Page 42
Story: King Luna (My Shy Alpha #3)
H oly fucking shit, Aliya, you just kicked his fucking ass. Noah yipes with his mouth full of Jack’s scruff, hyper eyes beaming back. After all those years, we finally caught him! We don’t have to worry about this freak anymore—
A sharp, shrill wolf whine cuts Noah short. Whoever this crying wolf is, they bleat in pain, striking my chest with icy horror.
But Noah’s wild, adrenaline-soaked eyes zip between mine, spiking a primal thrill through me.
Oh, that bleating wolf was me .
We don’t have time to discuss what we’re going to do with Jack next; my wolf shakes, hanging her head low as an odd sensation fizzles from the depths of me.
Holy shit, are you— Noah’s fur bristles as the heaviest contraction I’ve ever felt rips through my abdomen, cutting my frantic whine short.
White hot fear blasts through my chest. Am I going into labor?
Wait, no—have I been in early labor for a while now, too distracted to recognize it?
As my body wracks with dull, aching waves of pain, I’m almost certain I’ve skipped a labor stage, launching us forward to the point where I can’t breathe through the cramping.
Golden eyes track my every move, Noah’s wolf on high alert. Breathe, Aliya. You’re not breathing.
I can’t—
The second my harsh contraction ends, I break into desperate, frantic whines between harsh panting. Oh, God, Noah. This can’t be happening. It hurts badly enough that I’m dying to shift back, but I can’t if we’re in danger. We finally have Jack, but what if he’s calling for backup? What if they take everything from us?
Aliya, look at me.
The second we meet eyes, I freeze; rustling blasts through the leaves from every direction. My fur stands on end. Was I right, and the Alpha-domination Super Pack is back for more?
But Noah doesn’t move. Don’t worry. Just look.
Plastering myself against his side, I’m tempted to sprint as what must be thousands of wolves approach. But when Noah settles Jack against the forest floor, howls erupt around us. At least twenty wolves snatch Jack from our paws, Yasmine and Dave leading the pack in dogpiling Jack to keep him contained.
Greenfield Pack floods the space around us, surrounding Noah and me with a symphony of victorious howling. As I stare into Noah’s eyes, I whine for a new reason.
Despite how much suffering Jack caused Noah, my mate doesn’t join in the howling. It’s as if Jack is no longer a part of his mind. Not as he stares down at me, his golden eyes squinting and his wagging tail expressing the purest love.
We’re not alone in this anymore, Luna. I’ve got you, you’ve got me—and they’ve got us.
He’s right; forming a protective circle around us, our pack provides just enough space to keep me comfortable.
Then their howling comes to an abrupt stop. Not a second later, my abdomen tenses, warning of another incoming contraction. I’m stunned; it’s like our shifted pack members sensed it was coming, hundreds of restless wolves falling silent as my breathing rate rises.
They’re holding space for me.
As Noah’s wolf presses his wide forehead into my cramping back, I close my eyes, leaning into his pressure until my wolf lets out a pleased grunt. Smushing himself over my sides, Noah surrounds me with his saccharine, adoring scent—carrying me the rest of the way through the pain.
When my wolf slumps in relief, Noah rumbles deep purrs over me until my hackles lower. There you go. You can do this, Luna.
Oh, God. Can I?
Shifting back to my human form, I caress Ari in my massive belly, terrified. But when I catch a glimpse of my hands, my head reels.
“There’s b-blood on me!” As intrusive thoughts surface about Ari getting infected with Jack’s blood, I cry out, scrubbing at my skin. “No, I-I want to be in our den— In the n-nest we worked so hard to make, but we’re—”
A massive, slobbery tongue stuns me silent, swiping my nude skin free of blood in two seconds. Then we’re going to our den.
I want to collapse against Noah’s fluffy black fur in relief. But poor Ari attempts to make more space for themself, pulling a groan from my lips as they stretch my belly with little feet.
Noah’s ears point so sharply towards the sky as he watches our baby wiggle inside me that I have to laugh. He flattens his ears, lifting his big puppy eyes to beam at me. I reach for him, desperate to hug his snout.
