Marked by the Alpha Team (Luna Merrick) novel Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Third person POV

The night did not fall gently

It crept in slowly at first, like any other evening, with the sky fading from blue to gray and then from gray to a deep. endless black, but inside the house, inside Luna, there was nothing gentle about it. By the time the last light disappeared from the sky, something had already begun to take hold of her, something that refused to stay quiet any longer.

Luna sat on the edge of the bed, her back straight but her body tense, her fingers gripping the mattress so tightly that her knuckles had turned pale. Her breathing was uneven, slow one second and too fast the next, like her body could not decide what it wanted. The room felt too small, too warm, and too loud, even though nothing had actually changed. The only thing that had changed was her.

The heat inside her had grown steadily over time, but now it was something else entirely. It wasn’t just warmth anymore, it was pressure, it was hunger, and it was something that sat deep in her chest and spread outward, reaching every part of her body until she felt like she was burning from the inside. Her skin felt too sensitive, every small movement brushing against her nerves like sparks, and her senses… her senses were completely out of control.

She could hear everything.

The soft rustle of leaves outside, the distant sound of something electrical, and the shift of wood somewhere in the house. Even the faintest movement felt loud and overwhelming, like her ears had been turned up too high and she couldn’t turn them back down. Her head throbbed from it, a dull ache that made it hard to think clearly, and then there were the scents.

That was the worst part because no matter how hard she tried to ignore it, they were everywhere. Each of them, every single one of them. Their presence filled the house in a way that made it impossible for her to escape it. Ryder, Theo, Jace, Knox, and Orion. Even when they weren’t in the room, she could still smell them faintly, like traces of them clung to the walls, the air, the very space around her.

Her chest rose sharply as she inhaled and immediately regretted it. It was too much.

Mate.

The word echoed softly in her mind, not in her voice but in the voice that was not hers. The voice that had been growing stronger with every passing moment. The voice that no longer whispered but spoke with certainty.

Her wolf.

“We need them.”

The thought wasn’t hers, but it felt like it was. It slipped into her mind so smoothly that it blurred the line between them. and Luna pressed her lips together tightly, shaking her head as if she could push it away.

“No,” she muttered under her breath, her voice strained. “No, we’re not doing that.”

But her wolf did not listen. Her wolf was awake now, fully awake, and the moment the moon rose, she had taken a step forward that Luna could not undo.

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Chapter 73

Downstairs, things were not much better.

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Jace stood by the window in the living room, his hands clenched at his sides, his jaw tight as he stared out into the darkness. The moon had risen fully now, hanging high in the sky, bright and cold and impossible to ignore. He could feel it, not just see it, but feel it. It pulled at something inside him, something deep and instinctive that had always been there but was now impossible to ignore.

Ace was restless.

No, restless wasn’t the right word. Ace was awake in a way that made it hard to breathe. He paced inside Jace’s mind, sharp and alert, his presence stronger than it had been in a long time. Every sense was heightened, every instinct sharper, and at the center of it all was one thing.

Luna.

Jace exhaled slowly, forcing his breathing to stay steady even though everything inside him was pushing against that control. “Stay calm,” he muttered under his breath, more to himself than anything else, but calm was not something that came easily tonight because he could feel it too.

The pull. It was stronger than it had ever been before, not just a distant awareness or just an easily controlled connection. It was something alive now, something that tugged at him with every passing second, drawing his attention back to the same place again and again, which was upstairs to her.

He closed his eyes briefly, pressing his lips together as he tried to push the feeling down, but it didn’t go away. It didn’t even weaken. It stayed there, steady and constant, like a thread tying him to something he couldn’t escape.

“You feel it too, don’t you?”

Theo’s voice broke through his thoughts, and Jace opened his eyes, turning his head slightly to look at him. Theo was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, but there was nothing relaxed about him. His posture was too stiff, his eyes too sharp, the usual careless look gone completely.

“Yeah,” Jace admitted quietly.

Theo let out a soft breath, dragging a hand through his hair as he looked away for a second. “This is going to be a long night.”

Ryder stood a few steps away, silent, but his presence was just as tense. He hadn’t said much since they gathered, but he didn’t need to. The way he held himself, the way his gaze kept drifting toward the stairs, said enough.

“She’s not going to handle this well,” Ryder said finally, his voice low.

Knox, who was sitting on the arm of a chair, let out a quiet hum. “None of us are.”

Orion leaned back against the wall, his arms folded, his expression unreadable, but even he could not hide it completely. The air in the room was thick with it. The tension, the awareness, and the need.

It wasn’t just Luna, it was all of them, and upstairs, it was getting worse.

Luna pushed herself off the bed abruptly, pacing across the room like staying still had become impossible. Her steps were uneven and restless, her hands running through her hair as she tried to calm herself down, but nothing worked. The heat

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inside her only grew stronger, spreading through her chest, her stomach, and her limbs until she felt like she was vibrating

with it.

“I can’t do this,” she whispered, her voice tight.

Her wolf did not agree. “We need them.”

The thought came again, stronger this time, more insistent. “I said no,” Luna snapped out loud, stopping in the middle of the room as her chest rose and fell rapidly, but the moment she stopped moving, the feeling hit her even harder.

It was unbearable now. It wasn’t just a feeling anymore, it was a need. A deep, aching need that sat heavy in her chest and pulled her toward something she didn’t want to face.

Her mates, all of them.

Her breath hitched as she turned toward the door, her body reacting before her mind could catch up. She didn’t want to go, and she didn’t want to give in to whatever this was, but her feet moved anyway, slow at first, hesitant, and then faster, like something inside her had decided for her.

Downstairs, all five of them felt it at the same time. Jace straightened instantly, his head turning toward the stairs, Ryder’s posture stiffened, Theo’s expression sharpened, Knox went completely still, and Orion’s gaze lifted.

