When The Luna Broke Her Chains novel Chapter 71

Chapter 71 Proximity

[XENA]

“We were in the middle of a conversation, Mistress Seraphel.”

For a while, stunned silence lingers in the air, but I don’t feel any remorse for the dismissive words I just threw at the woman.

Because I want to know what Knox meant by imprinting. And more than that–I don’t want him to leave. Because right now, he might be the only person on this entire continent who gives even a fraction of a shit about me.

He has to, doesn’t he? Why else would he heal me? Again.

Friends, that’s what Knox called us. That was his reasoning.

The word echoes in my head, not comforting at all. It should bring me relief, but it feels more like a taunt. It feels like a salve over a broken bone.

Still… I cling to it–desperately–because I have nothing else to hold onto.

Vera growls softly in my lap. She looks up at me, golden eyes bright, almost pleased. As if she understands my frustration and need, and approves of my dismissiveness and impolite behavior.

Seraphel’s face has turned a fuming shade of red, jaw clenched so tight it looks painful. She looks at me, then at Knox, clearly waiting for him to correct me. To say something. To put me back where I belong. But he doesn’t.

Knox looks between us, and he appears surprised. Maybe because he expected me to shrink back, or apologize, or say nothing at all.

Seraphel exhales sharply. “I wouldn’t be shocked to find out later,” she says coldly, her gaze dropping to the pup curled in my lap, “that this odd behavior of yours is because of that beast.”

Beast.

Knox goes rigid. “Beast?” he repeats bitterly.

Seraphel swallows, then pushes on. “The creature’s cursed. You know that. I told you–I warned you. You just refuse to listen.” Her voice rises despite herself. “Get rid of it, for the Goddess’s sake.”

My arms wrap around Vera without thinking. She presses closer to me, warm and small.

Knox scoffs. “If I recall correctly, you said I was acting odd long before the pup was ever born.”

Seraphel shakes her head, furious now. “The two of you are going to be the death of me,” she mutters. Then she turns toward the door, stopping only long enough to say, “Your father will not be happy about this, Your Highness.”

She storms out, slamming the double doors behind her with a thunderous boom. The room feels too quiet

after that.

12:43 pm PPM.

Chapter 71 Proximity

Finished

Knox lets out a slow breath and drags a chair closer again. He sits, brows drawn tight, clearly about to say something careful. Something that ends this.

I don’t let him.

“What do you mean,” I ask, sounding alright despite everything, “by imprinted?”

His mouth opens only to close a second later. He shakes his head in disbelief. “That,” he says sharply, “is not the most important thing right now.”

I frown.

“You were poisoned,” he continues, his voice deadly low. “Repeatedly, I assume, if your blood is saturated with it. And from the look on your face, you already knew.”

I turn my face away.

“Who did this to you?” he demands with concern I’ve never heard directed at me. When I don’t answer, he says, my name like a warning, “Xena.”

There’s something in his eyes when I look back at him. Something deep like he’s pained by the thought of it. It makes my chest ache in a way I don’t understand.

He almost looks like he cares about me.

“I–I don’t know,” I lie, shifting my legs nervously under the blanket. “But I expected it,” I add quietly.

His brow furrows. “Why?”

I hesitate. Why am I still trying to defend Cassian and his wretched family? And Davina? Why would I hide her truth from Knox? He deserves to know exactly who she is and what she’s capable of. But maybe my hesitation is not because I want to subconsciously defend them in some way, but because I’m afraid he won’t believe me. And why should he? I have no worth. No power. I shouldn’t have the audacity to accuse the Alpha of poisoning me, so I say what I can.

“Because I’m not wanted,” I confess, my voice getting muffled due to suppressed tears. “By anyone. No one would care if I died, Knox.”

He stares at me like he can’t believe I just said that. “Why do you think that?” he asks again with a subtle shake of his head.

I almost laugh. “Because I’m wolfless,” I tell him. “In a world where power is everything, that’s enough reason to be hated.” I gesture vaguely at myself. “Even the title I carry means nothing. If I weren’t a Luna- if I were just an omega maid–no one would look at me twice.

“People resent me because I stand beside an Alpha without having a wolf,” I continue. “And now…” I meet his gaze. “You’ve given me attention. You’ve put more eyes on me. You’ve made things worse.”

He looks startled.

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