by Jess Bryant
“So ready.” He slid his fingers deeper, finding her clit and rubbing in circles, “You’re always so ready for me, aren’t you baby?”
“Yes.” Luna’s eyes were closed and her head had fallen back against the tiles, “Always ready for my mate.”
Michael growled, his wolf pacing, wanting at her. He’d missed his mate too. Worried about her and when he’d seen her Alpha side break free, he’d wanted to shift and mount her right then and there with half their family and friends watching. Having her naked, rubbing against him, wet and needy and begging for her mate to fill her, made him more animal than man.
“Turn around.” He gripped her hips when she instantly did as he said, pressing her arms against the wall and sticking her ass out at him, “Damn, you’re so sexy. Can’t wait to fill you up. You want that, baby?”
“Yes. God, yes.”
Michael slid a hand down to cup her mound, “This is mine.”
“Yes.”
“Say it Luna. Tell me you’re mine.” He growled near her ear and she tipped her head back against his shoulder and moaned in that way that made his cock twitch.
“Yours.”
He slid a finger inside her, “Again.”
“Yours. I’m all yours.” She gasped as he added a second finger.
“That’s right, baby. You’re mine. My mate. My woman. All mine.”
Luna rolled her hips as he fucked her with his fingers, “More, Michael. Need my mate. Please. Don’t make me wait any more. Please.”
“I fucking love it when you beg for me.”
He’d played as long as he could. He was too close to the edge as it was. Even one day without her had been too many. He needed to be inside of her. He needed to feel them joined together and know that he hadn’t lost her and that he wouldn’t. And deep down, some primal, animal part of him, needed to spill his seed deep inside of her and watch her grow with his pups. He wanted her bound to him in every way.
He removed his fingers, lined himself up and then tugged her hips back to force her body to accept him. Luna moaned his name, her body arching to take more of him. He guided her hips forward and back until she found a rhythm and then he dropped his head back and groaned.
“That’s it, baby. Take what you need from me.”
Luna rolled her hips and moaned his name as she took him deep again and again. Her pace was slow and easy. Her body sliding over him, squeezing him tight and then letting him slip almost all the way out before she gripped his head and slammed back again.
“Mine.” He groaned as she continued to drive him out of his mind and he let her, let her take what it was she wanted, what she needed from him, until she whined and reached back to dig her nails into his ass. It was too much. His balls tightened and he knew he was going to come soon.
Michael took her hips between his hands again and also took back control. He held her tight and slammed inside her so hard she gasped. His own hips shot back and then forward again and he jerked and pulled her over his length.
The pace sped and he lost track of time. He lost all sense of the warm water raining down on them. The only thing he felt was Luna, his mate, wrapped around him, squeezing him tight, taking him into her body the same way that she’d taken his heart.
“Oh, God, I’m so close…” She gasped as he slammed in again and slid one of his hands back down to her slit, finding her clit and rubbing until he felt her body begin to pulse all around him, “Yes, yes, yes!”
Luna’s orgasm crashed into her and she shook beneath him. Her body pulled him deeper and Michael groaned. His hips spasmed and he felt his own climax slither down his spine. His balls jerked and he buried himself inside his mate as deep as he could get as his release exploded out of him.
Michael held himself there. His wolf roared inside of him. Nothing had ever felt so right as the moment he felt her body squeezing him, milking his release out of him and taking a piece of him that would let them create something wonderful together. He stayed deep inside of her even after their orgasms waned and they were simply breathing hard, joined together as deeply as two people could be.
He dropped his head to her shoulder with a gasp, “I love you so much, Luna.”
“Mmm…” She hummed and when she attempted to turn around he pulled out and let her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled up at him with a lazy, happy, sated grin. “That’s good, because I love you too, mate.”
“Marry me.”
Luna’s eyebrows shot upwards and the sleepy look disappeared from her eyes, “What?”
