J ack fucking Hart.

Thoughts flicker past my mind a mile a minute, instance after instance of Jack’s name piling up. This explains so much. Why the Elders acted odd about Noah’s anger around Jack and Mason. Why Lilian was so scared when Mason stalked us. Why a man finally faced a consequence for abuse—Alpha Ritchie kicking Jack out to protect his son.

But most of all...

I jerk upright. “Jack has a serious homicide motive, Noah!”

He holds his breath.

“This is the clearest proof we’ve ever had. He could’ve killed your dad! Our dads.”

My body burns with the thought, so Noah’s resulting silence stings.

But when he bursts from the covers to face me in the light, he’s dark red and grimacing like I’ve never seen him—a picture of fury.

“Jack is too proud for that! He’d challenge my dad face to face like a ‘real’ fucking Alpha.”

I’m so shocked by Noah's fierce tone that I can’t speak. Not only his tone, but how ridiculous it was of me to think this was appropriate to blurt out. What was I thinking?

Noah’s chest flexes, his rib cage stiffening in distrust. “I know because that’s what he used on me. Do you not believe me either?”

“What? I’m on your side! Of course I believe you.” As tears prick my eyes, Noah’s face falls blank.

He jumps off the bed, his breath coming out in short bursts as he staggers away from me. “Ugh, I’m such an asshole. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I’m so fucking sorry.”

I swipe my tears away, wishing we could go back in time to our cuddle ball. “I don’t like being yelled at, but no, I really screwed up, just now. I shouldn’t have said something so drastic, especially not throwing that on your plate while your PTSD symptoms are heightened. Our dads are an incredibly sensitive topic too, so I shouldn’t jump to conclusions. It makes sense you’d be mad, and you should be. I’m so, so sorry.”

“No, I don’t care if it’s a symptom. I shouldn't yell. I just broke my fucking pact with myself to never do that to my mate, and I—”

Noah groans, scrubbing his face hard until he meets my eyes with a bright red face—his swollen eyes overflowing with hot tears.

His voice crackles. “I just don’t want to be this way anymore, Luna.”

My heart breaks, pushing a sob from me. “My love, it’s just PTSD making you agitated. It’s not you.”

Gripping his hair, Noah squeezes his eyes shut tight. “I don’t want to have PTSD! I don’t want to have to tell anyone what happened. I don’t want to think about him... I don’t want to...”

Noah rubs the base of his palms into his eyes for a while. When he finally stops, the exhaustion digging beneath his eyelids ages him.

His stare drops to my arms wrapped tight around my stomach. “You look scared. Did I hurt our pup? Did I hurt you?”

“No, my love. I just feel for you. I want to listen, and you probably wanted to share this for a while.”

“Did I? I feel like there was still something I was about to say... What were we talking about?”

My heart flips. “Wh— What?”

Noah’s wide eyes roam up and down my form. “N-no, I’m seriously asking. I don’t remember what we’re talking about, Luna. I'm trying really hard to pay attention.”

I stare at my mate for a while in pure confusion. All I can find is honest, equal perplexity staring back.

Oh, my God... Noah just blanked everything out.

His brain must really feel threatened. All it could do was reset, preserving our conversation for later processing when it felt more equipped to tackle such a dangerous subject.

For now, I open my arms. “Please, come back to me. Let’s cuddle and sleep. We can talk about it tomorrow.”

“No, I... I want to know what I did wrong to make you look so upset. Please, I’m dying to fix it.”

“You didn't do anything wrong. You just had a flashback, and now you look really tired. My heart is hurting for you.”

Noah drops his head and cries. It’s nothing like his sobs from a moment ago. Exhausted, weepy tears drip to the floor. “Look what I’m doing to you. You’re so stressed, and you’re pregnant. I’m awful—”

I let out a pained cry. “You’re not!”

Noah holds his breath, shaking his head.

