The packs outcast Luna (Kaia and Theo) novel Chapter 63

Chapter 63

–Theo–

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I came out for an early morning endurance drill with a few warriors.

It was supposed to be a normal morning run.

I’d done it a thousand times before.

But today… Today my chest felt tighter than usual.

I felt a dull ache behind my ribs, tingling.

It was a warning, but I tried to ignore it, pushing it to the back of my mind.

I can’t collapse. Not in front of them.

Not when Kaia would find out what my truth was.

I pushed harder.

And suddenly, the world tilted and my knees buckled.

My heart skipped once. Then twice.

Then stuttered violently like it had lost its grip.

I felt Air disappearing from my lungs.

I bit down a groan, my fingers digging into the dirt as the forest spun around me.

“THEO!” Zane’s voice tore through the trees.

He was at my side in seconds, grabbing my shoulders before I could hit the ground face down

“Stay with me,” Zane said, breathily. “Hey, hey, try to take a little breath-”

His voice was sharp, panicked, but strong enough to anchor me.

My chest clenched again, this time harder.

I grimaced. “Zane…I’m fine-”

“Fine?!” Zane barked. “Theo, your heart just stopped. I felt it.”

He pressed his palm against my sternum, sensing the erratic beat.

My heartbeat thudded unevenly, fast… slow… fast again.

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Chapter 63

Zane’s face twisted.

Not with fear, with anger.

He yelled over his shoulder, “SOMEONE GET KAIA!”

My eyes snapped open wide. “No.”

I grabbed his wrist, grip trembling. “Don’t-don’t call her.”

Zane froze. “Why not?”

I swallowed hard, my throat burning.

The truth felt like glass. And I’m the one living in a glass house.

“I’m scared, Zane.” The words cracked out of me. “I’m scared I might die and leave her in pain.”

His expression shifted, shock first. Then fury.

“You think hiding this will protect her?”

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Remembering Kaia’s laugh.

Her stubbornness, and the trauma from her past.

The way she still looks at me like I’m safe.

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“She’s been through enough,” I whispered. “Losing me…” My voice broke. “I can’t be the thing that destroys her.”

Zane exhaled sharply. “Theo…”

“And what if she doesn’t accept me?” I was forced to spell it out. “What if she looks at me differently after this? What if she realises she deserves someone stronger? Someone with a whole heart… not one that’s failing him.”

Zane shook his head bitterly. “Kaia is not Elara.”

My chest tightened again, this time from shame, not pain.

“You used that excuse to not tell Kaia?” Zane demanded. “Elara lied to you. Manipulated you. Broke you carefully, slowly. Kaia loves genuinely. Don’t you dare put them in the same sentence.”

I turned away, my voice sounded a little raspy.

“I don’t want her to pity me.”

“And you think lying is better?” Zane snapped. He leaned closer, eyes burning. “Tell me the truth, Theo.”

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Chapter 63

His voice dropped. Dangerous.

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“Were you really planning to take Kaia as your Luna without telling her you might not survive your next shift?”

My stomach twisted.

Zane waited, looking at me with suspicion.

I didn’t say anything. My silence was the answer.

Zane swore under his breath and punched the earth beside us, dirt flying.

“I swear to the Goddess-you’re unbelievable,” he growled. “Kaia would walk into fire for you. And you think she would leave because your heart is fragile?”

I swallowed, tears burning behind my eyes.

“Maybe it’s better… if I just stay unmated.” My voice cracked. “It’s better for everyone this way.”

Zane grabbed my jaw, forcing me to meet his glare.

“You think dying alone will hurt her less?”

I choked on air.

“She deserves a mate who can live long enough to love her!” I yelled.

“And you deserve a mate who knows the truth!” Zane shot back. “Stop deciding for her!”

My heart fluttered painfully again, the beat stuttering, weaker this time.

Zane’s voice broke, not with anger now.

It was desperation, I heard his voice choking up.

“She needs to know, Theo. And I’m done helping you hide this.”

He stood, shouting again for help.

“KAIA NEEDS TO KNOW THE TRUTH!”

My vision blurred. My forehead was covered with cold sweat.

With shaky hands. I felt desperation crawling into my bones.

“Zane please, don’t tell her.”

He turned back, eyes softening with pity.

“I’m not doing this to betray you,” he murmured. “I’m doing this because Kaia deserves a chance to fight for

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Chapter 63

you. To choose you. Weak heart and all.”

