The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

Her new home.

“It’s not as big as it used to be,” Ash leaned closer to her, and his lips brushed over her ear, eliciting a rash of goosebumps over her skin. “The previous Alpha lost half of the pack’s lands during his divorce. And we have been struggling with money since then, but it’s going to get better. I promise.”

Petra knew the story, and the pack looked much better than she’d expected. She loved how he admitted to all that sheepishly as if he was worried that it would change her mind about him. It wouldn’t. Not a chance.

Petra knew she loved him when they met at dawn after the Avalanche Battle. After the most brutal fight of any of their lives, the avalanche and all the digging they had to do during the night, they both rushed to keep their word and meet each other at the Northern castle.

Petra barely had time to fine some oversized men’s sweats and a t-shirt to wear, and Ash arrived in someone’s fur coat covering his n*aked b*ody. They looked bizarre and felt like the oddest couple ever, but it felt so right when she threw herself into his arms, and he spun her in the air, pressing her to him as tightly as he could. Despite them staying close to each other on the battlefield, this was an important step for them as a couple. Their first promise kept. The beginning of their new life together.

“Will you be my mate and Luna?” Ash did not hesitate this time, and she giggled as she nodded at him, finally accepting her fate, her chest heaving with excitement. It was happening. It was finally happening. Everything she’d dreamed of was about to start.

They found an unlocked storage room, kissing madly all the way there, unable to part even for a second. This was not how Petra imagined her first time to be, but to some extent, it was much better.

Imperfectly perfect.

She helped Ash out of his coat, and he pulled her shirt off in one swift move, snarling at the sight of her n*aked flesh before his eyes.

“Goddess, you are beautiful!” he muttered, pulling her back into his rock-hard chest and covering her lips with his. Petra had never felt a man’s hands on her. Not like that. Each Ash’s move was greedy and possessive, as if he couldn’t get enough of her, and Petra felt the need for him growing inside her too, unable to restrain herself. He was older and more experienced, and although his touches seemed desperate and assertive, driven by his desire for her, he knew exactly what he was doing because she was melting in his arms.

Ash slipped beneath the waistband of her sweats and slid his hand between her thighs for the first time, making her whimper from the new and unexpected sensation. Petra threw her head back, letting a moan she had been suppressing for so long finally escape her. The sound was met with a growl of approval from her mate, who slipped one of his fingers between her w*et folds, making sparks ripple through her b*ody.

Petra wanted to bite her lip, but he got there first, thrusting his hot tongue past her lips, dominating her easily as she simply focused on remembering to breathe now as he led her in this new and exciting dance.

Then, all of a sudden, Ash groaned and pulled away, leaving her feeling cold and empty.

“Damn it!” he swore under his breath and then added a few more intricate words to the mix, his chest heaving as he tried not to look at her.

“Did I– do something wrong?” Petra wanted to cover herself, not sure if she had repelled him in some unknown way.

“You? Wrong?” Ash let out a dark chuckle and wrapped his arms around her. “Petra, you are perfection from head to toe. I am barely restraining myself from taking you in this dirty space. I want to ravish you and make you mine in every way imaginable. Don’t ever think otherwise. You simply can’t do anything wrong. Not with me.”

“Then why–” She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence as it felt like she was begging him to take her now. Although his previous words tinted her cheeks, warmth spread over her chest.

“Because, Petra,” Ash let out a heavy sigh and then finally brought himself to meet her gaze. “Because you deserve so much more than this. I can’t take your innocence here… not here and not like this.”

She giggled at that. “I really don’t mind, Ash. After everything we’ve been through, I don’t need rose petals and a diamond necklace to go with it. I just need you, my mate. As close as possible and I need you now.”

He growled again, and she taunted him, dropping the sweats she was wearing onto the ground and turning to swipe everything off the table she was leaning on with her arm in one decisive move. Then she hopped on top of it and looked at him again, quirking her brow up in invitation.

At that moment, the door to the room started to open, and Petra got scared that some stranger would see her. She was getting bolder and braver, but she wasn’t ready for something like that.

“No!” she screamed, looking at the door, and it closed shut suddenly. She heard curses behind it, and the person outside pushed against the door, muttering more Northern expletives as he tried to enter again. Petra panicked, and one of the heavy wooden boxes on the floor moved to the door to block it from opening.

you–” Ash’s head snapped to look at

question hung in the air between

that? Did she just move an

know!” Petra panicked, covering her mouth.

Ash furrowed his brows.

hand into his. “After Riannon was

ago!” Petra was

pointed out.

was true. The moment Petra heard it in her heart, she knew this was what she had been waiting for her whole life. A chance to be a real fighter. Not just a tiny wolf and a pretty face. Deep inside, Petra always craved more. Now she knew

and a few more people tried the damn door. Ash helped Petra to get dressed, to

***

for today. They were together at last.

saw a relieved smile curling his lips. “We will

words, leaning closer and kissing her

a mansion that definitely needed some repair work done in the near future but, at the same time, she could tell it was still magnificent and spacious.

the creases on her dress with shaky hands, trying to calm down. Evelyn taught her how important first impressions were. She has trained for this moment

she was going

his hand was almost on the handle to let her

dress screamed, and before Petra could react or even get out of the damn car,

into one of these stories everyone whispered about where an Alpha was going to treat his

Ash really didn’t look like the type. Although she immediately remembered how many times he hesitated

herself when she saw Ash distancing himself

groaned.

Petra breathe again, but she was

as if he knew what she

of the car as gracefully as she could. She chose an appropriate pink tweed dress and a blazer outfit for today, paired with her mother’s favourite pearls,

her into his warm embrace, “this is the previous Alpha’s

to not make any assumptions based on one

smile didn’t reach her eyes. Petra had seen enough fake smiles

letting it get to her. “Ash says I am

into a

the woman forced a false smile back into her face anyway.

tensed, and so did Petra. Why was this woman leading them anywhere? What was her

Despite everything, they followed.

this trouble–”Ash was definitely trying to fix the situation, and it made Petra exhale

to meet their new Luna. However, Harper stood there the whole time, watching over them with her arms crossed over her chest and lips pressed

didn’t escape Petra that she used her name and not

awkward goodbyes, they went upstairs. Petra indeed wanted to relax because it was a long and exhausting day. Just a few hours ago, Ash had to fight one of her father’s best warriors to prove

importantly, it would be the first time, they would truly be together, and they both couldn’t wait. This was why they both

tense when Harper led them upstairs too. What was next? She would make

She looked like she was going to a party, but sadly she was in no

used her name again, although they weren’t close and it was inappropriate, “your room is here. I made sure you have everything you might need in there. Toiletries, sleepwear, new towels, books… although it doesn’t look like

time it was clear as

Petra furrowed her pink eyebrows, chewing on the inside of her cheek.

the brightest smile.

guest suite?” Petra tilted her head and arched her brow. “Shouldn’t I be