But Noah shifts faster than I’ve ever seen him, his human form catching me in warm, thick arms. Kissing my head over and over, Noah sighs into my hair. “You’re the most amazing person alive. I love you.”
“I love you too. Thank the Goddess I have you with me right now,” I whisper.
Yasmine shifts into her human form, and Noah reaches for her first—desperate to include her in our hug. As his best friend glomps onto him, keeping her touch delicate on my back, Noah’s shoulders soften.
When Yasmine pulls back to face us, I clutch her hand tight. “Yas, thank you.”
“Holy shit,” she giggle-whispers.
Noah lets out a rattling exhale, shaking his head. “I-I know.”
“Fuck, I’m trying to stay calm for you, Luna, but I’m sorry—I’m way too excited to meet Little Wolf. Is there anything I can do to help you out?” Yasmine’s fanged smile spikes my heart rate; her excitement makes this real. Are we finally about to meet our precious Ari soon?
“Oh, my God. I-I don’t know, um—” I stare at Noah in disbelief.
He breaks into a beaming smile, kissing my forehead. “We’ve got you, Luna. Maybe you can help us to the car, Yas?”
But a familiar voice cries out behind us. “I have blankets, Alpha!”
Mrs. Jensen dashes across her front yard, her white hair blowing in the wind and a stack of blankets up to her chin. I’m not used to seeing fear strike the gentle wrinkles around her eyes, but it’s written all over her as she sees me in my disastrous state.
“Oh, Aliya . Would you like a nice warm shower before you go, or do you need to hurry to your den?”
My stomach churns. I can’t even attempt to smile as a terrifying thought enters my mind; what if we really did skip a stage, and we can’t make it to the den in time for me to give birth? That can’t be likely, right?
Shit, but didn’t I just have another contraction, soon after the last?
“You’re okay.” Noah rubs my back, softening his voice. “Would you like a nice shower, love? I can hold you.”
For some reason, his sweet tone sends me over the edge; I burst into hitching, heavy sobs, my hot breath clouding in the chilly air.
“Oh, my love...” Noah swipes my tears away. “Are you in too much pain?”
Our pack pads closer, the wolves whining and people whispering gentle reassurances. Yasmine joins Noah in wrapping me in a gentle, warm hug, her calming scent washing over us both. I waver between smiling and sobbing, touched by how quiet and calm everyone has grown for my sake.
“Thank you, everyone.” I manage to blubber out my words between chattering teeth. “I really want to get clean, actually.”
Mrs. Jensen rushes forward, covering me with a blanket. Her calloused hands rub my arms. “It’s all okay, sweetie. We’ll get you all the help you need.”
Noah and Yasmine have to support me by the arms as I whimper on Mrs. Jensen’s front porch, the stairs applying extra pressure to my pelvis. I cling to my mate’s soft voice. “Breathe, gorgeous. Take it slow. You’re doing so well.”
We pause in Mrs. Jensen’s dim, cozy living room, wiping the grass and dirt off our feet as the old farmer scurries past us with shuffling feet. But when she dashes from the bathroom two seconds later, the water splashing in the distance as the shower heats up, she furrows her brows. “Oh, Alpha, Luna— Don’t even worry about that! Half the time, I’m the one bringing the muck in. Come, come—”
Beckoning us down the hall, Mrs. Jensen soothes me with her grandmother-like energy. I can’t help but feel like some part of me knew I’d be safe to start early labor in her yard, no matter how stressful the circumstances.
“Thank you so—” I reach for her, pulling her into a hug, but it’s quickly interrupted by yet another contraction.
My contorting expression in the mirror strikes me—I’m not only a dirty mess, but as I watch myself stoop in heavy pain, the utter power of my body’s efforts hits me all at once, drawing a deep groan from my throat.
Springing into action, Noah kneads heavy, rolling circles over my back. “I’ve got you. As soon as you can move, let's give you some relief in the warm water.”
Clinging to both Mrs. Jensen and my mate, I don’t even care that I’m butt-ass naked anymore. Sputtering through the tail end of the contraction, I can’t help myself, producing low, humming groans.
