35
Our limbs tangle on their own, just like they do in our nightly cuddle balls.
But neither of us are as relaxed as we are in bed. There’s an urgency in the speed of our frantic breaths, electrifying the gaps between our bodies like it’s daring us to meld into one. Noah”s grip seems to consume me, pleasure erupting from my mouth when his nose meets my mark.
“Ah!”
My breath tightens into short rasps; I just moaned in front of a crowd of thousands of wolves.
But when I look to our side at our pack, I’ve never seen anything like it. Every single soul is enraptured with Noah and me, analyzing our movements. Some already strip bare, figuring we’re getting the mating ceremony started.
And as Noah focuses on my pleasure, first and foremost, there”s no denying I’m at the center of it all.
Oh, fuck. This is intense.
“I’m starting to freak out,” I whisper.
Noah growls, his wolf threatening to break through to protect me.
But that’s not what I want.
Before it”s too late, I grip his hair how he likes it, burying myself into his lips to redirect him. No, Alpha. Don”t hold back for me. My fear is just fear, and it’s only here because I care so much about this moment with you. Mate me. Mate me in front of everyone.
My wolf”s demand only excites Noah’s wolf more, his resurging fangs accidentally pricking my lip. He licks the drop of blood clean for me, cradling my head until I’m aching for more of his lips.
I pull back. “Enough. Kiss me again.”
His eyes ignite with a newfound fire. He draws me in, his deep voice rumbling against my lips. “There’s my feisty Alpha.”
Noah happily obliges my demanding wolf, moaning into my mouth as he meets my tongue. When you stepped forward tonight, it blew my fucking mind. You were already my Luna. Everyone could see it.
I whine, my body dipping against his as our frantic makeout quickly edges into something more. I wanted so desperately to be your Luna. I always have.
Noah growls into my throat, sliding his hands down my back until he can rock my hips over his cock. Pleasure rises higher and higher in my groin, inching up my spine until I can feel it swirling in my chest.
“A-ah! Oh, Goddess, that”s good.”
“Good girl. Tell me what you want.”
Oh, God. If we don’t stop now, we’ll want to mate right here. But we planned on mating in the field, as per the usual tradition.
Our wolves have other plans.
“More,” I gasp. “I want more. I don’t want to stop.”
Noah’s breath hitches at my words. When he groans through his exhale, it comes out as such a deep purr that I shudder.
Noah licks my neck, a spike of pleasure penetrating my core even though all I’m doing is rubbing up on my mate. Gripping fistfuls of my ass, Noah flicks his tongue across my mark, and I know it’s over for me. With each lick, my core clenches like he’s inside me.
“Alpha! Ah!” My fingernails dig into his back as my knees spread, allowing him full access to my soaked panties.
Holy shit. The sensation is so strong from all the emotions we’re feeling, that I’m already about to come.
As Noah’s hard shaft mercilessly stimulates my clit through my clothes, my voice comes out in breathy gasps.
“W-wait, stop, I-I’m already—” I meet Noah’s yellow eyes. “We’re not— in the field—”
Noah yanks his hips back just before I come, prowling over me with rolling shoulders. The longer I writhe in desperation to finish, the more Noah comes back to his senses. “Fuck. Sorry. My fucking wolf took over.”
“I want him here, don’t resist him. Please, I’m so close—” My wolf whines through me, and Noah winces.
His hands shake as he strokes my head and face, halting my wriggling hips with a hand over my belly.
“But you don’t want to come just yet, right? Hold it in, my love. You can do it.” His eyes flicker an even brighter yellow as he eyes my squirming body up and down. “Hold it in, so I can make you come ten times harder than this in the field.”
This only arches my back more, failing to subdue the pleasure in my groin.
“Can you hold it, love?”
I gasp as it hits me anyway, unrelenting heat pooling between my legs. “I-I can”t—”
Kneeling between my spread thighs, Noah glides his hands up my slit skirt in a heartbeat.
Two fingers slip into my panties, penetrating me in one, tender push. He curls his fingers, rocking my hips with just enough pressure to make me grip his wrist for more.
