All Chapters of THE ALPHA’S UNWANTED PLUS-SIZE LUNA: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

RHYDIAN Merryn had started looking at her own hands differently. I noticed it during our third training session.She kept glancing at the black mark on her palm whenever the Eclipse energy stirred, as though she expected it to explain itself if she stared long enough.It never did.“Again,” she said.I looked at her.“You’ve been doing this for nearly two hours.”“And?”“And your breathing is uneven.”“I’m still standing.”“That isn’t the standard.”She gave me an irritated look.“You sound like a terrible teacher.”“I’ve been called worse.”That earned the smallest smile from her.It disappeared when she raised her marked hand. The training tether appeared between the two points we’d established earlier, faint and harmless. Merryn studied it

MERRYNI had expected Nocturne’s ancient records to be difficult to understand.I had not expected them to be ridiculous.“Read that again,” I said.Rhydian looked down at the parchment in his hand, “I already read it.”“I know. Read it again.”He sighed and lifted the parchment.“During the reign of King Aldric, the eastern ward experienced a temporary decline after a ceremonial goat entered the sacred circle and consumed three strands of moonvine.”I stared at him.He stared at me.“A goat?”“Apparently.”“And it ate the moonvine?”“Three strands.”I pressed my lips together.Rhydian’s expression remained completely serious.“Do not laugh.”“I wasn’t going to.”“You are.”“I’m trying very hard not to.”He lowered the parchment.“Why?”“Because you’re reading it like this is the most important document in Nocturne’s history.”“It is an important document.”“It contains a goat.”“A goat can be historically significant.”That broke me.nA laugh escaped before I could stop it. I covered

LUCIANI read the report three times before I understood why my hands were shaking.KING RHYDIAN VEYR DENIES CLAIMING MERRYN VALE AS HIS LUNA.The next line was worse.MERRYN VALE CONFIRMED THERE IS NO BOND BETWEEN THEM.I should have felt relieved. Instead, anger crawled up my throat so quickly that I shoved the report across the desk.“Why the hell is everyone talking about her?”The guard standing near the door lowered his head.“Because the story has spread through several territories, Alpha.”“I didn’t ask why it spread.”I picked up the paper again.“Who started it?”“We don’t know.”“Find out.”The guard hesitated.“Yes, Alpha.”He turned toward the door.“Wait.”He stopped. I stared at the report. The words were still there.Merryn. Rhydian. No bond. No claim. Nothing official.Yet I could picture her standing beside him.Laughing. The thought made something ugly twist inside me. I imagined Rhydian touching her. I imagined Merryn looking at him the way she had once looked at m

MERRYNI spent most of the afternoon telling myself I was being ridiculous. The Council envoy had come with information I wanted, warnings I couldn’t completely dismiss, and a question I had not been prepared to answer.What would happen if Rhydian wasn’t there?I hated that the question had followed me all day. I hated even more that I didn’t have an answer.By evening, I had managed to avoid Rhydian three times. The first time, I changed the direction I was walking when I saw him leaving the council chamber.The second time, I claimed I needed to return a book. The third time, I heard his voice outside the training room and decided I suddenly needed fresh air.Apparently, I wasn’t very good at avoiding people.I ended up in the palace garden. The same garden where Rhydian had found me. Only this time, he was already there.He stood near the fountain with his hands behind his back, looking toward the trees. When he heard me approaching, he turned.Our eyes met. Neither of us spoke im

MERRYNI should have stopped. Rhydian had said it twice.“You don’t know what forcing the Eclipse deeper will cost you.”I knew. That was the problem. I stood in the training chamber with my hand resting against the ancient stone table, staring at the black mark on my palm.“I need to know what happened after Cressida handed me over.”Rhydian stood across from me, “You already know enough to understand that she was protecting you.”“Not enough.”“Merryn.”“I need to know where they took me.”His expression tightened.“And if the Eclipse takes another memory?”I looked at him.“Then I’ll deal with it.”“You said that before.”“I know.”“You lost part of a memory about your mother.”My throat tightened.“I know.”“That wasn’t insignificant.”“No.”“Then don’t pretend this won’t hurt.”I looked down at my hand, “I’m not pretending.”I drew a slow breath.“I’m choosing.”He was quiet for several seconds. Then he asked, “Do you want me to stay?”I nodded.“Yes.”“Then I’ll stay.”He moved