“Marry me.” He repeated himself with a grin of his own, “I had a whole thing planned. I was going to ask you after we went for a romantic run under the full moon but everything changed today and I don’t want to wait a second longer. I want to perform the mating ceremony. I want you to be Luna Hudson. I want you wearing my mark and my ring when your belly starts to swell with our pups. Marry me, Luna. Marry me and be my everything.”
She wiped at her cheek and he helped swipe away the tears as she nodded, “Yes. Yes of course. I don’t need some romantic proposal. I just need you. You’re all I’ve ever needed. Yes.”
Michael took her mouth with his and Luna all but leaped into his arms. Their mouths meshed together, tongues twining as he caught up. She wrapped her legs around him and he held her up as they kissed under the stream of water that was now turning lukewarm, though the heat between them was enough to keep them hot.
Luna pulled back to gasp air and her smile was contagious, “We’re really getting married?”
“We really are.”
“When?
“Whenever you want. Soon. The next new moon?”
Luna’s nose squished up adorably, “Zoey and Rafe are having their mating ceremony on the next new moon.”
“So?”
“So, I don’t want to steal Zoey’s thunder. We can’t have our ceremony the same night she has hers. It’s her day. It’s supposed to be special.”
Michael laughed, “Trust me, Zoey is going to love the idea of having a joint ceremony. It’s all she’s talked about since the day I met you.”
“What? Are you serious?” Luna’s jaw dropped.
“Yep.” He chuckled.
“She hasn’t said a word to me!”
“Of course not. She didn’t want to scare you away. Me? She has no problem telling me exactly what she thinks or what she wants. We’ve been best friends since we were kids. She’s mated to my brother. It’s only logical that we share our mating ceremony.” Michael paused and met Luna’s eyes, “That is, so long as you don’t have a problem with it.”
Luna’s smile softened and she stroked her fingers through his wet hair, “I know you and Zoey have a history but I know it’s just that. Your friendship is something beautiful that should be cherished and protected. I’m not jealous of that. I’ve seen you two together and your love for each other is pure. We’re all going to be family. If Zoey’s okay with sharing her day with me, then I’m okay with sharing it with her.”
Michael grinned, “We’re getting married on the new moon then?”
“We’re getting married on the new moon.” Luna grinned back at him. “And if we’re lucky, I’ll be your wife, your mate and be carrying your pup by then too.”
Michael had never been so happy in his life. He wanted that. All of that. Finally, he had a life of his own, a life worth living and someone to live it with. Fate had taken a lot from them both, but she’d given them each other and that was more than enough.
Chapter 26
Luna hugged her brother and sisters tight. They were all gathered together in Michael’s office but he’d left them alone to talk. He’d gone off to discuss the mating ceremony with Rafe and Zoey. It was the only way she’d convinced him to leave her side, to plan the wedding they both wanted so badly. She’d also had to promise not to leave the lodge but considering her entire family was here and safe, she didn’t want to be anywhere else.
“I’m so sorry.” Nova kept say
ing and Luna hushed her with a soothing squeeze.
“Stop it. Stop. It wasn’t your fault. None of it was your fault.”
“I should have seen…”
“No, you can’t blame yourself. Do you hear me? You can’t take on that burden.”
“But…”
“Enough, ” Leo spoke up, taking control like the big brother that he was. “The visions are a gift but also a curse, Nova. You know that. You can’t blame yourself for things you don’t see any more than you can be blamed for what you do. Let it go, little sister. Let it go.”
Nova wiped at her cheeks and nodded. Maya discreetly brushed the back of her hand across her face as well. Luna didn’t bother. She hadn’t stopped crying since her siblings walked into the room. They were happy tears, tears of joy for being reunited with the people she loved the most in the world.
Only Leo had gotten through the reunion without shedding a tear but his shirt was practically soaked through. His sisters had all hugged him and burrowed their faces into his broad chest. They’d taken his scent in, soaking in the comfort of it as though he were home. In a lot of ways he was all they had left of the home they’d known, of the family they’d been before…
Before their world had been turned upside down. Before their parents had been taken from them. Before they’d been driven from their land, held captive and tortured.
