Wolf-less Omega Luna

CHAPTER 35: MUSCLES GLISTENING

Alana's POV

“There’s nothing better than eye-fucking half naked men glistening with some good old competition spirit,” Lexi squeaked, clearly having a good time.

“Yeah, right.” I laughed. “Found your next victim yet?” I asked her as she looked around hungrily, accessing the males of Crescent Moon pack from our elevated sitting positions.

“These men are a snack for sure,” she smacked her lips. “But no, I have eyes for one at the moment.”

“Who?” I asked wide-eyed.

It had been a minute since Lexi and I had seen each other since things changed with me. I was so happy to finally be able to spend time with her because it seemed like we were both always too busy.

I knew Lexi was invested in a fling and I had my suspicions, but I didn’t know for sure.

“I’m not spilling,” She snickered.

“Don't do that, Lexi. I’m your best friend. You can’t keep such information secret from me,” I said, throwing the best friend card on the table.

“Oh, so now you’re pulling that card? Do you want to go there? Don’t forget you haven’t filled me in on up to half of what you’ve been up to as Luna.”

“We’re talking about you, Lexi. I see what you’re trying to do. Don’t switch…”

The long, loud blast of the whistle broke our chat as the female referee awarded a score to team Axel.

Just as expected, infectious masculine energy sifted from the boys on the court and drove the crowd wild in an uproar.

From my sitting position with my hand against the sun to block the jarring light, I could see Axel glistening with sweat in his sportswear and sneakers, sexy as ever, and receiving bumps and fists from his teammates.

Lexi was right though. They were a snack. Axel was one snack I didn’t want to share. The girls were practically drooling, doubling over and fainting at the sight of Axel’s muscles.

So I thought, or maybe it was just my possessive nature talking.

The pack was entertaining a friendly game of volleyball between the males split into two teams with Axel and Tyler being the captains of each —as expected—, and the kids, females, and elderly as spectators, enjoying the show of aggressive testosterone brawls.

We occupied the clearing just at the entrance of the woods. The autumn sun had begun jarring, and the spot was cooler than the rest of the pack.

The unrecognizable female referee took hold of the traditionally crafted volleyball, giving instructions to a player. I bet the ball was as heavy as it looked.

With the sizes of the veins pulsating from the males’ arms, they would rip a normal ball to pieces with a single slap. Hence the reason for the crafted ball.

Emily sat next to me, looking uninterested in the event, slightly irritated and on edge.

“Is everything okay, Emily?” I placed a hand on her lap. “You don’t seem to be enjoying the game,” I said with concern.

“Yeah yeah. I’m fine. I just need some air.”

She excused herself and filtered through the crowd into the path leading to the woods.

I considered following her but she clearly didn’t want anyone around her and that was why she separated herself from the crowd.

But my instincts just wanted to make sure that Emily was okay. I knew too well what it was like to be different. Incomplete and not enough.

And even if she didn’t want to show it, it wouldn’t be surprising that her still being unshifted was what set her on edge about being around the pack.

Maybe I was overthinking or overstepping, but I didn’t care.

“I’ll be right back,” I told Lexi and slipped into the path I'd seen Emily go after giving Axel a once over.

“Hurry!” Lexi’s fading voice called from the crowd.

It took all but five minutes for me to regret my decision to go after Emily.

She was nowhere in sight, and hiking was certainly not my forte.

I dug deeper into the woods, between the tall trees that at least provided canopies that shielded me from the sun.

“Alana,” Emily’s voice called from the shadows before she stepped out.

“Goddess!” I jumped. “You scared me.”

“You’re the one who’s sneaking up on me.” She deadpanned.

Yeah, okay. Maybe I did have a little thing against the woods. I didn’t exactly have rosy memories of my time here.

It was either I came to shift which was usually painful and exhausting, or the bullies rounded me up when I tried to get a semblance of quiet.

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You seemed tense. I could go back if you need some time alone.”