I shrink. “Oh, God. I’m not mad at you or meaning to raise my voice either. But I understand what you meant now, every time I’ve talked about my ex. I’m angry that someone thought they could get away with hurting my mate. I’m furious no one helped you before it was too late. I’m really fucking mad someone made us both understand abuse like this. I don’t understand why he got away with it, but I can only imagine why, with this world we live in. No matter how much proof the cops had, Steven got away with it too, so I'm not surprised with all these Omega-haters in charge—no matter how much I hate it.” I swallow hard, catching my breath. “I’m mainly just heartbroken that I wasn’t there to help you through it, either.”

Noah peeks up at me, his expression contorted with tears.

After a sharing long, uncertain look, my stomach knots from the tense silence. “Please, tell me what you’re thinking.”

Noah swallows hard before releasing a shaky breath. “I’m thinking I l-love you. I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

“And I didn’t forget what just happened between us, even if I can’t remember what triggered it. I won’t pretend to forget how I acted.” Noah drops his head. “So I-I remember you wanted to hold me during my flashback, but...” He huffs through fresh, quiet tears, meeting my eyes once more. “C-can I hold you instead?”

My shoulders droop. I nod, desperately biting back tears.

We rush across the bed and grip each other hard. No space is left between us as we burrow in, a mess of tears and snot.

I sigh. “Good thing this happened now instead of next week; my belly is still small enough to plaster myself to you, but not for long.”

Noah huffs out a chuckle over my shoulder, petting my head as he keeps my cheek smushed into his chest. “Please try to relax. I can’t stand thinking about how much I stressed you out with that pup. Breathe, Luna.”

I pull back just enough to see his face. “Only if you relax with me. We’re both under too much stress.”

Locking eyes, we stroke each other’s cheeks, arms, and sides for what feels like hours. When Noah’s eyes laze shut, my shoulders finally loosen in relief.

I’m still trying to relax, but I can’t stop thinking. Noah isn’t in a good place to talk about it, but I wonder if he’ll come around to seeing Jack had a motive.

Either way, I might be a horrible person like I’ve always been afraid of.

The next time I see Jack Hart, I might be tempted to... hurt him.

Noah’s eyes laze back open after seemingly being asleep. It snaps me out of my rage.

“Shh. Quiet that beautiful mind, Luna.” Noah strokes my forehead, lulling my heavy eyelids closed. He purrs. “There you go. You’re right: we’re safe. We’re here to protect each other. Thank you for protecting me tonight. And I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, please. You’ve helped me through so much, and this is just one moment in everything we’ve shared. I’m so happy you felt safe enough with me to tell me.”

With a deep kiss, I squeeze Noah even closer, tightening our cuddle ball until we have no choice but to spoon again, allowing us to become a unit while giving Little Wolf their space.

Immersing myself in Noah’s body heat feels so good that the next thing I know, I’m sprawled across the bed in the early morning sunlight, stealing the whole mattress for myself. My hand is already holding my belly—and so is Noah’s.

Noah’s also crying, hurriedly wiping his tears when he sees I’m awake.

I gasp. “Oh, my love, are you okay?”

“Y-yeah. I’m just feeling so lucky to have you. Both of you, now.”

No matter how much my eyes sting from crying last night, fresh tears cloud my vision.

Noah scoops his big hand behind my head, drawing me in for a full-body cuddle. His lips press deep into mine, pleased nerves awakening across my body with my heightened emotions. My breath grows heated as I slip my tongue into his mouth, salty tears mixing on my lips.

Noah holds all of me with his wide form, his kisses deepening until he’s massaging me into the mattress.

His voice comes out breathy between each kiss.

“Thank you—” With full lips gliding through our kiss, Noah rolls his hips over me. Lust leaks from my scent. “No one has held my Omega like you did last night—not since I was a kid.”

Noah’s fragile voice tears at my heart, a desperate whine slipping past my lips. I scoop his head into both hands, urging him to kiss me harder. Faster.

“I love him, Noah. I love your Omega, your Alpha, and every other piece of you.”

My body lights up with his resulting elation in our bond. As we kiss harder, my tears smush across Noah’s cheeks.

Propping myself on my elbow, I hover over him to gaze into his eyes—his hands still roaming my back. “But right now, I want to protect your Omega’s precious heart, in particular. I want him to feel loved.”

“Wait—” Noah pulls back.

I freeze, my heart kicking up the pace as Noah’s nerves heighten.