“She’s coming,” Orion said quietly, and just like that, the room shifted.

The air grew heavier, the tension doubled because now, the distance between them was gone. Luna stepped into view slowly, her breathing uneven, her eyes brighter than they had been before, the color in them almost glowing under the light. She paused at the top of the stairs for a second, like she was trying to hold herself back, but it didn’t last.

Her gaze dropped and locked on all of them.

‘Mate.’

The word wasn’t just in her head this time. It was in the air, in the way she looked at them, in the way her body reacted without permission, and every single one of them felt it.

Jace exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay where he was, even as every instinct in him screamed to move, to go to her, and to close the distance.

“Stay where you are,” he said firmly, his voice calm even though nothing about him felt calm.

Luna didn’t listen, and she took a step down, then another. Each step was slow and deliberate, like she was being pulled by something stronger than her own will. Her gaze shifted from one to the next, lingering just a second too long on each of them, and every time it did, something in the room tightened.

Ryder’s jaw clenched, Theo’s hands curled into fists, Knox inhaled sharply, and Orion’s eyes darkened.

Jace didn’t move, but it took everything in him not to. “Luna,” he said again, more firmly this time. “Stop.”

She froze for a second, just one second. Then her head tilted slightly, her expression softening in a way that didn’t belong

to her

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“I found you,” she said quietly.

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It wasn’t Luna, it was her wolf, and the moment those words left her mouth, everything inside the room shifted again, because now, there was no ignoring it anymore.

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16:37 Sat, 30 May

Chapray

Chapter 75

Third-person POV

The door clicked shut behind Ryder, and the sound hit Luna like a slap.

She was alone.

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The room felt too small, too hot, and too empty. The second he left, the fire that had been building inside her flared up worse than before. It wasn’t just the ache between her legs anymore, it was everywhere. Her skin burned like someone had poured boiling water over her. Every nerve ending screamed, and even the soft sheets under her felt like sandpaper scraping against her.

Luna slid off the bed and tried to stand, but her legs wouldn’t hold her. She dropped to her knees on the floor, curling into a tight ball. Her arms wrapped around her middle as another wave crashed through her. This one was deeper. It felt like cramps twisting her insides but mixed with something hotter, something that made her hips twitch without her control.

A low whine slipped from her throat, then another. Her wolf paced restlessly inside her mind, pushing hard, demanding they go after their mate, demanding relief, but Luna’s human side had gone quiet again, buried under the heat. She could barely think straight. All she knew was pain and need and the terrible feeling that she was burning alive from the inside.

Sweat beaded on her forehead and trickled down her back. Her clothes stuck to her skin, making everything worse. The fabric rubbed in all the wrong ways, sending sparks of unwanted sensation shooting through her body. She clawed at her shirt, but her fingers shook too much to do anything useful.

Another cramp hit, harder this time. It started low in her belly and spread out like fire through her veins. Her breath came in short, desperate gasps, her heart pounded so loud she could hear it in her ears, and every sound in the house felt too much, even her own ragged breathing.

It hurt. God, it hurt so much.

Luna pressed her forehead to the cool floor, but even that didn’t help for long. The heat kept rising, and her body felt swollen and sensitive. Between her legs, she was slick and aching, a deep, empty throb that made her want to cry. She rocked back and forth on the floor, trying to find any kind of relief, but nothing worked. The need only grew stronger, mixing with the pain until she couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began.

Her wolf howled inside her head. ‘Mate. Need mate. Now.’

Luna squeezed her eyes shut, and a sob broke free, then another. The pressure built and built until she couldn’t hold it in anymore. She screamed.

It tore out of her raw and broken, loud enough to echo through the whole house. The sound was full of pain and frustration and that terrible, burning hunger. She screamed again, curling tighter on the floor, nails digging into her own arms as another wave ripped through her.

Downstairs, all five of them froze.

Ryder had just reached the bottom step when the first scream hit. His head snapped up, his face going pale. Ty surged forward so fast Ryder had to grab the railing to stay steady. Jace was already moving. Thea pushed off the wall, his eyes wide, Knox stood up fast from the chair, and Orion’s gaze locked on the stairs.

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They all rushed up at the same time. “Wait,” Jace barked. He threw out an arm, stopping them right at the bottom. “We can’t all go in there at once, it’ll make it worse.”

The others stopped, breathing hard. Ryder looked wrecked, guilt still plain on his face from what had happened upstairs

earlier.

Jace rubbed a hand over his face. The scream came again, fainter this time but still full of pain. It tore at all of them. “Orion, you go. If it’s too much and you can’t handle it alone, mind link us, but no one else goes up unless he calls.”

Orion nodded once, and without another word, he turned and took the stairs two at a time. He pushed the door open slowly, not wanting to scare her more, and the sight that met him made his chest tighten.

Luna was curled on the floor beside the bed, knees pulled to her chest, arms wrapped around herself. Her hair stuck to her sweaty face, and her skin looked flushed red, like she had a dangerous fever. She rocked slightly, soft whimpers mixing with shaky breaths. The room smelled heavy with her scent, sweet and thick and desperate, and it hit Orion like a wall, making his wolf, Shadow, snap to attention.

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him with a soft click. “Luna,” he said quietly, keeping his voice low. “It’s me,

Orion.”

She didn’t look up at first. Another cramp must have hit because she gasped sharply and pressed her face harder into her knees. A fresh wave of heat rolled off her, stronger now that he was closer. Orion’s hands curled into fists at his sides. He could feel his own body reacting, blood running hot, muscles tensing, and the urge to go to her and fix everything rising

fast.

But he stayed where he was for a moment, breathing through his mouth to try and clear his head. “Hey… I’m here. You’re not alone.”

Slowly, Luna lifted her head. Her eyes were glassy and bright, glowing faintly. Tears streaked her cheeks, and she looked lost and in so much pain that it made Orion’s stomach twist.