Noah and Yasmine meet eyes in the mirror.
“I’ll go flag down Amy when she drives up so we can leave right away,” Yasmine whispers.
She dashes out without waiting for an answer beyond Noah’s quick nod.
“Come on, gorgeous. I’ll scrub you down.” Noah eases me into the shower, wasting no time in lathering his hands in soap.
But Mrs. Jensen doesn’t leave, her brows furrowing as she grips the shower door. “Alpha, those sounds she’s making...”
Meeting Noah’s eyes, I’m too exhausted to speak. Noah’s jaw tenses above me.
“I know,” he whispers. “Give me a moment alone with her, please.”
As Mrs. Jensen shuffles from the bathroom, shutting the door behind her, Noah gathers my cheeks in his palms.
I grip his hands, my heart surging into a sprint. “I might need someone to check how soon this is happening.”
But Noah doesn’t respond; as he douses me in warm water, his focus locks onto my lips. Furrowing his brows, he cups my chattering chin in his hand. His eyebrows warp at what he finds, his eyes zipping between mine. “Oh, sweet girl , you have labor shakes already. I thought you were cold.”
He’s right; I can’t stop my whole body from shaking, hard.
My chin wobbles in his hand. “Oh, no. Can we even make it back in time?”
Noah swipes my clingy, wet hair off my cheeks, giving me a sad smile. “Hey, it’s okay. I’ve got you. No matter what happens.”
Lathering me clean, Noah purrs, attempting to soothe me. But my heart won’t stop pounding. Mrs. Jensen was implying I was already making productive labor sounds. Caressing our wiggly baby in my belly, I know my body can hardly handle expanding any further. Ari’s cramped and fidgety—and, therefore, ready to meet us as soon as possible. But I couldn’t feel more anxious about giving birth in a completely unexpected location.
Before I can catch it, an intrusive thought slips from my lips. “What if I have to squat down in this shower and push them out?”
Noah’s purring stops. “Please don’t.”
Taking one look at his frazzled eyes above me, I burst into laughter. As Noah breaks into a beaming grin, my tension rinses down the drain. Drawing me in as close as he can with my belly in the way, Noah cleans me with careful hands.
“Bend over for me, gorgeous,” he whispers. “Put your hands on the wall.”
When I plant my hands on the cool tile, Noah positions my lower back underneath the running water. Warmth streams down my back and belly, pulling a pleased hum from my lips as the water relaxes my cramping muscles.
“Good girl,” Noah whispers.
I flush, blowing out a slow breath; he normally says those words to me in bed, but they feel just as intimate now, when not even a drop of sexual desire courses between us. This is a different kind of intimacy, Noah remaining ever-present as I trust him to witness the worst physical pain I’ve ever experienced. And he’s happy to, our bond trading silent thank-yous to each other as my heart lightens in his care.
I knew he’d be sweet to me when the time came to give birth, but he’s even gentler than I pictured, fluttering my heart with the way he’s caring for my laboring body.
It’s about to be far more care than he’s had to provide on a single day of my pregnancy thus far, and yet, for the first time, I’m not tempted to apologize for all the work he’s doing. Instead, I lean into his big hands on my hips as he sways them from side to side, working the ache from me. Massaging my tightened neck muscles, Noah stoops over to meet me, face to face. The second I see him, I lean into his plushy lips, closing my eyes as I sweep my fingernails down his back in gratitude.
Noah’s solid hands on me clear my mind, replanting me back in the present. I rest my weight against him, purring and groaning through another contraction before he coaxes me from the shower. Nuzzling into Noah’s warmth, I smooth slow, loving touches over his pup in my cramping belly.
“I feel better. Less primal,” I whisper, my eyes still closed as Noah towels me off.
Noah places his hands over mine, holding Ari with me. “That’s my good girl. The timing between your last three contractions extended a little, so we’re all good. Amy will be here with the car soon, and we’ll get you right to our den.”
Easing my eyes open, I’m delighted by Noah’s mushy, adoring scent flooding my senses. Purring, I rub my head in his hands until he buries his fingers into my hair with a low chuckle.
