Eighth-Born Luna (Emily and Nathan) novel Chapter 69

“Where is Meredyth?”

I didn’t shout. I didn’t have to. The quiet edge in my voice brought the entire courtyard to a standstill. The guards went pale, shifting under the weight of my stare.

“Alpha, we didn’t-”

“My mother,” I interrupted, my pulse thrumming in my jaw. “Where is she?”

The Moirai’s voices were still clawing at my brain. A soul for a soul. The panic was a cold stone in my throat.

“The Luna is with the Alpha King, Sire,” a guard stammered, bowing his head. “They’re in the sub–levels. The lungeons.”

The dungeons. Of course. The silver–reinforced stone was thick enough to swallow any mind–link.

But the relief was short–lived. Why was she down there? With her?

I didn’t say another word. I turned and moved, my pace so fast the guards had to scramble out of my way.

I didn’t knock. I didn’t hesitate. I threw the heavy door back until it hit the stone wall with a dull, ringing thud.

“What the hell is she doing in here?”

My mother turned. She looked startled, but she was untouched. Perfectly composed, as always. My father stood beside her, shadows stretching tall behind him. He looked like a statue–unmoving, unreadable.

Then my gaze shifted to the center of the room.

‘essa.

r She was bolted to the chair in silver shackles. Her clothes were torn, her skin smudged with dirt, but she didn’t ook like a prisoner. She looked like she was enjoying a private joke.

When our eyes met, she didn’t flinch. She just tilted her head, a slow, toxic smile spreading across her lips.

“The King, the Queen, and now the Prince,” she whispered, her voice like sandpaper. “The whole royal bloodline n one dirty little room. I’m flattered, Nathan. I really am.”

I wanted to tear her throat out right then and there. I didn’t care what she knew. I didn’t care about the Consequences.

“You…” My voice broke into a low, jagged growl. “This is all your fault.”

Tessa tilted her head, her eyes mocking me. “I didn’t hurt her, Nathan. I just found her a better place to be.”

ind Rin her apart. Make her bleed.

5:55 pm

I took a heavy step forward, the floor tiles cracking under my boots. “You stole her from me.”

“I set her free,” Tessa replied, her voice hauntingly calm. “You were just too blind to see it. My father saw her value more than you ever did.”

It was a sharp jab. A reminder of the ceremony with Stella–the moment I almost lost everything.

My knuckles turned white as I gripped the edge of the table. I leaned in close until I could smell the copper and

lirt on her skin.

“I have some news for you,” I whispered, watching her smile finally begin to fade. “Your father is going to be very lisappointed. You failed, Tessa. You’re ours now. And you aren’t going anywhere.”

For the first time, she went silent. The smug look on her face died.

“Guards, take her back to the hole,” I commanded. “If she opens her mouth again without my permission–I’ll

hut it myself.”

The guards dragged her away, her chains rattling against the stone floor. Once she was gone, the room felt heavy. Suffocating.

‘Nathan.”

My mother stepped closer. I turned to look at her.

“Are you alright?” she asked softly.

I wanted to say yes. I wanted to be the strong Alpha my/father expected. But I couldn’t.

“No,” I rasped. I looked at her, my eyes hard. “What the hell were you doing in here? Why were you so close to

er?”

“Your father needed me,” she explained, her voice steady. “Tessa grew up with us. We thought… maybe I could

each her.”

“She might have a heart left to melt,” my father added, his voice cold and calculating as always.

“She doesn’t have a heart,” I snapped. “If you haven’t noticed, she’s a monster.”

Silence fell over us, thick and bitter,

“Let’s go,” I said, turning toward the door. “I need your help.”

She must have seen the desperation in my eyes, because she didn’t ask questions. She followed me out of the dungeon and back to the house,

When we reached the kitchen, the atmosphere changed. This was a safe place. It smelled of warm bread and home. It was all because Meredyth did it safely.

“Help me,” I said, my voice finally softening. “Help me cook a dinner for her.”

-She saw the Alpha, who had just been ready to kill, now standing there, ready to learn how to chop vegetables for

his mate.

“Of course, honey,” my mother said. “Do you have any ideas yet?”

I started listing the dishes I had in mind, but then I stopped. A new thought took hold of me.

“No,” I said firmly.

‘No?”

“I don’t want a quiet dinner. I want to bring everyone together,” I explained. “I want Emily to see how much she neans to this pack. And I want to thank everyone who stood by her white she was… gone.”

My mother reached out, her hand resting on my shoulder in a warm, encouraging squeeze. “That is a beautiful dea, Nathan. Shall we get started?”

I grabbed a heavy kitchen knife and started hacking at a piece of raw meat. I was moving too fast. Too aggressive. My mind was miles away, back in the dark woods with those three sisters.

“Careful,” my mother said softly.

“I’m trying.”

She stopped what she was doing and watched me closely, “Nathan, talk to me. What is it?”

I shook my head, trying to focus on the food.

“Emily is alive. She’s home,” she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. “So what is eating at you?”

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