wolf again.
He chuckles, kissing the top of my head. I won’t... Yet.
The crowd stills as Noah leans into my side, his soft voice rumbling beneath his breath. “I love you, sweet Luna.”
“I love you too, my shy Alpha.”
He stops me in front of everyone, tilting my chin to reveal my fresh mark.
My claws prick his arm with my nerves—I feel more vulnerable than ever to fawn for him in front of so many powerful figures. But when Noah presses a featherlight kiss on my neck, my eyelashes flutter.
I mean it. I really love you. I'm not the King, but you've always had the grace and kindness in you of a Queen Luna. Let them see it. Let them see it, right now. Noah’s proud, heavy-lidded gaze stirs my heart to new heights. It bolsters my confidence tenfold, rolling my shoulders back and unclenching my jaw.
Once we've officially entered the event space, we’re swarmed. Wolves nuzzle and sniff me, new names blurring until I can’t remember a single one.
You’re doing great. Keep breathing, Noah mindlinks without needing to turn his head; our bond fluctuates faster than I can keep up with as we’re overloaded with sensory stimulation.
Most wolves give Noah a much wider radius than they give me, but if anyone inches too close to me, all Noah has to do is look at them.
A thrill runs through me each time an Alpha scampers away from him—submitting to Noah, even though we’re in the company of the world’s top Alphas. It's clearer by the second that, like me, Noah is far more powerful than he gives himself credit. He might not be the King Alpha, but my mate carries himself like one.
I stare up at his sharp profile, my heart fluttering at his rapid tracking of any and all movement he sees.
Anyone here I should watch out for, gorgeous? I attempt to follow his gaze.
I’m scanning for them. But mainly, I’m looking for my one true ally. I want you to know who to go to if you’re in trouble.
I swallow hard. Noah has mentioned him before: the top Alpha in Idaho, Reid Nordskov.
But Reid is even more aloof than Noah. No pictures exist of Alpha Reid online—not officially, at least. All Noah has on his phone is an old picture of the bottom half of Reid’s face, only a wide smile peeking through. The rest of the photo is blocked by Reid’s wide palm covering the lens.
Reid is special to Noah. I’ve heard Noah calling him on the phone sometimes to get his opinion on pack issues, but Reid never seems to want to be involved in the top global rankings, preferring to aid the state of the world from the shadows. I don’t blame him. The weight on Noah’s shoulders pains my heart too, and Reid might even be able to accomplish more out of the spotlight. While it’s different from our strategy, it’s an ingenious one.
Needing support at the Summit is a recurring concern between every pack leader I’ve spoken to thus far. Things must get tense here.
And I’m gravely disappointed; there are hardly any women or non-binary wolves leading as top Alphas here, let alone fellow queer couples—unless the men and women I see are bisexual, like us. Not to mention almost none of the top leaders are Omegas or Betas in the first place, top Alphas touting their Lunas like accessories.
Greenfield Pack seems to be more of an anomaly than I realized. I’m positive powerful Lycans exist in these packs beyond the Alpha men attending the Summit in the vast majority, but this must be what Noah has been worried about. How can packs thrive with domineering Alphas shoving their own pack members down? It only creates a culture of hurt.
Worry consumes my rocky stomach. While Noah defies the Elders in our pack, does this mean he defies a large majority of the Lycan world’s traditions too? How are we going to be able to make things safer if Alpha-domination culture is this widespread?
The second that thought crosses my mind, my focus latches onto the murmuring behind our heads.
“That’s him, Luna. The shy ‘King.’ I bet he’s too much of a little bitch to fight anyone. Real Alphas don't exist anymore, thanks to cowards like him.”
Before I think it through, I turn around with a snarl. “ I’m not shy. Don’t come anywhere near my mate.”
The Alpha raises his hands in defense, flashing a sly grin. “No harm intended, little Luna.”
His smirk wavers as Noah’s chest puffs beside me. Noah slowly turns to the Alpha with his expression completely flat—until his lips curl into a vicious smile.
A smooth darkness seeps from Noah’s rumbling tone. “You’re the top Alpha in Illinois, aren’t you?”
Everyone around us shrinks, anticipating Noah’s next move—except one Alpha in particular. A tall, stoic leader paces a few steps behind the Illinois Alpha, his stare sharpening until a chill runs down my back.
My feet shuffle in anticipation. I don’t recognize this pacing Alpha, but he looks like he's waiting to strike. Is he on our side?
When Noah places his hand on the Illinois Alpha’s shoulder, multiple wolves jump. “Well?”
The Illinois Alpha hardly breathes. “Y-yep, Illinois. Logan Brightville of Brightville Pastures Pack. No harm intended to you either, King.”
Noah frowns—at first. His smile creeps back up one cheek, exposing his incisors. “I’m not the King.”
Logan’s jaw ticks, his torso twitching through shaky breaths in a failed attempt to remain stoic.
Noah lifts one eyebrow. “But I do know what your Alpha-domination buddies are up to. And I think you know how I feel about that.”
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’s this? ”
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 Alpha ex .”
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 mere possibility .
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’ve called 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 Noah actually trusts at this Summit, besides me. I hope we won't need Reid’s help.