14
Destroying that mattress zapped the energy out of my cells. The rest of the week, I use every ounce of my energy reserve on my job, coming home to Noah’s cozy cabin to sleep off mind-numbing exhaustion.
I’m too tired to deal with my parents’ cottage, so for now I’m living out of two suitcases. I don’t even mind it, as long as I’m living with sweet Noah. But when I come home from work on Friday to Noah’s empty cabin, I find my clothes neatly sorted into one half of Noah’s bedroom dresser and closet. For some reason, this silent gesture makes me feel more at home than I have in years.
The night of the Full Moon Ceremony, neither of us speak a word. We’ve traded between kissing and sleeping in each other’s arms all afternoon. Noah’s bedroom—our bedroom—is a blend of our sleepy scent.
An hour after sunset, Noah pries himself from me with a sigh.
I flop my hand out of our warm cocoon to grip his hand. “Don’t be sad. I’m coming with you.”
“No, sweet Omega. You need to stay in bed and heal.”
“I do want to heal.” I break into a smile. “Surrounded by the pack.”
Noah’s raised eyebrow pushes a giggle from me. He sighs, leaning in to kiss my cheek. Then kisses it again. And again.
He’s trying so hard to be serious and stubborn about my recovery time, but his goofy, huge wolf spins in our bond, and my giggles overflow into belly laughter.
“Your wolf gives you away every time.”
He groans, stripping to his boxers in front of his closet.
I gawk at every rippling muscle in his back, even though I’m too sleepy to do anything but stare.
When he turns back around, he’s wearing a button-up white shirt, straining against his arms as he buttons its short collar. I follow his hands to his tightening belt, eyeing the bulge in his pants. He’s not aroused, he’s just that thick. And Noah knows I’m staring; that heavy bulge twitches to life before me, expanding by the second.
We meet eyes. A desirous flame ignites between us no matter how worn out my body still feels. I bite back a smile, dropping my shoulder to reveal just a bit of extra cleavage for him. Noah flushes, his stare darting over my breasts before he busies himself, picking lint off his embroidered ceremony vest.
But as his yearning scent stings my nose, Noah turns away, ignoring the lust in our bond. He doesn’t feel upset, so I don’t question it. He’s probably just as exhausted as I am and not in the mood.
Noah’s fingertips flit through my dresses in the back of his closet, stopping on the whitest one. It’s a flowy, white sundress, more casual than I would imagine appropriate for the ceremony tonight. But as I slip it on, warmth encompasses my heart; knowing Noah, he picked it because it’s far more comfortable than my other dresses, allowing me to relax as much as I can tonight despite my future-Luna duties.
I give Noah a gentle smile. “Thank you,” I whisper. He ducks his head, and I giggle. “Come here, my sweet, shy Alpha.”
But as Noah approaches me on the bed, he digs into his pocket to reveal a velvet box in his palm.
My eyebrows raise as Noah’s wolf paces in our bond. “What’s this?”
“It’s— It’s for you.” Noah’s voice is so soft and tender that I have to pinch my thigh to keep from squeezing him.
Lifting the box lid, I suck in a sharp breath. Glimmering softly in the moonlight, a crescent moon pendant hangs from a short silver chain. My heart spikes into my throat at how expensive it must be; the stone is so iridescent, even in the dark room, that it has to be a genuine moonstone. The necklace is double-layered, and the second, shorter chain is laced with sparkling crystals, so shimmery that they must dance spectacularly in the daylight.
“Noah,” I breathe. “Is this really a moonstone?”
He gently lifts the necklace from the box, unlatching it. As he scoots behind me on the bed to hook it around my neck, his deep voice hums through my chest.
“It’s the stone of our Moon Goddess. I thought it was fitting for my—” He hesitates at the sight of me in his mirror across the room. After a deep breath, Noah avoids my eyes in the reflection, running his hands down my shoulders. “For my Moon Goddess-sent Omega.”
My heart threatens to stop. As I gaze at myself in Noah’s mirror, the crescent moon flashes its light with every kiss Noah presses against my shoulder. The necklace elevates my plain dress, giving me an air of absolute importance.
But Noah just told me a white lie. This isn’t a necklace for Noah’s “Omega.” This was a necklace he bought for his Luna, and the way Noah still can’t bear to meet my eyes tells me we both know it.
“Thank you.” My whisper cracks, unable to contain my emotions. The sound draws Noah’s eyes straight to mine in the mirror. His nocturnal eyes gleam in the reflection, sending a thrill through my core.
When I stand from the bed to face him directly, Noah eyes me up and down. His fingertips trail my waist, leaving shocks of pleasure in their wake.
I can’t take it any longer. Tilting his chin, I draw Noah in for a slow, delicious kiss, dropping myself in his lap. As I caress Noah’s wide chest, it rises with desire beneath my palms like it’s begging me for more.
But Noah pulls back, breathless. His smoldering stare lingers on my neck, breasts, and lips, but when he leans in for more, all he does is kiss me.
