Chapter 22
N oah and I skip tonight’s official dinner, relieved to know Reid, Tāne, and Viktor also ranked in the top ten for the semi-finals. As we huddle up in the disastrous bundle I’ve made of our “nest” bed, we can’t stop giggling, our excitement over each other at its peak.
Noah’s hair flops over his dark brow, still mussed from sweat. I breathe him in, tracing my fingertips over his bare chest as he lays beside me, stretched out for me to see. Swallowing the last bite of my dinner, I have to gulp harder, unable to fathom how this is my mate. He looks exhausted, dark circles under his slow-blinking eyes, but he’s exhausted for our safety.
Just like he said, he did it. He beat every Alpha thus far, not just as another Alpha, but also as a vibrant, beautiful Omega.
“I can’t stop looking at you,” I whisper.
Noah grins, his eyes softening as he plucks a stray hair off my neck. “I can tell. If I wasn’t also gushing over my gorgeous Luna, I’d be borderline-uncomfortable with how much you’re staring.”
Sputtering out a laugh, I grip Noah’s shoulder, stretching over our dinner plates to plant a heavy kiss on his mouth. As I lean into his relaxed, plushy lips, comfort fills my chest, pulling a pleased hum from my throat. Noah’s deep purr in response curls my toes.
Leaning into his elbow on his side, Noah slinks his weight into the mattress. He drags his eyes up my bare legs, my ass barely covered by another one of his shirts. As Noah meets my stare, his smile widens. I grin with him, figuring we’re thinking the same thing: it’s only a matter of time before we throw our plates aside, putting this bed to work.
But as his warm palm trails down my side, sloping over my hip, I catch his hand. “I think you’ve been a good enough boy to receive your surprise now.”
Noah blinks a few times before breaking into giggles. “Oh, I have, have I?”
As he reaches for me, I scurry off the bed, laughing with him as he prowls after me. “Down, boy. Stay.”
Dropping his head with a laugh, Noah sighs, still on all fours. “Goddess, Aliya. I don’t even know how to reply to that. But I’ll be a—” Noah sighs again, softening his voice. “I’ll be a good boy for you, and stay.”
We take one look at each other, Noah’s face beet red, and burst into laughter.
Noah flops on the bed to wait, still chuckling to himself. I can’t stop giggling either, dragging my suitcase across the carpet and through the bathroom door, shutting it behind me.
But I could feel the thrill in our bond as I teased Noah. It’s the last I’ll torture him for tonight—well, almost. I’m certain he’ll be the one torturing me into lusty overwhelm soon, but not before he processes what I’m about to do. And judging by how shy he felt just now, this surprise might be just a bit too much.
Tossing his shirt off over my head, I can’t stop giggling to myself, my laugh echoing across the bathroom as I dig out my surprise. Replacing my underwear with the pink, V-shaped lingerie I bought at Celestial Couture before my Luna ceremony, I’m careful not to disturb what I’ve attached to the lingerie’s backside. This surprise swings from the crest of the V-shaped strings, perched at the top of my ass. As I tug it on in front of the mirror, I gawk at how accentuated my baby bump looks; these panties slope beneath it, following the edges of its curve to hook over my hips.
This only makes me giggle louder.
Noah groans, calling out from the bed. “Oh, Luna... What’s going on in there? Should I be concerned?”
“Nothing! Don’t you worry.” My eyes widen as I struggle to clasp the bra half of the lingerie. Cracking open the door, I mutter through it. “Unless you don’t like seeing me no longer fitting into yet another article of clothing. Did I get even bigger since we got here?”
Noah’s rumbling laughter stirs warmth in my heart. “Yes. I fucking love how cute you look, little mama.”
I flush down to my neck, unable to hold my own eye contact in the mirror. As I put the finishing touches on my head and neck, I bite my lips, turning to check that everything’s in its right place.
Clasping the doorhandle, my heart hammers. I exhale long and slow, steeling myself.
But as soon as I open it, I gasp. “Oh! I forgot—” Rustling through the suitcase again, I find one piece I’m missing. Clutching it tight in one hand, I step out of the bathroom, keeping my face as straight as possible.
