Chapter 1: Moonlit Desires
Chapter 1: Moonlit Desires
(Samantha's POV)
The gentle hum of the private jet's engines provided a rhythmic backdrop as Ethan's strong hands pinned mine above my head. His amber eyes, usually so controlled and disciplined, now blazed with an intensity that made my breath catch.
"Ethan," I whispered, my cheeks flushing as his lips traced a scorching path down my neck.
My husband, the powerful Alpha King of the Northern Territories, growled low in response. The sound vibrated through my body, igniting sparks of pleasure along every nerve ending.
"You're being unusually... enthusiastic today," he murmured against my skin, his voice rough with desire.
I bit my lip, suddenly embarrassed to explain. "The doctor said this position might help with... you know."
Ethan pulled back slightly, his expression softening with understanding. We'd been trying to conceive for three years now, my efforts complicated by an injury to my womb from years ago.
"Your fertility cycle?" he asked, brushing a strand of hair from my face with unexpected tenderness.
I nodded, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. "She said we should... be together as frequently as possible during this time."
Despite being married for years, discussing such intimate matters still made me uncomfortable. Ethan's lips curved into an amused smile at my obvious discomfort.
"And here I thought you were just being adventurous," he teased, his fingers tracing patterns on my bare shoulder.
I huffed, trying to sound indignant but failing miserably when his touch sent shivers down my spine. "This is serious, Ethan. The doctor was very specific about—"
His mouth captured mine, effectively silencing my explanation. When he finally pulled away, his eyes gleamed with mischief and desire.
"Then we should follow the doctor's orders to the letter," he whispered against my lips. "Wouldn't you agree, my Luna?"
I felt my resolve weakening under his heated gaze. "Could you at least dim the lights?"
Ethan chuckled but obliged, reaching over to adjust the cabin lighting. The jet's interior plunged into semi-darkness, illuminated only by the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the windows.
"Better?" he asked, his voice now a husky whisper in the darkened cabin.
I could only nod as he returned his attention to me with renewed passion. His hands explored my body with practiced familiarity, yet each touch felt new and electric.
"Happy anniversary, Sam," he murmured against my ear, his breath warm against my skin.
I gasped in surprise. "You remembered."
Ethan pulled away just enough to reach into his pocket, producing a small velvet box. "How could I forget the day you became mine?"
Inside the box nestled a beautiful moonstone pendant, its blue-white surface catching the dim light. The stone was set in white gold, with intricate wolf engravings around the setting.
"It's beautiful," I whispered, tears pricking at my eyes.
He fastened it around my neck, his fingers lingering on my skin. "Like you." His expression turned serious. "Even if we never have children, Samantha, you are all I need. Remember that."
My heart swelled with love as he lowered his mouth to mine once more. In the privacy of our jet, high above the clouds, we lost ourselves in each other again.
His hands gripped my hips with possessive strength. I arched against him, craving more of his touch, more of everything he offered.
"Mine," he growled, the word sounding almost primal in the darkened cabin.
I clung to him as waves of pleasure washed over me. "Always yours," I whispered back.
The moonstone pendant glowed faintly between us, a silent witness to our passion. Ethan's eyes never left mine as we moved together, our bodies speaking a language that needed no words.
The wheels of our private jet touched down at Moonlight International Airport with a gentle bump. I stirred against Ethan's chest, wrapped in a blanket to protect against the chill.
"We're home," he murmured, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
I winced slightly as I shifted position, my body pleasantly sore from our activities. Ethan noticed immediately, his brow furrowing with concern.
"Did I hurt you?" His voice was tight with worry.
I shook my head, smiling reassuringly. "Just a little... overused."
His expression relaxed into a smirk. "I'll take that as a compliment."
As he carried me down the steps of the jet, the blanket slipped slightly, exposing my ankle with its faint red mark—a testament to our passionate encounters. Ethan adjusted the covering quickly, his protective instincts flaring.
"The car's waiting," he said, nodding toward the black SUV parked on the tarmac. "We can rest at the hotel before tomorrow's meetings."
I nuzzled against his neck, breathing in his familiar scent. "I don't need rest," I whispered, letting my meaning show in my eyes.