“Hot,” she whispered, her voice cracked. “It hurts… everywhere.”

Orion moved closer, careful and slow. He knelt a few feet away, not crowding her yet. “I know.”

She whimpered again and uncurled a little, reaching one shaky hand toward him. The simple movement made her shirt ride up, exposing a strip of flushed skin on her stomach, and Orion swallowed hard.

He took her hand gently, and the second their skin touched, something shifted. Luna let out a long, shaky breath. Her shoulders dropped just a fraction, and the pained lines on her face eased a tiny bit.

“Orion…” she breathed. “You smell safe.”

His presence helped. Just having one of her mates close calmed the worst of the storm inside her, and the screaming stopped. The cramps didn’t vanish, but they dulled to a deep, throbbing ache, and her breathing slowed a little. She squeezed his hand like it was a lifeline.

Orion scooted closer, still on his knees. He brushed damp hair back from her forehead with his free hand. Her shun was burning hot under his palm. “That’s it, just breathe. I’m right here.”

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For a minute, it worked. Luna leaned into his touch, her eyes half-closed, and a soft, relieved sound escaped her. The heat still raged, but his scent and his presence wrapped around her, pushing back the panic.

Then the need came back stronger. She shifted restlessly and sat up a little, still holding his hand. Her free hand moved to the collar of her sweater, tugging at it. “Too hot… clothes hurt.”

Orion’s eyes widened. “Luna, wait…”

But she didn’t wait. Her fingers fumbled with the hem, pulling the sweater up. The fabric dragged over her skin, and she moaned softly at the friction, half in relief, half in something darker. Orion reached out to stop her, catching her wrists

lightly.

“You don’t have to do that,” he said, his voice rough. “We can get you a cold cloth or…”

She shook her head, her eyes pleading. “Please, it burns. Everything touches, and it burns.”

Her wolf was driving her now, and the heat made her bold. She twisted her hands free and yanked the sweater over her head in one clumsy motion. Underneath, she wore a thin crop top that clung to her sweaty skin, outlining every curve. Her chest rose and fell fast, nipples visible through the fabric because she wasn’t wearing anything underneath.

Orion’s breath caught. Shadow surged forward, flooding his mind with raw images and instincts. He wanted to touch her. He wanted to pull her close and ease every ache, but he fought it, jaw clenched tight.

“Luna,” he tried again, firmer this time. “This isn’t a good idea.”

She wasn’t listening. The relief from removing the sweater only made her want more. She tugged at the crop top next, peeling it off slowly. The cool air of the room hit her bare skin, and she sighed deeply, her back arching a little. Her breasts were full and flushed, nipples tight from the sudden change in temperature and the constant arousal humming through

her.

Orion couldn’t look away. His hands itched to cover her, to touch, but he forced them to stay at his sides. “Stop, please.” But she didn’t. Luna kicked off her sweatpants next, shoving them down her legs along with her underwear in one frantic push. She was completely naked now, kneeling on the floor in front of him. Her skin glistened with a light sheen of sweat, and her body trembled, not just from fever, but from the deep, empty need that made her thighs press together and then part again.

She was beautiful, and she was suffering.

Luna crawled closer to him on her knees. Her hands reached for his chest, sliding up under his shirt without asking. Her palms were hot against his skin, and she pressed herself against him, bare breasts brushing his chest through the thin material of his shirt. A soft, needy sound left her throat.

“Touch me,” she whispered. “It helps when you touch.”

Orion groaned low, his control fraying fast. His hands came up automatically, settling on her waist to hold her steady. Her skin felt like silk under his fingers, burning silk. He could feel the rapid beat of her pulse, the way her body shivered at even that light contact.

“Luna… I shouldn’t,” he muttered, but his thumbs brushed small circles on her sides anyway. It was like his body moved

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on its own.

She didn’t care about shoulds or shouldn’ts. She pressed closer, straddling one of his thighs as she knelt in front of him. Her slick heat rubbed against his leg through his pants, and they both gasped. Luna rocked slowly, chasing the friction. Her hands explored his chest, fingers tracing every ridge of muscle like she was memorizing him.

“You feel so good,” she breathed against his neck. Her lips brushed his skin, sending a jolt straight through him. “Warm. Strong. Mate.”

Orion’s grip on her waist tightened. He could smell how aroused she was, thick and sweet and overwhelming. His own body responded hard, blood rushing south until he was painfully tight against his zipper.

He tried to pull back a little. “We can’t go further.”

But Luna followed him, not letting any space grow between them. She kissed his neck, soft and open-mouthed, then higher until her lips found his jaw. One of her hands slid down his stomach, stopping just above his belt. She nuzzled into him, hips still moving in that slow, desperate grind against his thigh.

Every touch from her was electric. She ran her fingers through his hair, tugging lightly. She pressed her bare chest fully to his, her nipples dragging against the fabric of his shirt and making her whimper. Her other hand traced his arm, then back to his chest, nails scraping lightly.

Orion’s breathing grew ragged. He let one hand slide up her back, feeling the curve of her spine, the heat of her skin. His other hand stayed on her hip, guiding her movements just a little even as he told himself to stop. The slickness from her rubbed onto his pants, marking him with her scent.

It was too much and not enough all at once.

Luna kissed him then, messy and hungry. Her tongue slipped past his lips when he gasped, and he kissed her back before he could think. For a long minute, it was all heat and tongues and her naked body pressed tight to his clothed one. Her hands were everywhere, touching his shoulders and his neck and sliding under his shirt again to feel his bare skin.

She broke the kiss to gasp for air, forehead against his. “More… please. Touch me more.”

His hand moved almost on its own, cupping one of her breasts. His thumb brushed over the tight peak, and she cried out softly, arching into his palm. He squeezed gently, feeling the weight and heat of her. Luna moaned, hips grinding harder against his thigh.