Noah lifts his head from the blankets. “Aliya, why am I hearing tinkling sounds—”
My mate’s breath catches. He gawks at me as I stride in with big, fuzzy gray wolf ears on top of my head, poking out of my long, midnight hair.
I’ve never seen Noah’s jaw drop—just like I haven’t seen him slap his palms over his eyes, curling into a ball on the bed. His voice is muffled into the cushy bedding, but I can just make out an exasperated cry. “Aliya!?”
Laughing, I flick my hair over my shoulders. Grasping the chunky clasp at the end of my pink, leather leash, I latch it onto the collar around my neck. “You’re not going to look at me? You haven’t even seen the best part! At least give me one eyeball.”
Turning his head just enough, Noah peeks through his fingers with one eye, his palm still muffling his voice. “Aliya, holy shit, what the—”
Unfortunately for Noah, I know he’s an ass guy. Turning over my shoulder, I reveal a fuzzy gray wolf tail clipped to the back of my panties. Giving my hips a little shimmy, I burst into giggles; Noah makes an undignified cry into his hands, reburying his face into the mattress.
“Noah!? Is this too much?” I can’t help but laugh with him as he sputters in delirium, rubbing his forehead into the mattress.
“I feel like I’m doing something devious! Did I fall asleep? I can’t be looking at you like this in front of me—”
Striding to the end of the bed, I bend over, dragging my hands through his hair. “Ah, I see. So, you like it that much?”
Lifting his eyes, Noah startles the breath out of me. Golden, sharp eyes latch onto me, and as our bond rises into urgency, I know this is the last time his hands will be off of me tonight.
As he lunges for me, I erupt into laughter, smiling against his heated lips.
“No, no, no, Aliya—” Noah’s fingertips drag down my cheeks between kisses, stopping on my pink collar. “My Luna can’t wear this. She’s a free, wild wolf.”
I bite my lip, my heart flipping. “What if she wants to wear it tonight, for you? Just you.”
Noah purrs, his hands sweeping down my sides before trailing back up my arms. He swoops my hair off my back, gathering it in one hand as he tugs at the collar’s latch. “Then I’ll free you, myself—as I mate you.”
He can barely speak these words beyond soft mutterings, spurring me into heavier giggles. Noah laughs with me, tossing the pink collar onto the bed.
I can’t stop smiling. “Fine. But I’m not finished with teasing you yet. Sit on the edge of the bed for me, please.”
Dropping his bashful stare, Noah flutters my heart with his sweet smile. He sits as requested, blinking his puppy-dog eyes.
He has no idea I plan to tease him until he sees stars.
Sweeping my fingertips down his bare chest, I hum once I reach his waistline. “Let’s free you of your clothes too, gorgeous wolf.”
Noah’s stare locks onto mine with wild intensity, capturing my every minor movement. As I ease his boxers past his hips, his warm grip stations itself on my waist. But he stops me from dropping to my knees; bending over first, he gives my swollen belly a quick nuzzle of affection, flipping my heart.
“Don’t go too wild tonight, feisty Alpha. You’re still doing me the biggest favor of my lifetime.” Noah’s low purr sends tingles down my spine.
When he sits back, allowing me to stare down at his naked, bruised, and clawed body, my jaw hardens. “Don’t worry, I have a burst of energy just thinking about how I’d like to treat you. You better be ready, Alpha-Omega.”
Noah’s breath catches.
Settling on the hardwood floor, I tug the edge of the comforter beneath my knees to cushion myself while I focus on Noah. I don’t meet his fervent stare, but I can feel it burning in my peripherals—tracking me. My stomach flips as his cock twitches to life, swelling between my shaky fingers as I scoot myself between his knees.
Dragging my hands down either side of his plump shaft, I dare to meet Noah’s eyes once more—just as I sweep my nose along his cock, returning Noah’s affectionate nuzzle. His breath hitches, parting his lips alongside mine as I ease my tongue up the thick vein on the underside of his shaft.
Inhaling deep, Noah grips the mattress at his sides. I purr, trailing my lips over his sensitive tip until his cock flexes, popping from my mouth.