I can barely choke out my words, my approaching orgasm fuzzing out my breath. “A-ah! Harder—”
He adds a third finger, prodding my inner wall so quickly that my legs jerk with pleasure.
Noah was right; my orgasm hits me harder than it would’ve the first time, field or no field. He collects my moans with hungry lips, his wet fingers slowing into a gentle pulse as I shudder. My nipples harden in the cool summer night, gasping through the lasting effects as I gaze into his eyes.
“Fuck, that’s my good girl. You did it, Aliya.”
My heart spikes into my throat when I realize what he means; I just came in front of everyone.
I almost can’t believe it. That it’s physically possible for me after all I’ve been through, and that I’d also love it so much.
And I know it’s because I’m doing this with Noah. Even if it’s only my boosted hormones, the fact that they’re boosted means just as much; I wouldn’t be carrying Noah’s baby without him loving my heart to safety either. God, I can’t believe we made it here.
And now that we’re here, I’m craving more.
I whimper, my thighs squeezing Noah’s arm hard enough to let him know what I want. “Hurry. Take me to the field.”
Our bond erupts with anticipation as Noah’s face hardens into lust.
“Fuck,” he breathes. “I’m not sure I can handle how good this is.”
All I can do is moan, my legs twitching with leftover pleasure as he slips his fingers from me.
Noah helps me to my feet, doing the work for my shaking knees. But then his scent surges with something primal, stopping our forward progress.
In a split second, Noah is behind me. Holding me up with hungry hands, Noah caresses my breasts, sides, and belly—suggesting to mate from behind with hungry, low growls. The mere sound of it tells me he’s all instinct, urging my wolf to the surface.
I drop my head back, moaning with every kneading slip of his touch over my stinging nipples.
“Alpha, please— The field. Or else I’m not going to last.”
He gasps. “Fuck! S-sorry.” As we stumble deeper into the forest together, Noah groans in frustration. “My damn wolf is out of control—”
I stop him mid-dash, rubbing my horny scent all over his chest. “Stop forcing him down, Alpha. Let him out with mine.”
With a desperate huff, Noah kisses me all over, urging me through the trees. As he guides me to the field, I’m aware of a large mass of wolves following us. Watching us.
My heart pumps harder than ever from their stares, but since all I can see and smell is my hungry Alpha, each heartbeat feeds into my pulsing groin.
I whine, and Noah nuzzles me even closer, dragging his nose along the most sensitive spots of my neck.
“Mate. My gorgeous, sexy mate. I cannot believe I get to be with you for the rest of my life. I can’t be this lucky.” Noah’s locked stare is so intense that I can’t stop shivering. It”s a painful effort to keep from tackling him.
But as we court each other to the middle of the field with clashing lips and eager hands, the last of my fear evolves into excitement, knowing he’s right here with me. And I’m right here with him.
Only paces from the largest tree in the field, Noah strips his ceremonial robe, revealing his flowy undershirt and embellished vest, glittering in the moonlight with his every heavy breath. I come to a halt, facing him. His fierce stare sweeps my body.
“I want you.” The depth to Noah’s half-shifted voice spikes a thrill through my core. “...My Luna.”
That’s all I can take before I grip his vest in both fists, cinching our bodies together. When he succumbs to my grip in front of his entire pack, my neck erupts in goosebumps. Every slip of our tongues taste like our combined pheromones, pushing my wolf further to the surface until she’s all that’s left of me, purring and writhing against my mate.
Noah growls, gripping fistfuls of my ass as he rubs his bulge against me, but that’s not enough for him.
“You smell so good, Omega. You want it that bad too, huh?”
“Yes, Alpha.” My voice comes out airy as I nuzzle his lips, seeking more of him.
“Then how about I prepare you to mate?” He purrs against my lips. “Tell me, Luna, should I use my mouth, or my hands?”
My heart hammers into my throat. He’s ridiculously skilled with his tongue, enough to have me squirming at the thought of it. Noah takes note of my rolling hips, his eyes devouring me with want.