My heart hurts; I have a sinking feeling of what’s really happening.
I sit back. “Noah, it’s perfectly okay if you’re not in the mood, but please don’t be afraid to be intimate with me because of what I told you.”
He slumps. “I’m not. I’m just tired. Mentally and emotionally. It doesn’t stop me from wanting you, but I don’t think I have it in me tonight to act on it. I”m sorry.”
“Hey,” I whisper. I stroke his cheek, kissing it softly until he’s willing to look at me again. “That’s perfectly okay, my shy Alpha. Please don’t be sorry. After everything I shared with you, every moment we’re together feels so intimate, with or without sex.”
“I feel the same.” Noah gathers me closer in his arms, squeezing me slowly but vigorously until I let out a delighted hum. Noah smiles. “There you go, gorgeous. Are you ready for tonight?”
I sigh, my eyelids fluttering through Noah’s gentle kisses on my cheek. “Yes, my love. Let’s go.”
Walking hand in hand, we make our way to the Full Moon Ceremony.
This time, I’m involved in the ceremony process too.
“Welcome to Greenfield, Omega.” Noah’s soft voice carries across the mossy hill we use as a stage, warming my soul along with the newest pack Omega’s smile.
The Omega approaches me after Noah”s welcome, already weeping. I embrace them, just like I’ve done with every Rogue wolf who joins our pack. Then I lick their bleeding palm, healing Noah’s pack entrance bite.
I can”t believe it. Every single wolf looks so touched. All we had to do was accept them.
I expect to feel exhausted from being around so many strangers, but their joy invigorates me. With every wolf diving into my arms for comfort, the pack bond strengthens. I feel so important. Like I was made by the Moon Goddess, just for this purpose.
Noah can’t stop beaming at me, wiping his stray tears when I meet his eyes and smile back.
I was playing around earlier when I told Noah I wanted to heal here tonight, but it”s coming true. My heart is so full.
Then the mating ritual begins.
“Come with me, future Luna.” Lilian takes me by the hand, guiding me to a massive field. Noah trails us, his hand on my lower back.
The three of us wait in silence as mates disperse throughout the field, courting each other in their human forms. The pairings are more than just Alpha-Omega mates: Beta-Omega, Alpha-Beta, Alpha-Alpha, and so on, some mated in packs of triple, quadruple, or more mates. While Noah made it sound like they’re lacking in progress with wolf sexes, I’m relieved wolves are open to different genders and sexualities. I’ve witnessed plenty of examples of it since joining Greenfield Pack, but I can’t help but weep as open displays of love bloom all around me. Safety burrows a little deeper into my heart.
Regardless of their wolf sexes, all mates here want to be witnessed as they mate. Not just by us; they want to be blessed by the Moon Goddess’s gleaming, silver eye.
The pack believes She doubles or triples the chances of pregnancy, particularly for Omegas. But fresh mates can also mark each other for the first time, bonding beneath the Moon Goddess’s gaze.
Some mates in the field shift into wolves to privately mate in the forest, but most don’t: bare, human bodies grinding until they connect. All of them, however, really get down to business, no matter who’s watching.
As various moans echo across the field, the accumulating lusty scent in the wind floods my groin with heat. My cheeks flush in embarrassment, no matter how prepared I was for this.
When the first pair knots, I suck in a sharp breath at its raw power: jaws gaping, bodies cinched tight, and heads nuzzling. Is that what Noah and I look like every time? I swear I just felt their souls merging from here.
Shame strikes my gut for intruding on something so intimate, but Noah strokes my back.
“It’s okay. They want us to watch. But if you’re not comfortable with it, you’re not required.”
“I’m okay, just new to it,” I whisper. It feels like if I speak too loudly, I’ll break the intimate trance around us. But regardless of our whispers, the moans across the field only intensify.
“Do you remember how to bless them?” Lilian’s smooth, stoic voice interrupts my thoughts.
I nod, recalling Lilian’s instructions from our weekly Luna-training meetings. “Yes.”
“Good. We’re starting, then.”
Lilian hasn’t let go of my hand. Which means when she charges toward the first knotted couple, I’m stuck stumbling after her whether I want to or not.
The knotted mates nuzzle, still breathless and moaning. My heartbeat skyrockets, unsure where to look at their nude, vulnerable bodies.
But Lilian softens her stoic frame, lacing the air with her comforting scent in a pheromonal hug. She makes eye contact with the knotted Omega, his eyes glazed with leftover lust. It inspires a genuine smile I’ve never seen on Lilian, a maternal admiration shining through her grin.
She smooths his short, black hair back into place. “Hello, gorgeous Omega. Where would you like me to bless you?”
“My head, please, Luna.” The Omega squeezes Lilian’s hand. But then he turns to me, weeping. “And my womb, please, future Luna. We want a pup so badly.”
My heart rate spikes, but I put on a gentle smile for him. “Okay, sweet wolf. I’d love to help.”
I can’t believe he’s asking me to bless his womb and not Lilian. I hope she’s not offended.