I’ve already raised my mate’s breathing rate to a steady huff, but as I spit on his shaft, slipping my hands down it to cover him in lubrication, I can’t hold back a smile; he’s already squirming, and he hasn’t even seen my new idea yet.
Ever since his knot has become a bit more unpredictable, I’ve locked onto its presence whenever it does tie our bodies together, giving me that satiating, stuffed sensation.
But his body isn’t the only one playing a part in forming his knot; every time it grows inside me, my pussy clamps down over it, pulling desperate moans from Noah’s lips as my body encourages his knot to expand.
So when I work my lubricated massage up and down his shaft tonight, I place my lips over his tip, allowing my hands to glide all the way down to the base—where his thick length meets his pelvis. Palpitating there, I feel it; the subtle beginnings of a knot within his shaft. As I bob my head, taking his tip into my mouth, I pulse over his hiding knot with rhythmic, tender squeezes, mimicking my flexing pussy.
Right away, Noah gives a soft, hitching moan, his hips jerking.
My heart flips. Locking eyes with Noah, I find his stare fully shifted—a gleaming golden staring back. I purr, well aware the sound vibrates over his hot shaft between my lips, and Noah moans once more. Keeping one hand around the base of his shaft, I use the other to stroke his thick length where my lips can’t reach, ensuring I’m stimulating every angle of his cock. As I quicken my pace, Noah’s claws prick the mattress, his lusty scent stinging my eyes.
I blink up at him. What do you think, Alpha-Omega? Do you feel good?
Panting through every breath, Noah doesn’t respond; he’s too busy watching his tip disappear behind my lips, writhing as he struggles to keep from thrusting too deeply as I massage his budding knot.
The second it swells beneath my hands, I pop his tip free from my lips with a gasp for air. Noah groans, so I must’ve assumed right; he was seconds from coming, even though we’ve just started.
But I want him to enjoy this new sensation as long as possible, craving his reaction as his hips continue to rise. Cupping my hands around his shaft, I purr, loving how tightly Noah’s jaw clenches.
“Go ahead, gorgeous—move your hips,” I whisper.
Gripping my shoulders, Noah widens his knees. As his hips jerk into my grip, precum spills from his tip. With how wet he’s become, my palms slip down his shaft with every thrust, ending with a soft squeeze over his forming knot. Noah shudders, his breath racing as he fucks my hands. He can’t seem to hold back, his moans morphing into grunts as he thrusts hard enough to jerk from my grasp.
His chest heaves as he waits for me to reposition my hands around his flexing shaft, filling the silence with soft groans. My stomach flips, each of his deep, throaty sounds burrowing into my pussy until it flutters alongside his undulating body. I stare in adoration as he leans in, pumping his hips faster; his eyes have closed, my mate allowing himself to submit to pleasure before me. His trust in me is so beautiful that my breath quivers alongside his.
And it’s working; Noah’s knot bulges wider, even though he’s not inside me. Deepening my massage around the expanding mass, I keep one hand tight around the base of his shaft, allowing the other to glide against his thrusts. Noah’s grunts dip into moans at the end of each desperate sound, his hips losing their rhythm. Leaning in, I flit my tongue across the base of his tip, pulling a needy moan from his lips—just before his hot cum splashes my cheeks.
I always wondered if Noah came harder while knotting me—the unmistakable presence of warm, flooding heat within my belly whenever our bodies lock together.
I have my answer. Fighting his bucking hips to keep my hand tight around his knot, I pulse rapid squeezes over it, leaving Noah sputtering as his claws dig into my shoulders. With every squeeze, another gush of fluid spills from his cock, splashing across my chest and Noah’s thighs until I’m soaked in him.
Noah attempts to cuss, but all that comes out is a grunted whimper, his weight collapsing over me. He grips me in a tight hug—trapping me in his grasp like he can’t bear any distance between us.
With my hands still stationed around his swollen, throbbing knot, I bite back a smile as Noah’s awed emotions in our bond evolve into shock.
“ Aliya . How the—” Noah pants, his hips twitching at any subtle movement; I can’t imagine how sensitive his knot must feel between my palms. He grips my hands around his knot, squeezing one last drop of cum from his shaft with a groan. “ That has never happened— With just your hands? I—”
Giggling, I wriggle my face out of his chest until I can pepper kisses over his sweaty cheek. “Are you too tired to mate me now, my shy Alpha-Omega?”
