Chapter 16 Luna
Luna
Notebook: The more savage the beast, the softer the cuddle. Who knew?
My days have settled into a routine over the past few weeks.
Mornings are spent helping Oli with chores around the house; afternoons are dedicated to training sessions with Ethan and usually a few of the guys, while the others are busy doing…
whatever it is they do here. Evenings are filled with group dinners where conversation flows easily.
Well, most of them, anyway—Damien is still as sullen and withdrawn as ever.
Not that I care…
Yeah, that’s a lie.
I’m finding myself more comfortable around these males.
I’m still guarded, like something in me doesn’t believe this can be true, that this could be my home. That these males might like me, for me.
And if I’m being honest… I’m starting to like them back.
Oli, with his goofy jokes. Ethan, with his kindness. And even Axel, despite all his wild unpredictability, has moments of surprising gentleness.
Hudson is polite but mostly keeps his distance, which feels… strange.
Still, an undercurrent of tension is humming beneath the surface—stolen glances, lingering touches, the weight of unspoken desires hanging heavy in the air.
I can feel it building. It makes me nervous… but also excited.
Despite Axel’s stunt my first night, and the whole Damien blow-up, nothing else has happened.
Oli and I have been making out, but he hasn’t pushed me to do anything else. Hudson said they’d give me time, but I thought I’d be thrown into some sordid rotation schedule after a day or two.
Having them court me is nice.
But it also means I’ll be fully in when it happens.
I won’t be able to blame them for forcing me.
And… I kinda want something to happen.
One evening, as I’m helping clear the dishes, Hudson’s deep voice cuts through my thoughts.
“Luna, a word in my office, please.”
My stomach flutters with nervous anticipation as I follow him down the hall. Once inside, he gestures for me to sit.
“How are you settling in?” he asks, his intense gaze on me.
“Fine,” I reply, trying not to fidget under his scrutiny. “Everyone’s been… kind.”
Hudson nods slowly. “Good. But I sense there’s something on your mind.”
I hesitate, unsure how to bring it up. Then I blurt it out. “When does it start? The… servicing part of our arrangement?”
A small smile tugs at Hudson’s lips. “Eager, are we?”
Heat floods my cheeks. “No! I mean… I want to know what to expect.”
Hudson leans forward, his expression turning serious. “Luna, nothing will happen that you don’t want or aren’t ready for. We may be shifters, but we’re not animals.” He pauses, then adds with a wry grin, “Well, most of the time.”
“But the agreement…” I begin.
“The agreement gives us time,” he interrupts gently. “Three years, remember? There’s no rush.”
I nod, feeling both relieved… and strangely disappointed.
“That being said,” Hudson continues, his voice dropping to a low rumble, “when you are ready, don’t hesitate to let us know. Any of us.”
With that, he dismisses me, leaving me to stew in my thoughts as I return to my room.
Later, as I crawl into bed, I can’t shake the feeling that everything is about to change.
* * *
I pry open an eye and find myself ensnared in a vice grip, struggling against the weight pressing me down. My breath catches—not solely from the lack of air, but because I recognize the arms encircling me.
Axel.
Who else would be in my bed uninvited?
His solid chest forms an unyielding wall against my back, his long legs intertwined with mine. A part of me is tempted to elbow him in the ribs, but another part can’t help but revel in the warmth radiating from him.
It’s nice, even if I’m about to pass out from lack of oxygen. His scent is pleasant, something masculine and woodsy. Even in slumber, his presence feels palpable, a mix of danger and unexpected solace.
The ultimate cuddle monster.
Beneath the surface, I can sense the tension in his muscles, ready to spring into action if needed. At least he’s not clutching that hatched of his like some deranged blanky.
My heart races, a frantic drumbeat in my chest; I’ve never shared a bed with a male before.
Snuggling… if that’s what this is.
I swallow down a low, contented whine from my wolf.
She’s happy, but I, on the other hand, am stressing the fuck out.
“Chill, Luna, it’s just a cuddle session with extra restraints,” I murmur, attempting to quell the flutter of nerves.
