Eighth-Born Luna (Emily and Nathan) novel Chapter 39

Emily’s PU

The council arrived before noon. It was a long line of Alphas and their Betas. As soon as they crossed into our territory, the streets fell silent. No one wanted to be seen. Everyone stayed inside, giving the Alphas the space they

demanded.

I watched from the packhouse kitchen window as the cars and guards arrived.

And then, I saw Nathan.

He stood with his father, Alpha King Garrett. He was confident and untouchable. Stella was right beside him,

ooking perfect exactly where a future Luna should be.

I looked away, a sharp pain in my chest. I thought that would be the end of it.

It wasn’t.

“Emily!” Dorothy, the head cook of the pack, rushed toward me. “I need help. One of the girls is sick. We are

hort–handed in the council hall.”

“I don’t think I should go in there,” I started.

“You’ll be fine,” she whispered, pushing a tray into my hands. “Just be quiet, be fast, and get out.”

The council hall was massive. I kept my head down as I walked through the corridor toward the meeting hall.

Don’t look. Don’t listen. That was my plan.

In my rush, I bumped into someone. He was like a solid wall of muscle.

“Careful, little wolf,” he whispered. It was Marcus.

His large hands reached out and caught the coffee tray before it could fall.

“Sorry, Alpha Marcus,” I apologized, my eyes fixed on the floor.

Suddenly, his fingers touched my chin. He moved gently, tilting my face up so I had to look into his eyes. There vas a strange, pleading look in them.

“Emily,” he whispered. “Please, don’t bow to me. It hurts me to see you do that.”

I was shocked. My heart skipped a beat when I heard it hurt him to see me show respect. I looked away stubbornly ind muttered, “It would be very strange if I didn’t.”

He took my hand, his grip firm and steady. “It won’t be strange. I am the Alpha, after all. I’m telling you, I won’t et you bow to me anymore.”

With those words, he shifted the heavy tray in his hands, taking the weight for me.

4.1.-L.

ננ

5:27 pm

He turned and opened the large doors to the meeting hall. He walked in first, head held high, carrying the coffee tray like it was a royal gift. I had to hurry to keep up with his long strides.

I didn’t look up, but didn’t need to. I could feel Nathan’s gaze on me. After a long, tense silence, he continued

his report.

“…the rogue attacks are increasing,” a voice said. I froze for a split second. “Entire packs are disappearing.”

I stepped forward, my hands shaking so hard that the cups clattered against the table.

“…and the orphans?” someone asked.

“More mouths we don’t need,” Stella said. Her voice was sharp, almost cutting. “No protection. No loyalty. They [row up wild, and sooner or later, they go to the Rogue King on their own.”

A murmur of agreement went around the table. It felt cold and heartless.

“Then give them a reason not to,” I said.

The room went completely still. Every Alpha head turned toward me, too fast and too sharply. I felt like a rabbit urrounded by wolves.

“I–I’m sorry,” I stammered, stepping back, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Let her speak.” The voice was commanding. It was the Alpha King Garrett. He wasn’t looking at his coffee nymore; he was looking at me.

Stella looked at me, her expression almost bored. “Why wouldn’t they leave? No pack claims them. No Alpha rotects them. They learn quickly who actually offers them power.”

I took a breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “They don’t just lose protection. They lose their identity. No one nterrupts them because no one cares.”

I swallowed hard, my fingers gripping the empty tray until the metal hurt my palms. “They lose everything that eeps them from turning into rogues. Then we blame them for surviving the only way they can.”

A flicker of something, maybe shame or surprise, crossed the faces of the men at the table.

“They don’t choose the Rogue King because they are evil,” I continued. My voice was quieter now, but steadier. My fear hadn’t vanished, but my anger was stronger. “They choose him because he is the only one who opens the

loor.”

The air in the room felt different. The Alphas weren’t just looking at me; they were actually listening.

“So take them first,” I said.

I took a step forward. “Create a place for them. Not camps, but packs. Give them a pack, food, structure, and raining.” My voice didn’t shake anymore. It was clear and strong in the large hall. “Give them control over what they are becoming.”

5:27 pm

PPP

I locked up, meeting the eyes of the Alphas for the first time. I saw Nathan’s father, Garrett, watching me with an prealable expression.

“Because their anger won’t disappear,” said, my words heavy with truth. “But it can be directed.”

I waited a beat, making sure they all heard me.

“Directed toward protecting us,” I finished “Instead of making him stronger.”

The silence that followed was heavy. No one moved No one spoke.

Then the Alpha King leaned back, his eyes studying me as if I were a puzzle he had finally solved.

“Interesting,” he murmured. “Compassion and strategy.”

For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel invisible.

I didn’t look at Nathan. I couldn’t bear to see his face. I set the last cup down with shaking hands and hurried out

of the room.

**

Nathan’s POV

When she left the room, my father turned to me. His voice was low, but I heard every word. Each one sounded like

hunder.

“She could be a great Luna,” he said. “She isn’t just beautiful. She is wise, and she has a good heart.”

My father’s words felt wrong. They were totally out of place and dangerous. Emily wasn’t supposed to be part of his world, yet here she was, commanding a room full of Alphas.

I forced myself to focus.

“…we’ve tracked movement in the north,”

I looked at the maps. I talked about the rogues. I tried to focus on anything but her.

But suddenly, I could feel everything through our bond.

It was wild passion. But not mine.

Emily?

My jaw tightened. What the hell is she doing? And with whom?

I stopped mid–sentence, turned, and stormed out.

I didn’t care that every eye in the room was on me as I practically flew out of the meeting hall. My blood was boiling, and I didn’t slow down until I reached the heavy oak door. Behind it, I heard heavy breathing and soft moans. And I caught her scent. Strawberries.

5:27 pm

PPP

Maumed my hand against the wood and kicked the door open.

Liam was there. His hands were all over the she wolf, his lips smeared with her lipstick. They looked messy and

disgusting.

“What the hell, Nathan-” Liam started, but I didn’t give a damn about him.

My eyes snapped to the corner.

Emily.

She was pressed against the wall, trapped. She held a tray, her small hands shaking so much the metal rattled. Her eyes were wide with shock, and it made my wolf roar inside me. She didn’t belong in this mess.

The air in the room grew heavy, thick with a dark, hungry tension. I could feel it through the bond. Liam’s cheap, oud desire was everywhere. I wanted to tear the room apart.

“What are you doing here?” Liam asked. He was smiling. He thought this was a game.

I didn’t answer. I stared at Emily, watching her chest rise and fall in quick, shallow breaths. I wanted to grab her and pull her out of this room, to hide her from everyone.

But at the same time, I wanted to press her against that wall myself, to make her moan under me until her voice

was hoarse, screaming only my name.

Liam let out a low, mocking laugh.

“Join us, Emily.”

A growl ripped from my throat. I stepped forward.

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Chapter 40

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