Chuckling, Noah plops a pleasure-heavy hand over my fuzzy headband. “Oh, no. You better be ready now, Omega-Alpha. You’ve drawn out my horny wolf in full force.”
My heart flips. He’s not lying; a residual, lusty ache roughens his voice around the edges.
Another drop of fluid spills down my thigh at the thought. As I readjust my sitting position, stretching my sore lower back, I’m stunned by how soaked I feel, the air cold against my drenched core, and it’s all just from watching Noah.
As he pulls me to my feet, revealing heavy-lidded, burning eyes, my breath catches.
Noah’s sly grin warns of his incoming rut, his extended incisors sending a thrill through my chest. “Let go. I need to clean you.”
Releasing his knot, I bite my lip as I witness the mess I’ve made of him; Noah shudders through a groan, holding his shaft until I can ease it from my hand. But to my surprise, it hasn’t softened one bit, still standing at attention once we’ve released it.
See what you’ve done? Holding me by the waist, Noah drags his tongue up my swollen belly and chest, washing me in chills. As he licks his cum from my skin, flustering me speechless, he purrs at my needy, desirous scent. You’ll have to give me a minute before I can mate you, even though that’s all I want to do to you now, naughty Omega-Alpha.
Bursting into giggles, I jerk away from his tongue over my sensitive breasts, leaving him with a teasing grin. “Sorry. I may have gone a little overboard.”
Noah’s soft chuckle coats me in goosebumps. “A little? Do you know how prepared you’ll need to be for me now?”
With Noah’s playful tsk , I swallow hard—just before he gives my waistband a gentle tug.
I let out a surprised squeak as I tip toward him, but Noah catches me. He growls into my neck, giving my scent gland a tender bite, and I shriek through a laugh, gripping his hair.
Noah purrs, licking my mark in apology, but I’m far too breathless to fully laugh, my groin aching for him. He knows it, making sharp, sustained eye contact that sets my insides on fire.
When Noah slips his palm over my ass to find my fuzzy tail, he chuckles, stroking my tail before trailing his hand beneath it. I hold my breath, waiting for him to figure out my next surprise.
As his thick fingers find the gap at the base of my crotchless panties, his breath cuts short. But as his chuckles morph into purrs, his tongue pressing down harder over my neck, my toes curl through the pressure he swirls over my bare pussy.
Flopping onto his back, Noah sighs. “Come here.”
My heart flips. “Where?”
Patting his shoulders, Noah grins. “Be a good girl, and sit.”
My bulging eyes spur us both into laughter, my cheeks hot as I crawl onto the bed.
I’ve never sat on him while he pleasured me before. I don’t want to suffocate him, and it shows; my legs tremble as I walk my knees around his sides until I straddle his shoulders.
Gazing down at him, I swallow hard. “S-so, um, are you okay if I actually sit, or—”
Before I can overthink it, Noah grabs the back of my thighs, widening my knees over his face until I hover a mere inch from his nose.
My heart lurches into my throat. With my pussy on full display, Noah’s pointed stare only burns my cheeks brighter.
But he lets out a luscious purr. “Don’t be embarrassed. I’ve never smelled anything so tempting.” Dragging hot palms down my shaky thighs, Noah softens his tone. “Unless you’re not up to it right now?”
“N-no, I—” I swallow hard, easing my thighs down over his face. The last I see of Noah’s wet, plushy lips is them curling into a satisfied smile—just before they greet my pussy with a gentle kiss.
I shiver. The soft click of Noah’s kisses spark tingles up my torso, swirling through my chest. My thighs soften, tempted for a little more pressure between them—until Noah’s rumbling purr buzzes over my clit, flexing my core against his lips. As his tongue slips over my labia, I grip his hair, my chest curling over him in delight.
“ Oh —” I sputter through a breath, my eyelids fluttering as my hips jerk over his mouth. “S-sorry, am I crushing—”
Noah growls, his hands squeezing my ass until my pussy smushes against his swirling tongue. Crush me, please. I'm five seconds away from going feral, so I need you ready for when I rut you into the headboard.