The sound nearly broke him.

Orion’s other hand slid down to her lower back, then lower still, cupping the curve of her ass. He pulled her closer, helping her rock against him. The friction made her tremble. She was so wet, so ready, and the scent of it filled his head until he could barely think.

But somewhere deep down, he held onto the last thread of control. This was Luna, his mate, but not fully herself.

He forced his hands to still, though it took everything in him. “Luna,” he rasped against her lips. “We have to slow down. I want to help you, but not like this. Not when you might regret it later.”

She whined in protest, trying to kiss him again, her hands still roaming over his chest and stomach. Her body kept moving,

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seeking relief against his leg. Every small shift sent sparks through both of them.

Orion hugged her close instead, wrapping his arms around her naked form. He held her tight, letting her bury her face in his neck while she trembled and rocked. His hands rubbed soothing circles on her back, even as his own body screamed

for more.

“Shh,” he murmured. “I’ve got you. Just let it ride out a little.”

Luna’s breathing slowly evened out again, the worst edge of the frenzy easing because of his closeness. The burning didn’t vanish, but it became something she could breathe through with him holding her.

She stayed naked in his arms, skin to skin where his shirt had ridden up, touching and being touched in small, careful ways. Her hands kept exploring him lightly, but the frantic need had softened into something warmer, more clingy.

Orion pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head, ignoring the way his body still throbbed with want. “You’re doing good,” he whispered, and Luna sighed against his neck, still trembling but no longer screaming.

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16:37 Sat, 30 May

Chants 771

Chapter 75

Third-person POV

The door clicked shut behind Ryder, and the sound hit Luna like a slap.

She was alone.

健第55%薯

The room felt too small, too hot, and too empty. The second he left, the fire that had been building inside her flared up worse than before. It wasn’t just the ache between her legs anymore, it was everywhere. Her skin burned like someone had poured boiling water over her. Every nerve ending screamed, and even the soft sheets under her felt like sandpaper scraping against her.

Luna slid off the bed and tried to stand, but her legs wouldn’t hold her. She dropped to her knees on the floor, curling into a tight ball. Her arms wrapped around her middle as another wave crashed through her. This one was deeper. It felt like cramps twisting her insides but mixed with something hotter, something that made her hips twitch without her control.

A low whine slipped from her throat, then another. Her wolf paced restlessly inside her mind, pushing hard, demanding they go after their mate, demanding relief, but Luna’s human side had gone quiet again, buried under the heat. She could barely think straight. All she knew was pain and need and the terrible feeling that she was burning alive from the inside.

Sweat beaded on her forehead and trickled down her back. Her clothes stuck to her skin, making everything worse. The fabric rubbed in all the wrong ways, sending sparks of unwanted sensation shooting through her body. She clawed at her shirt, but her fingers shook too much to do anything useful.

Another cramp hit, harder this time. It started low in her belly and spread out like fire through her veins. Her breath came in short, desperate gasps, her heart pounded so loud she could hear it in her ears, and every sound in the house felt too much, even her own ragged breathing.

It hurt. God, it hurt so much.

Luna pressed her forehead to the cool floor, but even that didn’t help for long. The heat kept rising, and her body felt swollen and sensitive. Between her legs, she was slick and aching, a deep, empty throb that made her want to cry. She rocked back and forth on the floor, trying to find any kind of relief, but nothing worked. The need only grew stronger, mixing with the pain until she couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began.

Her wolf howled inside her head. ‘Mate. Need mate. Now.’

Luna squeezed her eyes shut, and a sob broke free, then another. The pressure built and built until she couldn’t hold it in anymore. She screamed.

It tore out of her raw and broken, loud enough to echo through the whole house. The sound was full of pain and frustration and that terrible, burning hunger. She screamed again, curling tighter on the floor, nails digging into her own arms as another wave ripped through her.

Downstairs, all five of them froze.

Ryder had just reached the bottom step when the first scream hit. His head snapped up, his face going pale. Ty surged forward so fast Ryder had to grab the railing to stay steady. Jace was already moving, Theo pushed off the wall, his eyes wide, Knox stood up fast from the chair, and Orion’s gaze locked on the stairs.

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They alt rushed up at the same time. “Wait,” Jace barked. He threw out an arm, stopping them right at the bottom. “We can’t all go in there at once, it’ll make it worse.”

The others stopped, breathing hard. Ryder looked wrecked, guilt still plain on his face from what had happened upstairs

earlier.

Jace rubbed a hand over his face. The scream came again, fainter this time but still full of pain. It tore at all of them. “Orion, you go. If it’s too much and you can’t handle it alone, mind link us, but no one else goes up unless he calls.”

Orion nodded once, and without another word, he turned and took the stairs two at a time. He pushed the door open slowly, not wanting to scare her more, and the sight that met him made his chest tighten.

Luna was curled on the floor beside the bed, knees pulled to her chest, arms wrapped around herself. Her hair stuck to her sweaty face, and her skin looked flushed red, like she had a dangerous fever. She rocked slightly, soft whimpers mixing with shaky breaths. The room smelled heavy with her scent, sweet and thick and desperate, and it hit Orion like a wall, making his wolf, Shadow, snap to attention.

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him with a soft click. “Luna,” he said quietly, keeping his voice low. “It’s me,

Orion.”

She didn’t look up at first. Another cramp must have hit because she gasped sharply and pressed her face harder into her knees. A fresh wave of heat rolled off her, stronger now that he was closer. Orion’s hands curled into fists at his sides. He could feel his own body reacting, blood running hot, muscles tensing, and the urge to go to her and fix everything rising

fast.

But he stayed where he was for a moment, breathing through his mouth to try and clear his head. “Hey… I’m here. You’re

not alone.”