Totally fine.
I’m not panicking.
Nope.
Panic is for those who can’t handle a little unexpected spooning mixed with the thrill of potential danger.
“Shh,” his husky voice murmurs in my ear as he tightens his choke hold.
“Can’t breathe,” I wheeze.
He loosens his hold slightly but doesn’t release me. His warm breath tickles my neck as he nuzzles closer.
“But you’re so comfy, Wildcat,” he murmurs, his voice rough with sleep, sending vibrations through my body that have no business being as thrilling as they are. “Sleep well?” he rumbles.
“Hard to tell when half of your body no longer has any blood circulation.”
He chuckles, a low sound that vibrates against me.
“Personal space, ever heard of it?”
“Nope.”
But I don’t shove him away. Instead, I’m hyper-aware of where his hands are starting to roam. My heart thumps wildly, not entirely from fear. This is uncharted territory for me; the whole male-in-my-bed thing.
I bite my lower lip, melting into his touch.
Axel’s hand sneaks lower, and I’m not sure if I want to purr or bite him.
“You’re handsy this morning,” I say, but I don’t even try to squirm away.
“Morning is the best time for handsy,” he rumbles. His fingers trace lazy circles on my hipbone, a touch that should tickle but instead sends a rush of heat straight through me. “Want me to show you, Wildcat?”
I suck in a sharp breath as his fingertips brush against the fabric of my panties, desire pooling low in my belly.
My wolf howls for me to say yes, clawing at my insides. I think she might need the release more than I do. My nerves scream to slow down. But as his fingers tease the edge of my panties, I hear myself whisper, “Yes.”
Without hesitation, his fingers slip under the elastic, gliding through my folds, and I moan at the sensation, already slick with need.
“Fuck, you’re so wet,” Axel groans, his voice strained.
His fingers circle my clit slowly before dipping lower to tease my entrance. I arch into his touch, a whimper escaping my lips as I crave more. Axel takes his time, each deliberate stroke stoking the fire building inside me.
“Please,” I pant, my voice barely recognizable. “I need…”
“What do you need, Wildcat?” he purrs, nipping playfully at my earlobe. “Tell me.”
“More,” I manage, my hips instinctively rocking against his hand. “I need more.”
Axel obliges, inserting a finger inside me.
A cry escapes me at the sudden fullness, my inner walls clenching around him.
He pumps in and out, his thumb pressing firmly against my clit.
The pleasure builds rapidly, coiling tighter and tighter until I’m teetering on the edge.
Axel seems to sense my proximity to the brink.
He curls his fingers, hitting that sweet spot that sends stars exploding behind my eyelids.
“That’s it, Wildcat,” he coaxes, his voice a low growl. “Come for me.”
His words are my undoing. I shatter with a cry, my body shaking as wave after wave of ecstasy crashes over me. Axel works me through it, drawing out my climax until I’m boneless and spent in his arms.
He presses soft kisses along my neck and shoulder as I float down from the high. “Good morning indeed,” he rumbles, satisfaction lacing his tone.
I elbow him half-heartedly in the ribs, still trying to catch my breath. “You’re incorrigible.”
“You love it,” he retorts, nipping playfully at my shoulder.
I don’t respond, mostly because I’m not sure he’s wrong. This connection between us, whatever it is, terrifies and exhilarates me in equal measure.
My wolf is smug, purring like she’s already claimed him.
Axel’s arms tighten around me, pulling me flush against him. I can feel his hardness pressing insistently against my backside, a reminder that he’s far from satisfied. Part of me wants to reach back, to stroke him the way he did me, but uncertainty holds me back.
Axel presses a gentle kiss to my temple as if sensing my hesitation. “Don’t worry, Wildcat. We’ve got plenty of time for you to return the favor.”
With that, he extricates himself from the tangled sheets and limbs, leaving me oddly bereft.
He pauses at the door, shooting me a wink over his shoulder. “I’ll see you at breakfast. Hope you’re ready because today I’m teaching you to shoot!”