Crying out, I only encourage Noah, his tongue lapping over every inch between my legs. I flush down to my neck, shocked by how heavily he’s working me up within seconds. If I’m not careful, his adoring scent combined with his heavy purring against my clit might send me over the edge, the entirety of my pelvis tingling.
When my core opens wide, Noah nuzzles my clit between flits of his wide, flattened tongue. Fluid spills from me, forcing Noah to lift my hips and gasp for air.
But before I can melt back into concern, Noah dives back in, his tongue racing faster over my clit and labia. My hips jerk, forcing me to clasp tight handfuls of Noah’s hair. I pant through the steady climb of my incoming orgasm, my thighs quivering. Noah sets off a chain reaction in my nerves, pleasure buzzing up my abdomen until tingles reach my parted lips.
I drop my head back. “N- Noah , I’m—”
Shaking his head through a growl, Noah rubs my pussy back and forth with his tongue, his nose flicking my throbbing clit. I release a desperate moan, another gush of fluid slipping down Noah’s cheeks. But as my moans heighten, Noah’s hips buck behind me, startling a gasp from my lips. I don’t need to check behind myself to know how swollen he is; I can feel his desperation to mate me in our bond, coupled by his breath beating against my clit.
His attention feels too good to contain. My thighs clamp around his head, my pussy fluttering over his tongue as I come. Noah rocks my hips over his face, his vibrating growls between my legs heightening my cries of pleasure until I collapse backward, releasing his face in a panic.
As I feared, Noah pants for air, his chest heaving beneath me.
I gasp, swiping my fluid off his bright red face. “Oh, Goddess! Are you o—”
Noah breaks into the biggest, proudest grin, stealing my breath. “Thank you for crushing me.”
Slapping my hands over my burning face, I can only hear Noah’s resulting laugh, bright enough to tighten my grinning cheeks against my palms as I burst into giggles with him.
As he sits up, forcing me backward, I yelp, gripping his shoulders for dear life. But I should’ve known better; thick arms keep me cuddled close, settling me gently into Noah’s lap. Noah’s rumbling laughter against my cheek as he nuzzles me only widens my smile, my hands dragging through his hair.
“I didn’t pull your hair out, did I?” I whisper.
Pressing hard kisses into my shoulder, Noah unhooks my bra, drawing a pleased hum from my lips. “Worth it.”
Biting my lip, I meet his adoring stare as he slips my bra from my shoulders.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“And I love you, my sweet Omega-Alpha.” His kiss heats my cheeks as much as his words, his lips still carrying my pussy’s needy scent.
I flush through a rush of shyness, but Noah doesn’t tease me this time. He’s gentle with my body as we reorient ourselves, shuffling further up the mattress until our heads rest on our pillows. But Noah doesn’t keep his distance; his prowling shoulders press me deep into my nest’s heap of blankets with a glomping hug.
And his sloppy kisses against my mark remind me his rut nears its peak. The musky, urgent scent beneath his every move flutters my eyelids, heating me down to my core. As Noah’s hands drag down my body, I catch his cheeks in my palms.
When our eyes meet, the mere sight of his alert, shifted irises staring back raises my heart rate. I can only press one kiss into his lips before he crashes into a heated kiss, his tongue slipping over mine as we purr in unison.
I didn’t expect to be worked up again so quickly, but as my hands find Noah’s flexing cock between us, he glides his fingertips down my pussy, and I let out a shocked moan; two of his fingers slip deep inside me in an instant, shooting a blast of pleasure up my spine. I jerk against his soft presses against the front wall of my pussy, far more sensitive now that he already pleased me with his tongue.
Noah’s growls lose their controlled edge, his fangs extending as his chest heaves. He leaves me breathless as his fingers slip from me, my mate rising on all fours. Trailing his fingers down my spine, his touch urges my wolf to raise my ass high into the air, presenting myself to him on instinct. With each stroke down my back, Noah sweeps his hand all the way down my tail, giving me the illusion he’s petting me. I’m startled by how deeply it stirs my wolf into action, colors fading from my vision.