“Your mouth,” I whisper. “You’re too good at it.”
His gaze lands on mine. We hold our stares, excitement rising in our bond with each passing second. But Noah doesn’t dive between my legs yet; with one big, eager palm gripping the back of my head, he dives for my lips. Each kiss Noah places on my mouth steals my breath. Not only is he working my lips so hard that each press sends a jolting ache through my heart muscles, but I’m constantly aware of the eyes on us. Staring at our every move.
Can I really handle Noah going down on me in front of everyone?
But as Noah’s hand slides past my lower abdomen, his fingers prod my clit just as he slips his tongue back into my mouth.
Every concern melts away as I release a sharp moan against his lips. The soft fabric distributes Noah’s touch across the entire base of me, each rub tightening my grip on his shoulders with how luxuriously deep it hits. I rock my hips into his wide palm, kneading every bit of pleasure out of him.
He releases my lips with a tender pop. “That feel good, Luna?”
I squirm at the sound of my new title, heightening Noah’s growling purrs.
“I hope it feels good.” He prods me faster, making my knees dip under the weight of his touch.
But when I give the tip of his shaft a massaging squeeze through his pants, Noah growls.
“Don’t. I want to outlast you at least twice.”
My heart trips over itself. “O-oh, my—”
Noah steals my words, dropping to his knees to plant heavy kisses across my groin. Parting the slit of my skirt, his fingertips brush my thigh. We lock eyes. I shudder as his stare roams across my face.
“Beautiful.” Noah’s whisper tickles between my thighs as he drags his nose up my clit.
“O-oh, God— Alpha—”
Noah kisses my wet core through my lacy white panties, his hands skating behind my thighs. I dip against his lips with every kiss he plants, his pressure increasing with each shy whimper that escapes me.
Until his lips close around my clit.
“O-oh!”
I want you to feel it. How fucking good you make me feel, just watching you enjoy yourself,Noah mindlinks.
My focus latches onto Noah’s emotions through our bond. His pleasure in reaction to mine has a domino effect, expanding in my groin until I double over his head.
I can’t hold back the loudest moan I’ve had all night as Noah keeps his promise, preparing me to mate with the full pad of his tongue between my thighs. Suckling my clit through my panties, Noah grasps my hips to keep his hot mouth on me. My knees spread as my fingers dig into his scalp with a grateful massage.
When my cheeks burn hot enough to make my eyelids flutter, I grip Noah for stability. “A-Alpha, it’s too good—”
He hums against my clit, gripping my panties’ fragile waistband, and I groan.
“Oh, no, I—”
No? Noah’s ravenous eyes flick up to mine, shooting a knee-collapsing jolt through my groin as his tongue rests just above my bare clit.
He stopped.
My hips jerk into his tongue, threatening to drop me to the floor with how weak his hot tongue makes my knees. “Ah! Not ‘no!’ I can’t stand up, Alpha! I’m going to come hard—”
He eases my melting body to the floor, ravishing me with weighty licks the whole way down. Settling on my back, I no longer have the words to describe my pleasure, my hips bucking into his lips as Noah’s tongue glazes my bare flesh.
My ankles hook behind his shoulders on instinct, pulling him closer. Noah purrs, dragging his tongue up and down my labia.
But just when my back arches in delight, rolling the back of my head through the dirt, Noah pulls back. His golden eyes brighten with every breath. I blink, and he’s tearing at his pants.
“Mate— I want to—” He grunts, unable to unfasten his pants button with how massive he’s grown; tenting is impossible with how thick he is. “I want to really give it to you. I want to feel you come around me.”
My heart flips at how bold he’s being, but my pussy flexes faster, gaping wider for him by the second. I scramble to free him, but neither of our shaky hands can untangle the throbbing mess he’s made of himself.
He gasps. “Fuck, I want to help you so badly—”
When Noah winces in pain, my protective instincts take over. Gripping the top of his waistband, I yank hard. The button whizzes past my shoulder. But I only have one focus, diving to soothe him with my lips.
