Chapter 10 Luna
Luna
Iblink, willing my bleary eyes to focus on the unfamiliar ceiling. The air carries a mix of pine and something distinctly male—definitely not the lemon-scented room freshener I’m used to.
Down one day, only two years, and three hundred sixty-three days to go.
But hey, at least the guys aren’t total Alpha-holes.
Small victories, right?
I slide into a pair of jeans and tug on a comfy T-shirt, lacing up my sneakers as I brace myself for whatever this day might hold. Shuffling down the hall, I nearly choke on my own saliva.
Holy shit.
Hudson, Ethan, and Axel, casually stripping like it’s just another Tuesday.
My cheeks burn as if I’ve stepped too close to a bonfire.
“Um… are you guys going for a run? Can I go for a stroll in the woods, too?” My voice comes out small and breathless.
Hudson turns to me, his shirt halfway over his head, exposing a torso that’s more scar tissue than skin, but then I catch sight of his back—thick, raised lines crisscrossing his skin like he’d been whipped. Repeatedly. My stomach twists.
Tossing his shirt aside, he gazes at me, his brows furrowed. “Sure, Luna. But heads up—we’re running deep into the woods. It’s easy to get lost when unfamiliar with the terrain.”
My eyes dart to Ethan, who’s already shirtless and shedding his jeans. Next to him, Axel works his belt, a shit-eating grin spreading across his face as he catches me gawking. His pants hit the floor, and there he stands, naked as the day he was born.
My wolf perks up instantly.
Probably because she’s eager to be outside, or maybe it’s low blood sugar. Or lack of coffee.
Definitely not naked-male-related.
My face burns hotter. I should look away. I really should. But I can’t seem to make my eyes cooperate.
Sweet baby shifter.
Axel’s laugh echoes through the hallway. “What’s wrong, wildcat? Never seen a naked male before?”
“Not three at once,” I shoot back, my cheeks burning hotter.
“First time for everything.” He winks, completely nude and not bothering to cover anything. And there’s… a lot not being covered.
I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry. “So… the trail?”
“Right,” Hudson says, mercifully drawing my attention back to him. “Stick to it. And do not go beyond our territory, you can’t miss it, there’s a large fence.”
“Got it. Trail only,” I nod, desperately trying to keep my eyes above Hudson’s neck level.
“If you hear howling, don’t worry. It’s just us.”
“Unless it’s not,” Axel adds with a mischievous grin. “Then you should definitely worry.”
“Axel,” Ethan warns.
“What? Just keeping things interesting.” Axel stretches, his large cock swaying between his legs.
They step outside, and I follow.
The way their muscles ripple and the raw power radiating from their limbs—it’s both awe-inspiring and intimidating. How am I supposed to handle all this when I can barely look at them without turning into a lobster?
“Want to see us shift?” Hudson asks.
“Yes!”
Ethan chuckles as he steps forward—and then—holy crap. The transformation is fluid and natural. Ethan’s body bends, bones shifting with soft clicks, muscles rippling as skin morphs into sleek, dark brown fur. His face elongates into a snout, ears perking up, and sharp eyes reflecting the forest.
I can’t help the small gasp that escapes me. Ethan’s wolf is huge.
Axel goes next, the air around him practically crackling with energy. His body contorts and expands until a massive gray wolf stands where he once was.
His wolf is even larger. Terrifying, and utterly mesmerizing.
Hudson follows suit; his transformation is swift yet majestic. His large frame grows, muscles bulging before being covered in thick white fur. He shakes his mane, a low growl rumbling from his throat as he looks at me with familiar yet entirely different eyes.
He’s the largest of the three.
Utterly breathtaking.
With a nod, they bound into the woods, their powerful forms melting into the trees with a grace I can only admire.
“Wow,” I breathe out, the single word mixing longing and excitement.
I’ve seen my father shift a handful of times when I was young, but we lived in the human district where shifting was impossible. At the institute, the girls shifted during allocated hours. Their wolves were smaller, more delicate—nothing like these massive beasts.
I stand there for a moment before realizing I’ll need a jacket.
Turning back inside, I scan the hooks by the door—my hand hovers between them.
Choosing one feels significant somehow.
“It’s just a jacket,” I mutter, grabbing one because it’s closest. Definitely not because the scent makes my pulse race.
The moment I put it on, I know I’ve made a mistake—or maybe the exact right choice.
It swallows me whole, but also feels like being wrapped in Axel.
My pulse skips, and my wolf presses closer to my skin as if she likes it too.
I push that thought away and head outside.
The path leading into the woods is well-worn and easy to follow. I step onto it, feeling the soft earth beneath my feet and the gentle rustle of leaves overhead.
I breathe deeply, savoring the earthy scents of moss and new growth. It’s intoxicating. For the first time in years, I feel something unfamiliar spreading in my chest. It takes me a moment to recognize it.
Happiness.
Pure, simple happiness.
The kind that terrifies me, because things this good never last.
I follow the trail deeper into the woods, my steps light. The jacket’s too-long sleeves flap as I walk, making me laugh. I roll them up, but they keep falling back down, and somehow that’s funny too.