Pleased, hungry eyes stare down at me. I pant beneath my mate, my heart bursting from my chest as he breaks into a breathy smile.
“Gorgeous,” he purrs beneath his breath.
When Noah disappears from view behind my raised ass, my stomach flips into my throat. Flopping my faux tail over his shoulder, he suckles over my pussy, startling a moan from me. I wriggle my hips, my pussy aching and empty, but he grips my thighs, keeping me close. He slips his tongue over my clit, intent on teasing me until my ass bounces with my desperate thrusts in the air.
Dragging his tongue up and over my ass cheek, Noah leaves me with a soft bite. I yelp through a giggle, but as I turn over my shoulders, Noah prowls close, rubbing his throbbing cock between my gaping labia.
“I want you.” His growl buzzes over my back, hitching my breath. When he combs my hair up and over my pillow, my heart flutters at what it means; he now has full access to my mark.
Gripping the bed sheets, I push my pelvis back into him. “Mate me, Alpha.”
Grinning, Noah settles his weight over my back—giving himself room to seat his tip between my legs.
My heart lurches into my throat as he meets my eyes. His wolf stares back.
“Not your Alpha, tonight,” Noah whispers.
As the meaning behind his words sink in, Noah presses himself inside me, drawing a gasp from deep within my belly.
His smooth, hot skin inside me releases a flood of endorphins—just before I’m surrounded by a flowery, adoring scent. I shove my hips back into him, my eyes racing across the headboard as I lean into his tight grip; this isn’t my shy Alpha pressing deep inside me, it’s my gorgeous Omega—and just as feisty of an Omega, at that.
All I can do is let out a delighted moan, my jaw dropping as Noah’s thick shaft nudges right where I want him, slipping against my G-spot in one deep thrust. His claws prick my hips as he pulls back, only to lean in deeper—paying close attention to which angle bucks my hips up behind me.
As fluid spurts across the bed sheets between my knees, I choke out a sputtering breath, gripping his taut hand on my hip. “N- Noah —”
My mate no longer replies in words, breaking into tender, focused mating thrusts. As our hips collide, wet sounds fill the room, my pussy dripping with every deep, intentional thrust against my G-spot. My thighs quiver in his grasp, torn between wanting to lock themselves around him to keep him cuddled close or to spread wide, allowing him deeper.
But Noah fulfills both desires for me, cinching himself tight over my back as his arms lock below my swollen belly, burrowing himself deeper. I smush my head against his, my blinks slow and sated at how safe I feel—my Omega scent gushing from me in response to his.
Drooling onto my shoulder as he nibbles it, Noah spikes my heart into my throat; he nuzzles my faux, fuzzy ear, confirming my suspicions that this outfit drew out the wild side of him I craved. His instinctual brain is in charge, grumbling in embarrassment once he remembers that my fuzzy ears are fake. His playful nip on my earlobe to make up for it jolts pleasure down my spine, but my focus drops to my clit as Noah’s hand slips between my legs. Primal, pleading moans escape me as he applies steady pressure there, amplifying the pleasure expanding in my core.
I’ve never seen myself like this before. Mewling, I arch my back, leaning into Noah’s thrusts. As his hand slams against the headboard, catching his weight over me as he leans into rapid, urgent thrusts, my claws prick into the wood alongside his, my lips gaping as my fangs extend and eyelids flutter.
The second Noah’s hot breath ghosts over my mark, I come hard around his cock, my hips jerking back. Stabilizing my hips, Noah grunts through each thrust, milking out my orgasm until my moans revert into whines. Growling, Noah loses his pace, his soaked thighs smashing into mine as he comes against my cervix. I sputter out a gasp, every inch of me bristling in sensitivity as his knot swells between my legs.
Shaking, we pant over each other, unable to stop whining as we nuzzle in close. Noah’s sweeping palms down my belly soothe me just as much as his tender kiss. As my arms grow too weak to hold myself up, our heads press against the headboard, but I don’t care one bit; all I want is to snuggle up to this beautiful, trusting soul behind me.
My sweet Omega didn’t leave my side once while we mated. As his blissful, nurturing scent gushes from his scent glands, his eyes are just as bright, his touch just as honest.