Slowly, Luna lifted her head. Her eyes were glassy and bright, glowing faintly. Tears streaked her cheeks, and she looked lost and in so much pain that it made Orion’s stomach twist.

“Hot,” she whispered, her voice cracked. “It hurts… everywhere.”

Orion moved closer, careful and slow. He knelt a few feet away, not crowding her yet. “I know.”

She whimpered again and uncurled a little, reaching one shaky hand toward him. The simple movement made her shirt ride up, exposing a strip of flushed skin on her stomach, and Orion swallowed hard.

He took her hand gently, and the second their skin touched, something shifted. Luna let out a long, shaky breath. Her shoulders dropped just a fraction, and the pained lines on her face eased a tiny bit.

“Orion…” she breathed. “You smell safe.”

His presence helped. Just having one of her mates close calmed the worst of the storm inside her, and the screaming stopped. The cramps didn’t vanish, but they dulled to a deep, throbbing ache, and her breathing slowed a little. She squeezed his hand like it was a lifeline.

Orion scooted closer, still on his knees. He brushed damp hair back from her forehead with his free hand. Her skin was burning hot under his palm. “That’s it, just breathe. I’m right here.”

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For a minute, it worked. Luna leaned into his touch, her eyes half-closed, and a soft, relieved sound escaped her. The heat still raged, but his scent and his presence wrapped around her, pushing back the panic.

Then the need came back stronger. She shifted restlessly and sat up a little, still holding his hand. Her free hand moved to the collar of her sweater, tugging at it. “Too hot… clothes hurt.”

Orion’s eyes widened. “Luna, wait…”

But she didn’t wait. Her fingers fumbled with the hem, pulling the sweater up. The fabric dragged over her skin, and she moaned softly at the friction, half in relief, half in something darker. Orion reached out to stop her, catching her wrists lightly.

“You don’t have to do that,” he said, his voice rough. “We can get you a cold cloth or…”

She shook her head, her eyes pleading. “Please, it burns. Everything touches, and it burns.”

Her wolf was driving her now, and the heat made her bold. She twisted her hands free and yanked the sweater over her head in one clumsy motion. Underneath, she wore a thin crop top that clung to her sweaty skin, outlining every curve. Her chest rose and fell fast, nipples visible through the fabric because she wasn’t wearing anything underneath.

Orion’s breath caught. Shadow surged forward, flooding his mind with raw images and instincts. He wanted to touch her. He wanted to pull her close and ease every ache, but he fought it, jaw clenched tight.

“Luna,” he tried again, firmer this time. “This isn’t a good idea.”

She wasn’t listening. The relief from removing the sweater only made her want more. She tugged at the crop top next, peeling it off slowly. The cool air of the room hit her bare skin, and she sighed deeply, her back arching a little. Her breasts were full and flushed, nipples tight from the sudden change in temperature and the constant arousal humming through

her.

Orion couldn’t look away. His hands itched to cover her, to touch, but he forced them to stay at his sides. “Stop, please.”

But she didn’t. Luna kicked off her sweatpants next, shoving them down her legs along with her underwear in one frantic push. She was completely naked now, kneeling on the floor in front of him. Her skin glistened with a light sheen of sweat, and her body trembled, not just from fever, but from the deep, empty need that made her thighs press together and then part again.

She was beautiful, and she was suffering.

Luna crawled closer to him on her knees. Her hands reached for his chest, sliding up under his shirt without asking. Her palms were hot against his skin, and she pressed herself against him, bare breasts brushing his chest through the thin material of his shirt. A soft, needy sound left her throat.

“Touch me,” she whispered. “It helps when you touch.”

Orion groaned low, his control fraying fast. His hands came up automatically, settling on her waist to hold her steady. Her skin felt like silk under his fingers, burning silk. He could feel the rapid beat of her pulse, the way her body shivered at even that light contact.

“Luna.. I shouldn’t,” he muttered, but his thumbs brushed small circles on her sides anyway. It was like his body moved

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She didn’t care about shoulds or shouldn’ts. She pressed closer, straddling one of his thighs as she knelt in front of him. Her slick heat rubbed against his leg through his pants, and they both gasped. Luna rocked slowly, chasing the friction. Her hands explored his chest, fingers tracing every ridge of muscle like she was memorizing him.

“You feel so good,” she breathed against his neck. Her lips brushed his skin, sending a jolt straight through him. “Warm. Strong Mate.”

Orion’s grip on her waist tightened. He could smell how aroused she was, thick and sweet and overwhelming. His own body responded hard, blood rushing south until he was painfully tight against his zipper.

He tried to pull back a little, “We can’t go further.”

But Luna followed him, not letting any space grow between them. She kissed his neck, soft and open-mouthed, then higher until her lips found his jaw. One of her hands slid down his stomach, stopping just above his belt. She nuzzled into him, hips still moving in that slow, desperate grind against his thigh.

Every touch from her was electric. She ran her fingers through his hair, tugging lightly. She pressed her bare chest fully to his, her nipples dragging against the fabric of his shirt and making her whimper. Her other hand traced his arm, then back to his chest, nails scraping lightly,

Orion’s breathing grew ragged. He let one hand slide up her back, feeling the curve of her spine, the heat of her skin. His other hand stayed on her hip, guiding her movements just a little even as he told himself to stop. The slickness from her rubbed onto his pants, marking him with her scent.

It was too much and not enough all at once.

Luna kissed him then, messy and hungry. Her tongue slipped past his lips when he gasped, and he kissed her back before he could think. For a long minute, it was all heat and tongues and her naked body pressed tight to his clothed one. Her hands were everywhere, touching his shoulders and his neck and sliding under his shirt again to feel his bare skin.

She broke the kiss to gasp for air, forehead against his. “More… please. Touch me more.”

His hand moved almost on its own, cupping one of her breasts. His thumb brushed over the tight peak, and she cried out softly, arching into his palm. He squeezed gently, feeling the weight and heat of her. Luna moaned, hips grinding harder against his thigh.

