Eighth-Born Luna (Emily and Nathan) novel Chapter 153

Chapter 153

Emily’s POV

A scream of pain ripped through the battlefield.

I turned sharply, and my heart dropped straight into stomach.

“MEREDYTH!”

Cindy stood right beside her, smiling. A silver blade slid slowly out of Meredyth’s side, and blood poured down

her dress. Nathan’s mother cried out weakly, her knees buckling.

Marcus froze beside me. That split–second hesitation was enough for Declan to appear right in front of us before

Marcus could even lift his claws.

Declan’s hand clamped around my wrist like a vice.

“Emily, Emily, Emily…” Declan sighed, his voice almost affectionate. “Why are you always trying to run from

me?”

I tried to pull away, but I had nothing left. No strength. No Moon Tide. No control. The dagger burned like white–hot iron between my fingers, shaking as if it wanted him instead of me.

Declan leaned closer, his dark scent filling my head. “Here is the situation, little wolf,” he murmured, his voice terrifyingly calm. “You surrender willingly…” His eyes slid down my exhausted body. “…or Cindy pushes that blade a little deeper into your precious ex–Luna Queen.”

Cindy’s smile grew wider. She twisted the knife.

What had Varga done to her? Madness was practically splashing in her eyes.

Meredyth screamed.

‘STOP!”

Nathan’s roar echoed from somewhere behind us. I looked toward him desperately. He was still trapped under a pile of rogues. Three wolves pinned him into the grass, and more jumped on him every time he threw one off.

Too many. Too many mindless rogues. Too many people I couldn’t save.

I tried to reach for my power one last time, but the dagger blocked me. It fought me. It rejected me.

Declan noticed instantly. “There it is,” he murmured softly. “The problem with stolen weapons.”

Meredyth cried out again, her blood soaking the grass beneath her knees. “Emily…” she whispered painfully.

“Don’t…”

My chest cracked apart. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t watch another person die because of me.

Slowly, my fingers loosened around the hilt.

2:03 pm

“…I surrender.”

Nathan’s head snapped toward me. Pure horror crossed his face. “No!”

Declan smiled. It wasn’t a triumphant look. It was worse. It was satisfied, like this was always meant to happen.

“Good girl.”

He ripped the dagger from my hands. The second his fingers closed around it, the blade glowed dark crimson. It

pulsed with power, finally back home.

“Finish them,” Declan ordered lazily.

The rogues moved instantly. Our warriors were slammed into the ground. Heavy silver chains snapped around

heir wrists. Blake. Marcus. Liam. Kane. Everyone went down.

I tried to step toward Nathan, but my legs completely gave out.

Declan caught me before I hit the grass, pulling me easily against his chest.

“Oh, little wolf…” He held me tight, his grip possessive and warm.

My vision blurred heavily. I hated how safe his arms felt after everything.

“Now,” he murmured near my ear, “we’re finally going home.”

Then suddenly, fire exploded behind us.

The rogues had started burning the territory. Homes. Trees. Buildings. Everything was going up in flames.

“No…” I whispered weakly.

Declan glanced toward the fire, his face completely blank. “Kill everyone.”

My stomach twisted violently. “You promised,” I choked out, trying to look into his eyes. “You promised Meredyth would live…”

r

Declan looked down at me slowly. And smiled.

“Emily.” His voice sounded almost amused as his fingers brushed gently through my hair. “We’ve known each other for a long time now. You should know how my lies work by now.”

Nathan. The warning. The trap. Moon Goddess, I was so stupid.

“Please…” My voice broke completely, tears burning my eyes. “Please, Declan. Do it for me.”

The words tasted like poison on my tongue. I could barely stay awake, hanging like a ragdoll in his arms while hick smoke began to swallow the yard.

Declan stared at my face in silence. Something dark and dangerous flickered behind his eyes. Something incredibly possessive.

2:03 pm P PTM

Then finally, he sighed. “…Fine.”

Relief nearly shattered what was left of my mind.

“She lives,” he said.

My breathing shook violently. But with the last bit of my strength, I forced out one final, desperate whisper. “…

Nathan.”

That changed everything. Declan’s entire face darkened instantly. Pure, deadly fury flashed through his red eyes,

not and terrifying. But I never heard his response. Darkness swallowed me whole.

At first, it was peaceful. No blood. No screaming. No rogues. Just a heavy, quiet warmth.

But then, the darkness began to feel heavy. It pressed down on my chest, thick and suffocating. Deep inside my nind, I tried to call out to Nyx. I reached into the dark, screaming her name, desperate to feel my wolf. But there was nothing. A cold, thick wall blocked me from her. I tried to scratch through it, tried to wake her up, but she was rapped on the other side.

Then, a sharp, burning ache wrapped around my throat.

The heavy weight of a silver collar bit into my skin, dampening my power and locking Nyx away in the dark.

***

My eyes flew open.

Declan was sitting right beside the bed, watching me. His red eyes glowed softly in the dim light, tracking my

every breath.

“There you are.”

Fear slammed into me. I jerked backward, and the silver collar dug painfully into my neck, reminding me of my reality. I looked around, recognizing the heavy black walls.

No. No, no, no-

‘NO!”

I tried to scramble away from him across the mattress in pure panic. Before I could even reach the edge, his massive arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back.

“Shhh,” he whispered, dragging my back straight against his hard chest. “Easy, little wolf.”

I fought him weakly, kicking at the sheets. “Let me go!”

“No.” His fingers slid slowly through my hair, holding me so tight I could feel the heavy beat of his heart against

my spine.

“Did you miss me, darling?” he murmured softly against my ear, his hot breath making my skin prickle. “You

2:03 pm P

didn’t really think I was done with you, did you?”

Panic clawed through my chest. The Rogue King’s castle. I was back. Again.

“No…” My voice cracked, completely broken.

Declan tilted my chin up, forcing me to look at him, and pressed his forehead lightly against mine.

“Shhh.” His thumb brushed slowly beneath my eye, wiping away a tear. “Everything is going to be alright now.”

My entire body shook in his embrace.

“Tonight,” he whispered softly, his lips brushing my jaw in a way that felt almost loving, “you and I are finally

going to become one. Under the Blood Moon.”

***

Nathan’s POV

Everything burned.

Thick smoke choked the air while fire swallowed what used to be our home.

Silver restraints bit deep into my wrists and throat, burning my skin as the rogues forced all of us onto our knees.

I didn’t even feel the blood pouring down my side anymore.

All I could see was Declan carrying her away.

‘EMILY!”

I lunged forward violently. The silver chains hissed, burning right into my flesh, and four rogues slammed me back

down onto the ground.

Around me, the rest of my pack was being dragged together like prisoners.

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