They’d lived an eternity since then it seemed.
Luna had become Queen of the Moirae pack, found her mate in Michael and fallen in love with him as well. Leo had his Enforcer, the strong and uncompromising Darius who would be the constant presence at his side as he rebuilt the Crescent pack. Maya had undergone her own changes, and not just in appearance. She was harder now, a tough shell encasing her unless she was like this, alone with her siblings. Even Nova had changed, growing at least a foot as she neared her next birthday. But the light of childhood had gone from her eyes, a weight of responsibility settling over her far too soon.
Luna only hoped that as they all settled into this new life that her siblings would find as much happiness as she had.
For the first time, she felt truly whole. Like her insides matched her outsides. Her heart was full to brimming. She’d lost so much but fate had given her so much as well. A new family, a new mate and soon to be husband, a new wolf with enough strength to help him guide this pack, their pack, into the future.
“We were so worried.” Maya finally spoke.
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry that I worried you all. Again.”
“Turns out there was nothing to worry about.” Leo offered his twin a gentle smile, “I wish you could have seen her. She was amazing. She didn’t just save herself. She saved her mate as well.”
Luna dipped her chin a little, “I don’t even know how it happened. It seems strange to take credit for it. My wolf… she just, reacted.”
“Latent Alpha.” Maya shook her head, clearly amazed, “Leo told us but it’s hard to believe. There hasn’t been a reported case of a latent Alpha wolf coming into full power in decades. Has there?”
Leo shook his head, “At least that long but Dad knew. He always believed.”
“It’s the same with Seer’s though.” Luna shrugged, “The Crescent pack had gone without a Seer for a very long time before Nova was born. The Moirae pack doesn’t have one at all. Neither do any of the neighboring packs. It’s a rare, rare gift.”
“Trade ya.” Nova tucked her hair behind her ear and grinned.
“Oh, hush.” Luna nudged her littlest sister’s shoulder.
“The DeLuca blood is some powerful stuff.” Leo grinned with them.
“Imagine what DeLuca blood mixed with Hudson blood is going to be like.” Maya wagged her eyebrows playfully and Luna felt blood rush to her face. “Those babies are going to be some powerful little wolves.”
“They’re going to be…” Nova started but Luna reached out and covered her mouth.
“No! No, no, no! No more predictions.” Luna gave her a pointed look as she pulled her hand away, “I think I’ve heard enough of my future for a while.”
“I think we all have.” Leo smirked.
“Fine. Take away all my fun.”
Luna smiled at the easy way they all fell back in with each other. Teasing and laughing. They’d always been close despite the gap in their ages. Despite Leo’s status as the heir apparent to the Crescent pack and Luna’s submissive wolf. They were more than just siblings. They were friends and she didn’t want anything to ever change that no matter how they grew or where they went or who they mated.
“Speaking of fun,” She cleared her throat as she perched on the edge of Michael’s desk, “we have a mating ceremony to plan and not long to plan it.”
“A mating ceremony?” Maya gaped. “He asked you?”
She nodded.
“Finally!” Nova laughed.
“A mating ceremony, ” Leo pulled her into another embrace and kissed the top of her head, “that sounds like exactly what we need. I’m so happy for you. I hope you and Michael will have a lifetime of joy together.”
“And you and Darius?”
Leo chuckled as he pulled back from the embrace, “We’re going to need a little bit more time I think, to work everything out. It’s…. difficult, when two males mate. The Alpha tendencies are hard to mesh plus there’s the issue that he refuses to accept me as his Pack Alpha. He’s a Moirae Enforcer and he’s so damn stubborn.”
Luna laughed, “Stubborn? No. Tell me more.”
