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Chapter Ninety Six
Last Updated:
2025-03-13 04:23:36
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The THORN LUNA Chapter Ninety Seven
Fayne's POV She used to feed him clovers while I watched, pretending I didn’t care. But I did. God, I did.The memory slammed into me like a wall of light, piercing the haze.Gray would sit in her lap for hours, twitching his nose while she read stories aloud. She’d always look up and smile at me—soft, kind, like I wasn’t some ticking bomb of wrath and teeth. Like I was human.I blinked, and the vision of blood drained away. The rabbit in front of me froze, sensing me. One more heartbeat and I could’ve—But I didn’t.I let out a long breath, stepped back. The creature bolted, a blur of brown vanishing into the trees.I stood there, trembling, hands clenched into fists.The demon inside me snarled, unsatisfied.But Emily’s memory held stronger.For now.I thought handing off the box would bring me peace. I thought completing that task would loosen the weight that had been growing on my chest since the day I was pulled into all this. But the truth is, even after placing the box into Pe
Last Updated : 2025-03-14The THORN LUNA Chapter Ninety Eight
Emily's POV After Fayne left, the silence in the pack house felt louder than it had in weeks. I tried not to notice how empty the halls seemed. I tried not to notice how my chest felt like it was hollowed out. He didn’t say goodbye—not really. Just a quiet look and the brush of his shoulder as he disappeared into the trees. Typical Fayne.So I did what I always do when everything feels like it’s spiraling—I danced.Not for anyone else. Just for me.I waited until the common room was empty, then turned on that old, scratchy music player tucked behind the bookshelf. The pack didn’t care for music anymore—not since the last Alpha banned “useless” rituals—but I kept a few tunes hidden, tucked away like old friends. I played one, soft and slow, and let my feet remember who I was before everything got so… *twisted.*The rhythm became a meditation. My mind floated as my body moved. I could breathe again in those moments—really breathe. No Alpha, no orders, no poisonous tension pressing down
Last Updated : 2025-03-14The THORN LUNA Chapter Ninety Nine
Emily's POV The sun was barely down when I retreated to my chambers, but the ache behind my eyes told me night had long since fallen inside me. I didn’t bother lighting all the lamps—just one by the fireplace to cast a warm enough glow that I could pretend the world outside didn’t exist. My boots slid off with a soft thud, and I sank onto the edge of the bed with a sigh, letting my arms go slack at my sides. The fabric of the sheets was cool against my palms, the velvet coverlet tugged gently beneath me as I leaned back. Just for a moment, I told myself. Just a short rest. The minute my head hit the pillow, the heaviness in my chest began to dissolve. My thoughts were a swirling pool of everything I’d tried to avoid all day—the funeral preparations, the silence in the halls, the empty chair at supper. And the waiting.Always the waiting.I didn’t even hear the door open until a familiar voice called gently from the threshold. “Milady?”I blinked, lifting my head off the pillow. Mel
Last Updated : 2025-03-15The THORN LUNA Chapter One Hundred
Emily's POV He held my gaze, something burning behind his eyes now. Not anger. Not exactly. Just... urgency.“If something does come,” he said, “promise me you’ll call me.”“I always do.”“No.” He stepped even closer. “Not when it’s convenient. Not when you’ve run out of options. Call me first.”I nodded slowly, not trusting myself to speak. Finally, I sighed.“Fayne,” I said softly, arms still folded over my chest. “You should go.”He didn’t answer at first. He just looked at me, his eyes unreadable in the dim glow from the fireplace. The window behind him was still cracked open, letting in a hush of cold air that licked at the back of my neck.“I can stay until morning,” he offered, voice low, almost tender. “Just to make sure—”“I’ll be fine,” I interrupted, a little more firmly. “I can handle tonight. You need rest too.”For a long moment, he didn’t move. Then he stepped forward—closer than he had all evening—and reached out to gently brush a strand of hair from my cheek. His fin
Last Updated : 2025-03-15The THORN LUNA Chapter One Hundred and One