“Holy—” Noah groans as my tongue meets his throbbing tip, flexing rapidly against my touch.
He takes my cheeks into his palms, drawing me off him. “Not like this, gorgeous. I wasn’t done spoiling you.”
Within seconds of tender kisses on my mark, he has me splayed on my back. I can smell how much he adores me. Heat burns my cheeks down to my neck as Noah’s heavy-lidded eyes lock onto mine.
My knees widen as he rubs his bare shaft along my dripping pussy, coating himself.
I grip his thighs, unable to stop my hips from squirming. “Alpha—”
“I’ve got you, Luna.”
As Noah smashes our lips together, he reaches between us to grip his shaft in one hand. I squirm as he slips his tip against my clit over and over again, pushing higher and higher moans from me. Fistfuls of dirt do nothing to stop my rising orgasm, pressure building in my groin. I tear my lips from Noah to cry out to the moon.
“Alpha! I want you inside—”
He slips into me all at once, my soaked pussy welcoming his engorged shaft. When he bottoms out inside me, my knees squirm beside my shoulders from how full I feel.
“Oh! I’m—”
Noah drags the entire length of himself back out of me, his heaving breath tickling my nipples through my sheer top. It feels like his shaft extends forever, tugging more and more pleasure out of me until he plunges in one more time, pushing a gush of fluid from me.
I’m not just panting, I’m mewling for him with every breath. I writhe in the dirt as Noah gradually speeds faster into me, my pussy squeezing him so hard that he moans.
“Shit— You feel so fucking good—” Noah rubs my clit as I cry out in pleasure, his thick cock leaving no nerve untouched.
“Noah—”
Every muscle in my body squirms as I come, burst after burst of fluid from my core washing me in a tingling warmth.
As I whimper in bliss, rolling my head and hips through the grass to indulge in more of his slow strokes, Noah’s flexing cock prods my cervix, still clinging on for more.
“Gorgeous. So fucking gorgeous.”
“Mmm, Alpha, thank you.”
Noah hovers over me, dipping his rippling frame to give me the softest kiss he can manage. It’s not until his lips soften my moans that I realize pleasure-filled cries echo all around us, hundreds of couples mating in the most passionate mating ritual I”ve seen.
Noah nuzzles my mark with a calming blanket of his scent. “I’m so fucking proud of you. Because you let yourself go, they did too. Your pleasure is powerful, Luna.”
My heart leaps into my throat. I can”t believe this, but he”s right. I just screamed my Alpha”s name and came in front of thousands of wolves.
And they loved it.
My heart gallops as bodies tangle around us, burning brighter in our pack bond as their own bonds strengthen.
And I”m feeling braver than ever. Loose and delirious enough to crave more, now that I”ve had a taste.
I want Noah to feel how ridiculously in love I am right now. He’s the one who inspires so much pleasure in my life, even when we’re not having sex. I want Noah to feel wanted.
Gliding my fingertips down his neck, I trace his faint scar from my mark. His body’s resulting pleasure hits me straight in the heart through our bond.
He loves it.
I kiss his mark this time, relishing in the little shiver he gives me. “It’s your turn to be pampered, gorgeous. Let me take a turn on top.”
Noah freezes, nervous anticipation racing through his side of our bond.
Oh. Maybe it’s because we’re being watched. No matter how much he loves it, me being on top puts him in a submissive, vulnerable position. I’d be making him into a prime target.
But that doesn’t seem to be Noah’s main concern, stroking my cheek as he gazes into my eyes. “A-are you sure? I was going to keep treating you.”
But his heavy cock prods inside me for more, and his emotions whirl with excitement.
I inhale his yearning, sweet scent. My eyes are tempted to roll back from how delicious he smells. “If you want it, I mean it, my big, shy Alpha. I want to show you how much I love you, with my body. Let me nurture you.”
Noah’s shy stare softens his massive frame, but his cock flexes harder, intensifying his breath.
Oh, my God. A dominance is emerging from within me from seeing him like this.
But is that safe to express in front of everyone?
I test the waters, stroking Noah”s mark as lightly as I can with a slow drag of my nose.
