Eighth-Born Luna (Emily and Nathan) novel Chapter 85

Emily’s POV

My life had become a strange, terrifying dream.

A week ago, I was bleeding out in a rogue dungeon, wondering if I’d see the sun. Now, Poppy was holding two expensive dresses against me while Jessie argued over gold jewelry like it was a matter of life and death.

“No, absolutely not,” Jessie said, snatching a dark blue dress from Poppy. “That color makes her look too cold.”

Poppy rolled her eyes. “She’s becoming Luna Queen, Jessie. Not a cupcake.”

I sat on the couch, buried under piles of dresses, seating charts, and ribbons. It was enough ceremonial nonsense to drown a person.

Meredith used to handle all of this—every Alpha visit, every party. But she barely left her room now. So, somehow, it was all on me.

It felt insane. I still woke up in a panic every time the pack bond hummed in my head.

Poppy narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re spiraling.”

I blinked. “What?”

“That face.” Jessie pointed at me. “That’s the face you make when you’re overthinking.”

“I don’t have an overthinking face.”

“You totally do,” they said at the same time.

Traitors.

I leaned back into the cushions. “I just…” I stopped, looking down at my hands.

Poppy sat down next to me.

“What is it?”

“At the funeral,” I whispered. “When Nathan asked me…”

Even thinking about it made my heart hammer against my ribs. Will you stand beside me as my Luna Queen? Part of me still couldn’t believe it had happened.

“I’m happy,” I told them. “I want this. I want him.”

Nyx snorted inside my head. Obviously.

I ignored her. “But what if this isn’t really about me?”

“What do you mean?” Poppy asked, her forehead creasing.

“He needs a Luna to become Alpha King,” I said, my voice dropping. “The packs are pressuring him. The Elders are demanding it,” I looked away. “What if he’s doing this because he has to?”

Jessie looked horrified. Poppy looked offended.

And Nyx sounded like I’d just insulted her personally.

Are you stupid? Nyx growled.

Excuse me?

“That male looks at you like he’d burn the whole world down just to keep you warm,” she snapped.

I tried to push her away. “He cares about me. I know he does. But… he’s never actually said it.”

There it was. The truth. The three words Nathan had never used. I love you.

Jessie leaned forward. “Emily.”

“What?”

“That man almost started a war because someone touched you.”

Poppy nodded. “He literally carried you around like a psycho when you were bleeding.”

“He threatened a doctor,” Jessie added.

“He almost killed Owen.”

“That too.”

I groaned and covered my face. “That’s not helping!”

“It should,” Poppy laughed. Then she got serious. “Listen. Nathan Blackwood doesn’t know how to talk about feelings. He was raised to lead kingdoms. Alphas like him don’t write poetry.”

Nyx huffed. Still stupid.

“But,” Poppy added, her voice softening, “he looks at you like losing you would turn him into a monster.”

My chest hurt. Deep down, I knew she was right. I was just scared. Becoming Luna Queen meant everyone would see me. I wouldn’t be hidden or protected anymore. I would be a target for the Rogue King.

And underneath that was a darker fear: What if, one day, Nathan realized that his duty was stronger than his love for me?

Suddenly, Jessie clapped her hands loudly.

“Enough sadness,” Jessie said, snapping her fingers. “We still have to survive this seating arrangement nightmare.”

Poppy groaned. “Oh, Goddess, don’t remind me.”

Suddenly, a pile of papers landed in my lap. Maps, names, packs, and lists of political alliances. Apparently, sitting the wrong werewolves next to each other was a great way to start a war.

Jessie pointed to a group of cards. “Do NOT put Alpha Victor anywhere near Alpha Rowan. Their packs almost tore each other apart three winters ago.”

Poppy grabbed another. “And these two Lunas haven’t spoken since the ‘necklace incident.’”

I blinked. “A necklace?”

“One of them threw it into a lake,” Poppy said, her face dead serious. “These people are insane.”

Fair enough.

I started sorting through the cards. Alphas, Lunas, Betas—the names of the territories began to blur together. Then, my fingers stopped. A cold chill moved down my back, making my skin prickle.

Ryan Hale. My former Alpha. My former almost-mate.

Beatrice Hale. My sister. The Luna of his territory.

My stomach felt like it had been dropped into ice water. I remembered running away, and Ryan trying to force me back. But most of all, I remembered how Nathan couldn’t wait to get rid of me. He wanted to hand me over like I was nothing, just so he could be with Stella without any distractions.

He shoved his hands into his pockets. “The Alpha banned me from coming near you.”

I winced. “That sounds like Nathan.”

Owen didn’t smile. “And you stopped answering my texts.”

Guilt flared in my chest. He was right. I had ignored every single one. Not because I was angry, but because I didn’t know how to be his friend anymore.

His eyes searched my face. “Are you okay?”

The question was so real it made my throat ache. “Yes,” I whispered. “I’m okay.”

Then Owen let out a short, bitter laugh. He looked like he was finally giving up.

“So it’s true.”

My stomach knotted. “What is?”

“You and him.”

There it was. The one thing we had both been hiding from. I had to look away. “I’m going to be his Luna.”

Saying it aloud made everything terrifyingly real.

Owen just stared at me for a long second. Then, a sudden flash of anger crossed his face.

“What?”

“Owen—”

“No.” He stepped back, running a hand through his hair like he wanted to rip it out. “No, Emily. No.” His breathing got heavy and fast. “He’s only making you Queen because the packs need a distraction after his father died!”

Nyx snarled in the back of my mind. Careful.

“He cares about me,” I said quietly.

Owen looked devastated. “Of course he cares about you!” he snapped. “But caring about someone isn’t the same as loving them enough to survive this world.”

The words stung because I had thought the same thing. Owen saw the doubt on my face, and it only made him more frustrated.

“You’re scared,” he said. “You’re actually terrified.”

“I’m becoming a Luna Queen, Owen,” I whispered. “Of course I am.”

“No.” He shook his head. “That’s not what’s eating at you.”

I couldn’t say anything. He knew me too well. He stepped closer, his voice dropping. “Emily… if he really loved you, would you still be doubting him this much?”

The words felt like a knife sliding between my ribs. I couldn’t even catch my breath for a second. I had asked myself that every single night.

Nyx growled, baring her teeth. He’s hurting us.

But before I could find an answer, a deep, dangerous voice cut through the dark behind us.

“Is there a problem here?” Nathan came.