The Alpha's Borrowed Luna (Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 209

Chapter 209

OWED Luna

‘Don’t come any closer,” she warned, finally turning to face me,

The sight of her nearly brought me to my knees. Her face was gaund, cheekbones sharp against her pallid skin. But it was her eyes that truly shocked me–no longer their usual blue but a strange, lurus silver that seemed to flow in the gathering darkness.

Whatever was growing inside her wasn’t just feeding on her body–it was changing her very nature.

She could hurt me. If I wanted to, I could rationalize walking away, leaving her in this forest until Kieran and the sorceress arrives. She could hurt me. But still, I didn’t proceed any further.

“I am not what you think I am,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, “Not anymore?

“What are you trying to say?” I asked, keeping my distance as she’d requested, though every instinct screamed at me to go to her, to hold her, to protect her.

“I heard everything the healers said to you, and I know I might die. Her hands cradled her distended abdomen, a gesture both protective and wary.

‘Don’t say that; you won’t die; I won’t let you.” The fierceness in my voice surprised even me.

She laughed, the sound hollow and brittle. “There are some things you cannot control, Kaius, and death is one of them. I had to leave the healing room because Daisy’s neck suddenly seemed like the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. And then there were people everywhere; it was overwhelming; I wanted to hurt them, and I’ve never been so afraid.”

Her confession sent a chill through me. This was what she’d been feeling–the same hunger that had driven her to bite my lip, to drink my blood. Not just hunger but a predatory instinct completely at odds with the Elowen I knew.

“Elowen, you don’t have to be scared; we would always be there to protect you, I promised, taking a cautious step closer.

“How can you protect me? You don’t even know me.” She backed away, maintaining the distance between us.

“I do, Elowen; I know you better than you think.”

“Once I would have believed that,” she said, her silver eyes reflecting the moonlight. “But now… now I don’t. All this wouldn’t have happened if… if you never let me go.” Her voice cracked slightly, pain bleeding through the words. “You forced me into believing I wasn’t good enough, and you thought you were protecting me, but you weren’t. I did something worse, all so I could be good enough for you. I did something worse, so one day I could sit by your side and feel like I deserved my position.”

I started to protest, but the words died on my lips as she rolled her shoulders, her face contorting in what looked like pain. I moved to help her, but she waved me back. Then I saw it–the fabric of her thin hospital gown tearing as something emerged from ber

back.

Wings. Massive, grey wings unfurled from her shoulder blades, stretching at least six feet on either side of her slender frame. They weren’t feathered like a bird’s, but leathery and strong, reflecting the moonlight with an iridescent sheen.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” she asked, noting my stunned expression. “That’s what I thought when I saw his wings; I thought they were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Kieran promised me power; he said I would never be heartbroken and I would never be weak. I had been in so much pain, and I believed this was the solution. I wanted it so badly; I wanted it just to feel like I can confidently stand by your side because a part of me knew I would see you again

Her wings shifted with her emotions, extending fully as she continued to speak, her voice growing stronger with each word.

The chances of surviving the ritual were low, and yet I was ready to risk my life because it no longer felt worth living. I had fallen from grace–from a Queen to nothing and this time I was desperate to do anything to rise to the top. The sorceress services were

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Chapter 209

costly, thanks to you, that wasn’t an issue, but there was one more thing I needed–something even money couldn’t buy. The blood of a turned one. Kieran’s blood. But that also came with a price: his Blood in exchange for my hands in marriage.”

My stomach twisted at the thought of Elowen promising herself to Keran, but I remained silent, letting her speak.

“I hadn’t agreed at first; 1 had been thinking about you, but the offer was so tempting, it took only a while for me to agree. That night I had almost lost my life; we thought the ritual had failed, and then… I saw my wings for the first time, and all I could think about was that it was worth it. But now… I don’t even know what I am; I can’t explain why I find the taste of blood satisfying.”

“Elowen,” I began, not knowing what to say but needing to say something.

“This was my decision; I shouldn’t blame you, and yet I do; I blame you, Kaius. I blame you for breaking my heart.” Her wings suddenly vanished–not folding or retracting gradually, but disappearing in an instant as if they’d been an illusion all along.

I felt a presence behind me and turned to see Frost approaching through the trees, his expression shifting from relief at finding us to shock at the sight of Elowen’s wings.

“You didn’t know she would go sorting for this,” he said, coming to stand beside me. “You thought you were protecting her, and you only did let her go because you loved her. This is not your fault.”