Noah shudders, pulling in and out of me with an automatic buck of his hips. His yearning grip tells me enough, but then his scent explodes with desire—and my wolf takes over.
“My shy Alpha,” she purrs. “You like it when I hold you during sex, don’t you?”
He buries his face into my shoulder, hugging me tighter.
Then he nods.
My heart flips, but my wolf puffs her chest. “Sit up, beautiful.”
He obeys me, and the pack notices. My heart hammers, but it’s nowhere near as vulnerable as Noah’s—so raw that he’s hardly able to hold eye contact.
And here I am, not even minding we’re being watched anymore. It’s all thanks to Noah. I want to make him feel as safe to mate in public as he’s made me.
“Don’t worry about anything else in the world but us. If you’re uncomfortable, or even unsure, we’ll stop. I’ll protect you, Alpha. You’re safe.”
He huffs out sharp, desirous breaths, but they’re laced with fear. “I-I feel safe with you, but this side of me, it’s— It’s different, it’s—”
I shake my head. “I love this side of you. He’s just as gorgeous as every other piece of you. Let me play with him.” With my soft lick on his mark, Noah huddles closer. “I want you to feel good.”
Noah’s heavy breath shifts to one small, pleading whimper.
A cascade of desire drips down my spine, urging my hips over him as he sits back on his heels. I cup his cheeks, staring straight at him as I ease myself back over his cock.
“Oh—” Noah’s eyelashes flutter, his voice a shaky whisper.
He grasps fistfuls of my hips, aiding himself inside me until he prods my cervix.
But Noah freezes, his eyes wide. It startles me into halting in place over him.
“Shit. I-is it okay to be so deep now? If you’re— If you’re carrying our—” He swallows hard.
Our bond erupts with emotions when I realize we’re not mating for the same purpose anymore: we’re already pregnant.
“The baby will be fine, love. They’re tucked away and safe.” My smile erupts from me as I whisper these words, threatening to send me into tears.
Noah cuddles me closer, kissing me as deeply as he can through his smile. His breath pulses against my cheeks, fingers embedded into the roots of my hair as he rolls my hips over him. I control the speed, easing him to the cool earth as my breasts press flat against his chest.
“Relax, Alpha. Let me mate you too. Set your wolf free with me.”
Noah whines louder than he has all night, his scent bursting. But it’s not his usual musk; his scent blooms with a flowery submission.
My eyes shoot open, but Noah’s lust-clouded kisses remain fully in the moment, even as my Alpha-like musk flushes his cheeks.
He likes it. He likes when I’m dominating him.
An excitement I’ve never felt before crashes through me, urging me to drop my ass over him over and over again, crashing down on his lap. Noah exposes more of his neck to me, and the last of my self-control evaporates.
Dropping myself down on him and staying there, I rock over his cock, craving the soft, shy moans escaping his lips.
“Luna...” His pleads send tingles up to my belly button with every thrust, his shaft hitting everywhere I love at once.
“Ah! Alpha.” I lift myself back off him, only to lower myself in a slow, agonizing press of our bodies melding.
With longing whimpers, Noah tugs my ass down over him until I flood the space between us with wet heat, squirting over Noah’s pelvis. Each pump is accompanied by my frantic wolf licking Noah’s mark, the urge to re-mark him stronger than ever in my chest.
Noah suddenly hugs my hips in place, freezing his. “Stop.”
He shudders against my chest, whimpering and gasping.
I cup his cheeks. “Noah?! Are you okay—”
“No, I need this to last forever. I don’t want to knot you yet.”
Instead of relief, his words set a tumultuous fire in me. I want to fuck myself over him even harder, squeezing the pleasure into my thoughtful, gorgeous mate. I rub his scalp, dropping my head back as Noah trades to kiss my mark.
His heavy cock has grown so thick that just his flexing feels like he’s digging deeper, tempting me to keep bouncing over him.
“Love, just let yourself feel good,” I say.
“But you want more too, I can feel it. If I knot you, you’ll have to wait too long. And I can’t help but feel like your wolf needs something.”