Smiling through my watery eyes, I press soft kisses all over his gorgeous face between purring, adoring nuzzles. I love you, Noah.
I love you too.
An hour later—once I’m plastered beneath Noah’s pleasure-exhausted limbs—Noah’s soft snores behind my head squeeze my heart in delight. I’m cupping our baby alongside him, unable to sleep.
After a quick mental calculation of our time zone, I close my eyes in relief; I need to share my thoughts with someone else I trust before they explode from me, and luckily, it’s still early afternoon in Greenfield.
Hi, A! Are you busy? I mindink Amy.
When a whisper of her excited, cheery energy finds mine within our pack bond, I break into a beaming grin.
Amy responds almost instantly. Not for you, babe! Is everything okay?
My heart lodges into my throat. Dammit, I forgot how scary it’s about to be to share this with her. But my anxiety doesn’t sour my smile.
Noah and I figured something out about who I am. I wanted to hear your thoughts before I tell anyone else, but it’s something huge.
And you think my thoughts are going to be anything except for ‘I believe you’ and ‘congratulations?’
Biting back a laugh, I only smile wider. You’re right, I should’ve known better. But I didn’t know this was possible, A. Noah didn’t either. I quiet my shaking breath the best I can, hoping Noah stays asleep despite my booming nerves. I think I’m both an Omega and an Alpha. Noah and I are calling me an Omega-Alpha.
After a few silent seconds, Amy’s energy tightens closer to mine in our pack bond than I’ve ever felt it, stealing my breath; it’s like she’s hugging my soul with hers. Tears cloud my eyes through my gushing smile.
Oh, my God, I didn’t think about it being possible before either, but of course it is! Holy shit, that’s incredible, Aliya! I’m so touched you wanted to share this with me first.
I droop into my pillow in relief. I love you.
I love you too, babe. But what made you come to this conclusion? Those assholes aren’t giving you a hard time for your scent, are they?
How did you guess?
... That was sarcasm, huh.
Tightening my stomach through a laugh, I can’t stop smiling. Yes, it most certainly was. I expected them to be jerks, in general, so their negative opinion on my Alpha-ness surprisingly hasn’t bothered me as much as I expected. But Annika, our Queen Luna, looked so scared of me at one point today when I had to defend Noah. My Alpha side has been coming out to protect us more and more, but it’s far more potent now, so I’m not sure if she was reacting to my scent, or if she was joining the Lycans looking at me like I’m an absolute freak. Now I’m afraid to see her tomorrow and find out she’s not a new friend after all.
What makes you think she doesn’t accept you? I believe you, of course, but is it possible this is another worst-case scenario taking hold?
Furrowing my brows, I breathe through the ache in my chest as Annika’s wide, frightened eyes come back to mind.
She ran from me. It stings coming out.
You mean like when I bolted after the first time you showed off your Alpha side, scaring Mason away? Amy’s reply spikes my heart rate.
Well, yes. That’s why I wanted to get your opinion on Annika’s reaction too.
Oh, babe. You didn’t think I rejected you back then, did you?
My stomach rumbles. At first. But knowing you, I trust you’ll always come around to understanding me.
Damn right. I wasn’t disapproving of you, A; I was rightfully scared. It was like you sent my wolf into full primal survival mode. I submitted in awe of your badass, terrifyingly powerful scent.
My eyes jut open. Was Noah right about me? That these wolves responding to me at the Summit aren’t a fluke, and I’m actually strong?
Ask her tomorrow before you jump to conclusions, Amy says. And if her answer is that she doesn’t accept you, fuck her. We all love you too much to have your time wasted on anyone who doesn’t get on the same page. Don't let anyone hold my Omega-Alpha best friend down, got it?
Even though my heart spikes into my throat at the thought of confronting Annika directly tomorrow, I smile. Amy holds my heart and mind in just as deep of love as Noah’s snuggling arms, the two of them wrapping me in warmth.
Amy’s right. I don’t want to solely be myself tomorrow, showing up as an Omega-Alpha; I want to show the sweet man huddled up to me that he can do the same. That at the very least, the ones who stay beside us when they see our true selves are the only ones who count.