When The Luna Broke Her Chains novel Chapter 37

Chapter 37 The Day I Was Not Invisible

[XENA]

For Goddess’s sake, what’s happening?

The royals take their thrones.

The Lycan King first–smugly, displaying the power he has. The Prince–the stranger from my dreams- beside him, is a fraction stiffer, as if he’s braced against something no one else can see. But I feel it even from here.

Arch–Luminist Seraphel steps forward from the crowd. “Esteemed Alphas and Lunas. Honored Guild members. Envoys of allied realms.” She inclines her head once. “You stand beneath the roof of Aurelune at the summons of the Moon Guild and the Oberon Crown.”

The deathly silence dissipates, a few murmurs rising from the crowd.

“You have gathered to witness the ascension of the Lycan Prince,” she continues, voice louder now, “and to renew the oaths that bind pack to crown, and crown to the Moonhallow tribe. In this hall, loyalty is not assumed. It is spoken, sworn, and remembered.”

She pauses, her eyes glancing over those gathered.

“May your words be true. May your vows endure. And may the Moon bear witness to all that is pledged here today.”

She steps back.

The King rises.

“Welcome to Aurelune,” he says warmly, his arms extending wide. “Eat beneath my roof. Drink my wine. Walk my halls as guests, not strangers.” A ripple of approval moves through the room. “Celebrate the days ahead. There will be feasts. Music. Games. Let this gathering remind us why we stand together.”

He turns then, resting a hand on the Prince’s shoulder.

“My son,” he says, pride threaded through the words, “has chosen to make this moment even more auspicious. He will take a Luna.”

Another murmur spreads–one with pleased laughs and swoons.

“Double the festivities,” the King adds with a smile. “Double the joy.”

The Prince says nothing. He doesn’t move or smile. His gaze stays forward, fixed on a point just above the

crowd.

I know he’s avoiding me.

My ears burn. Sweat beads at my temple. I wipe it away, forcing my breath to steady.

One by one, the pack leaders step forward.

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Alphas kneel. Lunas follow. Names are spoken. Thanks are offered. Oaths are sworn again–voice after voice pledging blood and loyalty to the crown.

When our turn comes, Cassian leans close. “Say nothing,” he murmurs. “Kneel. Bow your head. I’ll do the

rest.”

I nod, but my throat is tight. I know it now, with a certainty that won’t loosen its grip.

The man I gave bread to. The man who pulled me back from death.

The stranger.

He is the Prince.

Knox Oberon.

And he saw me–he knows I’m here.

Cassian nudges me forward. We step onto the white path with a red carpet that leads to the stairs. I keep my gaze lowered, my heart hammering.

I’m wearing what he gave me. I don’t know why that frightens me.

He probably won’t acknowledge me. Why should he? I’m no one here. Still, something inside me won’t settle. A restless pull. A need to speak to him–alone–and ask him why he’s been in my dreams.

We kneel. I bow my head.

Don’t look up, I tell myself.

I do anyway. Just barely.

He’s looking at me.

The King notices. His gaze flicks to his son.

Knox doesn’t react. His face stays composed, unreadable.

I swallow.

Cassian speaks, voice smooth, swearing Frostfang’s fealty. He’s almost finished when–I feel her.

Vera.

A howl cuts through the hall. Gasps ripple outward. I turn.

She’s running toward me–black fur, golden eyes, small and fast.

“Vera,” I breathe.

She slams into me, and I’m on my feet without thinking, scooping her into my arms. She presses into any chest, shaking.

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Cassian curses. “How did it escape the cage?”

Voices rise.

“A black wolf.”

“Golden eyes.”

“Cursed.”

“Kill the creature!”

My vision blurs. I clutch her tighter, panic clawing up my throat.

“Silence.”

The word cuts cleanly through the chaos, making me turn on my heel.

The Prince is descending the steps. One at a time. His gaze never leaves me.

The room narrows until it’s just us. My heart is beating too loud, too fast.

He reaches us. Cassian starts apologizing. “Forgive her. Your Highness. She didn’t mean to! We were going to show you the creature—” his words tumble over each other—but Knox lifts a hand, shutting him.

Everyone watches.

Knox reaches for Vera, and his fingers brush mine. A jolt passes through me at the contact. I suck in a breath as he takes her from my arms, holding her with an ease that makes my chest ache.

He looks at me then with an intensity like he’s seeing through to my soul.

“Where did you find her?”

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