24
Ican’t believe my kids are graduating preschool today. I hope they’ll feel special at their mini graduation ceremony after their final recess with me. To look the part, I”m wearing a vibrant, color-splashed button up shirt tucked into my black slacks, and desperately trying not to let my adoring, yet grieving emotions heighten too far.
My students still don’t know I won’t be teaching at this school next year.
Seated at the snack tables outside, I’m surrounded by my preschoolers and their loving grown-ups. The Lycan grown-ups invited their “Uncle” Noah to the graduation. He stands behind all the grown-ups, taller than everyone here.
Even though I’m constantly aware it’s my last day as a teacher here, I can’t stop smiling. My kids are happy, their grown-ups are excited, and my mate beams every time I meet his eyes.
I bite my lip, stifling the giddy, teenagerish laughter in my chest as Noah winks. But with one glance at my watch, I gasp.
I cup my hands around my mouth to amplify my voice. “Alright, class! Let’s line up for your graduation ceremony!”
With some help from the grown-ups, we manage to shuffle the kids into a formation somewhat resembling a line. They lean past each other to look at me as I address their grown-ups.
“Welcome, grown-ups! Thank you for joining our class for a very special day today: Class 34’s Preschool Graduation!”
The kids all scream louder than I expect, and I burst into laughter with most of the grown-ups.
“One, two, three, eyes on me!”
They’re all silent in a second, and I allow myself a bright giggle.
“Okay, Class 34. When I call your name, come get your certificate!”
I call Cory”s name first. His shy smile grips my heart as he makes his way over to me. Cory waves to his mom, and his pride in his accomplishment is apparent in every step when she claps for him extra loudly.
“Great job, baby!”
I bite the inside of my cheek. The way they just looked at each other was so sweet—like they’re each other’s favorite people in the universe. Just thinking of Noah and I sharing the same bond with our future kids makes my eyes hot.
No, I’m refusing to cry. Which means I definitely can’t look at Noah.
His wolf has the zoomies in our bond, nudging my wolf over and over again between spinning in circles. Despite trying my hardest, I can’t help myself, sneaking a glance at Noah just before I hand Cory a certificate.
Noah”s smile is covered by his fist, so all I can see is his doting stare. It flips my heart.
He shakes his head. My sweet Omega... You’re absolutely beautiful with these kids. I’m having a total moment.
I bite my lip, my heart pounding. He’s picturing us watching our future kids graduate preschool, isn’t he? Just like I am.
Cory takes his certificate with a tooth-gap grin, turning to show his mom.
I squat beside him for a photo—his mom ready with her phone—but Cory turns to me, giving me a massive hug. My heart melts as he squeezes me hard, squealing in excitement beside my ear.
Oh, God. I can’t take this, Noah.
I verge between crying and laughing, my hands shaking as I rub Cory’s back. “I’m so proud of you, buddy! Congratulations, kindergartner!”
“Kindergartner!?” He squeals.
Cory’s mom laughs. “What do you say, Cory?”
“Thank you, Miss Matsuoka!” He dives in for a second hug, and the crowd of grown-ups burst into doting laughter.
But now I’m really struggling not to cry. Noah’s wolf courts mine in our bond, steadying my heart.
And I need it; by the time I get to Kelsi, every single kid has wanted a hug, and I’m an internal wreck.
“Come get your certificate, Kelsi!” I smile.
She’s distracted, searching for her grown-ups in the crowd.
Fuck, her mom couldn”t make it to the ceremony.
Just before my heart snaps, Kelsi”s aunt stands, her small figure emerging from the crowd. Kelsi”s aunt turns her phone screen, showing Kelsi her mom watching the graduation on a video call.
Kelsi lets out a squealing giggle, running over to me to get her certificate.
I burst into laughter, relief flooding my chest. “Oh, my goodness! Congratulations, Kelsi!”
When she leaps into my arms for a hug, my heart aches. I’m going to miss her. Thankfully, she’s in our pack, but I won’t see her every day anymore. I squeeze her tight as the grown-ups laugh, unaware I’m about to sob if this little one doesn’t let me go when I set her back down.
Thankfully, Kelsi releases me, darting into the crowd to show her aunt and mom her certificate up close. Once the last student has their certificate, it takes at least 20 adults to herd the excited toddlers for a final picture. My heart burns as I look at their sweet, smiling faces, most of them already losing focus and wanting to go play. I should’ve gotten a group photo with them all too. Everyone is already dispersing.
My shoulders sink as the grown-ups reach for their kids, but Andy’s mom steps forward.
“Wait, we need one with Miss Matsuoka!”
The kids meander back to their spots, and I know better than to miss out when toddlers are cooperating. I rush behind the class for a photo, and the preschoolers giggle at my frantic run.