Emily’s POVThe second I shut my door, I let out a deep breath and leaned against the wood. My head was pounding, my chest felt tight, and all I wanted was to crawl under the covers and sleep for a year. Everything had felt off lately—whispers behind my back, side glances in the halls, a strange chill in the air that no one else seemed to feel.I walked to my bed and collapsed onto the mattress, letting my eyes close for just a moment. My body ached with exhaustion, but it was more than that. It was the kind of tired that sank into your bones, the kind that sleep couldn’t fix.I didn’t even hear the knock until it came again—louder this time.Groaning, I sat up. “Yeah?”The door creaked open, and Melissa stepped in. Her expression was unreadable, but there was tension in her shoulders. Something was wrong.“The Alpha wants to see you,” she said.I blinked. “Jacob?”She nodded once. “Now.”“Did he say what for?”“No,” she said quietly. “But I’d hurry if I were you.”The door closed beh
Last Updated : 2025-03-16The THORN LUNA Chapter One Hundred and Two
Emily's POV Jacob’s fists clenched at his sides. “You can’t make me—”But his voice cut off as Fayne’s shadows rose from the floor, curling around his throat like smoke.“Apologize,” Fayne repeated, voice like a demon’s whisper.Jacob choked, eyes wide. Then slowly, painfully, he looked at me.“I’m... sorry,” he said, his voice tight, ragged. “Emily... I was wrong.”The words hit me like a slap. I didn’t know whether to cry or scream.Jacob dropped his gaze.Fayne lowered his hand, and the shadows receded.Jacob collapsed fully to the floor, trembling, humiliated.Fayne turned to me, his expression softening.“You okay?” he asked.I nodded slowly, still shaking. “I think so.”“Come on,” he said, offering his hand. “Let’s get you out of here.”“No,” I said. “I'll take care of things around here. You should go.”Fayne gave me a look and then he said, “Fine. But right now, I currently have Jacob under control. That should buy you time to take the pack for yourself.”I breathed deeply. “
Last Updated : 2025-03-16The THORN LUNA Chapter One Hundred and three
Emily's POV Jacob was dead to the world—metaphorically, for now.His body slumped in the leather chair like a ragdoll, his lips parted slightly, eyelids fluttering in an unnatural sleep. He never saw it coming. Not the spiked drink, not the shift in power. Definitely not *me*.“Perfect,” I murmured, standing from the settee.I strode to the hallway and clapped twice.Two maids rushed in, heads bowed.“Take the Alpha to his chambers,” I ordered coolly. “Tuck him in and lock the door from the outside. No visitors, no disturbances. And if anyone asks… tell them he’s not to be bothered until further notice.”Their eyes widened, but neither dared question me.“Yes, Luna,” one whispered.I stepped aside, watching as they lifted Jacob’s limp form between them. He mumbled something incoherent, then went still again. They carried him out, leaving the door open behind them.I turned and walked back into his office.No.My office.I ran a hand across the heavy oak desk, tracing the ridges and g
Last Updated : 2025-03-17The THORN LUNA Chapter One Hundred and four
Emily's POV I sat at the far corner of the council room, quiet but watchful. The long stone table in front of me was lined with Galahad’s oldest wolves—gray-haired, sharp-eyed, and set in their ways. Their voices echoed through the high chamber like growls trapped between pride and paranoia.I didn’t belong here. Not by their standards.And yet here I was, seated at a table meant for leaders.“Where is Alpha Jacob?” one of them finally asked, his voice brittle like old bark.Every gaze turned to me.I folded my hands on the table and gave a polite, neutral smile.“He’s unwell,” I said calmly. “Very sick, actually. He asked me to attend in his place until he’s recovered.”The room shifted. Some council members raised their brows. Others exchanged knowing looks. But no one outright challenged me. Not yet.“Hmm,” muttered Elder Marreck, leaning back in his chair. “He must trust you deeply.”“He does,” I said.And he doesn’t even know it.Another elder spoke up. “We’ve had word from the
Last Updated : 2025-03-17
Latest chapter
The THORN LUNA Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Eight
Emily's POV The table was simple tonight — fresh bread, grilled meat, and platters of fruits and cheeses. No servants, no formalities. Just us.Fayne poured drinks while I set out the plates, and before long, laughter began to fill the air — the natural, effortless kind that only comes from people who know each other too well. "You’re heavy-handed with the wine, old man," Kael teased, raising his cup at Fayne.Fayne gave him a mock glare. "I’m making up for all the times I had to deal with your troublemaking.""Ah," Aerlyn smirked over the rim of her glass, "he means the time you tried to tame a wyvern in your second year of training."Kael groaned. "I will *never* live that down.""You were brave," I said, unable to hide a chuckle, "but extremely foolish.""And slightly singed," Fayne added, lifting his cup toward Kael with a wink. "To Kael, the bravest fool we know."We all laughed and raised our glasses together, the clinking sound ringing through the open air.The conversation
