The Alpha's Borrowed Luna (Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 30

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The Alpha’s Borrowed Luna

Breaking Pack Law

The crowd parted, forming a circle around us. Low, rhythmic chanting filled the air ancient werewolf words that pulsed like a heartbeat through the hall.

From the corner of my eye, I spotted the Alpha King, his disapproving gaze boring into me. Beside him stood the veiled figure of Ophelia, her face once again hidden from the world.

And there, at the edge of the crowd, stood my mother–her expression cold and distant as she watched me take my place beside

Kaius.

Our eyes met briefly before she turned away, disappearing into the crowd.

The ceremonial hall fell silent as Kaius raised his hand. The chanting stopped, and the crowd’s attention fixed on us with an intensity that made my skin prickle. I stood beside him, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity.

Kaius turned to me, his amber eyes unreadable. “Don’t fight me,” he whispered against my ear, his voice commanding yet intimate. “Not here. Follow my lead.”

Before I could respond, he pulled me against him, one hand at my waist, the other tilting my chin up. His lips met mine in a kiss that started deceptively gentle. For a brief moment, I stood frozen, acutely aware of hundreds of eyes watching our every move.

Then his kiss deepened, becoming more demanding. My hands instinctively rose to his chest–whether to push him away or steady myself, I wasn’t sure. Tears of humiliation burned behind my closed eyelids. This public display, this ownership being demonstrated to the entire pack, was exactly what I’d dreaded.

When he finally released me, my lips felt bruised, my breath coming in small gasps. His arm remained around my waist, a firm anchor as he turned to address the gathered wolves.

“My mate will be marked and claimed tonight, as is our right and tradition.” His voice carried to every corner of the hall, rich with Alpha authority. The crowd murmured their approval, some even cheering.

I braced myself for what would come next–the ritual that Frost had warned might involve public intimacy.

But then Kaius continued, his words surprising everyone, including me: “But this sacred bonding will be done in private, between mates as it should be.”

A shocked silence fell over the assembly. My head snapped up to look at him, disbelief momentarily overriding my fear. Was he actually sparing me the public humiliation?

“But this is the tradition of our bloodline.” A commanding voice rose from the crowd–Alaric’s, unmistakably. “The pack witnesses the Alpha’s claim. It has always been so.”

Kaius’s arm tightened around me. His expression hardened as he faced the direction of his father’s voice. “It is a stupid tradition that should have died a long time ago. My mate here is not comfortable with such a spectacle, and neither am I. Some things remain sacred between mates alone.”

The tension in the room was palpable. This wasn’t just about me or the marking–this was another battle in the ongoing war between father and son. I was simply the battlefield they’d chosen.

Still, despite recognizing his true motivation, relief washed through me. Whatever his reasons, Kaius was sparing me the p claiming that had terrified me since Frost’s revelation.

Kaius began to lead me from the circle, his stride purposeful, his expression daring anyone to challenge him further. The pack members stepped aside, creating a path for us. As we passed, I caught glimpses of various reactions–shock, confusion, and from some of the older wolves, outright disapproval.

1/3

Breaking Pack Law

“I might not mark you before the eyes of all these people, Kalus murmured once we were near the exit, but they do expect to see a mark on you by the morning. Come with me. Our performance isn’t ever yet.”

His words confirmed what I’d already suspected this wasn’t about respecting my boundaries, but about defying his father. Still, 1 followed willingly, grateful to escape the public spectacle regardless of his motives.

Frost appeared next to us as we left the hall, walking a step behind. Neither he nor Kaius spoke as we made our way through the corridors toward Kaius’s chambers. The silence was heavy with unspoken tension.

Once inside the room, Kaius released me, moving to the window as if needing distance. I stood uncertainly in the center of the room, the red dress suddenly feeling too warm despite its modest cu

“You’re coming with us?” I asked Frost, surprised he’d followed us in

Kaius answered before Frost could. “You were right. I might not be able to control myself once the marking begins, and that’s why I need someone here–someone to stop me if I go too far–more than you can take or should have to endure.”

The admission stunned me. I hadn’t expected him to acknowledge the concern I’d raised about his self–control during the marking. The fact that he’d arranged for Frost’s presence as a safeguard was… almost considerate.

Frost moved to lean against the wall near the door, his posture casual but his eyes alert. He would be both witness and protector, I realized ensuring the mark appeared as required by pack law, while also preventing Kaius from taking things further than marking,

“The dress,” Kaius said, gesturing toward my shoulders. “It’s perfect for the marking.”

I glanced down, suddenly understanding why Frost had suggested this particular gown. The neckline, while modest across the front, dipped at the shoulders, leaving my neck almost exposed. Easy access for Kaius’s teeth.

Frost had known all along what would happen tonight. Had he chosen a dress that would make this easier for me?