Pursuing My Rejected Luna by Cara Anderson novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Skye

I watch Sarah go and try not to think about what happens if the letter doesn’t reach Wolfy. If he’s moved, or changed his contact information, or simply decides not to respond.

I try not to think about the fact that I’m reaching out to a man I haven’t spoken to in years, asking for a favor that could upend everything. And I try not to think about the look on Jaxon’s face when he finds out.

Because he will find out. Eventually.

And when he does, I need to be long gone.

I press my hand to my stomach, feeling the slight swell that’s starting to show if you know where to look.

“Soon,” I whisper. “We’ll be free soon.”

The baby doesn’t answer. But somewhere, deep in my chest where the mate bond pulses like a second heartbeat, feel something shift.

Not breaking. Not yet.

But loosening. One thread at a time.

The farewell dinner for my aunt feels like a performance I’ve been forced to attend but not allowed to direct.

Diana is leaving tomorrow morning, returning to her own pack after nearly a week as our guest. Jaxon insisted on a formal dinner to mark her departure-as befitting a Luna, he said, as if the title makes up for the coldness with which he’s treated her the entire visit.

The dining room has been set with our finest china. Candles flicker along the center of the table. Everything looks perfect, which only makes the absences more obvious.

Jaxon’s parents aren’t coming.

His mother, Elise, made her position clear through a tersely worded message delivered by staff: she would not be attending. His father, Wesley, simply followed his wife’s lead, as he always does. Weak men tend to marry strong women and then resent them for it-my father-in-law is no exception.

Elise has never liked me. She felt tricked when she discovered that while I’m technically the princess of my birth pack, it’s a much smaller territory than the Ironwood pack. And with my mother dead, my political value dropped even further in her eyes. Never mind that she failed spectacularly as Luna herself, running the pack into near-ruin before Jaxon had to take over early. She still deems her son worthy of the best woman in the world.

Apparently, I don’t qualify.

So it’s just the four of us: me, Jaxon, Diana, and Jaxon’s grandmother.

Grandma Rose arrived an hour before dinner, her presence immediately warming the room in a way nothing else could. She’s the only member of Jaxon’s family who’s ever been genuinely kind to me. She lives a peaceful, retired life in a cottage on the edge of pack lands and rarely visits the Alpha house anymore-she says it holds too many memories of her late husband, and besides, she prefers her garden to politics.

But she came tonight. For me, I think, though she’d never say it outright.

“Diana, you look radiant,” Grandma Rose says as we settle into our seats. “Luna life must be agreeing with you.”

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Chapter 19

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“You’re too kind.” Diana smiles, and I can see her relaxing slightly. “Though I must say, your grandson has built something truly impressive here. Ironwood’s reputation extends far beyond its borders.”

And there it is. The flattery begins.

I watch Diana work, complimenting Jaxon on everything from the pack’s prosperity to the quality of the wine. She’s laying it on thick-too thick for my taste-but I understand why. She’s trying to butter him up, to make him more receptive to helping Dalton, ever though I’ve already told her he won’t.

She still doesn’t see it’s pointless. Jaxon’s already made his decision. But apparently she’s not quite ready to admit that my offer is her only hope.

“The territory expansions you’ve overseen are remarkable,” Diana continues, turning her full attention to Jaxon.” Your father must be so proud.”

Jaxon’s jaw tightens almost imperceptibly. Mentioning Wesley is a misstep-everyone knows the former Alpha nearly destroyed what took generations to build. But Jaxon’s too well-trained to show his irritation publicly.

“The pack’s success is a collective effort,” he says smoothly. “Though I appreciate the kind words.”

Diana tries again. “And having such strong allies must help. I hear you’re quite close with the Lycan Prince himself.”

There it is. Not subtle at all.

Jaxon’s expression doesn’t change, but I see the way his fingers tighten slightly on his wine glass. He knows exactly where this is going, and he’s going to shut it down before it starts.

“We trained together years ago,” he says. “But I wouldn’t presume on that connection for personal matters.”

“Of course not.” Diana’s smile doesn’t waver. “Though I imagine in certain situations-delicate situations requiring discretion-having someone in the capital who understands pack politics could be invaluable.”

“Aunt Diana,” I interject quietly. “Perhaps we should enjoy dinner.”

She glances at me, frustration flickering in her eyes. Then she tries a different approach.

“I only mean that families help each other, don’t they? And we are family now, after all. When my son Dalton found himself in an unfortunate situation in the capital-”

“I’m afraid I can’t help with that.” Jaxon’s voice is polite but final. “Interfering in capital justice without knowing the full circumstances would be inappropriate.”

I watch Diana’s face fall, watch her realize that all her flattery has been for nothing.

“Drop it,” I say softly to Diana. “This isn’t the time.”

“Not the time?” Diana’s voice rises slightly, her hot temper flaring. “What’s wrong with me discussing important matters with my son-in-law? We’re family, aren’t we? Isn’t that what you said, Jaxon? That we’re all family now?

The temperature in the room drops several degrees.

Grandma Rose sets down her fork carefully, her eyes moving between Diana and Jaxon with quiet concern.

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