32
Ican finally let go of my stomach. Lilian releases me, throwing open the front door to assess our surroundings from the porch. I follow close behind, gripping the iron railing.
A distinct howl absorbs my every breath. The song echoes through the trees until the birds scatter above the forest canopy.
“Noah,” I breathe.
In his wolf”s song, I hear grief, anger, and exhaustion. But mainly, relief. I grip my heart as it aches with him.
His howl is no longer alone, wolf voices erupting from every direction with their own emotional variations. Each subsequent howl lifts more and more pressure off of my bond with Noah, reminding us we’re not alone.
But Noah”s next howl is something else entirely. The second I hear it, I know it”s for me. His giddy elation washes down every inch of my body.
My skin erupts with pleased shivers.
Mate, Noah says.
I hobble off the shop’s porch on shaky legs, darting into the forest. Mate! Come here!
But Noah is already sprinting toward me. The second we lock eyes, he shifts into his human form, tackling me in the biggest hug he can manage, his arms encompassing my entire back.
I can’t resist bursting into tears.
Noah gasps over me, gripping my head. “Oh, fuck. I’m so fucking sorry he did this. My sweet Omega, I—”
“He’s gone!” I’m crying, but I’m also laughing. Noah pulls back, his eyes wide. “He’s gone, Noah! We can enjoy our mating ceremony without having to watch our backs. We can have our baby, we can—”
Noah kisses me so hard that I have to cling to him to remain upright. Even as wolves surround us, we topple into the leaves, eager hands tugging at each other’s hair.
Then Noah lets out a desperate whine. “O-Omega, I want to feel you closer.”
I try to soothe him with my scent, but his Alpha musk frightens nearby Omega wolves into scurrying away. Noah wasn’t kidding; his wolf is acting even weirder than mine today.
“Noah, are you about to slip into—”
He nips at my neck, and my whole body jolts before melting into his arms at the pleasure sweeping my core. Whether I want to or not, I moan loud enough for our onlookers to hear.
But when I hear rustling in the nearby leaves, my eyes snap open. “O-oh, God. Noah, um—”
Noah grips my back, licking and biting my neck until my hips buck into his. “I want you. I want to give you that baby.” His eyes are a vivid yellow.
“Alpha, wait. I’m sorry, but I don”t feel too well.”
His hungry growls revert into whimpers. Softening his hold, he rubs his protective scent across my cheek. “Shit, I’m sorry. I’ve got you, my sweet Omega.” Then he growls. “That piece of shit ruined your day right when you felt so happy. I should kill him, just for that.”
I gasp. “Noah!”
He halts, his eyes reverting to their usual teal. Then he bursts into laughter. “S-sorry. My wolf is absolutely wild for you today. I feel like a hormonal teenager.”
After today”s stress, Noah’s gentle smile restarts my tears.
Noah smooths my hair back before pulling my head to his chest. I nuzzle into his warmth, listening for his heartbeat. It’s pounding like he’s been sprinting for an hour.
“I didn’t mean to make you so riled up,” I sputter through tears.
“Shh, my love.” He kisses me softly, his shoulders raising like they”re desperate to cocoon me even closer. “I love you. You’re so right, this is cause to celebrate. And I can’t believe I”m about to be able to hold you like this as my Luna for the rest of my life.”
I stroke his cheek, a luscious fire erupting in my belly from his smoldering gaze
“You’re beautiful, Alpha. I”m absolutely dying to be your Luna.” I pull back with a hammering heart. “But there’s something else I need to tell you.”
Noah”s expanding ribs halt, his stare locking onto mine in anticipation.
But the more my heart picks up the pace, the more nauseated I feel. I swallow hard, taking slow, steady breaths.
I’m so nervous to tell Noah I might actually be pregnant now, especially because it’s still too early to know for certain. I grab his hands anyway, determined to try my best for my mate. “Don’t freak out.”
His brows furrow. “Well, too late.”
I let out a sharp, anxious laugh. “Really, Noah. I don’t know if it’s true, but—” I swallow hard, unable to look into his vulnerable, worried eyes. “Amy noticed something different about me. So did your mom. It might explain why your wolf is feeling protective. Mine has been too, all day.”
“My mom said something to you? Amy too?” Noah’s eyes widen, his sudden seriousness rattling me. He holds me by the shoulders, looking me all over. “What’s wrong, Omega? Are you hurt?”
I halt his frantic search with a gentle touch on his chin, just before he starts sniffing me. “Nothing’s wrong. That’s the thing. It”s so good, I don”t want to lose any of it. Between mating with the love of my life, and now this...” I bite my quivering lip. “This is all I’ve ever wanted, right here.”
With shaking fingers, I lift Noah’s hands from my cheeks, placing them over my flat abdomen.
“I got really scared earlier when I saw a little blood.” My heart races, but Noah remains still. “But Amy thinks it was implantation bleeding. And without even telling your mom, she said she thinks I’m pregnant, and—” The breath Noah draws steals mine, anticipation stretching every second tenfold. “And my wolf agrees.”
But the smile Noah melts into makes me weep.
