Chapter 365
Chapter 365
Only a few seconds passed before she blinked, her expression clouded with confusion. “Dizzy,” she murmured weakly, barely audible. The crowd around her began to relax slightly, sensing the immediate danger had passed—but something still felt off. Then, without warning, Ryker sprang into action, running toward the exit with her cradled tenderly in his arms.
Jeremiah stepped forward sharply as Ryker approached. “No! Everyone, stay inside —no one leaves. Bennet, you too. Jeremiah, keep them all contained,” he commanded, his voice firm but strained, trying desperately to mask the underlying worry. His eyes never left her as he dashed out the front door, whispering softly, “I’m so sorry, baby. I never meant to hurt you p>
They were gone for more than an hour, and during that time, a wave of euphoria suddenly washed over me. Then the murmurs began—every variation of “The Alpha’s getting laid, and it’s so intense we can all feel it through the bond!” echoed around the room. Several couples left immediately, unable to handle the overwhelming sensation. Had I not been so preoccupied with Ken’s condition, I might have laughed and collected plenty of teasing material at her expense. Once we knew she was alright, none of us would let her live this down. Honestly, it was probably the ultimate flex-to have such passionate intimacy that the entire pack, and even visiting guests, experienced the ripple of pleasure.
Jeremiah and Bennet paced anxiously near the ballroom’s entrance. Jason had warned Jer she would be a handful, and judging by his tense demeanor, he’d clearly reached his limit with her constant troublemaking. Suddenly, both men bolted out of the ballroom, and naturally, the rest of us followed close behind.
“Holy fucking shit!” Jeremiah shouted, his voice filled with shock. “What the hell just happened p>
We hurried down the stairs after him, but I froze halfway down the last step, nearly stumbling face-first onto the floor.
“My Luna got her wolf,” Ryker announced to those of us closest to her, pride and awe shining in his eyes. “Apparently, it was dependent on me marking her p>
Jeremiah stepped forward cautiously, eyes wide with disbelief. “Ken, can I touch you?” he asked quietly. Her wolf instinctively moved forward, gentle and calm. She looked so natural in this form—unlike many new wolves who tend to be clumsy and awkward after their first shift. “This is incredible! I’ve never heard of a human getting a wolf before. I know it’s part of our history, or legend, or whatever, but this is seriously amazing p>
Her body began to tremble soon after, her wolf signaling she was ready to shift back. Ryker said nothing, his full attention fixed on her, protective and silent.
Josh and Bennet quickly ushered us all back inside, answering the same worried questions from the pack members over and over. Given everything the pack had endured in the past few days, there was genuine concern about the new Luna pushing herself too hard. The party resumed its lively energy as Rayna escorted Ken back into the ballroom, Ryker close behind her. She wore a new, more casual dress, a stark contrast to the earlier tension. Bennet reached her first, looking like a frazzled mess. She threw her arms around his neck, and he visibly softened before pulling her into a tight embrace. I caught only the tail end of their conversation as we all moved closer to greet her. “You wouldn’t want me any other way,” she said softly.
“But you’re okay, right?” Bennet asked, still unsure.
“Better than okay,” she replied with a small smile.
She hugged Josh, Danny, Tommy, and Jason before turning to me. I shoved my hands deep into my pockets, unsure how to act now that we were firmly in the friend-zone. I wasn’t angry or hurt by the shift; after all, our relationship had always hovered somewhere between friends and something more. Now, we had to navigate this new dynamic, and that would take time. For the moment, I kept my hands to myself.
“Hey,” she whispered.
“Hey,” I muttered back.
She stepped closer, sliding her arms beneath mine and wrapping them around my waist. The sensation felt both comforting and strange, as if nothing had changed and yet everything had all at once.
A low growl rumbled behind her, and I smiled.
“It’s nice to know I can still mess with him,” I whispered.
“Don’t push it too far. Jer needs his beta, and Ryker only has so much control when
it comes to me,” she teased, her smile warm but with a hint of warning.
She moved on to greet the rest of her pack members and friends, and I settled into a corner seat, watching her with admiration. She truly was remarkable.
Suddenly, my breath caught as a sharp pang surged through my lungs, and my heart skipped a beat. Elara!