Eighth-Born Luna (Emily and Nathan) novel Chapter 145

Chapter 145

Emily’s POV

The funeral fires burned bright against the evening sky.

Orange flames rose into the clouds while the entire pack stood around the clearing. The wind moved through the trees, carrying sparks up into the night.

I hated how beautiful it looked. Every fire meant someone was gone forever.

The largest fire in the center belonged to Owen. Smaller fires surrounded it. The girls from Marcus’s pack. The

ones who helped me escape. The ones who died because of me.

My throat ached.

“This was their choice,” Nathan murmured beside me, noticing where my thoughts were drifting.

“They still died,” I said, my voice cracking.

Nathan’s hand tightened slightly against my waist.

Nearby, Kane slowly stepped closer to the flames.

“You annoying bastard,” Kane muttered hoarsely under his breath. “You were supposed to survive longer than

ne.”

I swallowed hard and walked toward the smaller pyres instead.

Flowers already surrounded them. My hands shook as I placed white moon lilies near the edge of the flames.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

The guilt came rushing back, sharp and heavy.

Right then, Stella walked up to us.

“How are you holding up?” I asked softly.

“If you hadn’t come back for me, I’d be up on that pyre with the rest of them,” Stella said, her voice dropping. ‘Emily, I was one step away from death. You saved me. I’ll be grateful to you for the rest of my life.”

“You don’t owe me anything, Stella.”

Stella looked toward the fires, her face unreadable. “…When all this ends?” She let out a weak breath. “I think I’ll

eave.”

Nathan frowned beside me. “Leave where?”

“The human world.”

Stella taughed softly. It was a broken sound. “Not more dangerous than here.”

“You’d be safe here,” I tried anyway, stepping closer. “We’ll take care of you and the baby.”

Stella looked directly at me. Emily, with all due respect…” Her voice stayed gentle but entirely drained. “This lace practically has a sign saying come inside and take what you want. You, me, everyone.”

Well. She had a point.

We still had so much work to do as the new Luna Queen and Alpha King. But looking at the fading flames, I knew

Nathan and I could handle it.

Nathan must have felt the shift in my mood, because he pulled me just a little closer against his side, wrapping

is arm securely around me.

Hours later, the fires had burned down to glowing embers.

Then suddenly, one by one, wolves began lowering their heads. Kneeling.

Two women walked slowly through the trees, stepping into the dim light. Silver robes. Bare feet. Moon symbols

arved directly into their skin.

‘riestesses.

The same one from my ceremony stood on the left. The second was the woman from the sacred tree.

Every instinct begged me to kneel with the rest of the pack, but my body refused to move.

The priestesses stopped directly in front of me. The older one studied the mark on my neck first. Then her gaze Irifted lower–to the glowing runes scattered across my hands from the trials. Only after that did she finally meet

ny eyes.

“So,” the older priestess said softly. “You wished to see us?”

“Yes.” My voice sounded rough. “I want the truth.”

1

Something unreadable flickered across the second priestess’s face.

“Then perhaps we should speak without unnecessary ears.” Her gaze shifted toward the pack members urrounding us.

Nathan stepped forward, his presence taking over the space. “Everyone leave.”

The Alpha command rolled across the clearing. Even Marcus and Kane obeyed without question, disappearing

nto the dark woods with the others. Meredyth hesitated longer than anyone else before finally turning to follow.

Soon, only Nathan remained beside me. The older priestess looked at him calmly.

“He stays,” I said.

1:41 pm PPTM

Nathan’s hand brushed lightly against my back. Steady support.

-The priestesses exchanged a glance before slowly nodding.

We moved farther away from the fading pyres until the crackling flames became a distant murmur behind us.

“Ask your question, child.”

I swallowed hard, my throat feeling dry. “I suppose, you already know what I want to ask.” My fingers drifted inconsciously toward the mark on my neck. “This.”

The clearing felt heavy. Ancient.

“If a female is marked by another male…” My voice shook. “Can she still have children with her true mate?”

Nathan went completely still beside me.

The priestesses didn’t answer right away. And that hesitation sent a chill straight through my bones.

Finally, the older one spoke. “Usually?” Her voice stayed flat, emotionless. “No.”

Everything inside me turned to ice.

“A female claimed by another male carries his spiritual imprint,” the second priestess explained. “The Moon Goddess rarely blesses a pregnancy from a different bond afterward.”

Rarely. Not never. But close enough.

I stared at them blankly. “…No.”

Nathan gripped my hand tight. “Emily-”

“No.” I jerked my arm away. “No, no, no.”

The anger inside me was begging to rip free.

“I almost died! I went through the Moon Goddess’s stupid trials! She let me suffer through all of this, and now ‘ou’re telling me I can’t even have a family with the mate I love?!”

The second the word love left my mouth, I felt Nathan shift beside me. My anger tripped over itself as the weight of what I’d just done hit me.

I loved him, and I was the first one to say it.

The older priestess remained calm. Too calm. “Your path was never meant to be easy.”

“Oh, really??” A bitter laugh forced its way out of my throat. “I hadn’t noticed!”

Nathan tried to step closer, reaching for me again, his voice softer now. “Emily, slow down

‘No!”

1:41 pm P PT

Pears blurred my vision. Everything inside me fractured all over again. I thought about Nathan holding a baby. His

smile. His warmth.

Our future was gone. Because the Moon Goddess decided my suffering wasn’t enough yet.

“I hate her.”

The younger priestess looked genuinely disturbed.

“I hate the Moon Goddess,” I whispered again, shaking now. “I hate everything she’s done to me.”

“…There may still be hope. You are different.” The second priestess nodded slowly, her gaze shifting toward the glowing runes on my hands again. “Your powers are not awakening naturally. And your bond is anything but

ordinary.”

“So what does that mean?” Nathan demanded, his protective edge returning.

“It means,” the older priestess said carefully, “that the Moon Goddess may judge her differently.”

May.

I let out another dry, mocking laugh. “So basically nobody knows.”

Neither priestess answered.

And that silence told me everything.

I couldn’t stay here another second. I turned on my heel and walked away before they could see me completely

all apart.

‘Emily!”

I heard Nathan’s heavy footsteps behind me.

I ran blindly through the territory until I reached the Alpha house. Everything ached. My throat, my mind, my

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