I sputter out a laugh. “You think that’s funny, huh?” I exaggerate my panicked movements, giggling with them. My laugh is genuine, screaming “cheese” with the kids for the camera.
The grown-ups lean in to snap another picture—or ten. Noah is behind them, taking one for me to keep.
I meet his eyes and laugh at his huge grin. If I could imagine how his inner wolf looks when he’s at his happiest, these eyes squinting with joy would be exactly it.
My heart might explode any second; I don’t think it can take much more cuteness today.
But all eyes are on me, expecting me to close out the ceremony before it erupts into chaos.
My stomach knots. I really hate saying goodbye on a normal year, but they don’t know it’s my last year teaching here, yet.
Swallowing hard, I smooth my clothes and put my smile back on. “I won’t keep you kindergartners long so you can go play, but I just wanted to say—” I glance at Noah, taking a deep breath. Then another. “I had so much fun with you, Class 34! I’m going to miss seeing your bright smiles every day next year, especially since it’s my last year teaching here.”
I’m too afraid to look at anyone’s reactions, judging by the sudden movement I can see out of the corner of my eyes. My focus remains locked on Noah, allowing him to ground me.
“I’m so proud of every single one of you for how much you’ve learned about sharing, friendship, and the world. I know you’ll do such an amazing job in kindergarten. Congratulations, learners! Give yourselves a big hug for me!”
As I take a step into the grass to join the crowd, I’m stopped by multiple concerned grown-ups.
“Miss Matsuoka, did you say it was your last year?”
“Wait, so she did say that?” Cory’s mom clutches her shirt. “I wanted my daughter to be in her class next year.”
Andy’s mom gapes, her forehead knotted. “Is it true, Miss Matsuoka?”
All eyes are on me, worry replacing the smiles from just moments before. The Omega in me wants to crawl into a hole and disappear. This is supposed to be their day, not mine. What do I say now?
Before the voices stepping forward overwhelm me, my eyes catch on my mate.
Noah gives me a sad smile. Look at the impact you’ve had. They’re ready to fight for you for a reason. You probably have no idea of the depth you’re actually helping their kids.
I bite my lips, dropping my head as tears flood my eyes. I turn around, quickly brushing them away.
“Oh, Miss Matsuoka...” Andy’s mom mutters.
But a smile bursts across my face as I turn back to address my students and their grown-ups. “I really wish I could return to teach, but with the budget cuts, I won’t be returning next year.”
The grown-ups deflate, muttering to each other.
Cory’s mom shakes her head. “I’m so sorry to hear that. So many of us have younger kids we wanted to be in your class. But you’ll keep teaching, won’t you?”
The desperate hope in everyone’s eyes crushes me.
“Well, I’ll be moving on to create something new in Greenfield—” I eye Noah for permission to share, and he nods. “Maybe a cross between a daycare and organized homeschooling for kids that need behavioral support in that town.”
Andy’s mom in particular brightens up—a weight lifting from her eyes as she practically hops in excitement. “Oh, that”s wonderful!”
This relaxes the atmosphere just enough for groups to start breaking off, guiding their kids to the playground.
Okay, I got through it. Thanks to my sweet Alpha.
As I return to my mate’s side, his soft touch on my back allows me to stand straighter and swipe away my remaining tears. Wolves pour in from all over the field, desperate for a chance to talk to us—well, particularly for a rare chance to talk to Noah.
But Andy’s mom seems to want to stick around after talking to him, eyeing me nervously. I wave her aside with a smile, settling beside her on a playground bench.
“Andy made such incredible leaps this year! I’m so proud of him,” I say.
She hugs me out of nowhere, squeezing me tight. My heart crawls into my throat, flooded by her grateful, yet sad scent.
Her voice is soft and shaky. “I don’t know how to thank you. After how awful school was for him last year, I feel like I got my happy kid back.”
I release a soothing scent on instinct, and Andy’s mom sighs, releasing me.
“I love him no matter what, of course. But with Andy having to repeat preschool, and all his anger issues that came up—” Her lip wobbles, tearing at my heart. “I just hated seeing him so sad. So I can’t thank you enough for helping him feel like it’s okay to be who he is. He’s a positive, energetic kid again.”
My heart throbs with every word she says. “Oh, it’s my absolute pleasure. He took in everything I said and implemented it on his own. It’s his accomplishment.” Then I chuckle. “And I think it helped that he wants to be an Alpha protecting his pack Luna.”
Andy”s mom gives a hearty laugh, drying her eyes. “It’s not just that, Luna. And it’s not just about his resiliency, either—although, my kid is incredibly resilient.”
She leans in, her eyebrows furrowing. With how deep the pain on her face sets into the soft wrinkles at the corner of her eyes, I can tell this pain existed long before Andy was born.
