Eighth-Born Luna (Emily and Nathan) novel Chapter 86

Emily’s PUV

“Is there a problem here?”

Nathan’s voice cut through the evening air like a blade. Owen went still. So did L. For one terrible second, the

world just stopped.

Then Owen slowly turned around.

Nathan was standing a few steps away, dressed in black, his shoulders rigid. His eyes were locked on Owen like he vas deciding exactly how many bones to break first.

My heart hammered against my ribs.

“Nathan,” I said, my voice thin.

His gaze flicked to me. It softened for half a second before turning back into stone as he looked at Owen.

“I asked a question.”

Owen’s jaw tightened. “No problem, Alpha.” He said the title, but his tone was a challenge.

Nathan stepped closer. The air changed instantly–it became heavy and thick, like the atmosphere before a

nassive storm. Even the trees seemed to brace themselves.

“Owen,” Nathan said, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. “I gave you an order.”

Owen let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Yeah. Stay away from her.” He glanced at me, and the raw hurt in his eyes nade me want to look away. “I tried. But she was my friend before she was your future Luna.”

Nathan’s face didn’t move, but I felt him through the bond.

I stepped between them. “Stop.”

Both of them looked at me. Good. At least they remembered I was standing there.

“Owen just came to check if I was okay,” I said firmly.

Nathan’s eyes narrowed. “And are you?”

The question felt heavier than it should have. Because I wasn’t sure anymore. Not after what Owen had just said. Not with those doubts burning holes in my head. If he really loved you, would you still be doubting him this much?

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I’m fine.”

Nathan’s gaze sharpened. He didn’t believe me.

Owen looked between us and shook his head. “She’s not fine.”

5:00 pm

“No.” His voice cracked. “Someone needs to say it.” He looked at Nathan, and for the first time, I saw no fear in him. Only a broken heart. “You’re putting a crown on her because your world is falling apart.”

Nathan went dangerously still

“Nathan,” I whispered, reaching out

“But Owen kept going. “She deserves to know if you’re choosing her because you love her… or because you need a

Luna to become Alpha King.”

The words hit the exact place in me that was already bleeding. Nathan’s head turned slowly toward me.

‘Emily?”

My throat felt like it was closing. “I…” I couldn’t finish.

Owen let out a bitter breath behind me. “There it is.”

Nathan’s eyes flashed with fire. “Walk away.”

Owen laughed once. “No.”

The growl that came out of Nathan didn’t sound human. I turned sharply. “Nathan, don’t.”

He didn’t look at me. His focus stayed on Owen. “One more word and I’ll tear your throat out,” Nathan said, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. “The Beta won’t be able to step in and save you this time. I’m still looking for an excuse to finish what I started the night you tried to steal my mate.”

Owen’s face twisted, but he didn’t back down. “I didn’t try to steal her. I tried to save her because I actually

cared.”

“So did I,” Nathan snapped, stepping into Owen’s space. “The difference is, she’s mine to protect. Not yours.”

“Then say it!” Owen’s shouted. Even the wind seemed to stop. Owen’s chest rose and fell in heavy heaves. “Say it,” he snapped again. “Stop hiding behind duty and bonds and Alpha bullshit. Say you love her.”

My entire body went cold. Nathan didn’t move. He didn’t speak. And the space where his answer should have been

was worse than any “no.”

My chest felt like it was being crushed. Oh.

Owen looked at me, looking devastated. He looked like he hated being right.

I stepped back slowly.

Nathan’s gaze snapped to me. “Emily.”

I shook my head. Not because I wanted to run, but because if I stayed one more second, I was going to break in front of both of them.

5:00 pm

“I need air.”

“You’re outside,” Owen said softly.

I almost laughed, but it came out sounding like a sob. “I need different air.”

I turned and walked away. Neither of them followed at first. I made it maybe twenty steps before Nathan’s voice

came from the darkness behind me.

‘Emily.”

I stopped.

I didn’t turn around.

His footsteps were slow and careful. It felt like he was approaching something wounded. Maybe I was.

“Look at me,” he said.

I kept my eyes shut. “I don’t want to.”

99

A long beat passed. Then his voice came again, lower than before. “Because I didn’t say it?”

My heart felt like it was being wrung out. I turned to face him. He stood a few feet away.

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