His pupils dilated instantly. "Sam," he warned, his voice dropping an octave. "We're in public."
I smiled innocently. "For now."
The next few days passed in a blur of hotel rooms across different cities. Despite Ethan's busy schedule meeting with neighboring pack leaders, he made time for us each night. Sometimes gentle, sometimes fierce, but always with that underlying tenderness that made my heart ache.
In Ravenwood City, he cleared his entire afternoon when I texted him that I was ovulating. He arrived at our suite within twenty minutes, his tie already loosened, eyes dark with intent.
"The doctor said multiple times per day increases our chances," I explained breathlessly as he backed me toward the bed.
"I'm very committed to following medical advice," he replied, his smile predatory as he lowered me onto the mattress.
On our flight back to Blackwood Territory, I nestled against him, exhausted but content. His fingers absently stroked through my hair as he reviewed documents on his tablet.
"What if it doesn't work this time either?" I voiced the fear that had been nagging at me.
Ethan set aside his work immediately, turning his full attention to me. "Then we try again." His hand cupped my cheek. "Or we don't. Either way, you're my mate, my Luna, my everything."
His words warmed me from within, chasing away the shadows of doubt. I fell asleep against his shoulder, feeling safe and loved.
I woke alone in our bed at Blackwood Manor, sunlight streaming through the curtains. The space beside me was empty but still warm. On the nightstand sat a bouquet of Moonbloom roses, their blue-tinted white petals giving off a subtle, intoxicating scent.
My fingers traced the delicate petals. These rare flowers only bloomed under the full moon, making them nearly impossible to find. Yet Ethan had somehow procured them for me.
Following the delicious aroma of coffee and freshly baked pastries, I made my way downstairs to find a table laden with my favorite breakfast foods. Ms. Thompson, our housekeeper, was arranging a fruit platter.
"Good morning, Luna Reed," she greeted warmly. "The Alpha King asked me to prepare your favorites before he left for his meeting."
I smiled, touched by Ethan's thoughtfulness. "He's already gone?"
Martha nodded. "He mentioned something about an urgent matter with the Eastern packs. Said to tell you he'd call this afternoon."
Her eyes softened as she looked at me. "He was quite insistent that you eat well and rest today. Said you've had a... vigorous few days."
I felt heat rush to my cheeks at her knowing smile. "Thank you, Martha."
After she left, I settled at the table, enjoying the meal while scrolling through my phone. A headline from a werewolf entertainment site caught my eye: "Mystery Man in Popular Healer Rebecca Taylor's Life?"
Rebecca Taylor was one of the most popular female healer in our pack. Even though her wolf awakened for many years, she never mated to any wolf.
The article featured a blurry photo of a woman resembling a well-known pack healer, walking with a tall man. Though his face wasn't visible, something about his stance and expensive suit reminded me vaguely of Ethan.
I zoomed in, studying the image more closely. The man's broad shoulders and confident posture stirred an uneasy feeling in my stomach.
I shook my head at the ridiculous thought. Ethan was many things—sometimes controlling, often intense—but never unfaithful. I closed the app, dismissing the idea entirely.
The days that followed saw Ethan's business trips increasing in frequency. He'd return home late, exhausted but always making time to hold me close before sleep claimed him. Then he'd be gone again by morning, leaving only the lingering scent of his cologne on the pillows.
"I miss you," I told him during one of our brief phone calls.
"I miss you too," he replied, his voice warm despite the static of the connection. "Just a few more days of these meetings, then I'm all yours."
I tried to focus on my duties as Luna, overseeing pack affairs and continuing my work as a healer. But my thoughts constantly drifted to the possibility growing inside me.
Three days after my expected period, hope fluttered in my chest. Could it be? I didn't want to get Ethan's hopes up unnecessarily—we'd faced too many disappointments already. Instead, I purchased a pregnancy test, deciding to confirm before sharing the news.
In our bathroom, I followed the instructions with trembling hands, then set the test on the counter. The three-minute wait felt like an eternity as I paced the tiled floor.
My heart raced as I watched the indicator window. Was that a faint line appearing? I leaned closer, hardly daring to breathe.
A sudden knock at the door startled me. My hand jerked, knocking the test to the floor with a clatter.