“No other teacher knows how to work with wolves around here. We all love Teacher Rainn, of course, but I and many other Lycan parents want our pups to grow up suited to blend in with human society, not confining them to our hometown so they can lead any life they want to. Andy”s older brother, Jason, struggled the same way in human school. But Jason didn”t have a teacher like you. I really think it changed him, no matter what I could say or do to try to help.” She shakes her head, quickly swiping away fresh tears. “You’ve always met your students where they’re at, and it changed Andy”s life. He was so stifled and shamed last year that he hated school. At three years old!”
My heart snaps. “Oh, Andy... I didn’t know. He was my most enthusiastic student most days, and got the whole class excited in whatever we were doing.”
She smiles. “Well, I saw improvements in Andy’s mood from the very start of the school year. He”d come home, telling me everything he learned. And I know I only heard half of what havoc he must”ve been creating, but I know how patient you”ve been with him.” She winces. “Like with the biting incident.”
She hangs her head, but I grab her hand.
“And I really believe patience and emotional processing is all he needed that day. I”m just so grateful he took it in. Andy even came up to me this week, applying what he learned that day to a new situation. I was so impressed!”
Andy’s mom closes her eyes, her palm pressed to her heart with a heavy exhale. “Did he? Oh, my goodness, you have no idea what it”s like to hear that.”
“Considering what you”re sharing, Andy has given it his all, no matter what happened in the past. He’s an incredible kid.”
She rubs my arm, releasing some of her doting scent until my heart pounds ten times faster. “You”re such a sweetheart. I know you”re not going to take credit over my son, but just know, you”ve always been the greatest Luna-like figure for our little community here, even before you came to Greenfield. Thank you, Luna. Thank you.”
A part of me feels like bawling as Andy’s mom rejoins her family’s side. Her vibrant laughter tells me she’s in love with Andy’s happy screech more than ever, but she has no idea a fire has been lit under me too. One I didn’t expect.
My wolf whispers to me. Luna... I’m ready to be Luna.
I’m shocked; I’ve never had such a clear awareness of my desires, other than when I met Noah.
Uncertainty floods my mind without giving me a single heartbeat to recover. How do I know I’m good enough for the job? Can I ever know? But my wolf stands her ground, puffing her chest high above the flower field in our bond’s inner world.
Noah notices the shift in her, turning to meet my eyes despite the wolves surrounding him. They continue speaking to him, but his eyes are glued to me.
I stare back, my cheeks flushing with desire.
No, I need to be Luna. His Luna. As soon as possible.
Noah’s shoulders rise as he tears his eyes away from me, unable to contain his wolf bounding through our bond.
That’s not the main problem. I can’t control my wolf at all, and she’s rubbing her horny scent all over his wolf to rile him up. The more I try to restrain her, the worse she behaves, baring her backside to tempt Noah’s wolf. I slap my forehead and look at the sky, trying to drown out the image with thoughts of clouds and birds.
But only 30 seconds later, Noah turns back around in his human form. His breath is heavy, and his scent carries itself on the wind. I’m hit with a rush of sexual pheromones so strong, my wolf begs to be let out as wetness seeps from my core.
Yes,my wolf says, dragging her body across her Alpha. I want to make my mate feel good.
As heat clouds my head, I can’t stop her.
Wolves across the field cover their noses, their eyes glued to me and Noah. Humans adjust their collars and fan their faces, likely blaming their sudden arousal on the summer heat.
The last of my wits has my head whipping over both shoulders, seeking an exit. Noah, we can’t do this here!
He doesn’t answer. When I look back at him again, his expression only darkens. Omega, your wolf... She”s all over me.
I know it’s my wolf ravenously courting Noah’s in the first place, but she genuinely won’t stop. And unfortunately, it’s having just as strong of an effect on Noah. His teal eyes are already morphing to yellow.
Sorry, you’re right—I started it. I can’t contain her,I mindlink.
W-well, I don’t know why it’s hitting me so hard, but whether it’s the start of your heat or not, I’m about to slip into a serious rut, so...
My heart flips. Noah’s wolf pants in our bond, warning me he’s further gone than he looks in his human form.
OCD harm fears grant me a breath of clarity: what if we lose control, mating on the playground and disturbing everyone around us?
That intrusive thought sounds ridiculous, and it’s also horrifying enough that I trust that we won’t act on it; Noah wouldn’t do anything I don’t want.
Except we’re not the only Lycans I’m worried about. Itching, jumpy wolves are peppered across the playground, sweat creasing brows as Lycans fan themselves. What if our scent influences other wolves, just like the stew incident? I can’t promise the other Lycans understand human culture around sex. Not with their enthusiastic, culturally-expected exhibitionism that most humans do not share.
