The Wolf God's Unwanted Luna

Vivian’s POV

He looked down at me then, something hot and dark flickering in his eyes. He stepped forward, crowding me back until my lower back bumped the edge of the sink. His body followed, and I was made all too aware of the firm pressure at the front of his pants.

"Tease," he murmured low, his voice a seductive threat. "You know damn well why work felt so empty today. But maybe... I should remind you."

My breath caught, coming out slower, heavier. Heat pooled low in my belly. I gave a tiny nod, my voice completely lost.

He leaned in and began tracing a line of soft, heated kisses along my jaw, then across my chin before returning down the same path, this time nipping softly at my skin. My fingers found their way under the hem of his shirt, pressing into the smooth strength of his waist, needing something to hold onto.

"For starters," he whispered, his lips brushing my throat, "I was at the office, when I could have been here with you..." His mouth trailed lower. "...on you. In you."

A tremor ran through me, sharp and electric. One of his hands snuck beneath my shirt, his palm warm on my bare waist. His thumb began slow, deliberate circles over my skin, each one winding me tighter inside.

"R-Really..." I managed, my voice shaky and breathless.

"Mmm." His mouth curved against my skin, his teeth grazing lightly. The sensation shot through me like sparks, making my hips instinctively shift toward him.

I wasn’t used to this version of him bold and completely unfiltered but spirits, I wanted him. Every inch. Right now.

"Zaliver..." I began, my voice trembling with need.

But just like that, he pulled away.

He stepped back, strolling around the counter like he hadn’t just turned me into a puddle of molten heat. He leaned casually against the other side, blinking at me with his perfect, smug innocence.

"So," he said lightly, "how was your day?"

I gawked at him, still half-pressed against the sink, breathing like I’d just run through a sudden thunderstorm. My eyes narrowed. My wolf practically howled in absolute frustration.

"Boy, bring that dick here!" she growled, deadpan and thoroughly unimpressed.

Zaliver’s chuckle was deep and amused. He closed his eyes, shaking his head with a helpless smile, like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

My heart froze.

When he opened his eyes again, they were shining bright with laughter.

"Your wolf is something else," he said, chuckling softly. "Honestly, it’s hard keeping a straight face when I hear her. She’s... entertaining."

A strangled, horrified sound tore out of my throat.

"No. No, no, no!" I slapped both hands over my face. "You’ve been hearing her this whole time? Please tell me you haven’t!"

Mortified didn’t even begin to cover it.

My wolf was suddenly dead quiet. I couldn’t even tell if she was embarrassed too, or if she was pretending to pass out from secondhand shame.

Zaliver stepped toward me and pulled me back into his arms. I didn’t lean into him I was still too stunned to even blink properly. His warmth surrounded me, but I stayed rigid, like my body had disconnected from my brain entirely. He leaned down, his lips grazing the shell of my ear as he spoke in a low, teasing whisper.

"I must not tell lies," he murmured mockingly. "My mate’s forbidden it."

A sound escaped me half a laugh, half a strangled groan of pure embarrassment. "You’ve got to be kidding me."

"It’s really not that bad," he tried to soothe, but I shook my head furiously against him.

"It is when I know you’ve heard some really messed up things!" I practically wailed.

He had the audacity to grin down at me. "Most of which, I happen to agree with."

I gaped up at him, then shoved hard at his chest and pulled away. "See?" I said aloud, mostly to myself. "Now he knows how twisted your mutt-ass really is."

"Hey!" my wolf snapped indignantly from inside my head. "Technically, I’m just a part of you, so... that makes you the real pervert. I’m just the voice of honesty. Hey baby!" she called out flirtatiously to Zaliver.

Zaliver burst into laughter, clearly hearing her through our bond. "Hello," he replied smoothly.

I smacked his chest again. "Don’t encourage her! She’s going to get worse now."

He gave me a wicked grin, his eyes darkening with playful heat. "I’m not exactly opposed to that."

I groaned and rolled my eyes, but a reluctant smile tugged at my lips. "Of course you’re not."

Slipping out of his embrace, I skirted around the counter to the kitchen’s other side. "Anyway, it’s ’later.’ I want answers now."

His expression shifted immediately gone was the teasing spark, replaced with a heavy seriousness that furrowed his dark brows. He didn’t answer right away, just turned to the fridge and began rummaging through it.

"Yes, but first... what do you want to eat?"

"I’m not hungry," I said. My stomach was tight with nerves and curiosity, not to mention distracted by the very unfair view of him leaning into the fridge.

He paused, turning just enough to peer at me with narrowed eyes. "Have you eaten?"

"I had lunch with Hannah," I replied quickly.

"I know," he said with a single nod. "But have you eaten here?"

I shook my head. "Still not hungry, though."

He pressed his lips together in a tight line. "What?"

I sighed. "What are you doing? Are you dodging my questions?"

He pulled out some fruit and set it on the counter. "Do you want a smoothie?"

I blinked at him. "Sure...?"

"Good." He sounded oddly satisfied as he got to work slicing.

"When you marked me last night..." he started, his voice casual, as if he were commenting on the weather. "Did you feel anything unusual?"

I gave him a long, skeptical look, though he wasn’t watching me. "You’re gonna have to narrow that down. There were a lot of sensations happening last night."

Even without turning, I felt the hum of amusement through the bond. He was pleased by my response, the smug Alpha energy practically rolling off him in waves.

"Okay, specifically while you were marking me... did you feel a rush of power? Like... a sudden awareness of everyone and everything? Even if it only lasted a few seconds?"

I paused, thinking back to that exact moment. It hadn’t felt like a typical mate mark. It had been deeper, like some ancient river of energy had opened up and surged through me.

"Yeah," I said slowly. "I did feel something. Why?"

He kept slicing fruit as he explained, "That was you calming my Alpha instincts, yes... but also you connecting to every wolf through your Luna bond. You didn’t just mark me. You claimed your place over every pack. That rush? That was you stepping into the role you were born for."

I stared at him, my eyes wide. "Wait... What?"