But despite his anxiety, he doesn’t drop my stare, cupping my cheek. “I remember everything we talked about now. And I need some time to keep processing this, but—” He winces. “I was just scared about that possibility. That he could’ve killed our dads.”

My heart pangs. “Oh, love—”

“I’m so sorry for how I reacted. When we get back home, I want to go back to therapy. And since we have all morning, I want to finish talking this through with you.”

Cuddling him close, I huff out the pain in our hearts. “I’m so proud of you, Noah. I’d love to support you in getting as much time as you need in therapy. But let’s not talk through this yet—not today. My timing last night was awful. We’ll solve who did this to our families, I’m sure of it, but it’s just like you said: with time.”

Noah sighs, rolling his forehead against mine. “Okay. Okay.”

We massage our tears away with deep rubs across each other’s bodies.

Noah kneads just the right spot on my achy back to melt me into the mattress. My sniffles soften into desirous hums. Noah’s next kiss is slow, multiple breaths stretching through the silence as we hold our lips together. When we release each other to catch our breaths, Noah’s eyes laze open, their soft teal staring back with enough adoration to flip my heart.

His voice comes out as a pleased purr. “Well, I want to take care of your heart too, and especially today. Can I treat you with your surprise?”

I pull back, surprised he brought it up. “Don’t you need to rest before facing Matthew tonight? Not to mention you’ll likely be facing off with Vik tomorrow.”

“That’s exactly why I want to spoil you—before I’m too exhausted to.” Noah’s shoulders ripple as he rises above me, his elbows sinking my shoulders deeper into the mattress. “And I have a feeling my pregnant Luna needs some rest and recovery.”

Reaching beneath the bed, Noah fetches something wrapped in a towel—a bulky object long enough to extend past his entire palm.

My heart pounds as he places it on the bed beside us. A million guesses erupt as to what this surprise could be.

Then my eyes bulge at the tip of a massive dildo Noah accidentally reveals, the towel still hiding the other toys.

I slap my palms over my heating cheeks. “O-oh, my God, that’s too much solo attention while you’re feeling bad—”

Noah gathers my hands off my cheeks, hugging them to his chest as he kneels beside me. “Hey, hey— Don't worry about me, Luna. I offered this. You're not forcing me.”

“Oh...” I giggle, biting my lips. “I guess you did, yeah.”

Noah’s grin returns for the first time since last night. I didn’t realize how much I craved it until my heart overflows with joy, exciting Noah’s wolf into perking up in our bond.

“So, do you want me to show you what I got you? Or are you not up for it right now?” Noah asks.

I swallow hard. I've never thought to ask Noah to use my toys on me since his body feels so much better than most toys. But now that he's offering, I bet he'd drive me wild.

It burns my cheeks to admit it aloud, but I nod. “Thank you for asking, love. If it’s something you want to do too, I actually think it could be fun.”

Noah bites his lip, but he’s unable to hide his giddy smile. “O-oh. Good. Close your eyes for me, okay?”

I giggle. “Okay.”

Closing my eyes, I slow my shaking breath long enough to notice the aching desire in my core. Without my vision distracting my focus, every sensation heightens as I anticipate his next move.

Noah’s low purr coats me in goosebumps. “I won’t use anything on you that you don’t want, so please, don’t feel obligated. I just thought—”

“No, I—” I sigh. “That’s not why I’m hesitating. I’d like them too much if you were the one in control. That’s why it still feels a bit unfair to be the only one.”

Noah shifts his weight beside me, his breath inching up my neck until his deep voice rumbles beside my ear. “I wasn’t lying when I said this is as much of a treat for me as it would be for you, Luna. I might even enjoy it more.”

I keep my eyes closed, amazed by how much stronger limiting one sense amplifies every other. Noah’s hand on my upper thigh warms my skin with soft, tickling pressure, inching closer to where I want him. His gentle, focused breath brushes my cheek, gliding over my lips. The warm spot he left behind on the mattress heats my bare back as he sits up, easing my panties off my hips. There’s even more depth to Noah’s voice—his tone soft but deliberate as he purrs through every word. “So, I’ll ask you again: is this what you want right now?”

