The Luna They Used Chapter 06

The Luna They Used Chapter 06

Mist swallowed the Northern Territory that morning.

Adrian and I rode through the fog-choked forest on horseback. The witch’s cabin sat where the trees gave way to the frozen bog – right on the edge of the ancient woods.

The walls were made of twisted deadwood, warped and black. A wind chime made of bones and feathers hung above the doorframe.

The door swung open before we reached it.

The high witch filled the doorway – early thirties, at most, dark green dress, ash-white hair pulled back in a loose knot. Her eyes were what stuck with me. Amber, with vertical pupils.

Snake eyes.

“Alpha King.” She dipped her chin, then her gaze slid to me. “And the Alpha Princess.”

“You knew we were coming?” Adrian asked.

“Days ago.” The witch stepped aside. “Come in. Tea’s ready.”

A fire crackled in the hearth, filling the cabin with dry warmth. The air smelled like crushed herbs and wet earth – not exactly pleasant, but grounding in a way I couldn’t explain.

She poured me a cup. “This first. Get some heat back into you.”

I drank. It was bitter, with an earthy, mineral tang underneath.

–

She didn’t waste time. “The bond-severing potion – you took it too early, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“And someone drained your Luna vitality afterward?”

“Yes.”

–

“That southern swamp hag must have told you take it after you left his territory, after every tie was cut.” The witch shook her head. “Instead, you drank it while you were still under his roof, still carrying his pup. Were you trying to get yourself killed?”

Adrian went rigid, “Wait. What did you just say – his pup?”

Silence hit like a wall. I couldn’t look at him.

“Ashley.” Adrian’s voice dropped to something barely above a whisper. “Were you carrying his pup?”

I didn’t answer. The witch answered for me.

“I can smell the swamp magic in her blood. She took two potions from that hag.” A pause. “One for the bond.

One to purge the pup.”

Adrian’s chair crashed to the floor behind him. He was on his feet. “You ended it?!”

“Adrian, just listen -”

“You went through that alone?!” His voice rattled the bottles on the witch’s shelves. “Do you have any idea

what that does to a she-wolf’s body? And you did it while your vitality was being ripped out of you – Ashley,

you could’ve died!”

I was on my feet too. “I didn’t have a choice! Noah never wanted that pup – he had a fake paternity test ready

to go. The second I started showing, he was going to claim it was a bastard and throw me out of the pack.”

My voice cracked. “What was I supposed to do? Have that pup and let it watch its sire destroy me?”

Adrian’s mouth opened. Closed. He sank back into the chair and pressed both hands to his face.

When he finally spoke, his voice was raw. “Ashley – I’m your brother. You should’ve told me.”

“I didn’t want you worried.”

“I worry more when you shut me out.” He dropped his hands. His eyes were red. “When I found out they’d

drained your vitality, I wanted to rip him apart with my bare hands. And now you’re telling me you went

through losing a pup on top of that – by yourself?”

His voice broke. “How am I supposed to forgive myself for not being there?”

I crossed the space between us and wrapped my arms around him. My face pressed into his shoulder.

“You’re here now. That’s enough.” My voice muffled against him. “I’m not scared anymore.”

The witch sipped her tea, watching us with a face that gave away nothing. “Heartwarming,” she said flatly.

“Now sit down, both of you. I still need to examine her.”

I let go of Adrian and sat back down.

The witch pressed her palm flat against my stomach and closed her eyes. A long moment passed before she

opened them. “The pup is gone. Nothing left.”

“But the damage is severe – your womb took the worst of it. Between the potion and the vitality drain…” She looked at me steadily. “I can’t promise you’ll ever bear another pup.”

Adrian’s fists clenched until the knuckles went white. The witch glanced at him sideways. “Don’t break my

furniture. I’m only telling you what’s true.”

“I know.” My voice didn’t waver. “I don’t care.”

The witch studied me. Then she laughed – sudden, sharp, almost admiring. “You’ve got your mother’s spine.”

She stood and walked toward the back room.

“I’ll mix you a new dose – twice the strength, twice the price. Days of fever so bad you’ll think your blood’s

boiling. If you make it through, the bond dies for good.” She paused at the doorway. “If you don’t make it through – well.”

“I’ll survive it.”

The witch held my gaze for one more second. Then she disappeared into the back without another word.

She came back some time later with a small black porcelain bottle. “Wait a few days. Then drink it.” She

placed it in my palm.

“Go somewhere isolated – mountains, a lake, anywhere no one can reach you. Leave the pack lands first.

And whatever you do, don’t let anyone see you while you’re weak.”

The bottle was ice-cold. The chill sank through my palm and spread through me until I felt it in my teeth.

This time, I wouldn’t fail.