The sound nearly broke him.

Orion’s other hand slid down to her lower back, then lower still, cupping the curve of her ass. He pulled her closer, helping her rock against him. The friction made her tremble. She was so wet, so ready, and the scent of it filled his head until he could barely think.

But somewhere deep down, he held onto the last thread of control. This was Luna, his mate, but not fully herself.

He forced his hands to still, though it took everything in him. “Luna,” he rasped against her lips. “We have to slow down. I want to help you, but not like this. Not when you might regret it later,”

She whined in protest, trying to kiss him again, her hands still roaming over his chest and stomach. Her body kept moving.

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seeking relief against his leg. Every small shift sent sparks through both of them.

Orion hugged her close instead, wrapping his arms around her naked form. He held her tight, letting her bury her face in his neck while she trembled and rocked. His hands rubbed soothing circles on her back, even as his own body screamed

for more.

“Shh,” he murmured. “I’ve got you. Just let it ride out a little.”

Luna’s breathing slowly evened out again, the worst edge of the frenzy easing because of his closeness. The burning didn’t vanish, but it became something she could breathe through with him holding her.

She stayed naked in his arms, skin to skin where his shirt had ridden up, touching and being touched in small, careful ways. Her hands kept exploring him lightly, but the frantic need had softened into something warmer, more clingy.

Orion pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head, ignoring the way his body still throbbed with want. “You’re doing good,” he whispered, and Luna sighed against his neck, still trembling but no longer screaming.

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16:42 Sat, 30 May ✡CO

Chapter

Chapter 76

Third-person POV

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Jace stood at the bottom of the stairs, listening hard. The house had gone quiet again with no more screams and no more desperate sounds coming from upstairs. He closed his eyes for a second and reached out with the bond they all shared with Luna. He could sense that she felt calmer now, still burning and still restless, but she was no longer in that breaking pain anymore. Orion was with her, and that was enough for now.

He turned to the others. Ryder looked like he hadn’t slept in days, and Jace understood since he has had to take care of Luna the longest. Theo was unusually quiet and gentle, while Knox leaned against the wall with his arms crossed tight. They all felt it, the pull, the frustration, and the way the full moon made everything ten times harder, but they were all holding themselves together as best as they could.

“She’s okay with Orion,” Jace said, his voice low, “She doesn’t need us for now, and I think I need some air right now. None of you should go up there unless he calls for help, and if he does, we take turns as planned earlier. That’s the only way we get through tonight without losing our heads.”

None of them said anything after he spoke, and Jace immediately walked away, heading down the stairs and walking until he arrived at the back of the house and pushed open the back door to step outside. The night air hit him cool and clean, but it did nothing to put out the fire in his blood. The moon hung full and bright overhead, silver light pouring over the backyard and the garden behind the house.

He walked farther out, past the patio, until the grass felt soft under his feet. His skin itched, and Ace was pacing inside him, restless and angry. His wolf wanted their mate, wanted to be close, to touch, and to claim her. Being stuck down here while Orion was upstairs with her was driving both of them crazy.

Jace pulled off his shirt first, tossing it on the grass, then his jeans, his boxers, and everything came off. He stood naked under the moon, his muscles tight, his body already half-hard from the constant pull of Luna’s heat. The cool air brushed over his skin but didn’t help. He knew that nothing would help except her.

He dropped to his hands and knees, and the shift came fast, bones cracking and reshaping, fur rippling over his body in a dark wave. In seconds, where Jace had stood was now a massive wolf. Ace was big even for an alpha with broad shoulders, powerful legs, and thick dark gray fur with black tips that made him look almost black in the moonlight. His eyes glowed a sharp, piercing amber. A long scar ran along one shoulder from an old fight, and his ears were alert, twitching at every small sound.

Ace shook out his fur, feeling the frustration pour out of him. He needed to run, needed to burn off some of this energy before he did something stupid like storm back inside and drag Luna out here with him.

He took off, his powerful legs carrying him across the yard in long strides. He circled the garden, walking between the flower beds and low bushes, his paws silent on the ground. The wind rushed through his fur, and he pushed harder, running faster, and letting the burn in his muscles fight the burn in his blood, but no matter how fast he ran, he couldn’t outrun the scent of her that still clung to the air. He couldn’t outrun the need to have her.

Finally, he slowed, his chest heaving. He stopped in the middle of the garden and tipped his head back. The how tore out of him, deep, raw, and full of longing and frustration. It rose into the night, long and loud, echoing off the trees. Ace howled again, pouring everything into it, and the sound vibrated through his chest and carried on the wind.

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Upstairs. Luna’s eyes snapped open.

She had fallen asleep curled against Orion’s chest, his arms loose around her naked body. The steady beat of his heart and his warm scent had pulled her under for a little while, but the howl cut straight through her dreams. It wasn’t just a sound in her ears, it rang inside her head, inside her chest, and straight to her wolf.

Mate.

She sat up slowly, careful not to wake Orion. He was breathing deep and even, exhausted from fighting his own instincts. Luna slipped out of his arms, moving quietly. Her skin still felt too hot, and her body still ached with that deep, empty need, but the scream of pain had faded. Now there was only the pull, stronger than before.

She had to find him, the one who had howled and the one calling for her.

Luna didn’t bother with clothes. She didn’t even think about it. The window was open a crack for fresh air, and she pushed it wider and climbed out without hesitation even though she was on the third floor. It didn’t matter to her. Her body felt light, strong, and different. She simply grabbed the frame, swung her legs over, and dropped.

She landed softly on the grass below, knees bending to take the impact like it was nothing. No pain, no fear, and just the night air on her bare skin and the pull in her chest dragging her forward.