I smile. “I think things sped up when I started panicking. I just can’t believe we’re doing this, Noah.”
“I can’t believe it either. My poor Luna; you must’ve been under so much stress that your body switched into survival mode, preparing to push Ari out as fast as possible. So, now that we’re safe and together, let’s reframe this change of events, yeah?” Drawing my hands back to my belly between us, Noah softens his voice. “You’re about to be holding them in your arms. We’re finally about to meet them.”
Tears flood my vision, but as Noah kisses my wobbly lips, I break our kiss with a giddy, hitching laugh; he felt just as delighted as I did when he said that.
I sigh. “I can’t wait to see you holding—”
Gripping Noah’s shoulder, I choke out a harsh breath, another contraction hitting just as hard. But now that the vision of Ari has been planted in my mind—our Little Wolf soon to be bundled in their new baby blanket from Lilian and Rainn, the fabric hand-embroidered with chubby wolf pups in a pastel forest—I breathe through the cramping with far greater ease, rubbing my head against Noah’s chest.
Okay, maybe this is still happening soon. Soon soon. My heart spikes into a sprint.
But Noah’s touch remains slow and soothing. “ There you go. You’re doing so well, Luna.”
Peppering kisses over my head, Noah flips my heart. He’s right; I love his praise. Not just because he uplifts me rather than shuts me down, but because he means every word he utters, his heart spilling over with affection as he holds me.
There’s no mistaking how rapidly the pain has intensified, but as I lift my chin, gazing up at my mate in pure exhaustion, all I can do is smile. “You look like a scared dad already.”
Breaking into a grin, Noah chuckles against my lips. You really aren’t alone in this, Aliya. You put it the best way once; I’m scared because I care.
I feel it; the love we’re birthing Ari into is so immense, I can’t quantify the depths our hearts have expanded for them.
A knock at the door widens Noah’s eyes.
“Can I come in?” Amy’s familiar voice inspires a fresh wave of emotion.
When Noah opens the door, the first flash of red hair softens my shoulders; I almost forgot Noah’s reminder in Mrs. Jensen’s yard. The two of us aren’t doing this alone, either.
“A,” I huff, reaching for my best friend.
“Oh, babe .” Opening her arms, Amy dashes for me.
But as soon as I take one step from Noah’s embrace, a bucket’s worth of fluid splashes from between my legs, all over Mrs. Jensen’s bathroom tile—and just as Mrs. Jensen pokes her head in.
Noah’s and Amy’s jaws drop in unison.
I yelp. “Oh, my God —”
Amy meets my bulging stare, her voice wobbling with laughter. “Girl, here I was, about to ask if you wanted your underwear—”
I sputter out a shocked laugh. “S-sorry! I— I didn’t pee, I—”
Mrs. Jensen beams. “Oh, don’t you worry! I’m so blessed to have our darling Luna’s water break in my home!”
Biting back laughter, Noah grips me to keep me upright. “Thank you, Mrs.—”
Mrs. Jensen smacks Noah’s arm. “Don’t laugh, Alpha! It’s a beautiful thing!”
“Sorry, sorry,” Noah giggles, cuddling me close. “Come on, Luna—”
Noah can’t finish his sentence, hissing beneath his breath as my claws extend on instinct, digging into his skin. “Shit, are you—”
I let out a sharp cry, doubling over as Amy and Noah support my arms; if I thought my contractions hurt pre-water break, this one rips through me, bringing tears to my eyes. Clasping my tensing belly in both hands, I blow out strained, shaky breaths.
Yasmine’s head pokes in. “How’s it going?”
“It’s hurting way worse.” Noah’s voice trembles as he speaks my thoughts. It’s the first hint of fear I’ve heard in his tone since this began.
“Yep, we’re leaving!” Amy hoists my birth bag over her shoulder, backing through the door. “I’ve got the minivan, Alpha.”
“Thank the Goddess,” Noah mutters. “We’re getting you to the den, Luna.”
Nodding, I huff through a surge of anxiety; I have an indescribable feeling we’ll be holding Ari soon.
Table of Contents
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- Page 42 (Reading here)
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