The Rejected Luna Strikes Back

i

tomach jolts me awak

rol my breathing. The pain is unbe

will worsen the agony. I try to clear my mind, but my thoughts keep returning to the inevit

another woman's skin, of his lips, the same ones that kissed mine, on hers, fills me with murderou

tting intim

my mind, Akira, my inner wol

my veins, her fury a fire

with her, a primal wail rising fro

whisper, tears I've been holding b

ccept it. She wants another explanation,

as never fully kicked in

s never deceived me, and we both know,

e him, we need to stop this before it get

to lie crying. St

lf up. My stomach roils, a bibitter taste rising to

usea to pass, holding onto

d I take slow, labored steps toward the

luxurious sanctuary with cream-colored walls, plush carpet, and floo

I delight in watching the rolling green valleys, the child

ws would vanish. Anyone can g

faces, but today, I dread the tho

ards Harry's room. It used to be my room too. Harr

ry from the usual bustle of pack

nce, echoing down the corridor like a rem

y eyes, but Akira keeps me grounded, her fury

," she urges. "

s has never felt this long. It's as tho

re me - Harry's laughter, his promises,

distant echo, drowned out

with his soulful aquamarine ones, du

r woman for me, Kimmy,"

my cheeks. Harry's look

ave the bittersw

o Harry's room, my hand trembli

from the pain, but from the fear of

ough me, and I cling to it, us

I whisper, more to

ce filled with certainty. I'm glad she

th, I force myself

pen, revealing th

familiar space, landing on

aked, I suspect, underneath the covers, his muscular f

first love and his father's friend

illow, her body wrapped in the sa

a slap to the face, the final confirma

and I feel her claws prick the edges of my

t rooted to the spot,

ing returns with a vengeance, and it t

but I force myself to stand t

sheets tangled around them, her pre

me, but there's no guilt in

red to pretend otherwise. Kylie shifts in the bed, slo

ouder than anyth

dy. Too steady. His aquamarine eyes are c

it countless times. "You sh

ess the coldness of his

n explanation?" My voice cracks, betrayi

his hair. "I'm not going to sugar

t time, he doesn't look lik

one. She alwa

ch my fists, grounding mysel

me your Luna? Why did you let

alance of the gesture cu

ough, anyway. It wasn't

as his words sink in. I looke

d-in for the wom

he was kissing her. Everythi

and I step forward, my voice shaki

ed someone by my side. You were strong and capable, and yeah, you reminded me of he

the tears refuse to fall. All I feel is numb, hollow. "So that's it? All this

indifferent. "You played your part. You were good for the pac

sense of the betrayal. "I was

unflinching. "I thought you could be. But t

ld her back. I need to hear this. I need to hear every cruel word. "You

's fleeting. "You were never meant to be more than a placeholder, Kimmy. You were

ve them the satisfaction of seeing me fall apart. I swallow the painful lump

s voice devoid of emotio

growls, and this time, I let her, her anger mirroring mine. "I'll never forg

ugh his wolf flashes briefly throug

to regret this

his stomach muscles and more on display. The fact that he doesn't

w sitting up, looking at me. "I'll never regret the bes

lap it off, but I'm tired. Even Akira is silent now, sensing the man-and possibly the wolf-we love

. I refuse to give them the satisfaction of seeing me break. I shut the door quietl

e pain of betrayal. She growls in response, but deep down, we b