The Alpha's Borrowed Luna (Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 212

The Alpha’s Borrowed Luna

Chapter 212

A cold dread spread through me as I grasped the true meaning of his words. Not just the bloodlust, not just the wings, but centuries of life–watching everyone I loved age and die while I remained unchanged.

“So this had all been for some selfish gain? What if I don’t want to live forever, Kieran? Did you even take a single moment to think about the fact that this was not what I wanted? You made me into this… monster, and it was all because you didn’t want to be lonely for the rest of your life? The betrayal cut deep, all the deeper because I’d trusted him, seen him as my salvation.

Kieran’s expression hardened. “Don’t you put the blame on me. I never forced you; you wanted this so bad, and I did you the favor.”

“You never told me the truth of what I was getting into; you showed me all the good sides, leaving out the bad.”

“Is it so bad? You get to live forever; do you know how many want this?” His voice rose slightly, defensive.

“I don’t care about how many want it; I don’t. All I had ever wanted to do was be good enough for Kaius. I don’t want to live forever and watch every single person I know die. I don’t want to have this lust for blood.”

“This is the sacrifice you have to make to get what you want,” he insisted, as if the trade were perfectly reasonable.

I stared at him, truly seeing him perhaps for the first time. The man I’d thought was kind, understanding, my refuge in the storm- he’d had his own agenda all along.

When I saw you for the very first time, I admired you. Why wouldn’t I? Everything about you seemed admirable, from the way you led the pack to how easygoing, kind and accepting you were. I was easily drawn to your people. Though a small pack, there is this unity amongst everyone, and I wanted to be a part of it. I thought that could be my home. I was wrong. I never belonged there, and you were never who thought you to be. You are just as selfish as the rest, just as power hungry; you were willing to let me risk my life, just so you could get a partner for life.”

The realization settled over me like a cold blanket. There was only one conclusion possible. “I can’t marry you, Kieran; I just can’t.”

His eyes narrowed. “I did my part of the deal; you aren’t keeping to yours.”

“You never told me the whole truth; you hid it all from me. I would have never gone along with this if I knew the other side you kept hidden and you know that.”

“Don’t lie to me. I knew it; from the moment I came here to visit you in the dungeons, I could see it in your eyes. You were never going to keep to your part of the deal, you were never going to go along with the marriage, so don’t give me this bullshit,” he snapped, anger replacing his earlier calm.

“I’m sorry things had to end this way.” I meant it, despite everything. Once, I had genuinely cared for him.

“No. No, you are not.” He stood, his posture rigid with barely controlled fury. “I’ll be on my way now; maybe I might as well inform your mother that the wedding is off. I wonder what she would think about it.”

“Don’t bring my mother into this.” Fear spiked through me at the thought of her disappointment, her worry.

“Oh, she’s so going to be involved, and don’t you think for a moment that this is goodbye,” he warned, moving toward the door. His hand on the handle, he turned back, his expression cold. “Either you take that thing out of you or you die. But well, you are good at taking risks.

With that final threat, he was gone, leaving me alone with the weight of his revelations and the growing discomfort in my abdomen

where the demon continued to feed.

I slipped the moonstone ring from my finger, staring at it for a long moment before setting it on the bedside table. It caught the

light, glinting with false promises. Just like its giver.

1/3

Chapter 212

Hours passed. Daisy came to check on me, her professional demeanor barely masking her concern as she helped me to the bathroom, held my hair back as I vomited more blood. Frost brought food I couldn’t eat, news I couldn’t process. And finally, as night fell, Kaius returned.

He sat in the chair beside my bed, his eyes fixed on a point somewhere near my shoulder–never meeting my gaze directly.

“You don’t have to stay with me, you know that, right?” I said after several minutes of uncomfortable silence.

“I want to be here.” His voice was low, controlled.

“Then be here! You think I don’t notice how you can’t even look me in the eyes. Had I become that repulsive to look at?” The question burst from me, raw with insecurity.

His amber eyes finally lifted to meet mine, full of pain but not disgust. “You will never be too repulsive for me to look at. But I… can’t bear it; I can’t watch you die, and that’s what is happening to you.” The admission seemed torn from him. “You are dying, and you need to get the demon out.”

“I know, but… I can’t.” It was irrational, perhaps even suicidal, but the truth nonetheless.

“Is not a child. His voice was gentle but firm.

“You don’t understand. Nobody does. I had lost a child once, back in the Mistwood pack, I tried to stop thinking about it, but now…” The confession surprised even me, buried memories surfacing unbidden. “I can’t let go of this; whatever it is, I can’t kill it.