I swallow hard, my heart picking up the pace as excitement swirls in my core. “Yes. Thank you.”

“You can thank me after I turn you into a happy puddle.”

With my resulting giggles, Noah’s smile is evident in his breathy words.

“Tell me where you want some attention. We’ll start slow.”

Noah’s fingertips ease past my clit, drawing a slow circle around my labia until skating back up again.

I purr alongside him, shimmying into his touch as tingles crawl up my belly. “Mm... Anywhere except my chest. It’s sore today.”

“Anywhere else? Then give me one of your beautiful hands.”

I bite back my smile as I hold out my palm, keeping my eyes closed.

“Alright, Luna, let’s give you a sample of each: pick a letter between A, B, or C to start with.”

I giggle. “Oh, wow. Um— Hmm...”

OCD takes over, at first insisting I must go in alphabetical order, then launching into a deeper worry that if I avoid going in alphabetical order in fear of OCD, I’ll be doing a compulsion in fear of doing a compulsion, and, therefore, allowing OCD to ruin my life. Blinking through my rapid-speed catastrophizing, I laugh again, deciding to torture OCD back.

“Then, how about A?”

Noah chuckles with me, but that’s not all my ears lock onto: the soft click of a button whirrs one of the toys to life.

“This is A,” Noah mutters.

I jump as it touches down on my palm, and Noah quickly lifts it off me. “If this is too much—”

“No, it’s—” I squirm a little, the vibrations buzzing through my palm, across my thigh, and echoing to my clit.

I can picture it in my mind's eye—the velvety little egg packing a delightful punch. Just the thought of feeling it stronger up close, and in Noah's skilled hands, upticks my breathing rate.

“I like it already,” I whisper.

“Okay, good to know.”

I bite back my amusement as Noah clicks the toy off, my palm feeling oddly empty without any vibrations there.

“B or C next?”

I smile. “B.”

I’m tempted to hold my breath at the delicate shuffle of sheets between us as Noah sets toy A down, fetching my second choice.

Smooth silicone weighs down my palm, pressing my hand into my thigh.

“This is B,” Noah says.

My eyebrows furrow. I’m unable to stop myself from tracing the object in my palm with my other hand, feeling over unfamiliar ridges on the toy. “What’s going on with this one?”

“Don’t open your eyes.” Noah scoots closer to plant a gentle kiss on my cheek, guiding my hand over a protruding lump from the toy.

I quickly form an image of its familiar shape in my mind. “O-oh. It’s a rabbit.”

“I-I know you said your old ones weren’t big enough...”

I sigh. “Thanks to you, you big wolf.”

“U-um, either way...” Noah clears his throat, and I laugh at the mere sound of his flustered breath. “This one also moves, so...”

I freeze as Noah turns it on, the shaft flexing in my palm to make a thrusting action. My cheeks burn red hot.

After a long pause, Noah clears his throat. “Fuck. I’m too shy for the next one.”

I burst out laughing, opening my eyes to find Noah’s cheeks darkened. “ You’re too shy for it? Then how am I going to feel if it’s being used on me?”

Noah’s eyes widen as he erupts into giggles, scrambling to cover the last toy with the towel. “D-don’t— Don't look—”

I can’t help but gape at the toy in his hand anyway, my eyes bulging as Noah fumbles the thickest dildo I’ve ever seen in my life, accidentally flopping it against my thigh with a thick slap .

Noah gasps. “S-sorry—”

“Oh, my —”

Noah only burns darker. “I-I know. But you wanted bigger, so—”

I want to laugh, but my giggle comes out breathy and cuts short, especially as my eyes catch on the larger base—another familiar sight.

My smile stretches as I track Noah’s eyes. They flit across the bed sheets, avoiding me as the truth becomes clear. “I’ve never seen anything like this before. At least not available to humans.”

“Y-yeah, it’s— It’s a wolf thing they only have at the Alpha Summit. It— Um...” Noah’s thumb presses into the bottom of the bulging sack. The engorged base of the shaft expands twice its size, stealing my breath. “Vik warned me I could stop knotting as often when my body realizes you’re pregnant, and I thought you might miss it, so...”

