Chapter 87

Nathan’s POV

The Ceremony Hall went still the moment she appeared.

Emily looked breathtaking.

The red dress clung to her like liquid fire under the moonlight. She looked dangerous. Royal.

“Mine.” Asher practically purred in the back of my mind. “Our Queen.”

Watching her walk toward me made my heart hammer against my ribs.

Thousands of wolves surrounded us tonight—Alphas, Elders, Priestesses. Every major pack had gathered beneath the full moon to witness this ceremony. To witness her and me.

None of them could look away. Good. Let them look. Let them understand exactly who was standing beside me.

Emily’s eyes lifted to mine as she approached the altar. For a second, the rest of the world just vanished. No packs, no politics, no crowns. Just her. My beautiful little wolf.

She stepped closer, and her scent hit me. As always, wonderful strawberries. It smelled like home.

Asher surged so hard inside me that I almost lost control of my aura.

“We will mark her tonight,” I promised him, “and confess our love.”

“Why can’t we tell her that right now at the ceremony?” Asher asked impatiently.

A small smile almost pulled at my mouth. Because I want her to remember every second of it.

My wolf went quiet, satisfied for once. I watched Emily step onto the dais beside me.

Her dress brushed against my leg—a soft, fleeting touch that nearly stole my sanity.

I leaned in, my voice so low only she could hear. “You look dangerous tonight.”

She let out a small, shaky breath. “That doesn’t sound very reassuring.”

The corner of her mouth twitched. Seeing that tiny smile loosened the tension in my body. She was nervous—I could feel it through the bond. The fear, the pressure, the anticipation. But beneath all of that was trust.

She trusted me to carry her through this. And Goddess help me, I would burn kingdoms to the ground before I failed her tonight.

The High Priestess, Asta, lifted her silver dagger toward the full moon.

“The ceremony begins.”

I reached for Emily’s hand instantly—her skin was warm and soft, but I could feel the slight tremor in her fingers.

5:00 pm

<

Chapter 87

20% OFF

P

She squeezed my hand back, her fingers locking with mine. The priestesses began to chant in the ancient tongue, their voices rising and falling with the rhythm.

Then, they brought the ceremonial dagger forward. It was ancient silver, etched with moon runes that seemed to pulse. This was the same blade that had defined generations of Kings and Queens.

The High Priestess looked from me to Emily. “Blood binds the soul. The soul binds the packs.”

The silver stung as the High Priestess drew the blade across my palm. I watched my blood drip onto the sacred stone at our feet, dark and heavy.

Then, she cut Emily’s hand.

The Priestess took our hands and pressed them palm-to-palm.

Her eyes met mine for a split second before our hands clasped together. The moment our blood touched, power exploded through the bond.

Emily let out a choked sound, her body jolting. I caught her immediately as the pack link slammed into her mind. Thousands of wolves, thousands of raw emotions, and thousands of minds were suddenly crashing into hers all at once.

I felt it all, just as I finally heard her thoughts.

And finally, I heard her wolf.

“Hello, Nyx,” I greeted.

“Hello, sexy,” she replied. And I realized we were going to have fun with her; she was just as reckless as my wolf, Asher.

“Easy,” I whispered against Emily’s ear, my arm sliding around her waist to hold her up. “Don’t fight it. Let it in.”

The High Priestess stepped forward, her fingers dipped in sacred oil that glowed silver in the moonlight. She pressed the crescent symbol onto Emily’s forehead.

And then, it happened.

The rune beneath Emily’s collarbone ignited. A light burst from beneath her skin, so bright and pure that the wolves closest to the dais actually stepped back. A wave of shocked whispers moved through the crowd. Even the Elder Alphas looked stunned.

It was the Luna Mark. It wasn’t just a symbol; it was alive, ancient, and blessed by the Goddess herself.

Emily was shaking in my arms as the pack bond began to roar with voices.

Rate

“Luna Queen…”

Aa

Oo

5:00 pm

“The Moon Goddess chose her…”

I felt her panic start to spike. I immediately pressed my forehead against hers, forcing her to focus only on me. “Look at me,” I murmured.

Her eyes snapped to mine, wide and searching.

“There you are,” I whispered.

The chaos in the bond softened as she found her footing. The High Priestess lifted our joined hands high into the air, her voice thundering across the attendees.

Blood.

A cold chill spread through me. Ryan placed a hand on Beatrice’s back. It was too firm. Too controlling.

Suddenly, memories flashed through my mind: my old home, the bruises I used to hide, and the way Ryan loved to break people. My stomach turned. If he was hurting her—I didn’t care how much she hated me. I was the Luna Queen now. No one under my protection would suffer like that again.

Ryan smiled tightly. “Well, we should let others congratulate their Queen.”

Nathan gave a stiff nod, and they walked away. Too fast. I watched Beatrice the whole time. She didn’t touch the ribbon once, almost like she was afraid it would fall off.

As they disappeared, my anxiety spiked. Nathan felt it immediately.

“What is it?”

“I just need some air.”

“That sentence has never once ended well,” he muttered.

I almost smiled. “I won’t be far,” I assured him. “I’m literally just going to grab a drink and come right back.”

Nathan didn’t look happy, but he finally sighed.

I squeezed his hand and slipped into the crowd. I moved through the hall, searching for one specific heartbeat.

Finally, I found her. I turned toward the outer courtyard. At the very edge, standing near the stone archway, was Beatrice. She was alone, crying silently, her hands trembling as she reached for the silver ribbon at her throat.

“Beatrice, what’s wrong with you?” I ran up and put my arm around her shoulders. “It’s all Ryan, isn’t it? He’s laid his hands on you again?” I asked viciously. I’ll tell Nathan to snap his neck—no, I’ll rip his throat out myself.

“No… forgive me now,” she whispered.

She looked straight into my eyes.

And suddenly I understood.

She wasn’t crying.

She was pretending.

I heard footsteps creeping up behind me. I wanted to turn around quickly, but sudden weakness overcame me. I couldn’t even focus my attention; I heard someone whispering a spell right behind me.

“You!” I hissed.

A third person appeared from the side—how did she get in here?

It was Tessa.

She leaned over to me and quickly locked a silver collar around my throat.

My knees hit the floor. The world tilted violently. The last thing I saw before darkness swallowed me was Tessa crouching beside my body.

She smiled.

“The Rogue King has been waiting for his Queen.”