“A-Aliya...” His voice shakes as his hands can’t decide where to land, finally settling on my cheeks. Noah takes short, desperate breaths, sniffing my neck.
He whimpers out a soft cry, kissing my mark. “Holy fuck. Y-you do smell sweeter than ever. This is— This is such a good sign, Aliya, I—”
As Noah blubbers through a watery laugh, I laugh through my tears, overwhelmed by wave after wave of emotion. Noah melts into me, meeting my soft nuzzling as he laugh-cries with me.
Smashing our lips together, we grip each other’s shoulders closer until our torsos fall flush. This settles my tense shoulders, making me realize we”re protecting our baby between our bodies.
A whine escapes me, making Noah release my lips.
“Goddess, my poor, sweet Omega under all this stress. We’re okay now. I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Noah. What if I’m really carrying your baby?”
“I’m so happy, my wolf could howl.”
I giggle, his wolf leaping around mine in our bond between his heavy courting.
But my tears warp into fear. “Noah, don’t get too excited. I haven’t even missed a period yet, and anything could happen this early—”
Noah shakes his head, drawing my chin back to his lips. Kiss after kiss, his overjoyed pheromones hum in my heart. I soften against his chest, allowing him to nestle me into his embrace. “It doesn”t change how I feel now. I just want to enjoy this moment with you, in case it’s true. Will you let yourself be happy with me?”
I erupt into a smile, unable to stop the joy from pouring out of me. Noah giggles with me, nuzzling his nose against mine as my heart pounds into my ears.
When I remain quiet, Noah chuckles against my lips. “Okay, don’t answer that. I’ll keep carrying the happiness for both of us.”
“No, I— I do feel happier than ever. Even though it’s scary.”
I gaze deep into Noah’s gorgeous eyes, reflecting vivid green from the leaves surrounding us. Wrapping my hands behind his head, I draw his lips down to meet mine.
Noah breathes me in as our lips meet, parting for each other in an intimate dance that only we know. As our kisses evolve into a full-body makeout, hands gripping at each other’s sides and backs, I’m hit with a desire so strong that I couldn’t remember what year it is if I tried.
But someone clears their throat behind us. My nails dig into Noah’s skin in fear.
Noah growls automatically, smushing me into his puffing chest. I whimper, sensing his readiness to attack.
Until we see who he’s growling at.
Elder Alpha Frank scoffs. “Excuse me?”
Noah’s eyes widen. “Oh, shit. Sorry, Elders.”
The Alpha Elders glower back, and I shrink deeper into Noah’s embrace. He’s doing his best to stifle his defensive wolf, but his instincts are still on overdrive as I scramble to my feet; he rushes to keep me steady as if his life depends on it.
Elder Beta Terrence gapes with furrowed brows. “Are you... alright, Alpha?”
“Yes, I’m—” Noah huffs, shaking his shoulders to release their tension. He hugs me in front of him, covering his bare waist. “Sorry. My wolf didn’t appreciate someone threatening his mate today. I’m doing my best to rein him in.”
“That’s understandable.” Elder Beta Terrence nods. “We wanted to thank you for your continued efforts to protect this pack.”
“Which also brings us to the Alpha Summit,” Elder Alpha Aaron says.
Noah stiffens.
But his hands also lace around my waist, settling over my lower abdomen.
I”ve never felt something so powerful. Just his touch releases my remaining worries. Every instinct in me demands I protect my abdomen, yet I have full trust in Noah caressing the most vulnerable piece of my body. In fact, I think this is exactly what my wolf has craved all day.
The fact that my body craves Noah’s touch because his child might be growing inside me is so gorgeous that it’s almost unfathomable. I press my quivering lips together, struggling not to cry as my wolf happily whines against Noah”s in our bond.
Elder Alpha Aaron smiles, not understanding my heavy elation wasn’t in reaction to him. “We received word that the Summit is moving not one month, but two months in advance to August’s New Moon. They want to strengthen our allyships as soon as possible. This includes celebrating the Greenfield Luna’s arrival.”
Despite his odd tension, Noah perks up. “Oh. Well, good. I”m looking forward to introducing my soon-to-be Luna.”
My heart leaps, forcing me to bite back a smile. Noah chuckles, rubbing my back.
But Elder Beta Terrence still looks concerned. “Are you... physically prepared? Even with the Summit moving sooner?”
Noah shrugs. “I’m always prepared. Otherwise I wouldn’t be a responsible leader of this pack.”
The Elders glance at one other. My stomach churns. Something unspoken is said between wary, irritated scowls, but Noah didn’t mention anything weird about the Alpha Summit in relation to the Elders.
Elder Aaron clears his throat. “Future Luna, this will be a great opportunity to strengthen your connection to fellow packs alongside our Alpha. We need our allies in case conflicts like Mason Hart’s pack turn out to be a larger threat.”
Noah and I sober ourselves, straightening for the Elders.
I smile. “Absolutely. I’m looking forward to meeting our allies and strengthening those connections.”
“Good. And our pack is eagerly looking forward to your ceremony this week.”
As the Elders excuse themselves, I lean against Noah’s shoulder, basking in his warm scent. I get to be his Luna soon—in front of the whole world.