She started walking. The direction was clear, like an invisible string tugging her toward the back garden. Grass brushed her legs, and the cold air kissed her heated skin, making her nipples tighten. Between her thighs she was still slick, still aching, but the howl had woken something else in her, something wild.

As she walked, the change started.

It didn’t hurt the way she had been told it would. It felt like stretching after a long sleep. Her bones shifted smoothly, and fur sprouted along her arms and legs, soft, silvery-white with hints of pale gold that caught the moonlight. Her hands became paws, and her face lengthened into a delicate muzzle. In seconds, Luna was gone, and her wolf stood in her place.

She was smaller than Ace but graceful-looking. Her fur shone like fresh snow under the moon, with faint darker markings along her back and tail. Her eyes were bright blue, glowing with the same inner light. She shook herself once, feeling the new power in her legs and the sharpness of her senses. Everything smelled stronger and felt clearer.

She broke into a run.

The garden wasn’t far. She rounded the corner of the house, and there he was, Ace, pacing in tight circles in the middle of the grass, his head low, and his tail flicking with leftover tension.

Their eyes met across the short distance, and everything stopped.

The bond snapped into place like a live wire, and the heat that had been burning in Luna all night flared white-hot, while Ace’s frustration turned into pure, raw need as his control slipped away completely.

They rushed toward each other.

Luna’s wolf let out a soft, eager whine, and Ace answered with a deep growl that wasn’t angry, it was hungry. They met in a tangle of fur and limbs, bodies colliding hard. Ace nuzzled her roughly, pushing his big head against her neck and shoulder, breathing in her scent like he was starving for it. She pressed back, rubbing her side along his, her tail wagging

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The mating instinct took over fast.

Ace circled her once, then mounted her from behind. His front paws hooked over her shoulders, claws digging gently into her fur to hold her steady. Luna braced her legs, her head lowering, and her body ready. She was dripping with need, her wolf heat making her swollen and slick. When Ace thrust forward, he slid inside her in one smooth, deep stroke.

The feeling was intense. Luna’s wolf whimpered in pleasure, pushing back to take him deeper. Ace was big, thick, and hot. and he filled her completely. He started moving right away, hips snapping hard and fast. The wet sounds of their joining filled the quiet garden. Every thrust pushed a needy sound from her throat, and her body rocked under his weight, pleasure shooting through her like sparks.

It wasn’t gentle. It was primal, raw, and exactly what the heat demanded.

Ace growled low near her ear, his breath hot against her fur. He kept thrusting, deep and steady, hips slapping against her. Luna’s legs trembled, but she held strong, meeting every push. The pleasure built fast, tight, coiling heat low in her belly. She could feel every inch of him inside her, stretching her, rubbing against places that made her vision blur.

Then Ace shifted his grip. He nosed aside the fur at the back of her neck, right where it met her shoulder. His teeth grazed the spot, and Luna whined, tilting her head to give him better access.

He bit down, his fangs sinking into her flesh, not too deeply, but enough to break skin and leave his mark, Pain flashed for half a second, then melted into the hottest pleasure she had ever felt. The bond flared wide open, and she could feel him, his need, his relief, and the wild joy of finally claiming what was his. Waves of warmth spread from the bite, mixing with the rhythm of his thrusts.

Luna’s wolf cried out, the sound half howl, half moan. Her body clamped down around him as the orgasm hit her hard, and pleasure crashed through her in pulsing waves, making her legs shake and her vision spark white. She pushed back against him, taking him as deep as she could while she came.

Ace followed right after. With a deep, rumbling growl, he thrust once more and held himself deep inside her. His knot swelled, locking them together, and hot pulses filled her as he came, marking her from the inside too. The feeling of being tied, of being filled and claimed, sent another smaller wave of pleasure through Luna.

They stayed locked like that, panting hard. Ace’s tongue licked over the fresh bite mark, soothing it. His body covered hers protectively, heavy and warm, and Luna’s wolf leaned into him, her eyes half-closed in bliss. The heat still simmered, but for the first time tonight it felt satisfied instead of painful.

After a few long minutes, Ace’s knot started to go down. He carefully pulled out, a rush of wetness following. Luna turned to face him, nuzzling under his chin. They rubbed against each other again, slower this time, tongues licking faces and necks in soft, affectionate strokes.

Ace’s big wolf body pressed along her side, keeping her close. Luna’s wolf felt peaceful for the first time since the heat started. The mating had taken the edge off the worst of the fire, but she knew it wasn’t over. One mate had claimed her, but there were four more who wanted to claim her. The night was still young, and the full moon kept shining bright above

them.

Ace lay down in the grass, and Luna curled up against his chest, his big body sheltering her smaller one. He licked her ear gently, letting out a low rumble of contentment in his throat.

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Chapter 27

Chapter 77

Third-person POV

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Jace’s eyes opened slowly, like his body was dragging itself back from somewhere deep and heavy. For a few long seconds, nothing made sense to him at all. The ground under him didn’t feel like anything familiar. It wasn’t a bed, and it wasn’t the smooth floor of the house. It was uneven, slightly damp, and soft in a way that made his brows pull together in confusion.

Grass.

The scent of earth filled his nose, mixed with something warmer and much more familiar, something that made his chest tighten before he even understood why. He stayed still for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts, but his head felt heavy, like he had been asleep for far too long or had woken up too suddenly.

He shifted slightly, and that was when he felt it. There was weight on his arm, not just weight but warmth. Soft, warm, and very real. His entire body froze in an instant, every muscle going still as his mind struggled to catch up. Slowly, almost like he was afraid of what he would see, he turned his head to the side, and the second his eyes landed on her, his breath caught in his throat.

Luna was there, lying against him like she had always belonged there, her body curled slightly into his side, her head resting on his arm in a way that felt far too natural for what he knew this situation was. Her hair was messy, strands falling over her face and shoulders, and her skin… her skin was bare.