As we kiss each other, nuzzling and squirming in an attempt to hold still, Noah suddenly sucks in a gasp.
When we meet eyes, his wolf leaps out through his deepening voice. “You want me to lose myself in you, don’t you, Luna?”
I whimper, crumbling against his lips as his claws prick my skin.
“Yeah? Turn around for me.”
I gasp as he exits me, leaving me gaping and cold. But my shaking limbs manage to keep me upright long enough to turn around, my skirt sliding back over my soaked thighs.
Noah peels the fabric up and over my hips, baring my ass for the whole pack.
But I love it. Kira mates my best friend against a tree, Amy’s busty mating dress proving more useful than ever as Kira tongues Amy’s nipples. Yasmine steals a gorgeous Omega woman’s attention for the night, her casual partner seeming to enjoy herself as much as me with gasping, high-pitched moans. Dave passionately mates with his mate of ten years, kissing as if they’re teenagers again as their hips frantically collide.
And I’ve never felt freer.
I’m shocked back into my body as Noah grazes my shoulders with his fangs, his sweating chest brushing my bare skin.
“I love you so fucking much, Luna. I’ve never been this turned on.”
And I can feel it, his tip far larger than normal as it prods my entrance.
“Oh, God, it’s too big, Alpha.”
Noah rubs my clit in slow circles, kissing my mark as his tip pulses against my entrance. I squirm, rocking my hips back over him until he finally slips in, stealing the air from our lungs.
“Fuck,” Noah hisses.
By now, Noah struggles to hold back, his huffs morphing into desperate moans. But his pleas mix with grunts, his shaft stimulating my insides in both depth and girth. I’m so wet that he glides in and out easily, as if we hadn’t even changed positions. But that only means he kneads me deeper, this position allowing him full access to me.
“A-Alpha! You’re so big, I can feel you in my—” I lift my chin to the sky, crying out with every wet slap of his hips into my pussy.
“Where can you feel me, gorgeous?” His growling voice makes me jerk with pleasure, his cock hitting every nerve in my core so tenderly that tingles climb to my face.
But I can’t explain it to him, my face threatening to get mushed into the dirt as my arms turn into jelly.
Noah lifts my chest until my back presses against his wide form, his wolf locking me in place with an arm beneath my breasts. He pounds faster, bouncing them over his forearm.
“Ah! Alpha!”
Toying with my sensitive nipples, Noah only stops when my cries turn too desperate.
“Not yet.” He rubs my bloated belly, and I nearly explode. “If you weren’t pregnant, I’d make sure of it tonight. I want to give you everything.”
My hips have lost all rhythm, squirming for every last drop of affection he’ll give me. Noah slowly restarts his hips, emphasizing the end of each thrust with an extra snap. His wolf nips my neck, and my whimpers never want to end.
Noah pants against my cheek heavier than he has all night, his hips speeding faster. “Fuck, I can’t hold back any longer. I’m going to knot.”
Settling me back on the ground, Noah’s hips remain stationed deep into me, shifting his thrusts into pulsing, luxurious presses against my G-spot. My claws dig into the dirt, shaking legs and rock-hard nipples only worsening from the shivers he’s cascading over my body. He pounds into me with his claws in my sides, pheromones burning my nose as he licks my neck over and over again.
“I can’t stand it, Noah!” I moan, slamming my hips back over him. Noah grunts, and heat gushes through my core as he fills me with fluid.
“Oh, Goddess,” he whimpers. Noah crumbles over me, his knot expanding as his hips continue to jerk.
He’s whining too heavily to speak, but I can still feel his ecstasy through his mindlink. I want you to feel how much you mean to me. Can I mark you again?
My body instinctively bares my neck and ass, allowing Noah to pump a few residual bursts into me. It hits so deep that my back arches on the edge of release.
His fangs clamp into my neck so hard that I yelp, but my resulting orgasm shakes through me. Noah overwhelms me with pleasure, kneading my clit as he rocks his tip into my crowded cervix, his knot giving me the most filling hug I can imagine between my legs.
