Page 32 of Fated to the Lone Shifter (Curse of the Lunaris Alpha #1)

“That’s the idea,” she purrs, her voice laced with satisfaction, and I laugh, pulling her closer, our kisses becoming more frantic.

We shed the rest of our clothes in a tangle of limbs and laughter, our desire too urgent to be contained.

Sera’s skin is warm beneath my fingertips, her body a map I could spend a lifetime exploring.

I trace the curve of her hip, the dip of her waist, and she shivers, her eyes closing as she leans into my touch.

“Touch me,” she whispers, her voice a plea, and I oblige, my fingers sliding between her thighs, finding her already wet and eager. She gasps, her head falling back as I tease her, my thumb circling her clit, my other hand cupping her breast.

“Noah, please,” she begs, her body arching into my touch, and I smirk, my mouth finding hers again as I slide a finger inside her, her walls clenching around me.

“Tell me what you want,” I demand, my voice rough, and she moans, her hands gripping my shoulders.

“You. I want you. Inside me. Now,” she pants, her eyes burning with need, and I groan, positioning myself at her entrance, our eyes locked as I thrust into her slowly, savoring the way she gasps, her nails digging into my skin.

“Fuck, you feel so good,” I groan, my hips moving in a steady rhythm, our bodies moving as one. Sera meets each thrust, her legs wrapping around my waist, her lips finding mine in a desperate kiss.

“Harder,” she demands, her voice breathless, and I oblige, our pace quickening, the bed creaking beneath us. The room is filled with the sounds of our pleasure—our gasps, our moans, the slick rhythm of our bodies moving together.

“Sera, I’m—” I start, but she cuts me off with a kiss, her lips silencing me as she tightens around me, her orgasm crashing over her in waves. I follow soon after, my release overwhelming, my name on her lips as we collapse in a tangle of limbs, our breaths ragged, our hearts pounding.

She rests her head on my chest, her fingers tracing patterns on my skin, and I run my hand through her hair, the silence between us comfortable and sweet.

“Best day ever,” she murmurs, her voice soft, and I laugh, pulling her closer.

“Until tomorrow,” I promise, and she nods, her smile soft and sure.

But that’s not our story.

Instead, I’m here, alone in the hallway, waiting to see if my best friend is going to lose himself to the wolf… and hoping I’m strong enough to stop him if he does.

I pull my phone from my pocket and check the time. Less than an hour until the moon hits its peak. I text Tori a heads-up—just in case. She’s seen this before. She knows what a first shift can look like. Violent. Messy. Unpredictable. I want her to be prepared.

Then I do something I haven’t done in years.

I pray.

Not to the moon, not to fate. Just to whatever might be listening.

Let him hold on.

Let him not turn against me.

Let me protect her.

As if summoned by the thought, my phone buzzes again—Sera. A simple message.

“Be careful. They’re watching.”

I don’t need context. I know exactly who she means. The Feds. The wolves. Maybe even her own handler.

I shoot a quick reply. “No fear..”

But it’s a lie.

Because I’ve never felt more exposed.

The hallway stretches ahead, empty and long, and for a second I feel like a ghost walking through the life I used to have. The one before the bite. Before the fire. Before her.

The one where I thought I was just a man… not a weapon waiting to detonate.

I find Marcus pacing, barefoot and restless, in the engine bay of the firehouse. He must have snuck past me while I was dozing and dreaming. His breathing is erratic, chest heaving like he’s just finished a sprint.

He looks up at me with wild eyes. "They’re out, man. Bode and his crew. Out on bail. I’m screwed. You know that, right? I’m screwed."

I move toward him slowly, palms up. "You’re not screwed. You’re turning. That’s why everything feels like it’s on fire inside you. You’re not alone in this."

He backs away as if I might bite him again. "They’ll come for me. You don’t get it, Noah. They will come for me. And now I’m going to become a freaking werewolf tonight. Are you kidding me?"

"Shhhhhh. I’m not leaving you, buddy. We get through this together. You’ve got me."

That earns me a shaky nod, but I can still feel the panic in him, like a wildfire ready to spark.

Then the firehouse siren screams.

My blood runs cold as the dispatcher’s voice crackles through the radio: structure fire, rural outskirts, 413 Range Road.

My parents’ house.

My mind blanks for half a second, then surges into action.

"Stay here," I snap at Marcus, already striding for my gear.

"The hell I will!" he shouts. "I’m coming. I can help. It's your parents, man."

I hesitate. Every instinct says he’s a liability, a ticking bomb. But he’s my best friend—or he was. And I need every capable hand I can get. The Bensons might be in danger. My true family .

"Fine. But you listen to every word I say, or I’ll tranq your ass myself. Got it?"

He nods, eyes wide, breathing hard.

I grab his turnout gear from the hook. "Let’s go."