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My chest tightened, then loosened, and I finally let myself crumble.

For the first time…

I let out a tear. It came from my heart.

The terror of losing the one thing I never thought I’d have was killing me inside.

Zane knelt beside me again, pulling me upright.

“This isn’t the end, Theo,” he said quietly. “But lying to her? That would be.”

I looked at him, I knew he was right and I needed to do the right thing.

“Give me some time, Zane” I said. “I need to think things through”

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“Take your time but be fast with it, Theo” Zane responded. “The full moon is in two days. You can’t lie to her”

I nodded, agreeing with him.

For the first time… I truly saw how selfish I’ve been.

Thinking of only myself, pushing Kaia outside.

I will let Kaia know about my illness on the night of the full moon.

“Come, let’s get you checked at the doctor” Zane suggested, helping me get on my feet.

“Is it really necessary now? I feel better” I groaned.

“It’s necessary, I don’t want you dying while fucking Kaia” Zane said.

“You horny bastard,” I shrieked.

“Careful Alpha, you’re not strong enough for this” Zane held me close.

“I wonder how Justine deals with your horny ass,” I said. “If it were me, I would have kicked you to the curb a long time ago”

“Justine can’t live without me,” Zane said. “Same way, I can’t live without her. The mate bond is strong”

“What

Does the mate bond feel like?” I asked, I have no idea why I asked that.

But it was too late, it left my mouth.

“You’ll know when you feel it, trust me” Zane muttered gleefully. “Stop talking, Theo. You are not well”

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Chapter 63

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“My heart is not well, not my mouth, smarty pants”

“Shut up or I’ll head-bump you into the trees”

I rolled my eyes, laughing. “Yeah, fine. Whatever”

–Lucien–

I didn’t even remember walking back to my room.

All I felt was the rage flickering inside of me.

The rage tasted like poison on my tongue.

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Hearing my father tear into my mother, telling her she had no authority, no power, had snapped something in me.

A line I’d held steady for years finally ruptured.

Theo Always Theo.

Despite their estranged relationship, he still saw Theo as the perfect son and Alpha.

The golden heart everyone protected.

And me? The one they kept outside the gates like a threat.

Fine. If they want darkness, I’ll become it.

By the time Elara slipped into the corridor, chin high, eyes sharp with curiosity, I was already spiralling too far to come back.

“What is wrong with you?” she whispered, scanning my face. “You look like you’re… unravelling.”

“I am,” I said simply.

Her eyes widened.

Good. Let her see what she’s dealing with.

I took a step closer. “About your proposal.”

Elara straightened, tension flickering in her jaw. “You’re considering it?”

“I’m accepting it,” I said coldly. “All of it. Whatever you want to do, whatever mess you want to create-I’m in.”

She blinked. Once. Then a slow smile curved over her lips.

The dangerous type of smile.

“Lucien… you’re smarter than I thought.”

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I ignored that.

“Tell me what’s next,” I said. “What’s the plan?”

She tilted her head, studying me with a predatory calm. “What are you preparing for?”

I didn’t answer.

Not the truth, or the thought that had taken root and begun to bloom like poison.

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When Theo dies, I will take his place. His position. His power and everything he held dear to his sickly heart.

Including Kaia, that stupid little stray.

And no one, absolutely no one, would dare push me aside again.

“I just want to be ready,” I said instead, my heart voice sounding flat.

Her smile widened. “Oh, Lucien… men like you don’t want to be ready.” She stepped closer, her lips brushing my ear. “You want to be crowned.”

I didn’t deny it.

She circled me, fingers trailing along my shoulder.

“As for what comes next…” she purred.

I waited eagerly.

She met my eyes, and for the first time, I saw it.

I didn’t see petty jealousy, heartbreak and desperation.

I saw immense hunger.

A hunger which mirrored my own.

“Leave that,” she whispered, “to me.”

Her smile sharpened into something wicked.

Almost gleeful.

“I will set the stage,” she said softly. “And when everything begins to fall apart… you’ll be standing right where you need to be.”

I exhaled slowly.

Something inside me settled.

I found a purpose. A dark, quiet and deadly purpose with someone I’m being arranged to mate with.

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Chapter 63

“Fine,” I said. “Do it.”

Elara’s grin turned feral. “Oh, I intend to.

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