My heart hammers, but my core flexes with need.

Noah’s breath speeds as he finally dares to look me in the eyes. A spike of anticipation floods our bond, followed by immense affection for each other.

“Let me treat you?” he asks.

“Noah, before that—”

I cut myself short, distracted by his earnest eyes—his puppy-dog expression shier than ever after turning me on with mere suggestions.

I grin. “You have a spicier side than you ever let on, my shy Alpha-Omega.”

Noah drops my stare with a giggle. Just the sound sends a wave of relief through my entire being.

I tilt his chin until he’s looking straight at me. Capturing his lips, I hum into his excitement in my bond. When I release his lips, I break into a beaming smile at his precious, elated stare. “That’s not entirely what I wanted to say: I just want to thank you before we go any further. I love your surprise, but I love how thoughtful you are, most of all. You’re so sweet to me, Noah.”

He kisses me again.

Then again.

By the third kiss, they’re no longer kisses, but heavy makeouts, his tongue slipping across mine in a teasing dance.

“I want to make you feel good,” Noah pants against my lips. “I’d love to, if you’d like me to start.”

“I would,” I whisper.

Noah’s Alpha musk washes over my senses, his stare darkening into a newfound mischief. “Then how about this: we can use them all, building them up, one by one?”

I erupt into giggles. “ All of them? At once?”

He shrugs, grinning wider. “Why not?”

Sputtering out laughter, I rub his arm. “Okay, wild wolf. Show me what you have in mind.”

His giddy grin softens his eyes, stirring my heart.

Noah hooks my thigh over his bare lap, spreading my legs. My breath stills alongside his. Gazing deep into my eyes, Noah ghosts his hand up my inner thigh, sending a shiver up my spine. As he traces circles between my legs, goosebumps coat my skin. I shiver.

“Sensitive?” Noah whispers.

“Very. Ever since you got me pregnant.”

Noah’s playful stare softens, a shy smile overtaking his features.

He leans over me, planting a weighty kiss on my lips. At the same time, his fingers circle my wet core. Our lips chase each other, Noah’s thumb brushing over my clit until tingles spread throughout my pelvis. I suck in a hitching moan against his lips, my back arching. Noah purrs in response, rubbing deep, slow circles into the swollen nub.

Then he clicks on the vibrating egg, slowly introducing it to my body by gliding it up and over my hip. I shudder, gripping his wrist to urge it lower.

Releasing my lips with a heavy breath, Noah’s free hand sweeps my hair off my forehead. Tipping my head back with thick, massaging fingers, he gazes down at me. “Patience, feisty Luna.”

Noah’s tongue slips into my mouth, our kisses capturing each heated exhale as his thumb moves off my clit—his touch replaced by a gentle buzz.

I suck in a sharp breath through my nose, my legs twitching as Noah’s circles deepen.

Then my lips unlock, my body urging me to take heavy, needy breaths. “N- Noah —”

“Fuck, you sound gorgeous.” His hand trembles as he flicks open a fresh bottle of lube.

With his fingers coating my labia in fluid, Noah rocks the egg up and down over my clit.

My chest hitches in delight. Moving on their own, my hips chase his movements, but Noah’s eyes on me are what make me tingle all over. Their usual teal is only half-shifted to green, but considering I haven’t touched him at all, a fuzzy warmth fills my belly at how pleased he looks, just watching me. My thighs widen for more attention between them, each rock of his hand rolling the egg faster and faster until my pussy makes wet, suckling sounds.

Then Noah reaches for one of the penetrative toys. My eyes catch on his twitching cock, dripping against my inner thigh despite never being touched once.

“Which one’s next, Luna?”

I swallow hard, catching my breath. “How about we continue going in order?”

Noah grins. “The rabbit, then the dildo?”

I nod, flushing down my chest.

With a quick splash of lube onto the toy, Noah circles the rabbit’s tip at my entrance. But between Noah's horny musk and his hot breath on my neck, it slips right in.

My moan escapes me as a throaty, pleased purr.

Noah's wolven stare traces my face, spiking my heart rate. But I’m not nervous: instead of making me feel self-conscious, those green, eager eyes make me give the rabbit a heavy squeeze.