Right on cue, two separate Alphas grab their kids, heading for the car with shifted eyes. When I spot one mate stealing a sneaky grip on their mate’s ass, I gasp. My eyes land back on my mate.
He hasn’t stopped staring.
My heart flips. Noah?! What’s going through your mind?
He chews on his lip, eyeing me up and down.
All he mindlinks is, Mate.
Oh, God. We have to get out of here before we cause a major scene.
Meet me in the teacher’s bathroom. I take off for the bathroom first, but I can feel Noah’s wolf stalking close behind. Tell those wolves that you and I need to talk in private.
I glance over my shoulder to find Noah not even bothering to excuse himself, setting his sights on me. His prowling stare only encourages my wolf. My lungs tighten as the distance closes between us. A deep instinct within me begs to make him chase me, and I automatically pick up the pace. I breathe harder as he strides faster, an electrifying craving striking our bond.
The second the building shields us from the playground’s view, Noah deepens his chase. Excitement pumps through my veins, encouraging me to race faster. But Noah’s long legs easily close the gap. When he reaches out to capture me, I gasp at how intense it feels, even though all Noah does is hug me against his side.
I grip his shirt, tugging him closer. But that was a mistake; with burning eyes, Noah’s hyper wolf shines through. He scoops me up by the hips, throwing me over his shoulder.
I sputter out a laugh, and Noah fast-walks us into the empty teacher’s lounge, straight to the bathroom. Within seconds, I’m locking a bathroom stall door behind Noah’s back, cramped into a single stall with my massive mate.
I get to work unlatching Noah’s belt.
But with a gasp, Noah backs up. “Fuck, wait. I just got back into my rational head a little.” He rubs his eyes hard with the base of his palms before shaking his head clear. When he looks at me again, his eyes have settled to green. “I don’t know what you have in mind, but I haven’t prepared you enough to mate the way your wolf’s begging me for.”
My heart flips, imagining Noah pounding into me for the first time in ages—in a bathroom of my ex-workplace, of all places. With how spontaneous and risky this moment is, I actually feel more prepared than usual; my panties are thoroughly soaked just from Noah chasing me.
Actually, I might be too prepared. Fire burns my core—a silent, incoming threat. With Noah’s yearning scent stinging my eyes, it’s only mere minutes before I slip into a full heat.
“That’s perfectly fine, Alpha,” my wolf purrs through me. I drop to my knees, unbuttoning my shirt until he has a full view of my cleavage. “I’ll just take the edge off for you down here first. Then you can knot me from behind.”
Noah blinks a few times until his yellow eyes shift back to green. “W-wait, what?”
I freeze. “Sorry. Is this okay?” I gaze up at him, already salivating.
“You sound—” His eyebrows furrow as he grips the wall for stability, taking a deep whiff of my scent. “Oh, fuck, did I put you in an early heat? God, it’s fucking strong.”
I purr, licking his cock even harder over his thin boxers until it flexes against my tongue.
Noah gasps. “H-holy fuck— I think we’re screwed. We can’t leave the bathroom like this.”
His eyes blaze yellow as I tug his boxers to his thighs, nuzzling against his shaft as it bobs free.
I purr. “I want to please my mate.”
“O-oh, Goddess— You’re 100% wolf brain, aren’t you?” His chest heaves. “Because I’m about to be too.”
“Then, do you still want me to use my mouth on you, Alpha? If you’re worried about hurting my mouth too, I’ll make you come over my breasts at the end instead.”
“Oh, my— I—” He grips the top of the stall. The metal creaks as he writhes against my tongue. “I’d love that, but I mainly want to try to get you pregnant. That’s what your wolf is begging me for, and my wolf is dying to give it to her.”
My core clenches as my vision reverts into shades of gray, yellow, and blue, my wolf surfacing.
She must be showing herself on my face somehow; Noah purrs, stroking my hair back with mesmerizing sweeps over my scalp. “Oh, my gorgeous mate. You like that idea, don’t you? Looks like I’m not going to be able to get you home until we try.”
“But I—” My hand travels to my groin at the thought, and Noah breathes even heavier. “I want you to do it by knotting me, Alpha.”
Noah’s cheeks flush as even his wolf is rendered speechless. With a delighted hum at my fingers circling between my legs, I lick the drop seeping from Noah’s tip. Noah flexes against my touch, but when my tongue roams to his thigh, I can’t resist giving the dense muscle a little nip.
Noah steps back with a hiss, grabbing my chin. His sharp, serious stare sends an icy thrill through my veins.
Sorry, Alpha. I got a little too excited by you.I lick the drop of blood my fangs left on his thigh, peeking up at him guiltily.
