Eighth-Born Luna (Emily and Nathan) novel Chapter 7

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Before Marcus could even blink, Nathan moved.

“She’s mine to deal with. Step back.”

For one terrifying second, I genuinely thought Nathan was going to shift and tear him apart right here in the allway.

Then, all at once, Liam shoved in between them, rolling his eyes. “Seriously? An Alpha dick–measuring contest utside Garrett’s office?”

Neither Alpha backed down. Their heavy auras slammed together, filling the hallway with a suffocating, crushing ressure.

Liam sighed. “If Dad sees you, we’re dead. Calm down.”

A slow, dangerous smirk returned to Marcus’s face. “Well, that was interesting.”

Nathan didn’t relax. He turned his head just enough to glare at his Beta. “Blake. Take her away. Now.”

Blake didn’t hesitate.

“Come on,” he said, grabbing my arm and moving directly between the two Alphas, shielding me completely from

Marcus’s hungry gaze.

I moved quickly beside Blake, hurrying down the hallway. My pulse hammered wildly against my ribs as we left the confrontation behind.

I wanted to escape. I wanted to hide from the terrifying intensity of these powerful men. But even after we turned the corner, the burning weight of Nathan’s eyes felt scorched into my back.

The last thing I heard before stepping outside the building was Marcus’s voice echoing through the stone corridor. So, who is she, Nathan?”

Blake pushed open the large, heavy doors leading outside, and the warm sunlight hit my skin. I stopped for a second, just taking it in. Fresh air. Real sunlight. A soft breeze moved through my damp hair, and birds chirped somewhere near the gardens.

Without realizing it, I smiled,

Blake noticed.

“You’re really happy just being outside,” he said quietly, watching me with a strange, searching look.

I looked down, shifting my weight nervously.

“I wasn’t allowed outside much,” I admitted softly, my voice barely a whisper. “They had usually kept me locked away.”

Blake didn’t answer right away—I glanced at him, my heart stopping. Did I say too much? Will he think I’m pathetic?

But his expression only darkened, his jaw clenching. I was starting to realize something about Blake. Unlike Nathan, who let his rage explode, Blake hid his emotions deep. But his eyes gave him away every single time.

Before either of us could say anything else, loud arguing echoed from a nearby path.

“For the Moon Goddess’s sake, it was an accident!”

A sharp female voice snapped back. “Those shoes cost more than your entire life, you idiot!”

Nyx groaned dramatically inside my head. “Great. One of those mean girls. Just what we need.”

Near the nearest house, a beautiful blonde young woman stood glaring furiously at Jessie. She wore an expensive vory dress, her makeup and perfect curls completely flawless. She looked like old money, royalty, and pure trouble.

Jessie looked completely unimpressed, crossing her arms.

“You stepped right in front of me,” Jessie shot back. “Maybe next time, stop admiring yourself in every window

and watch where you’re going.”

The blonde’s face turned bright red with fury.

“Great,” Blake muttered beside me. “Jessie’s picking a fight with Stella again. What a surprise.”

The argument faded as Jessie turned away from the girl, but before the blonde left, her sharp eyes locked onto me. Stella stopped.

The glare she gave me was pure poison: cold, sharp, and full of instant hatred.

I trembled, shrinking back. I didn’t even know her. Why did she look like she wanted me dead already? Was my existence really that disgusting?

“Maybe she just hates everyone,” Nyx suggested hopefully.

“Maybe,” I thought back.

Jessie jogged over to us, still looking irritated from the clash.

“Well?” she asked, her eyes immediately moving to me with deep concern before narrowing at her brother. “How did it go with the Alpha King?”

I forced a small, fake smile. “It was fine.”

It was a total lie. My mind was spinning, filled with terrifying thoughts of Alpha Ryan. Eventually, my cruel ex–mate would find out where I am. And soon he would drag me back to that hell.

“The Alpha King is still deciding,” Blake answered smoothly, cutting off my downward spiral before I could panic.

Jessie threw up her hands. “She’s not a rogue spy! Ridiculous!”

Blake raised an eyebrow, a tiny smirk tugging at his tips. “And how exactly are you so confident?”

“Because I know everything you know,” Jessie replied smugly, tossing her dark hair.

Blake let out a low groan. “That’s terrifying.”

“It should be.”

Despite the weight in my gut, a tiny laugh escaped me.

Jessie pointed dramatically at me. “There! See? I like her already.” Then she snapped her fingers, looking at Blake. “Oh! Dorothy wanted me to check if Alpha Marcus had arrived yet.”

“You could’ve asked me through the mind–link instead of running all the way out here.”

“Yes,” Jessie agreed shamelessly, grinning. “But then I wouldn’t have been able to steal Emily away from you.”

Before I could even react, she hooked her arm firmly through mine. “We need her in the kitchen anyway.”

Blake narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “For what exactly?”

Jessie’s grin widened into something mischievous. “To sit there and look cute while we force her to tell us her entire life story.”

“Fine.” Blake finally gave in under his sister’s pressure, shaking his head. “Then you’re responsible for her. If Nathan sees her wandering alone, he’ll lock her back up.”

Jessie saluted him lazily. “Yes, Beta.”

“You’re impossible,” Blake muttered.

“I’m adorable,” Jessie shot back.

Blake rolled his eyes, starting to walk away. But he stopped after a few steps, turning back to face me.

“By the way, Emily–you’re staying in Poppy’s room tonight,” he said calmly. “She practically begged me to let you share her room, so it’s already settled.”

A strange, overwhelming sensation washed over me. A real room? Not a dungeon cell. Not a dark storage closet or a cold kitchen floor. An actual, safe room with a bed. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes, but I forced them back.

Once Blake left, Jessie grabbed my wrist and guided me back toward the kitchen. “Come on. Dorothy needs our help.”

She wasn’t wrong. The kitchen was total chaos by the time we returned, packed with wolves preparing a massive welcome dinner. Dorothy stood right in the middle of the madness, barking orders.