Noah glides it back and forth a few times manually before pausing to click it on. To my surprise, it doesn’t thrust just yet, lighting up and awaiting another button’s instructions.

“How does it feel?” Noah asks.

I smile. “It’s nice... But still small, after a certain someone taught me how good it feels to be filled to bursting.”

Noah chuckles, his eyes shifting from emerald green to a grassy golden. “Then how about we turn it on? Tell me which setting you like.”

He flips through the settings until my lungs expand, my eyelids fluttering.

“Th-there.”

Noah lifts an eyebrow, listening in. The uneven thrusting rhythm catches my nerves off guard in the best way.

“Does that mimic the real thing?” he whispers.

“Almost.”

Grinning against my cheek, Noah purrs. “But?”

I giggle. “But you definitely mate me heavier.”

Reaching between my legs, I search for a second, separate button than the thruster. Noah's eyes glow yellow with hunger as I take matters into my own hands, clicking the button. When the protruding nub vibrates over my clit, I suck in a tight breath, my hips rocking on their own accord.

Noah strokes my hair back, his eyes sweeping over my writhing form. “Oh, there you go. Beautiful.”

Having memorized the thrusting pattern, Noah angles each thrust with his hand, rubbing up on my G-spot.

“O-oh! Noah, you make it better—”

“Fuck. I want to thrust that knotting toy manually, instead. Can I, Luna?”

I can barely get my words out, my chest heaving as the vibrations tease my clit until I ride on the edge. “Y-yes. Please—”

Noah clicks the toy off, leaving me breathless and desperate for release. I collapse into the mattress, my toes curling through residual aftershocks of pleasure.

But Noah makes quick work of switching the toys, the massive dildo lubed and ready at my entrance. After rocking the thick tip between my labia, Noah bends to kiss my inner thigh, sending my heart into my throat.

“Breathe, Luna. This will take some work.”

I relax my thighs, nuzzling my face into the cushy blanket nest surrounding me. As Noah’s forearm flexes beneath my palm, I help him control the amount it slinks into me, widening my knees as I provide counterpressure. But the damn thing is massive, its domed tip struggling to fit past my pelvic opening—until it slips in with a sudden pop, my muscles granting entry.

A cascade of pleasure washes down my chest, my jaw dropping. After allowing me to take a few heaving breaths, Noah sinks the toy’s thick shaft deeper. Heavy, blissful pressure mounts low in my belly as the toy steals any and all room inside me, pushing a groan from my core at its thorough massage.

The second I relax, my mate pumps with soft, slow thrusts.

I choke on desperate pants for air, my hips bucking at the sight of Noah’s veined arm flexing into me. “O-oh, yes— That's more— More like—”

Noah purrs, pulling the flexible toy back before plunging its thick shaft even deeper.

“Ahh! Oh—” I gasp as Noah clicks the vibrating egg to life against my clit. My hips rise off the bed. “Oh, my God! It— It feels like we’re mating—”

Noah thrusts the toy faster with each of my heaving moans, my hips twisting out of my control in desperation to come. My jerking pelvis scoots the vibrator faster, amplifying Noah’s heavy pressure on my G-spot until tingling pleasure shoots up my belly.

Crawling closer on all fours, Noah stations his thighs below my ass, angling my pelvis for better access. “Fuck, look at you. You’re taking it so well for me.”

His words push a rush of fluid from me, splashing across Noah’s lap. All I can do is moan louder, Noah angling the toy’s flared tip into just the right spot.

“Shit. You like that, huh? That’s what I thought.”

Noah rocks the vibrator, at the same time working me deeper with each jerk of my hips.

“Ah! Ah— N-Noah—” My back arches and my knees drop open on their own, forcing me to cling to my thighs for leverage. “H-how did you know I’d like these?”

“Beyond seeing your bedside drawer, I just know my Luna.” Noah breaks into a sly grin. “But I was actually talking about how I know my gorgeous mate still has a praise kink.”

I open my mouth to disagree, but as my pleasure only heightens, I flush hot. “O-oh, my God, I think you’re right.”

He laughs. “That’s my good girl. I hope you know it’s not for show. I mean every fucking word.”