My mate furrows his brows. “Fuck, Omega. We’ve had so much mating sex, I forgot how horny your wolf was in heat. But today, I don’t get it. It’s almost like she wants me to play-fight with her.”
I nod.
But that feels so odd to me that a bit of my usual, human vision slips through, pink hues seeping back into our skin tones.
One of Noah’s eyebrows raises as mine furrow; I’m struggling to push past my wolf’s judgment to see reality. Why are we so riled up today? I’ve never liked conflict, so why do I feel like pestering my mate on purpose? Enticing a genuine growl out of him?
Noah studies me. “What is it that you need, feisty Omega? Your wolf is rolling at my feet again. Does she want me to roughhouse with her?”
I hum, staring at Noah’s tempting thigh. When I open my mouth to nip him again, Noah growls. I shrink, but with a burst of my elation in our bond.
Noah breaks into a sly grin. “Oh, I see. She wants me to put her in submission?”
Excitement floods my veins. I stare back into his eyes, challenging him directly.
“Try,” I whisper.
I can’t stop myself. I rush in to bite his thigh again, but Noah growls—earnestly growls, glaring down and everything.
Just like I wanted.
“Feisty Omega. You’re naughty today.”
I gasp at the rush of heat his words burrow into me. Noah freezes.
Then he frowns. “Wanting to play-fight is one thing. But if I didn’t know you better, I’d think your kink suddenly reversed itself.”
“My kink?” I blink a few times. “What kink?”
He tilts his head, a slow smile creeping over his face. “You don’t know?”
I glare at him. “Don’t laugh at me.”
We both freeze; Noah’s chest puffs in response to my gaze.
Oh, shit. I just challenged his wolf somehow.
Unintentionally challenging my Alpha sends such a hearty thrill through my chest that I tear my eyes away, tensing like I’ve been jumpscared. With it comes a rush of heat to my pussy so indulgent, I’m forced to swallow a shuddering moan.
Even after a stabilizing breath, my wolf’s voice comes out shaky. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. If anything, my kink is just mating with you.”
Noah chuckles. “Okay, okay. Either way, you’re confusing me today, Omega. Almost like you’re in a different headspace than you’ve ever shown me before.”
I clean his thigh with an irritated growl, but Noah places a hand on my head with a gasp.
“Oh, fuck, wait. Look at me again.”
I obey, but when I see his curious, adorable head tilt, I whip my head away on purpose with a smile, forcing him to move me himself if he wants to look at me again.
He’s gentle with me, but he does guide my face back to him, urging me to look at him with a stable grip on my chin as he looms over me.
When we meet eyes, Noah’s grin widens. “Oh, I think I nailed it by accident.” He turns my head side to side, analyzing my eyes. “This isn”t my sweet Omega. This is my sweet Alpha, isn’t it?”
My lungs pulse faster with every second that my powerful Alpha’s eyes challenge me head-on. I don’t want to look away, no matter how many times it flips my heart. Eventually, I can’t bear the rush of it, dropping my stare to Noah”s knees as I gasp for air.
He’s heightening my heat. Every inch of me burns, concentrating my pleasure in my core. It almost feels like his eyes have already been mating me silly, my pussy pulsing with an aching, wet fire.
“You want more, don”t you?” Noah purrs. “Which part is it that you like? Do you feel that buzzing in your chest when I look at you? Challenge you? Does it feel good?”
Shivering at his words, I peek up at him, desperate to feel it again. His stare hits ten times as hard; Noah’s wolf smiles through him, showing his full incisors. He’s smiling, but his stare remains sharp, heated beyond what I can withstand. As my eyes dart away, Noah hums. “That’s what she wants. She wants to be bossed around today. She wants to be challenged. Am I right?”
All traces of Noah’s rational side have left his body, and my wolf loves it. I spread my scent against his legs, rubbing my head, neck, and breasts all over him.
“Yes,” I mutter into his knees. “I feel that thrill each time I challenge you, just like you said—”
I freeze; Noah’s grip tightens on my hair. It’s gentle enough that it doesn’t hurt, but hard enough to give my scalp a blissful massage. With my humming pleasure, Noah purrs.
“Stand up.” His voice rumbles against the stall walls, chilling my spine.
I do as I’m told, but my wobbly legs threaten to give. Noah catches me, hugging me to his chest.
He nips my ear, his voice rough even as it lowers. “Turn around, little Alpha.”
I stand straighter, even though it makes my heart pound wildly. “I’m not little.”
Who am I kidding, Noah towers over me. As my mate stands even straighter too, his fangs extend with his grin, shooting excitement down my spine. “Yes, you are. And that’s exactly why you’re deadly as fuck.”
I drop my head. “You’re making fun of me.”
