4/4
The Alpha’s Borrowed Luna
Dorian’s Threat
“I, Elowen Thorne, accept your rejection.”
The words left my mouth with unexpected steadiness. Dorian froze, his blood–flecked knuckles still clenched, eyes narrowing in disbelief. I’d surprised him. Good.
“What?” I gave a hollow laugh. “Did you expect me to beg? To cry and plead for you to
reconsider?”
He recovered quickly, his tone frosty and distant. “Most would.”
“Then I’m not most.” I stared directly into his eyes, refusing to wilt under his gaze. “Banish me from this pack; I no longer see the use of remaining in a place where I’m nothing but your dirty secret.”
Dorian stepped closer, his voice turning silky. “Oh no, Elowen. I want you here, by my
side.”
“Selene had taken up that duty.” I backed away, bitterness dripping from every word. “Or did you forget while you were busy beating me?”
He reached out, tracing a finger along my bruised cheek. “I want you to be something quite different. Something more… entertaining.”
I slapped his hand away. “I won’t be your toy anymore. I’d rather die than let you touch
me again.”
His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist with painful force. “Other she–wolves would kill to be in your place–grateful to be my whore if I demanded it,” he hissed. “Yet you dare reject me? After I elevated you from nothing, after I blessed you with the chance to carry my
child?”
I wrenched free, my skin burning where he’d touched me. “Blessed me with the chance?
You killed my child! You destroyed the only pure thing I had left in this world! I would leave this pack whether you want it or not.”
His mouth formed a gradual smile. “Leave? That’s not going to be a very nice thing to do, seeing as your mother cannot go with you.”
1/5
Dorian’s Threat
The color drained from my
and me.”
“No… Inve my mother out of this. This is between
Dorian circled me like I was prey. No, lowen. There’s nothing just between you and anymore. Stay, and she’ll remain in her current position–wretched as it is. Leave, an make her life a living hell have her scrubbing floors until her fingers bleed, sleep with the animals. Maybe Ilovenllet some of the more… frustrated males have their
with her.”
“You wouldn’t dare, whispered, rage shaking my voice.
He laughed. “Try me.”
My shoulders slumpalliindefeat.I thought about mate rejections I’d heard of the crippling pain, the sense floss that drove some to madness or suicide.
But all I felt wassaliultowemptiness, How could you lose what you never truly lat!?? monster who’d pretended to be my mate had never truly been mine..
“I’ll stay, butt Ilusetto be used by you, Dorian. I won’t warm your bed while Selteness
away.”
He gripped myahin hard. “We would see about that, and it’s no longer Durian to you; are no longermates, remember? It’s Alpha now, and I really hope you don’t slip on th again. The punishment would be… creative.”
I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. “Yes… Alpha.”
His mundshifted abruptly, cheerfulness masking the cruelty beneath. Nowlmeed you come to the intramating ball celebration with me.”
“You are to attend the upcoming ball with your luna, Selena;; whutt downumeed me th fon?? Tosserve drinks?” I protested.
His eyes glittered with malice. “You will be there, dresseduppllkeyausstill matter. I wa youttowatch as I announce to the whole crowd that she is my mutte–my REAL mate. I want you to watch me kiss her lips, feel her body, I mayevamalimlher publicly just a once did with you. I want you to see how she moans whemllttnuthier, how she trembl whenil whisper in her ear. She will stand where you dromutlufsstanding, wear the cro you thought would be yours, bear the children you failulittuazury.
Dorian’s Threat
“You’re a monster,” I whispered.
He leaned in close, his hithen against my ear. “And you’ll enjoy every minute of
until I am done with wom
With that final threat deliverall, he strade from the room.
When my mother nivell, the tight control I’d maintained in Dorian’s presence shatt I collapsed into her arms, my voice broken and raw.
“Mama… the baby’ss gone. My little one is gone forever.”
She held me tightly, mocking me as if I were still a child. “My sweet girl, my precious daughter….I’m so sorry.”
“He was with her when it happened.” I clutched my stomach, the emptinessstthere a physical ache. He was with HER while our baby died inside me. The blond…there w much blood…
Breattie, my darling. Just breathe.” She stroked my hair, her voice thick with emotion
When my breathing finally steadied, she pulled back slightly, compassing herself befo whispering.
“I know the Alpha rejected you.”
Hinw did you know? Tasked, surprised. “I didn’t tell anyone.”
Assad smile touched her lips. “A mother can tell. The way yauliuildyourself, the empti iinyour eyes. But Elowen, listen to me–he was never thieeliasttforyou; he would only h you more and more. You deserve so much better than thattortedliman.”
The tears came uncontrollable now. “The baby’s gone.Hecheated on me, and ni
the baby is gone. I couldn’t save it, Mama. I tried to getthephiutmo one came. No one
(ever comes.”
She wiped my tears as her own fell. “Shhh, you wouldheallright. You are the strongest shewolf I know, and I am not telling you this simplylinecause you are my daughter, but because it is true. You’ve endured what would limakontius
3:30 pm
Dorion’s Threat
I looked up at her with swolltem eyes. I do not feel very strong, Mama. I feel hollow….
shattered.”
“Your tears don’t make you want, men do the mistakes.” She cupped my face gently. “The
make you real.”
The tenderness in her voie southed me momentarily, before his threats resurfaced. stealing my breath away
The color drained from my face as I whispered, “He threatened you. Said if even liffttt pack, he would make you suffer.
Her face hardened.. “That toward. Using me against you.”
I gripped her hands tightly. I won’t let him hurt you.”
Ilvessment
Her face softened with worry. ““Oh, Elowen, don’t waste your worry on me. I’ve spent a lifetime in chains. Nothing could wound me more deeply than seeing my daughter trapped in this mightmare.” Her eyes filled with tears as she squeezed my hands. Ive endured every cruelty this pack could inflict, but watching him break you pee by piec that’s the only pain I can’t bear. I don’t care what happens to me anymore
Fresh tears streamed down.
He wants me at the mating ball. To watch him claim her publicly. Tohuniiliate mecont
last time.
She wiped my tears away with gentle fingers. “Then you show him that wou cannot be britem. What you are more than what he tried to make you
“You’re right, Mama,” I said, my voice hardening. “I show liiim.Butmutjjust by standin there while he flaunts her.” I looked her straight in the eye. “Ilswurly the Moon Godd Miama, I will find a way to get you out of here. We will be fro
My mother gave a bitter laugh. “Free? A slave’s daughter andlampack slave?”
“Yes. Firee.”