The THORN LUNA Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Seven
Emily's POV The days that followed were spun from sunlight and laughter.After breakfast one morning, Fayne clapped his hands together and grinned wickedly. “Time for a family sparring match,” he announced, eyes gleaming. “No backing out!”Aerlyn immediately brightened, already stretching her arms behind her head. “I’m in.”Kael gave a loud, theatrical groan. “Do I have to? I almost died last time!”“You stubbed your toe last time,” I said dryly, sipping my tea. “Hardly a near-death experience.”Still, when we gathered outside in the practice yard, Kael bounced on his toes with nervous excitement. The sun was high, the breeze carried the scent of wildflowers, and the whole pack seemed to watch from the edges, smiling at the scene unfolding.We split into teams — Fayne and Kael against Aerlyn and me."Unfair," Kael complained immediately. "Mother and Aerlyn are terrifying!""You wound me," I said with a grin, circling him slowly. "But I’ll take it as a compliment."The match began w
The THORN LUNA Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Six
Emily's POV The days that followed felt golden.The castle, often a place of endless decisions and strategy, settled into a rhythm that was almost domestic. It wasn’t that there weren’t matters to attend to — of course there were. Packs still needed watching, alliances still needed tending. But the urgency that had once ruled every breath was gone, replaced by something warmer, deeper.Trust.Aerlyn spent her mornings training patrol groups, her voice sharp and sure as she called out orders in the training fields. She was growing into her power in a way that made my heart ache with pride. Some mornings I would watch her from the balcony, sipping tea while the wind carried her laughter up to me.Kael had thrown himself into studying — a surprise to all of us. He was determined to master governance, battle strategies, herbal remedies, everything he could get his hands on. It was as if, after the talk about leadership, he had decided to prove he was ready for more.Sometimes, I would fi
The THORN LUNA Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Five
Emily's POV “We’re not as young as we used to be,” I murmured, feeling the ache in my bones with a smirk.“But we’re better,” he said. “We know when to stop fighting the world.”I turned toward him, resting my head on his shoulder. “This is what we fought for.”He didn’t answer with words, just pressed a kiss to my forehead.Eventually, reluctantly, we returned home.As we rode into the castle gates, our cloaks damp and hair wild, the guards blinked at us like we were forest spirits returning from myth. We waved them off before they could ask questions, and made our way back to our private quarters, still grinning like fools.We’d barely stepped out of the bathing chamber when there was a knock at the door. This time, it wasn’t a guard. I knew the rhythm.“Come in,” I called, already smiling.Aerlyn entered first, her braids freshly redone, her uniform pristine. Behind her, Kael followed, taller than before, but still hiding part of his face behind his curls when he felt uncertain.“
The THORN LUNA One Hundred and Seventy Four
Emily's POV “Was hoping you'd think I was unconscious,” he mumbled into my hair. “So you wouldn’t make me move.” I laughed softly and turned toward him, our legs tangling naturally. He looked younger in the morning light, softer. As if the weight of his past had stepped back, if only for a few hours. I brushed my fingers across his brow, smoothing back a strand of hair that had fallen in his eyes. “I don’t want to move either,” I whispered. “Then don’t,” he said, pulling me closer. “We’ve earned one morning.” It was a strange thing—stillness. Foreign, almost. Our love had bloomed in war, grown through hardship, deepened through leadership. Most days, it felt like we were always on the edge of something: a threat, a decision, a moment too big to breathe through. But today… Today, we were just Emily and Fayne. Not Alpha. Not demon. Not legend. Just two people who had made it through the storm and still chose each other. He kissed the top of my head. “Still thinking about Kael?”