Noah chuckles, cupping my cheeks until I meet his stare again. As his eyes roam over my face, I only grow hotter, hardly able to withstand the strength behind his burning scent. “You don’t realize the power in what you’re doing right now, do you?” Noah’s eyebrows raise as mine furrow. “I’m not actually joking at all, Aliya. But I’m glad you don’t understand what I mean. It means I’ve done my job well in keeping you feeling safe here. Now turn around, Alpha. Palms flat on the wall.”
My heart rate spikes at how serious he sounds. I’m desperate for him to roughhouse with me, so before turning around, I dive for his mark, giving him a quick bite. Noah gasps, but I don’t give him time to retaliate; I whip myself around, dropping my palms flat on the wall, as requested.
With a fiery growl, Noah reaches around my waist to undo my pants button. His body heat emanates across my back, and his heavy breath fans against my neck until I fawn for him. Noah gives my mark a sharper bite than I expect, and I jump in his arms.
But I’m not letting him be the only one driving me wild. In order to keep my palms flat on the wall, I have to stretch above the toilet, doubled over with my ass out. I take my chance to rub myself on Noah’s erection, hoping it riles him up even worse. And there’s no denying its effect in our bond, his urgency stealing my breath. Noah’s purr shifts into a deeper growl. His hands roam down my back, stifling the rising desperation in his wolf with a few gentle humps against me.
Before I can whine about him taking his sweet time, Noah yanks my pants to my thighs, trapping my knees closed. I gasp, freezing in place.
Bent over the toilet, I’m fully exposed to him as he runs his fingers down my entrance from behind. His touch spreads tingles down my legs so strong that my knees squirm.
“Fuck, you’re drenched, little Alpha.”
My body welcomes his big fingers into me, slotting them deep in one slow thrust as I push my hips back.
A heavy moan escapes my lips. It echoes beyond the stall, bouncing across the tile walls.
“Shh... We’re in public.” With his free hand, Noah slips his fingers into my mouth, and my inner muscles flex over him in surprise. “Oh, fuck. You really want me in your mouth today, huh?”
I gladly bob my head over his fingers, hoping it urges him to do what I really want.
He’s thorough with his fingers, widening them to massage my G-spot until I’m letting out desperate little cries over his knuckles. As pleasure wells in my core, my hips squirm on the verge of orgasm from being fucked from both ends.
But I’m not satisfied with this. I yank Noah’s fingers from between my legs with a low growl, turning to glare at him as I continue to suckle his hand.
No, Alpha. Not your fingers down there.
Noah’s breath hitches as I reach for his cock, swallowing his fingers deeper before saliva spills from my lips.
“O-oh, shit. No, wait—” Noah’s voice is clearer than it has been since we locked ourselves in the stall.
His fear snaps me out of my focus. I freeze, his fingers still in my throat.
What? Did I do something wrong?
“No. I just don’t want to hurt you during sex. Are you thinking it through enough to understand that, or are you running on pure impulse?”
I turn over my shoulder, hoping he sees the resolve in my eyes. Neither. I’m paying attention to how my body feels, and I’m so ready that I’m literally dripping for you. Set your wolf free with me. Mate me any way you want to.
After staring for a few agonizing seconds, Noah huffs through the rising desire in our bond. “Okay... Okay.”
He removes his fingers from my mouth, urging me to kiss him. My lips are soaked and kisses sloppy, but Noah’s grasp is firm on my hips, his tip fitting into my entrance. Just its soft prodding breaks our kiss with my rapid, anticipatory gasps.
Moaning, I grip Noah’s hands as they tighten around my hip bones. “It— It feels nice, Alpha. I want you so badly—”
Noah growls against my back, hugging me around my abdomen. With a heated kiss, he presses into me. My moan shudders against his lips just as heavily as my thighs quiver. As he sinks in, my core has no room to escape his internal massage. A sugary spike of lust pounds through my aching heart muscles.
H-how is it? Noah asks.
I sputter out thick, uncontainable gasps against his lips, grateful we’re using mindlink. Good! So good—
He hugs me closer and closer, using our embrace to penetrate me—allowing my body to welcome him at its own pace.
After he pulls back, I shiver at how easily his soft skin glides back in. My knees dip in delight.
But when he bumps my cervix, my spine ignites like tingling fireworks. “Mmm!”
Noah releases my lips with a heated smack. His nose brushes my throat, taking a deep whiff of my pleased scent.
“You’re all Omega now,” he purrs, dragging his palms over my belly and hips.
When his hands sweep up my breasts, giving them a circular rub, it feels so good that I shove my ass back into him, burying him to the hilt. I’m so deliciously full that I can’t squeeze his swollen shaft. With every soft pulse of Noah’s hips, my whole body rolls through the tingling warmth he stimulates.