Flustering me speechless, Noah circles the vibrator over my clit, clicking the button another time to increase the vibration’s intensity.

My voice rasps as I cry out, my moans louder than ever—whether I want them to be or not. “Oh, my God, it’s— It’s strong!”

“Too strong?” Noah chases my clit with enough stimulation to raise my eager hips high off the mattress. “Oh, no, that looks like it feels good .”

Growling, Noah circles my clit over and over again, watching me arch higher into the air. At the same time, he massages me on the inside, my claws extending into the bedding as my body begs me to ask for more.

Then my wolf whines for her mate. “Noah, please—”

“Please, what, beautiful?” Noah slows his pumping arm, but it’s torturously good still—slackening my jaw at how delicious his tender attention feels.

I groan. “I want you in me. Just you—”

Gaping, Noah stops everything at once—until he pulls the toy out of me. I cry out, shuddering as Noah mutters frantic apologies, but he’s still fumbling with his boxers. Which means he’s left my hips rolling on the sheets, my body trapped on the edge.

“Alpha, please —” I breathe.

“Fuck. Fuck—” Noah scoops up my hips in both hands, readying his dripping cock at my clenching entrance.

But I jerk upright at the intrusion, grasping his wrists. “Ah! You’re still big—”

“Fuck, sorry—”

“No, it’s good. It’s just so—” As I grip the mattress edge above my head, I push my hips down over him.

Thankfully, Noah stimulated enough fluid from me to coat us both. Applying warm, soft pressure to every inch of my inner muscles, Noah’s flexing shaft glides all the way in with one deep thrust.

With how sensitive he made me, my whining moan is loud enough to echo across the wide ceiling. Tingling warmth boils over in my core, rocked over and over again by Noah’s smooth skin inside me.

“Oh, Goddess.” Noah squeezes handfuls of my ass to add to his internal massage, thrusting deeper by the second.

My limbs writhe across the sheets, my claws scratching the headboard, sheets, and Noah’s back. He doesn’t seem to have a care in the world, engrossed in my every movement as his chest heaves.

“Fuck. Just watching you has me— Oh, I’m—” Shifting my hips to one arm, Noah fetches the abandoned, buzzing vibrator.

As he smashes my hips flush to his, he flicks the buzzing toy across my clit until I scream. “Noah!”

I come in a flurry of lights behind my eyes, my pelvis jerking as tingling pleasure extends to my face. Noah pounds against my urgent flexing over his shaft, his breath trembling as my body squeezes every last drop of affection from him.

My moans soften, relaxing into pleased hums as Noah slows into gentle thrusts, soft purrs escaping his lips. I drag my hands across my belly, breasts, and face, blissed out with a fuzzy warmth that traces my body. Noah purrs at the sight, leaning over me to kiss my mark. His careful, caressing lips give me butterflies.

Shuddering again, Noah rocks himself tighter against me, fluttering my eyelids. “Oh, what a good girl. You did such a good job.”

I hum through the leftover pleasure, endorphins flooding my heart as I open my eyes to Noah’s blissful gaze.

His eyes drag down me before returning to my huffing lips. “You look like you feel so good, Luna.”

“I do. Especially because I love you so much.”

“I love you too.” He smiles, his engorged shaft sliding back before giving me another gentle thrust.

Gripping Noah’s shoulders, I moan. “Ah! God, it's still nice— But you didn’t finish? You’re still moving.”

“I-I did finish. But Vik was right. You smell so pregnant that my body stopped knotting.”

My cheeks flush as we break into giddy smiles.

But Noah's mischievous grin takes over. “Which also means that whenever you want more, I can keep working you without stopping.”

My heart flips. “Oh, Goddess, Noah. I’d love to, as long as you’re okay that I’ll have to lay here like a lump. You really did turn me into a happy puddle—”

Purring, Noah licks my mark—hard. I moan at the pleasure it echoes between my legs, my sensitive core squeezing his shaft with every slow pulse of his hips. After stimulating a flood of my scent from me, Noah breathes me in, letting out a hungry growl.

I shiver. “Oh, shit. Never mind, I’m awake again, and I want as much as you’d like to give me.”