His eyes widened immediately, shock hitting him hard and fast. For a moment, his brain refused to process what he was seeing, like it was trying to protect him from the truth, but the truth didn’t take long to settle in. She was completely naked, and the moment that thought fully formed in his mind, another realization followed right after it, heavier and far

worse. So was he.

Jace sat up abruptly, his body going stiff as panic rushed through him, his eyes moving quickly over himself just to confirm what he already knew deep down. His stomach dropped, a cold, sinking feeling settling in his chest as everything started to feel very real.

“What the hell…” he muttered under his breath, his voice rough and uneven as he tried to make sense of what was happening.

At first, confusion filled his mind completely, thick and overwhelming. None of this made sense. Why was he outside? Why was Luna here with him? Why were they both in this state? His thoughts moved too fast, jumping from one question to another, but then, slowly, the answers started to come back, not all at once, but in pieces, like broken memories trying to piece themselves together again.

Jace’s expression changed as the memories began to settle into place, clearer with every passing second. He remembered leaving the house, remembered the way the moon had pulled at him so strongly that it had felt impossible to ignore. He remembered how Ace had taken over, how his control had slipped through his fingers no matter how hard he tried to hold on to it. He remembered the shift, the way his body had changed, and how everything after that had stopped being about choice and had become about instinct. His jaw tightened as the final pieces of memory fell into place, and his chest grew tight with the seriousness of it.

He remembered Luna.

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He remembered her coming to him, not as herself, but as her wolf He remembered the way the bond between them had shapped into something stronger, something impossible to ignore. There had been no hesitation, no thinking, no stopping, just instinct, just need, and that instinct had led to something that could not be undone

Jace dragged a hand down his face slowly, his breathing growing heavier as the full truth settled in his mind. They had mated, and not only that. Ace had marked her. The thought made his stomach twist, a mix of frustration, disbelief, and something much heavier settling deep inside him. That meant there was no hiding this, and no pretending it had not happened. The mark alone would be enough, and her scent het scent would carry his now. The others would know immediately.so there was no way around it.

“I’m such an idiot. he muttered quietly, his voice filled with frustration as he stared down at the ground

Of all of them, he had been the one pushing for control. He had been the one telling the others not to cross any lines, not to give in to their instincts, not to take advantage of her when she wasn’t fully herself, and yet, he had been the first one to fail. The first one to lose control. The first one to cross the very line he had drawn so clearly for everyone else. He let out a slow breath, but it did nothing to ease the tension in his chest.

“This is bad…” he said under his breath, more to himself than anything else, because it was. There was no way Luna would take this well. From her perspective, she had not been in control of herself, and now she would wake up to find out that something like this had happened. She would think he had taken advantage of her, and honestly, he wouldn’t even blame

her for it.

Before he could think any further, there was movement beside him. Jace stiffened slightly, his attention snapping back to Luna as she stirred. At first, it was small movements, a slight shift of her body, a sound slipping from her lips. Then her brows furrowed, and she let out a soft groan like her head hurt. Jace immediately looked away, turning his face in the opposite direction as his jaw tightened again. The last thing he needed right now was to make things worse by staring at her when she woke up.

Luna shifted again, more awake now, her hand brushing against the grass as she slowly opened her eyes. Everything felt heavy. like her body didn’t quite belong to her yet. Her head hurt, and her thoughts felt slow, like they were struggling to catch up. For a few seconds, she didn’t understand where she was. The sky above her looked different, open and dark, and the air around her felt cool against her skin in a way that made her frown slightly. Then her eyes moved, and she saw him.

“Jace?” she said slowly, her voice a little rough from sleep.

He didn’t answer right away, his shoulders still tense as he kept his gaze turned away from her. Luna frowned slightly, pushing herself up into a sitting position, but the moment she did, she felt it. The air against her skin was cold, too cold. Her entire body froze instantly, and slowly, she looked down.

Her eyes widened in shock.

She was naked, completely butt naked.

For a moment, her brain stopped working, and then the reaction came all at once. She screamed, the sound loud and filled with pure horror as she quickly pulled her arms around herself, trying to cover as much as she could.

“What the hell?!” she yelled, her voice shaking as her eyes snapped toward Jace, only for things to get worse when she realized he was naked too. Her heart started racing, panic settling in fast as her thoughts began to spital. “What is going

on?!”

Sat, 30 May

Before she could think too far into it, before her mind could fully panic, a voice spoke in her head, clearer in a way it hard never been before.

“Stop screaming. You’re being so dramatic.”

Luna froze immediately, her breathing hitching slightly as she recognized the voice. It was her wolf again, but this time, it wasn’t faint or weak like before. It was clear and strong.

“…You’re talking properly now?” She muttered under her breath, confusion flickering across her face.

“Of course I am,” the voice responded easily. “I told you I was just weak before.”

Luna blinked, her thoughts racing again as pieces of memory started to come back, not everything, but enough. Her heat. the way she had acted, and the things she had done with Ryder and Orion. Her face flushed slightly at the memory, embarrassment settling in quickly, but then another thought hit her. She remembered climbing out the window, but after that… nothing.

Her head turned back toward Jace, her expression uncertain now. She swallowed lightly before speaking again, her voice quieter this time.

Jace… did we…” she hesitated, unsure how to even ask the question, “…did we have sex?”

The words felt strange leaving her mouth, but there was no other explanation that made sense. They were both naked, outside, and together.

Jace stayed silent for a long moment, his jaw tight as he finally turned to look at her. His expression matched hers in Confusion, but there was something heavier behind his eyes, something she couldn’t quite place.

Technically,” he said slowly, his voice low, “yes,”

Luna’s eyes widened again, her heart dropping at his words. “What?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Jace didn’t look away this time. His expression remained serious as he added quietly, “And… I marked you.”

The words settled between them, and for a moment, everything to Luna just felt completely still.

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