“I-I love you—” My cries are whispers, but I know Noah can feel it. I love him too much for anyone to not smell it for miles.
By the time his hips still, we’re both whimpering through tears. I can feel how committed he is to me through his fresh mark, letting me know he’s here to stay. He feels more in love and sure about my status in his life than ever. This shatters the rest of my composure, breaking me into sobs.
Noah stops my mark from bleeding, caressing my belly as he holds me upright. “Shh, gorgeous Luna. Breathe deep.”
I nuzzle against him, never wanting to let go.
He plants soft, tender kisses all over my neck, cheek, and shoulder. “I’m sorry, gorgeous. I didn’t mean to be so rough on your neck.”
“No, I loved it. I loved it so much.”
“Good. I’ve got you, love.” Running his hands over our baby, Noah urges another sob from my lips. “You’re so fucking beautiful and brave. Thank you for doing this with me.”
“I wanted to. I just love you so much, Noah. So much that I can’t stop crying. I can’t believe we’re having a baby.”
I trace his arm down to my belly, holding our pup together. As we share a weepy kiss, my heart won’t stop flipping.
But then Noah’s eyes flicker open, analyzing every approaching wolf.
My stomach drops when I register the sheer mass of them that have been witnessing us. Except they’re not just staring anymore. They’re heading directly for us.
I whimper, curling into my mate as protective instincts rupture within me. “A-Alpha!”
“Oh, my poor sweetheart.” Noah coos over me, his scent exploding with reassurance. “It’s okay, gorgeous Luna. You’re safe.”
My shoulders loosen, but that doesn’t stop me from being confused. “What are they doing?”
Noah breaks into a shy smile, tracing gentle circles over my belly. “Since you’re our official blessing holder, they want to return the favor whenever the Alpha and Luna mate. They’re going to ask the Moon Goddess to bless us with pregnancy.”
“Oh. How sweet.” I bite my lips through fresh tears. Noah chuckles, kissing my fresh mark until I liquify in his arms.
“There you go. Good girl.” His humming breath makes me squirm with leftover pleasure, my enamored scent billowing from my pores. Noah takes a deep whiff, humming with delight. “I love how you smell. You’re so pregnant.”
I erupt in giggles, but when he flexes inside me in response, I nearly topple over from exhaustion. “Oh, God, Noah—”
“Relax, Luna. Drop your whole weight on me.”
I do as I’m told, leaning back against my mate’s chest. His arms encompass all of me, holding me in as tight as they can while gently protecting my belly. I feel so good to be held by him that I can”t stop moaning in pure comfort.
But as he gives the surrounding wolves the go-ahead to approach with a nod, my heartbeat hammers once more.
“Noah, won’t they smell I’m already pregnant?” I whisper.
He stiffens, and all approaching wolves freeze in place. “Shit, you’re right.” He’s silent for a long moment. “Did you want to tell them?”
“Well, I want to—” I swallow hard. “But it’s still early. What if— If I—” I shake my head at the thought of losing the baby beneath our palms, my heart threatening to shatter right here.
“Hey, hey, hey— Don’t blame yourself for that before it even happens. If it ever will.” Noah kisses me with a gentle purr, sending a shiver down my over-sensitive spine. “Wolves see pregnancy in the Moon Goddess’s control. They”d want to grieve with us as much as they want to celebrate.”
My heart flips. “Really?”
“Absolutely. Even after 33 years, we celebrate my big sister”s passing day, along with any other pups. If wolves lose a pregnancy, we say the Moon Goddess had greater plans for their pups as stars, helping her bless us.”
I suck back tears, gazing at the starry sky enveloping the big, beautiful moon.
I choke out a sob. “That”s sweet. And sad.”
“Stay right here in this moment with me, okay? This has nothing to do with us right now.” He covers my belly with his full palm, cocooning me in an extra hug. “Right now, I’m holding my mate and future pup. That’s all we know.”
I swallow hard, absorbing his words. I want to celebrate. To be happy to the fullest without anything holding me back. I just don”t know if I want everyone to have to hurt alongside us if that happens.