My arching back steals Noah’s breath, squeezing him inside me. He breaks from my lips, groaning. By how hard he’s growing, I’m positive he’s already on the edge. “Oh, Omega— Oh, Goddess, I think our timing was off this whole time.”
I can hardly grasp his words as he pulls almost all the way out, dragging pressure along every nerve inside me. When he stops moving, I can only blubber out a single word. “What?”
Noah groans against my scent gland, urging burst after burst of my lusty scent with dense licks. With each caress of his tongue, my thighs strain harder against my waistband, thrusting me back over his cock until he’s fully inside me again.
Noah shudders, pressing my neck to his open lips as he pants. “I’m about to get you pregnant. I can smell it—”
I suck in a surprised gasp, just as Noah pulls back to rebury himself in a slow, tender roll of his hips. Moans burst from me, unaccustomed to his size after we’ve taken a break lately. The pressure is intense, but after giving me a chance to accommodate him, Noah purrs against my neck in delight at my body’s quick, urgent squeezes. The sound of his soft, satiated hum softens my muscles, my body begging him to sink deeper and enjoy all of me.
As he rocks into me like I’m delicate, frustration rises in both of us, but Noah continues to work me gently. No matter how careful he is, I gasp for air at how thick he swells, stretching me to my limits every time I think I can handle him.
But it doesn”t hurt.
Sweat slips down Noah’s cheek, warning of his approaching knot, and my wolf finally snaps.
She growls in her Alpha’s face. “Stop holding back!”
When Noah’s eyes flick to mine, they’re back to their brightest. “Is that a challenge, Alpha?”
I can’t respond; my breasts are now smushed against the icy bathroom wall.
Crying out against the tile with every massaging press of Noah’s tip against my cervix, my jaw drops. “Ah! Yes—”
Noah steals my words with his tongue, licking my mark as his claws prick entire handfuls of my ass cheeks. With his hips picking up the pace, echoing wet slaps across the bathroom, I’m ready to burst. Noah’s approaching knot expands with every growl, taking up so much room at my entrance that I can hardly breathe.
“A-Alpha! Ah!” I drop my head back.
But Noah’s fangs prick my neck. The sting shoots to my groin as heat clouds my eyes. Rippling pleasure scours my body as he kneads the deepest part of me.
“My—” Breathy and desperate, Noah’s half-shifted voice makes me cry out in want. My moans urge him to grip me harder, keeping himself stationed deep into me with small, rapid pulses until I’m drooling from my gaping jaw.
“Oh, my sweet—” He cuts himself off again, unable to speak through a moan that threatens to send me over the edge. With that aching, sultry growl, I want him to call me his Omega, his Alpha, his anything.
But what comes out of Noah’s mouth is something I didn’t expect.
“My— My sweet Luna—” His words set off a cascade in my body, leaving me no room to escape the pleasure.
I fawn for him as I come. Noah takes his opening to sink his fangs into my mark, telling me his wolf meant every word.
I explode from the inside out, moaning to the ceiling like I’m praying to the Moon Goddess. Noah covers my mouth as I come louder than I ever have, every cry squeezing more and more sensation out of his thrusts. He groans against my neck, and Noah’s thick burst of fluid in my core extends my orgasm with his every spurt.
I didn’t know our bond would change if Noah marked me twice, but now that he has, our bond crackles into a million shards. My breath catches in panic, but as our bond reforms, I fall limp into his arms, unable to stand on my own from the emotional waterfall overcoming me. But Noah clings to me like his life depends on it, his desperate breaths against my neck telling me it’s hitting him just as heavily.
Our bond knits ten times as strong, weaving deeper than I knew possible. The inner world we’ve created washes over with our affection, everything we’ve felt for each other since meeting flashing before my eyes.
Noah doesn’t just love me, he loves being alive alongside me, just like I love being alive alongside him.
As his knot stations itself hard between my legs, I burst into tears, relishing in how close I feel to him. Each flex of my core urges more seed from him, pulling it towards my womb. I can’t catch my breath between sobs, panting like I just ran a marathon in his arms. Noah licks the blood from my neck until it stops, and he whines as he holds me against him. It ricochets such a conflicting mix of emotions through me that I whine with him.
I love every second of it.
But as Noah whimpers against my cheek, his emotions dissolve into panic. “Shit, was I too rough? Goddess, you’re so upset— I-I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you—”
“Noah— Noah, listen—” I grip his arms, struggling to soothe his panic.
Whether it’s leftover from his rut, my heat, or our fresh bond, our emotions are in full blast, and Noah hasn’t lost the clouded quality to his voice. He breathes hard and fast, and I know he needs me to ground him, but my wolf won’t stop whining with him long enough to calm him. I just love him so much.