Chuckling, Noah drags his lips over my throat, tracing my mark with kisses until warmth floods my groin again. When I squeeze his shaft faster, I’m met with urgent, pulsing flexes in response.

Noah groans. “I can feel that. But we can still catch our breaths. Take a minute, Luna.”

I sigh, running my fingers through his messy hair. “Noah?”

“Hmm?”

“I want to mate you face to face like this, as many times as we can, before our baby gets too big.” I rub my hands along my belly, drawing Noah's stare between our linked bodies.

As he strokes my abdomen, Noah’s loving smile fills my chest with a buzzing excitement. “Okay, my love. I’ll be nice and gentle this time while cuddling you as we mate. I’m not putting pressure on you there, am I?”

“No. But I am worried about your arms getting tired if you have to hold yourself up all morning.”

Noah grins. “Don’t be. I feel way too good to care. But do you need anything? Do you want your bread?”

I gasp. “Oh, fuck yes.”

Noah laughs. He leans over for my secret pumpkin bread stash in the bedside table drawer.

But my jaw clenches, my wolf genuinely infuriated as Noah takes a huge bite of pumpkin bread in front of my face—until I see he’s simply holding it between his teeth.

When he stoops to drop the bread into my mouth, I open up like a baby bird.

Noah lets out the brightest laugh as I moan at the sweet spices hitting my tongue, my legs squeezing his waist. But Noah only waits for the bread to disappear behind my lips before he smashes his lips against mine in a heavy kiss.

Cinnamon crashes through our kiss, Noah’s sweet pumpkin lips urging me to lick them clean. His deep, delighted purr curls my toes, my knees widening for him to drop more of his weight across my pelvis.

Burying one arm beneath me for a full-body hug, Noah has slow, cuddly sex with me. Every nerve buzzes with his skin gliding over mine. His gentleness allows me to indulge in every minor pleasure before coming anywhere near a climax.

But it’s more than just sex. We whisper our affections, grip each other’s hair, massage each other’s bodies. And while we’re doting on each other, adding layer upon layer of blissful sensation until we rise back to the edge, I notice something different.

Our scents flow freely. One second we both smell like Omegas, the next we smell like Alphas. And the rest of the time, we alternate between Alpha and Omega, free to express ourselves as we kiss each other senseless.

Then Noah whispers something I don't expect, his breath hitching just before he comes. “A- Alpha —”

Noah’s pleading moan beside my ear makes me come so hard that my hips buck into him between heaving gasps. He doesn’t seem to notice what he just said—filling me with another burst of warm fluid without a single worry in the world, allowing himself to submit to pleasure—but I’ll never forget it.

By the time we’re in a tangled, satisfied pile of limbs, Noah melts into the sheets in a deep sleep with me.

When I wake up a second time in the afternoon, pleasure-soaked and lazy, I open my eyes to find Noah reenergized, stretching in his ceremonial gear across the room with a bounce in his step.

I thought today would be a nightmare after last night, but Noah seems happier than when we left home. It’s a relief, and at the same time, it guts me.

All this time, he just needed someone to listen to him.

I sob, pregnancy hormones getting the best of me.

Noah whips around, his eyes wide. “Oh, my poor Luna. Did you have a sad dream?”

I shake my head, reaching for him. “I’m so proud of you.”

Noah’s emotions spike with love and sadness to mirror mine. He leans over the bed to squeeze me in a tight hug. “You’re more of my hero than ever, Luna. Thank you for taking care of me.”

“Thank you for taking care of me too. I feel all refreshed and safe.”

Each slow kiss we share soothes my aching heart. Noah’s big palm behind my head makes my whole body feel protected—but I can’t help but worry about the fight.

I groan, pulling back as a wave of nausea stings my guts. “Are you feeling ready after all those triggers? Do you need to withdraw?”

Noah nuzzles my cheek. “Don’t you worry a second longer about anything except carrying this one, here.” He places my palm over our baby before layering his hot, massive hand over mine. “They could be anyone, and I can’t stand the thought that another King could make this world less survivable for them. I’m going to fight for you and that pup today, Luna. And I’m going to win.”