The THORN LUNA Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Three
Emily's POV The echo of my children’s voices still lingered in the corridor even after I walked away. Something had changed—subtly, but powerfully. Kael and Aerlyn had finally found a rhythm, however fragile. That mattered more than any council, any throne. I drifted into the quiet of our chambers, the familiar warmth of it greeting me like a gentle tide. Fayne stood near the window, bathed in moonlight, his arms crossed as he stared into the distance like he always did when his mind wandered too far. He turned when he heard me, and his crooked smile instantly softened everything in me. “They’ll be alright,” I said, sinking into the edge of the couch. He raised a brow. “Kael didn’t burn down anything?” “Not today,” I teased. Fayne chuckled and walked over. “Then we’ll call that a win.” There was silence for a beat, one that didn’t demand to be filled. We were getting good at this kind of peace—the quiet between the wild. The world outside always turned, but we had carved out
The THORN LUNA Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Two
Emily's POV I nodded. “Exactly. A joint council. One that unites the packs and keeps decisions balanced. Aerlyn will lead the Galahad and Red Cross packs, yes. Kael will govern Donovan when the time comes. But their power won't lie in their territories. It’ll lie in their ability to come together for decisions that affect all of us.”“Smart,” Fayne admitted, brushing a hand across my shoulder. “Give them shared stakes so there’s less room for rivalry.”“And more room for respect,” I added. “We’ll train them to make decisions together. Mediate conflicts. See each other as equals, even when their paths differ. We’ll show Kael that his role isn’t smaller, just different. He’ll grow into a protector, a strategist, a voice for the more volatile edges of the packs.”Fayne gave a small smile. “That sounds like you’ve been planning this for years.”“I have.” I turned toward him fully, letting the weight of my thoughts settle. “Because I know what it’s like to be raised in a world that pits s
The THORN LUNA Chapter One Hundred and Seventy One
Emily's POV The sun had dipped low, brushing golden light across the glass windows as I stood at the edge of the balcony, overlooking Galahad’s inner gardens. The breeze was gentle, tugging at the silk of my robe, and in the distance, I could hear laughter—Aerlyn training the younger wolves again, just as she always did.Behind me, I heard Fayne’s footsteps, quiet but heavy with thought. He came to stand beside me, his arms folded, gaze cast out toward the horizon. For a moment, we stood in silence, listening to the world we had carved out together. The peace we had fought for. Bled for.I sighed. “We have a family.”Fayne looked at me, his expression softening.“There were nights,” I continued, voice low, “when I didn’t think that would ever be our truth. That we’d ever survive long enough to see it. But now we have two children. A daughter who's strong enough to lead, and a son with a heart that's still learning to shape itself.”His hand slid gently over mine, warm and grounding.
The THORN LUNA Chapter One Hundred and Seventy
Aerlyn’s POV I sat at the edge of the long stone table, the parchment map spread before us rippling with age and memory. Every scar on its surface marked a past battle, a lesson etched in ink and blood. Now it was my turn to leave a mark.Alpha Dante from the southern border was mid-sentence, proposing a joint patrol with his fastest wolves. Normally, I would’ve deferred to my mother—but today, I leaned forward.“That route won’t hold,” I said, surprising even myself with how calm my voice was. “The rogue movements I tracked followed wind pockets and low paths. They’re avoiding open terrain. We’d be leaving our flank exposed.”The room went still. A few of the elders exchanged glances. One even scoffed under his breath. But my mother said nothing. She didn’t have to. Her silence was her faith in me.Dante grunted, pointing at a different section of the map. “Then you suggest we close in here?”I nodded. “And reroute the scouts to this ridge. It’s narrow but provides full visibility.
