Pursuing My Rejected Luna by Cara Anderson novel Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Skye

“Oh,” Cassandra says, her voice soft and surprised. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize we had company. I thought I heard voices and-” She stops at the bottom of the stairs, taking in the formal table, the candles, Diana in her evening dress. “Is this a dinner party?”

The calculation in her timing is masterful. The nightgown, the tousled hair, the apologetic tone-an of it designed to look innocent while making a very clear statement about her place in this house.

Diana’s face goes through several expressions in rapid succession-surprise, recognition, then something dark and furious.

“Cassandra?” Diana’s voice is dangerously quiet. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m staying here temporarily. For my son Liam’s medical treatments.” Cassandra glances at me, then back to Diana. “Surely Skye mentioned-”

“In her home?” Diana’s voice rises. “You’re living in your sister’s home? No one’s heard from you in forever and you suddenly show up here, without even a word to your father?”

“It’s temporary,” Cassandra says quickly. “I wouldn’t be here at all if it weren’t for my son. It’s just until Liam is well enough-”

“And parading around in your nightclothes?” Diana stands abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. “In front of your sister? In front of guests? Acting like-like this is your house and not hers?”

“Aunt Diana, I didn’t mean to intrude-”

Then why are you here?” Diana cuts her off, her hot temper fully ignited now. She turns to Jaxon. “And you. You’re allowing this? Your wife’s sister, who you have a history with, living under your roof? Wandering around half-dressed while you have a formal dinner?”

Jaxon’s expression hardens. “It’s a medical necessity-”

“It’s inappropriate!” Diana’s hands are shaking with anger. “I don’t care what history you and Cassandra have, I don’t care what excuses you want to make. This-” She gestures at Cassandra in her nightgown, at Jaxon standing there defending it, at me sitting silently at the table. “This is wrong. And you know it’s wrong, or she wouldn’t be dressed like that, acting like she belongs here.”

“Diana,” Grandma Rose says gently. “Perhaps we should all take a breath.”

But Diana is already moving toward me, placing herself physically between me and the rest of them.

“You call yourself an Alpha?” She spits at Jaxon, and I don’t miss the way the words make him flinch. “You’re not worthy of the title! If this is the way you treat our sweet Skye, I wouldn’t take your help even if you did offer it!”

Jaxon’s anger is palpable, his face a brilliant crimson. He looks ready to explode.

While the rest of us are holding our breath, waiting for the fallout.

The air freezes as we all wait to see who is brave enough to break the silence.

Diana stands at the end of the table, her face flushed with anger and confusion. Grandma Rose has gone very still, her warm expression replaced by something colder, more assessing. And Cassandra hovers at the bottom of the stairs in her white silk nightgown, suddenly looking less confident than she did a moment ago.

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Jaxon sets down his napkin with deliberate care. When he finally speaks, his voice is calm. Reasonable. The perfect Alpha navigating an awkward social situation.

“Cassandra is staying here temporarily due to medical circumstances. Her son requires treatment from our pack doctor, and it’s more practical for them to remain close to the medical facilities.

“Now, as you so graciously pointed out, I am the Alpha here. Whom I extend the hospitality of my home to is not up for debate. Certainly not by you.”

I lower my eyes, staring at my plate. The half-eaten meal blurs slightly as I focus on the pattern of the china delicate blue flowers on white porcelain, chosen by Jaxon’s grandmother decades ago. I don’t confirm his explanation. I don’t deny it either.

My silence speaks volumes.

“Medical circumstances?” Diana’s voice rises again, completely disregarding Jaxon’s insinuation that it’s none of her business. “And that requires her to live in your home? To wander around barely dressed in front of you?”

Cassandra’s eyes well with tears-real or manufactured, I can’t tell anymore. “I’m sorry. This is all my fault. I didn’t know you were having dinner. I’ve overstayed my welcome, haven’t I? But Jaxon only allowed this out of compassion-”

She turns to flee up the stairs, but Diana’s voice stops her.

“Don’t you dare.” Diana’s words are ice-cold. “Don’t you dare play the victim here, Cassandra. You know exactly what you’re doing. We all do.”

“I’m just trying to help my son-”

“Then help him somewhere else!” Diana snaps. “Find other accommodations. Stay with the pack doctor if his health is so critical. But stop disrespecting your sister in her own home. Really Cassandra, have you no shame?”

Cassandra looks to Jaxon, tears spilling down her cheeks now.

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