Everything seems brighter and more vibrant. The greens are greener, and the sky is bluer. I tilt my face to catch glimpses of it through the canopy, feeling the dappled sunlight warm my skin.
My wolf stirs beneath my skin, stretching and purring with contentment. I can feel her soaking it all in, this freedom we’ve both been denied for so long.
“You like it here, don’t you?” I whisper to her. She responds with a warm pulse of happiness that spreads through my chest.
As I walk further, I open the jacket; the wind catches it like a sail. I close my eyes for a moment to listen and feel.
“Thank you,” I whisper. I’m not sure who I’m thanking, but at this moment, I’m grateful.
A twig snaps somewhere to my left. I freeze, scanning the trees.
A flash of white fur appears between the trunks—Hudson, keeping watch. A moment later, I catch sight of a gray blur—Axel, running parallel to the path. They’re shadowing me, making sure I’m safe.
I should feel annoyed at being babysat, but instead, a strange warmth blooms in my chest.
When was the last time anyone cared enough to protect me?
I continue walking, occasionally catching glimpses of my wolf escorts. The trail curves ahead, following a small stream that bubbles over rocks. I stop to watch the water, mesmerized by its constant, purposeful flow.
That’s what I want—to move forward like this water, carving my own path.
I continue my walk, drinking in the beauty of the forest, feeling lighter with each step. For the first time in forever, I feel like I can breathe.
Maybe this place can become home.
Whatever happens next, I’ve had this perfect morning. A taste of what life could be.
I’m humming to myself when I hear a low growl.
I freeze mid-step.
Through the trees ahead, a pair of yellow eyes watches me. Not brown like Hudson’s, not blue like Axel’s, not dark like Ethan’s. These eyes are unfamiliar.
My heart pounds as the unknown wolf steps onto the path ahead. It’s smaller than the guys but still massive compared to me.
“Nice wolfy?” I try, taking a step back.
It doesn’t move, only sniffs the air.
I remember Hudson’s words: Stay on the path. But the path is blocked.
The wolf stares for a moment longer, then retreats silently into the woods. I stay grounded to my spot, unsure if I should continue my walk or run back to the house.
Then, movement flickers at the edge of my vision, a flash of white, gray, and brown.
“There was another wolf on the trail!” I shout to the guys.
They run to me, shifting back into human form so fast I barely process it. One second, wolves, the next, three very naked males surround me.
“He’s one of our Eastern patrol guards. There’s nothing to worry about,” Hudson assures me, but the tension in his shoulders tells a different story. “Head back to the house, Luna. We’ll be there shortly.”
I nod, turning back the way I came.
Once I return to the house, I shrug off the oversized jacket. When I hear him, I’m about to hang it back carefully on its hook.
“Don’t take it off yet.”
I jump, spinning toward the doorway.
Axel is watching me with those intense eyes, leaning against the doorframe in nothing but jeans that ride low on his hips. His chest still heaves slightly from the run, a thin sheen of sweat highlighting the defined muscles and scattered scars across his torso.
“Looks good on you,” he says, gaze traveling from my face down to where the jacket swallows me whole, then back up again.
I clutch the jacket tighter. “I was cold,” I explain lamely.
A slow smile spreads across his face as he pushes off the doorframe. “I’m not complaining.” Each step he takes toward me is slow, predatory. “My scent’s all over you now.”
My breath catches in my throat. “Oh. Sorry. Is that a problem?”
He doesn’t answer, moving closer until I find myself backing up against the wall. His arms come up on either side of my head, caging me in.
“Problem?” He leans in, his nose skimming along my jawline. “No. Not a problem at all.”
My heart thunders in my chest.
“You smell like me,” he murmurs, his breath hot against my neck. “And you smell like you.” He inhales deeply. “It’s fucking intoxicating.”
My wolf surges, eager, almost purring, and the heat that floods my body follows a heartbeat later. I can’t tell if it’s me or her who wants him closer.
“Axel,” I whisper, unsure if I’m warning or encouraging him.
His eyes meet mine, and the wildness in them should terrify me. Instead, it sends a thrill down my spine.
He leans in closer, his lips almost brushing mine—
“Axel!” Hudson’s voice booms from outside.
A muscle ticks in Axel’s jaw. I think he might ignore the call for a moment, but then he pulls back with a frustrated growl.
“This isn’t over,” he promises, his eyes still locked on mine. His hand drops to my waist, fingers digging in slightly before he releases me. “Not by a long shot, Wildcat.”
He steps back, and I feel the loss of his warmth immediately. My legs are shaky, and I’m grateful for the wall supporting me.
“Coming!” he calls back to Hudson, but his eyes never leave mine. “Keep the jacket,” he says with a wink before turning and sauntering away, leaving me breathless and confused.
I stand there, my heart still racing.
What just happened? More importantly, why did I like it?
My wolf stirs again. She liked it too. The realization brings both comfort and confusion.
Maybe it’s the forest, the freedom, or how these males look at me like I’m worth something. Or perhaps it’s just how Axel’s eyes darkened when he saw me in his jacket.
Either way, I’m in trouble.