Leo shrugged, “He finally admitted we’re mates. That’s a start. We’ll get there. In the meantime, let’s just celebrate your upcoming wedding. I take it you’ll be getting married on the new moon, as is tradition?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Wait…” Maya frowned, “I thought Zoey and Rafe were getting married this new moon?”
“They are. We’re going to have a joint ceremony. Michael felt like it was only fitting and I agreed. We’re all going to be brothers and sisters. He and Rafe are finding a balance in their relationship. Zoey is his oldest friend and my newest. It’ll be something special the four of us can share.”
“That sounds really romantic.” Nova nodded.
“I think so too.” Luna smiled at her family’s easy acceptance. “And of course I’ll need your help getting things ready on such short notice.”
“Of course.”
“Sure.”
Leo shook his head when her sisters agreed, “I’ll leave the ceremony planning to you girls. I need to head back to the Crescents and take care of a few things. I’ve been trying to put things back into order over there but it’s gong to be slow going. There’s a lot of mistrust within the pack after what Maddox did and I’ve still got to deal with his allies.”
“Of course.” Luna nodded, “I know you’ve spent so much time here because of me but I’m fine now. I have Michael and it’s time we started rebuilding our lives. All of us. So go and take care of your pack. I’ll stay and take care of mine. And we’ll see one another as often and as much as possible.”
“I won’t miss your mating ceremony.” Leo pulled her in and kissed her forehead, “I’m so very proud of you, sister. An Alpha Queen with a mate that absolutely adores her. Mom and Dad would be so happy for you too.”
“I know.” She nodded but wiped at her cheeks, “Don’t make me cry again. Just go if you’re going and don’t say goodbye. It’s not goodbye. It’s just a, see you later.”
Leo chuckled, “There’s one more thing to work out before I go.”
Maya groaned and Nova laughed. Luna looked between her brother and sisters. They all exchanged looks but it was Nova that finally spoke up.
“We’re going to stay for now.”
“Oh, you are, are you?” Leo raised skeptical eyebrows.
“We are.” Maya confirmed. “We talked about it and we’re going to split our time between you two and between the packs just like we’ve been doing. If that’s okay with you both?”
>
Luna’s heart warmed, “You want to stay here with me and Michael? I thought you’d want to go home with Leo.”
Maya ducked her head, absently picking at one of the scars on her wrist, “Not yet.”
“That’s fine by me.” Leo quickly agreed to keep the moment from becoming awkward. “Stay as long as you like with Luna or as long as her mate will have you, and when you’re ready to come home, know that I’ll always have a place for you as well. You’re DeLuca’s forever but that doesn’t mean you have to be Crescent wolves. Luna is Moirae pack now. You two have been through a lot. I think the least we can give you is some time to figure out where you want to be and who you want to be.”
“Thank you.” Maya was biting her lip and blinking back tears when Leo pulled her into a hug.
“Anything you need. I’m one howl away.”
Her sister snorted, “You’re such a dork.”
“I’m a dork that’s a Pack Alpha with a mate he needs some time alone with, so I appreciate you staying behind for a little while.” Leo admitted.
“I’ve got a feeling we don’t want to be anywhere near their house for a while.” Nova smirked and Leo groaned.
“Okay. That’s enough. Time for me to go.”
They all said their goodbyes before Leo left the room. They would see him again soon but it was still hard watching him walk away. They’d all been split up so much over the past months. Luna had hoped to have more time with all of her siblings in one space but she understood why Leo had to return to the Crescent land and the pack that he intended to lead. They needed him more than she did now and he had his own life to get on with.
She wiped at her wet cheeks again as she looked between her sisters, “You really want to stay with me?”
“Of course we do.” Nova smiled. “You’re our sister and just because you’re Moirae pack now doesn’t change that.”
“Besides, we like it here.” Maya shrugged, “Now that your mate has taken our 24/7 guards off duty, it’s kind of nice. We’ve met new people and made new friends. It’s kinda like starting over.”