I take deep, steady breaths, moaning through the hard, satiating prodding from Noah’s shaft against my cervix. Once I can manage a slower inhale, I sharpen my voice on instinct.
“Hey, listen.”
My strange, Alpha-like scent slips from me again, freezing Noah in place. With a hammering heart, I shove that piece of me back down, softening my voice.
“Sorry, it’s just— You didn’t hurt me. I’m so in love with you that I can’t stop crying, especially because I can’t stop thinking I might be pregnant with your baby now.”
“Goddess— Oh, Goddess, I can’t even process that yet.” Noah shudders, kissing my cheek over and over. As he sheds a few tears with me, Noah’s lip quivers. “Fuck, Aliya, why am I such a wreck?”
I nuzzle him back, desperate to soothe his tears. But his hands don’t stay on my waist. I gasp, my eyelids fluttering as his hot palms instinctively protect my filled abdomen. He caresses my belly like I’m already pregnant, thrusting my heart into a rollercoaster of emotions.
Until Noah stops with a groan. “Shit, no, I also f-fucked up just now. My blurry rut head isn’t an excuse. I didn’t mean to pressure you with those words about the— The future. About being Luna so soon. I don’t expect—”
My heart drops. “Noah, stop. Please, don”t continue that sentence.”
I swallow my disappointment. A selfish part of me wishes he’d beg me to be his Luna now, no matter how unhealthy it”d be. But Noah is right; it should be my call to say I feel ready. Not only will we be performing the equivalent of a marriage ceremony in front of the entire pack, but part of my lifelong commitment will be dedicating the rest of my life to everyone in Greenfield. Claiming I’m ready impacts far more wolves than just us.
He whimpers. “Fuck, please don’t be sad. I said that wrong—”
I hug his arms around me, giving him a tender squeeze. “I’m okay. But I did miss doing this with you. I love you so much that my heart aches.”
Noah’s shoulders droop, cocooning him around me. “Oh, my sweet—” Noah huffs, dropping to a shy whisper. “Fuck. S-sorry—”
My heart leaps. Did he almost call me his Luna again?
Noah smashes his lips against mine, his chest heaving against my back. He caresses my body, but I stop his palm on my stomach, loving how it feels.
Furrowing his brows, Noah strokes my abdomen with his thumb. “You okay?”
“I really like that,” I whisper.
This slows Noah’s worries to a stop. He breaks into a weary grin. “My sweet wolf with baby fever is still in control too, isn”t she?” He circles his fingertips around my abdomen, making me shiver. He purrs, softening his voice between gentle cheek kisses. “Okay, I hear you. I’ve got you, Omega. You’re okay. We’re both okay.”
I whimper, nuzzling into his lips for more. “I want to carry a baby for you so badly.”
He blinks through our kiss, some of the stark yellow fading from his vision with it. With a deep breath, Noah loosens his voice into its usual, gentle hum. “I know how much it means to you. I can smell, feel, and see it. Just don’t put so much pressure on yourself that you don’t enjoy it, okay? I’m okay to wait, as long as we’re here together.”
“But it means just as much to you too. I could see it today, on the field, and feel it right now, in your wolf.”
Noah kisses me slowly, nodding along to my words. “Y-you”re right. Maybe that’s why my wolf just freaked the fuck out, smelling you in heat. I want this with you so badly too.”
My heart leaps, my wolf whining in delight.
“But we won”t have to wait much longer, okay? We”re going to figure this out soon, one way or another. I know it.” His words turn my body to jelly, but Noah keeps me pressed against him in a full-body hug. “There you go. Relax, gorgeous.”
I lean into him, allowing him to hold my weight.
“Good girl. I’ve got you.”
My heart squeezes. “Noah...”
We nuzzle each other’s heads, stroking each other’s bodies everywhere we can reach. Noah kisses my sweaty temple, brushing my hair back into order.
But I’m lost in his every breath, dropping my head back against his shoulder as he holds me. A stupid grin remains plastered to my face no matter how hard I bite it back. I just can’t stop staring at him. I feel all mushy.
Noah breaks into a heavy-lidded grin. “Is this still my wolf mate looking back at me? Or my human mate?”
“It’s both of us. We’re thinking the same thing.”
He chuckles, his lips barely grazing my cheeks. My blinks slow, relishing in every second of his affection.
Noah smiles. “And what are you both thinking?”
“That you’re beautiful.”
His shyness takes hold as expected, fluttering my heart. But to my surprise, he holds my stare. Braving the discomfort for me.
“You’re the most beautiful wolf on the planet,” he whispers.
Our lips meet on instinct, and our prodding tongues flex Noah into my cervix. I give Noah a soft, pleased moan.
Which is when Mrs. Jacobs enters the bathroom.
“Miss Matsuoka? Are you alright in here?”