But Lilian is solely focused on her Luna duties. She rubs her neck along the Omega”s forehead, blessing him with a burst of her nurturing scent.
The Alpha weeps against his mate”s cheek, kissing his mark on the Omega”s neck over and over again. “I love you, Omega. Soak the blessing in for me, okay?”
“You don’t want a blessing today, Alpha?” Lilian asks.
The Alpha hugs his mate a little tighter, his smile growing. “Please give my mate mine for today, Luna.”
I’m overcome by the beauty of the pure devotion in front of me, my eyes watering as Lilian dives back in for a second blessing.
I let the mates inspire me as I turn my focus inward, concentrating my emotions into my scent to create my blessing. I think about my love for every pack member. My hope for this couple’s dreams. My joy for every mated pair. My adoration for Noah, allowing me to witness so much beauty I’ve never seen before. Most importantly, I picture a little pup forming in the Omega’s womb, imagining them growing and growing until they’re safely burrowed in this couple’s loving arms.
Within seconds, I’m oozing a sugary, adoring scent so potent that I can smell myself. Rubbing my scent gland along the Omega’s lower abdomen, I’m surprised by the couple’s collective sigh. They weep together, murmuring soft love for each other. I brim with tears, amazed by their sincerity.
When I turn to check Noah’s expression, his laser-focused eyes are already on me. I can’t believe how deeply I”m in love with you.
I swallow hard, stifling the pulsing heat in my groin as my heart rate skyrockets.
As Lilian drags me to the next knotted couple, she leans in to whisper. “The mates we just blessed are already pregnant.”
I gasp. “What?! How do you know?”
“I could smell it. Honestly, I can smell it all over this field, Aliya.” Lilian sighs like I’ve somehow inconvenienced her, although I can’t imagine how.
“What’s wrong, Luna? Did I do something weird again?” I ask.
She avoids my eyes, lifting her chin and trudging ahead with a frown. “Thanks to a certain aphrodisiac stew incident in the Community Center, I bet we’ll have a lot of pregnancies this month. I’m going to be extra busy pulling pups out of wombs nonstop by the start of next year.”
Oh, that’s how I’ve inconvenienced her. My heart sprints, and I’m flustered to my core; our baby-making scent infused into the community stew last week.
I gape at Noah trailing behind us. He has to bite back a shy laugh, covering it with his palm.
Lilian wraps her arm around my shoulders. “It’s okay. It’s a good thing. I’m not sure if you realize this, but you and Noah are sex symbols for the pack.”
My feet slow. “What? That sounds a bit degrading for how much hard work it is.”
Lilian scoffs, rolling her eyes. “Humans.”
Noah growls, and Lilian jumps.
She hurriedly rubs my arm. “Sorry, Aliya. What I’m trying to say is the top Alpha and pack Luna”s relationship represents how loving and tight-knit the pack is at its core. Your intimacy inspires the pack to love harder, and sex is a healthy part of wolf culture. It’s not shameful, degrading, or frowned upon here. It”s an act of bonding and loyalty.”
Lilian squeezes my hand, her eyes scanning the field for where to deliver our next blessing.
“It”s a crucial honor to be the pack”s leading sexual pair. One you already have deep influence in.”
As the next mated couple thrusts into each other before my eyes, putting their entire bodies into their lovemaking, I can feel their fierce commitment to each other through their scent. Lilian is telling the truth.
Which means I’m the pack’s queen of sex, and Noah is the king.
And to my surprise, especially after all I’ve been through, there’s nothing I want more.
I stop in my tracks. “Wait, Luna—” My hands land on my abdomen, twisting my heart. “Does that mean you can already smell if I”m pregnant?”
Lilian doubles back for me. As she leans in to sniff my neck, my heartbeat throbs into my ears.
“Hmm...” Lilian says nothing more.
My heart sinks, knowing it wasn”t an immediate yes. Noah wraps his arm around my waist, and I’m tempted to burrow into him to hide forever.
But his warmth stabilizes me. “You just started ovulating, my sweet Omega. It”s too early to tell.”
“Oh.” My shoulders sink despite Noah rescuing my hope. “I guess I”ll keep having to be patient then.”
Noah chuckles, kissing me on my cheek over and over again until I break into a smile. Lilian gives me a subtle wink, extending her hand for me to return to work.
From then on, I bless every couple with my full heart, any remaining awkwardness or embarrassment washing away. Considering how my ex made me view sex, the raw power of this moment is hitting me hard. This ritual is beyond healing for my soul. It’s transformative.
When I turn to Noah after blessing the last knot, Lilian separates from me quickly, heading for the tree line. It startles me; what’s she running from?
“Luna?!” I call after her.
I don’t understand why other lingering, knot-free wolves scamper away from us too.
Until my eyes land on Noah’s hard bulge, visible even by moonlight.
I swallow hard.
Noah’s chest heaves as his stare indulges in every inch of my body. “I changed my mind. I want to make you feel good.”