The Alpha's Borrowed Luna (Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 21

The Alpha’s Borrowed Luna

Unexpected Mercy

I lay beside Kaius, my wrists still bound with silk, the aftershocks of unwanted pleasure slowly fading from my body. Despite what my body had just felt, my complete vulnerability with exposed skin and restrained limbs left only emptiness.

“Could you untie me now?” I asked, my voice sounding smaller than intended.

Kaius turned to look at me, his expression unreadable in the dim light. “No.”

“What?” I stared at him, certain I’d misheard.

“No.” The word was simple, final.

I tugged at my restraints, frustration building. “I heard you. But why not?”

He smiled slowly as his eyes moved over every inch of my body. “I think I like you naked and tied to the bed. It’s a turn–on.”

Heat rose to my cheeks–partly embarrassment, partly something else I refused to admit. How could my body betray me so completely with this man? Minutes ago, I’d shattered beneath his touch, moaning loudly while he got exactly what he wanted from

1. me.

He leaned closer, his breath warm against my neck. “You are a very strange being, Elowen Thorne. A moment ago, I could swear you enjoyed it all, but now you seem afraid and desperate to be free. Why?”

Before I could respond, his lips brushed the sensitive spot where my neck met my against my skin. Cold terror shot through me, overriding every other sensation.

“Stop!” I jerked away as much as my restraints would allow. “Don’t!”

Kaius pulled back, his expression curious. “What’s wrong?”

“You won’t mark me.” The words came out firm despite my racing heart.

shoulder. I froze as I felt the graze of fangs

Understanding dawned in his eyes. “You were afraid I was going to mark you here and now?”

I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. Marking was permanent–a lifelong bond that could never be broken. I’d‘ already suffered the consequences of one mate bond gone wrong; I couldn’t bear another, especially not with a man like Kaius.

“No, I wasn’t about to do that,” he said, his tone surprisingly gentle.

Relief flooded through me, but it was short–lived.

“But you will do it, if not now then some other time?” I pressed, needing to understand the full extent of my captivity.

He studied me for a long moment. “If it comes to that, yes.”

The casual admission sent ice through my veins. “And if I don’t allow it?”

“Whatever has to be done to convince the pack members and everyone that you are my mate will be done.” His voice carried no malice, just the calm certainty of a man accustomed to having his way.

I realized with a sinking feeling that marking hadn’t been included in our contract–probably deliberately. Another loophole, another way to ensure I remained completely under his control.

“Now back to our little conversation,” he said, his fingers tracing idle patterns on my bare shoulder. “What was the reason for the

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Unexpected Mercy

miscarriage?

The abrupt return to this painful topic caught me off guard. I’d already told him what happened, but not why. Perhaps I could avoid further humiliation by offering a partial truth.

“I lost the child because I was weak,” I said, unable to meet his eyes. My system couldn’t hold it in.”

Kaius’s expression hardened. “Again, you lied to me.”

“I do not lie to you,” I insisted, defensive. “I am a weak wolf, an omega. It’s not exactly

#1

surprise that I couldn’t hold it in.”

His eyes bored into mine, as if he could extract the truth by will alone. “I heard something. Dorian found a mate, but she was an embarrassment to him. He wouldn’t let anyone know the truth, so he named another his mate.”

My blood ran cold. How could he know this?

“At this time,” he continued, “his true mate was pregnant with ‘his‘ child, but his ‘recklessness‘ had caused a miscarriage.” His voice was deceptively casual, but his eyes missed nothing of my reaction. Now tell me, how true is this, Elowen Thorne?”

“You knew?” The words escaped as barely more than a whisper. My most painful secret, my deepest shame–laid bare as if it were common knowledge.

“Of course,” he replied, his tone matter–of–fact. “There is only a little I don’t know.”

Humiliation burned through me, followed quickly by anger. “Then why did you ask? Did you plan to humiliate me some more? Remind me of a past. I would so love to bury?”

“I wanted to hear it from you.” There was no apology in his voice, but something in his expression had changed–something I couldn’t quite define.

“What difference does it make?” I demanded.

et

“A lot. It makes a whole lot of difference.” His eyes searched mine. “But I did not intend to humiliate you.”

Confusion mingled with my anger. If not to humiliate me, then why? What possible interest could my tragic history have for a man

like Kaius?

“No one knows about this,” I said, shaking my head. “How did you know? Was this all planned out?”

“I have my sources.” He reached for something on the bedside table. And from what I know, you are no longer mated to him.”

The glint of metal in his hand made me stiffen. A knife. Fear clutched at my throat as he brought the blade closer.

“And I guess you also know this via your ‘sources‘?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

To my surprise, he shook his head. “No. It was a simple guess. He would never have let you go if you were still mated to him.”