But that sounds like a very familiar fear.
My heart picks up the pace as I cup Noah’s hand around my belly, coming to a decision. The more I lean into it, the more excited I feel.
Each word shakes as I gaze up at Noah. “I’m a little scared, but something you said when we first wondered really stuck with me. If everything goes to plan and we have this baby together, I want to enjoy it with you the whole way through. I want to celebrate this pup with you, right now, in front of everyone.”
Noah bursts with excitement, smashing his nose into my cheek just as hard as his wolf nuzzles me. “Y-yeah? We’re telling them?”
I giggle, stroking his cheek as I draw him in for a slow kiss. “I love you, adorable Alpha. Yes, let’s tell them.”
He holds his breath. “N-now?”
I break into laughter. “Yes, now! They’re waiting.”
Noah’s kisses are filled with pause, his mind whirring. It only makes me giggle harder.
His words come out sweet and soft. “Fuck. I’m shy.”
I smash my lips against him, giggling at his cute grin.
Let’s tell them together. Through mindlink,I say.
He nods, adjusting his grip to cuddle me as tight as he can manage.
By now, the wolves circle, gazing from a distance with heightened curiosity. I can’t hold back my smile.
Your Luna and I have news to share, Noah mindlinks. His chest thrums against my back, anticipatory anxiety bursting through our bond. It only makes me smile wider.
But Noah doesn’t announce it. Your turn, my gorgeous Luna. It’ll be your first mindlink to everyone as their Luna.
My heart stumbles over itself. As I gaze into the moonlit eyes around me, I feel it: they really are my family, and I’m about to tell them I’m carrying another new family member.
I choke out a laugh through my tears, smiling so wide that my cheeks hurt. We’re pregnant with our first pup.
All at once, the pack erupts into howls.
I jump, but with how elated the pack becomes in our pack bond, Noah’s scent overflows with the purest joy. It smells so decadent and comforting that the rest of my tension falls away, melting me in Noah’s shaking hands as he caresses my belly.
Noah purrs over me, kissing my cheeks, neck, and heavy-lidded eyes until I’m coated in a fuzzy warmth. My giddy laughter is watery, an endless stream of tears gracing my cheeks as Noah’s eyes pool over.
“I can feel how happy you are.” His voice quivers as he nuzzles into me. “Like you love them already. Just as much as I do.”
My heart throbs at his words. All I can do is stare at him. After all the years I agonized over having children someday, at times hating how much I craved it since it only worsened my gnawing, empty heartbreak over all those wasted years struggling to recover from Steven’s damage, I’m here. Except I never imagined it would be this beautiful. I never realized I could feel a love this strong for my partner, and that I’d have the honor of witnessing how much they love our budding baby, long before they’ve even arrived.
My tears slow, leaving me with a smile so bright that my cheeks ache. As I pull Noah in for a kiss, I press all the affection into his lips that I can, silently thanking him for sharing this dream with me. Whether he can feel it or not, he takes a deep breath like he’s breathing in the love I’m pouring over him. The sweet, touched arch of his eyebrows tells me the happy ache in his heart hits just as deep as mine.
As we pull away, I’ve never felt more joined as a unit.
Noah blinks slowly, unable to look away despite mindlinking our pack. Okay. Feel free to approach, but be gentle with our Luna.
The wolves approach slowly, one by one, many of them in their shifted forms. With brushes of their sides, nose boops from shifted wolves, and careful nuzzling, I weep.
“Their love is so pure, Noah.” My voice comes out soft and wobbly.
“Good job, gorgeous. Take it in.”
As I stroke the back of Noah’s head, cradling him to me, he weeps too. I feel so accepted. So taken care of.
Noah nuzzles away my tears with gentle kisses until I steal his attention with my own lips. Our breaths quiver through our kiss, but we can’t stop smiling.
“My sweet Luna.” Noah beams.
My body buzzes with joy at my new title, never believing it so intimately until now. As I huddle into my doting mate, I allow myself to feel it; we’re safe.