When The Luna Broke Her Chains novel Chapter 38

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Chapter 38 The Wolf He Lost

[XENA]

“Where did you find her?” he asks.

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

My throat is dry, my tongue useless. He waits anyway–patient, unblinking–watching me as if the rest of the hall doesn’t exist. As if there aren’t several hundred eyes fixed on us. On me.

I’m painfully aware of it–the silence, the weight of attention presses in from every side. I swallow and finally lower my gaze.

Storm–grey blue eyes disappear from my vision, replaced by the wolf’s head inked onto his wrist.

I drop to my knees. “I–I-”

“Rise,” he says gently.

I hesitate, then stand. My legs feel unsteady. I glance at Cassian. I see the calculation flicker across his face -he’s wondering what in the Goddess’s name is going on here.

Vera is calm in Knox’s arms. She looks very comfortable curled against his chest like she belongs there.

“Iver,” Knox says.

A man steps forward. The other one from the lake. His shoulders are rigid, his gaze lowered, awaiting command.

“Keep her safe,” Knox tells him.

Iver nods once. No questions asked as he takes Vera from his arms.

Knox turns back to us. “We shall discuss this matter later,” he says. “In private.” His gaze lingers on me- just once–before he adds, “You may leave.”

As Cassian steers me back into the crowd, I turn my head.

I see it.

The King leaning toward his son. Knox answering in a low voice. A brief exchange–too quiet to hear, but too tense to miss–before Knox returns to his throne.

I barely breathe for the rest of the ceremony.

Cassian’s jaw is clenched tight, his hands flexing like he’s restraining himself from breaking something. When the final oaths are spoken and the guests are dismissed toward the feast, a beta approaches u

“Please follow,” he says.

As we walk, my thoughts spiral–one cuts through the rest, sudden and terrifying in its clarity

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PSS.

Chapter 38 The Wolf He Lost

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He can free me.

Knox Oberon. He is the one person–other than his father–who can end my marriage to Cassian.

We’re ushered into a private chamber.

Knox sits on a tall chair carved with wolves, their jaws bared. Vera sits cozily in his lap. Iver stands to one side. And there’s a woman beside him–young, sharp–eyed, dressed in soft pink silk that mirrors the gold I’m wearing.

Lycan princess attire.

She takes me in slowly, from my cloak to my jewelry. Her lips curve.

She knows.

She turns to Knox, smirking. He scoff’s under his breath.

‘Please,” Knox says, nodding toward the chairs. “Sit.”

Cassian doesn’t wait for me. He steps forward at once.

Your Highness,” he begins, bowing. “I knew the creature was cursed. I warned her. She took it in anyway. I ask your forgiveness-”

I gasp. My mouth opens, closes. He’s throwing me into the fire to save himself. Maybe I deserve it, a small voice whispers. For hiding. For hoping. Still, I feel anger surge through my veins.

Knox shakes his head. “Do not call my wolf cursed,” he says.

Cassian freezes.

“Your Highness-”

Knox nods once. “She’s mine. I lost her nearly three weeks ago. She was a newborn pup from the wolves under my care.” His fingers brush Vera’s fur. “Her coloring is rare.”

I stay silent.

I glance at the princess. She’s still smiling, like she’s piecing something together

“I think it happened the day at the lake,” Knox continues castrally

Cassian turns to me, brows raised. What is he saying?

“Yes, that’s when she came to me,” I say weakly.

Knox looks at me when I speak. He looks at me like he really sees me

Heat creeps up my neck.

“After you saved me,” I add quietly.

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Chapter 38 The Wolf He Lost

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Cassian stiffens.

The princess straightens, leaning forward in her chair. “My brother saved you?” She wets her lips. “Forgive me–I’m Aria. I should have introduced myself.”

“Your Highness.” I say quickly, acknowledging her status. “He saved me from a hydralith,” I add.

Knox exhales, shaking his head. “I already told you, Aria. It was her who saved Dion.”

Aria gasps. “You saved my son?”

I nod, flustered. “I was just… there. At the right time.”

“How can I ever thank you?” she asks, her hand resting on her chest.

My cheeks burn some more. “You don’t have to… Your Highness.”

Cassian clears his throat. “About the wolf,” he says carefully. “It has… strange powers.”

Knox nods casually. “Of course it does. We’ll discuss it.” His gaze shifts back to me. “I didn’t mean intimidation. I only wanted to thank you.”

He says my name softly.

“Xena.”

I exhale.

He studies me for a moment longer. “Seems like you’ve taken good care of her.”

I nod. “I did what I could.”

Cassian lets out a breath, sharp and frustrated.

Knox leans back. “You may go. Enjoy the feast. We’ll speak again.”

I rise slowly. As we leave the room, my heart is still racing.

And for the first time, the future doesn’t feel entirely closed.

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