Page 19 of Luna's New Reign

River steps closer, his fingers threading gently through my fur. The touch is soothing, grounding, and I let myself lean into it just slightly.

“Thank you, Alpha,” River whispers, his voice low and meant only for me.

The words are simple, but they carry a weight that makes my chest ache. I let out a soft huff in response, tilting my head toward him as his hand moves to scratch behind my ears. The crowd begins to disperse, the tension lingering but dissipatingas wolves return to their homes, their minds undoubtedly racing with what they’ve just witnessed.

12

RIVER

The clearing is nearly empty now, the energy still clinging to the air like static.

In the chaos that followed, I barely registered my mates surrounding me. Asani was a wall of muscle and fur at my side, his wolf bristling with tension. Mateo stood just ahead of me, his sharp gaze scanning the thinning crowd like he was ready to pounce on anything—or anyone—that posed a threat. Remi hovered close, his hand brushing against mine every so often as if to make sure I was still there.

But Nepheline, Darius, and Maverick were nowhere to be found.

The bonds are chaotic with fear and confusion, a sort of unease hanging in my chest.

The meeting ended on a sour note, with Victoria stepping forward at the last moment to request a private word with Nepheline. It was the kind of thing that should have felt routine, diplomatic even, but it didn’t. Not tonight.

It wasn’t until Mateo dismissed her request and turned to us as the last of the wolves dispersed, that I felt like I was able to breathe again. “They’re safe,” he says, letting out a heavy sigh. “Darius moved her to the pack house before anyone could blink. Maverick followed.”

I hadn’t even seen Darius move. It was like he’d sensed the shift in Nepheline before anyone else and acted on pure instinct. The protective bond between them isn’t just strong—it’s almost feral.

I can feel her emotions now, chaotic and sharp, tugging at the edges of my own composure. There’s no doubt in my mind that she’s pacing in the living room, her voice raised, demanding answers.Demanding to know what Kehlani’s problem is.

My attention snaps back to the present as Asani shifts beside me, his human form towering and unapologetically confident. He doesn’t bother grabbing clothes, the moonlight casting shadows across his bare skin and the sharp planes of his face.

Before I can say a word, his hand cups the back of my neck, pulling me forward, and then his lips are on mine. The kiss is hard and insistent, his teeth grazing my bottom lip before he pulls back just enough to whisper against my mouth. “Are you okay?”

I chuckle softly, the sound rough and slightly panicked as I rest my forehead against his. “I’ll always take a protector if you’re offering.”

His grin is wolfish, his fingers tightening on my neck. “Always.”

I can feel Mateo’s watchful gaze from a few feet away, his silent approval as the tension in my chest begins to ease. Remi moves closer, his touch gentle on my arm, but it’s Asani who commands my full attention. This night feels like it’s the true start of something, being declared Mateo’s voice. None of the wolvesfrom the Nightshades even balked at the command. It was only a few of the Sapphire wolves in our midst and Kehlani.

In fact, not even Victoria or Lawrence seemed to take up issue with that.

Needing a sense of distraction, Mateo’s words from this morning remind me of his promise to Remi. Still in Asani’s arms, I press another kiss to his lips before asking. “What do you say we go for a run?”

“A run?” Confusion runs through his face at the same time his cock thickens against my leg. He’s obviously interested, even more so when his gaze locks onto Remi’s. “Does Biscuit need a little attention?”

Remi lets out a little playful growl just as Mateo wraps himself around the smaller Alpha. I laugh, nodding. “We just want to show him how much he means to us and I couldn’t think of a better Alpha to join us. Let Maverick and Darius take care of our Omega so we can take care of Remi.”

Asani wholeheartedly agrees, eagerly shifting back into his wolf. I don’t wait—I follow, letting the shift take me, my wolf stretching and settling into the rhythm of the night. Together, the four of us run, the packlands stretching out before us, the tension of the meeting left behind as the moonlight guides our path. Tonight isn’t about the Sapphire wolves or the unease they bring.

Tonight is about us.

It’s about love, loyalty, and the bond that holds us together.

And as the wind rushes past, I know one thing for certain—there’s no one I’d rather run with, no one I’d rather fight for than the wolves who stand at my side.

One day it’ll be all of us.

The cool night air rushes past me as I bound through the crystal forest, my wolf’s paws pounding against the earth in perfect rhythm with the others. Mateo runs ahead, his black coatcutting through the shadows like a blade, while Asani and Remi flank him, their coats brushing against each other in playful nudges.

I follow close behind, my eyes locked on the way they move together—fluid, instinctive, connected. My wolf huffs a quiet breath of satisfaction. This is where I belong, with them, in this untamed, sacred space. The moonlight filters through the crystal forest, tree branches glowing faintly as if imbued with the magic of the packlands. The energy here is alive, pulsing, wrapping around us like a comforting embrace.

I push forward, catching up to the others just as Asani lets out a sharp bark of amusement. He nips at Remi’s hind leg, earning a startled yip and a playful growl in return. Mateo slows, allowing Remi to press against his side, their fur blending together in the pale light.

---