“It’s okay. You can stay. You’ve come all the way.” She strutted over to a rock and picked up some stones buried under the grass around it before settling down on it.

I followed suit, leaning against a tree just a small distance from her, trying to look as casual as possible even if I didn’t know what to say.

I hadn't thought about anything. I just upped and left because she seemed off.

“So what’s wrong?” I blurted the line that was continuously looping in my head.

“It’s just unnecessarily loud out there. And the sun was killing me. And the smell, urgh.” She imitated herself puking at the thought. It was funny.

“It couldn’t have been that bad, Emily,” I said laughing, easing up.

“It totally was. Everybody screaming like animals and the boys sweating profusely? I couldn’t,” she shivered, wriggling her hands out.

“Technically, we are ani…”

“Yes, yes, I know. Werewolves and all that stuff. I get it,” she waved and we both giggled.

Using the lightened mood to cheer her up more, I threw in more conversations.

“What was your trip about? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“No, no, you can ask. You’re Luna anyway, you can do whatever you want.”

I made a mental note of how she said some words in repetition before she answered a question. — Yeah yeah, no no.—

“Being Luna is beside the point. This is just two people having a conversation.”

“I went to a small pack in the south where they sheltered young wolves who hadn’t yet manifested their wolves.”

“That’s interesting. It’s the exact opposite side of our pack. How’d it go?”

She shrugged. “I just went there to connect with other people and try out different scenery. No special experience or spells of any sort.”

“Axel said the same thing.”

She remained quiet.

“Well, how did you feel after it?”

“I can’t say I feel better,” her sad eyes met mine for the first time. “But I do feel some things changing. Mom and Dad said I should give it time, that my first shift will come to me naturally at its own time.”

“Don’t you believe them?”

“I do.” She sighed. “How was your first shift? I’ve been so immersed in the shifting part but I’ve never thought about what the process felt like.”

Did she not know that I didn't have a wolf? Isn’t that supposed to be like general knowledge? It’s what has been my identity since I lost Rox.

Memories of my first shift flooded me.

“I was alone. And it hurt. Like hell.” I turned my face away, suppressing the tears that were brimming.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Nah. I was used to it before then. I got over it.”

“Should I be scared?” Worry etched her tone. Her large brown eyes scanned me just like I remember Luna Valentina’s doing. Same eyes.

“It hurt at first. The long excruciating pain that felt like forever. I wanted it to stop so badly. But when it finally stopped and I got on all fours,” I smiled, remembering how it felt. “I wanted to do it over and over again. Everything was new. The air was clearer, fresher, I could make out the tree lines in the distance as if they were lit by the brightest torches even at night.” I heaved slowly, letting the euphoria course through me.

“Wow.” Her eyes shone wide with excitement.

“And then, I spoke to my best friend. Rox. My wolf. My other half. I remember her first comment.” A tear tapped on the back of my palm as I giggled.

“What did she say?” Emily too had become emotional.

“Damn girl, what have you been feeding on? Do you want me dead? I haven’t fed once in my life and I’m fatter than you. Girl, don’t make me bite you.”

Emily and I burst out laughing, my heart warming and the pain bleeding into the air.

Even if I couldn’t reach Rox anymore, she was still with me. I could still hear her voice even if it was me conjuring it. I could feel a part of her, just like Axel had.

“You’re strong and beautiful, Emily. Your wolf would be elated to have you. And don’t worry about the pain. I’m sure Axel would be with…” I froze.

“What?” Emily whipped her head behind her and back to me.

“Your eyes, Emily.” My heartbeat skipped many beats.

Her hands flew up to her face and before she could say anything, I heard a bone crack and Emily bowled over in pain.

“Alana! It hurts.”

“You’re shifting. Shit.” This wasn’t the time and I wasn’t the right person to be here. “Wait here. I’ll go get Axel.”

“No!” She growled. “Don’t go. Please! Please!” She whimpered as two more bones twisted out of place.

What the hell was I saying about Axel being with her when she shifted?