Pursuing My Rejected Luna by Cara Anderson novel Chapter 255

Ch. 27

Cassandra

Cole comes by my little closet to check on me the next morning. He stands in the doorway and looks around as I file the last few documents I found waiting for me this morning. I assume he’s here at Noah’s direction and I have to wonder if he resents babysitting me just a little bit.

“This isn’t what you were asked to do.” I tremble at the disapproving tone in his gruff voice when he taps a key on the laptop, lighting up the screen and revealing the list I created.

“I-, I just thought it would make things easier. More organized.” I explain.

“You were asked to process the backlog.” He ignores my comment.

“I processed the backlog,” I say. “And made the list so you can find things easily. I wanted anyone who works in this office after me to be able to maintain it without me.”

He glares at me-Cole doesn’t have a warm look for me and I’m not expecting one. It’s an assessing look. Noah’s Beta is still deciding which category I belong in: Nuisance or Threat.

“Don’t go outside the scope of what you’re given without clearing it first,” he huffs.

“Yes, sir” I bow my head, staring at the floor.

He watches me for another long moment. Then he leaves.

I stand stock still for a few minutes after he’s gone and remind myself nothing he said or did was unfair. I earned his distrust when I betrayed his Alpha. And to be honest, the mistrust is actually easier to deal with right now. Because it’s what I expect. It’s what I’m prepared for. I don’t think I’d actually believe it if someone tried to be too nice to me.

Blowing out a deep breath, I shake out my hands to stop the trembling and get back to work. I’m just getting in the zone again when I hear voices across the hall. I should probably listen to the voice in my head telling me whatever they’re talking about is none of my business, but I ignore it.

“Isn’t it nice that the Alpha is seeing Piper again?” A feminine voice enthuses.

“They seemed so good together last year. She’s perfect for him. He seems-lighter, lately.” The other voice

returns.

I drop the document I was filing as jealousy strikes like lightning. Jealousy I have no right to feel but my wolf doesn’t care about that. All that matters to her is that our mate is seeing someone.

“I don’t have a right to feel anything about this.” I mutter out loud. “I know exactly how much right I have to feel anything about Noah Stephens’s personal life, and the answer is none!”

The scolding I give myself does not make the feeling lessen in the slightest. The bond that should have faded months ago still sits deep in my chest, screaming the wrongness of it. It still hasn’t gotten the memo that I forfeited that right long ago.

I force myself to go back to work, to lose myself in the monotony of it. Because that’s the only way to survive the raging storm of emotions I’m not supposed to feel.

It’s late when I finally run out of things to do. The office is empty when I walk by-everyone else has finished their day. I cross toward the door to turn off the hallway light and hear voices in the corridor again.

1/2

+15 Bon

This time, it’s Noah’s voice I hear first–I’d know it anywhere, the bond makes sure of that. And another voice, female, soft and kind, a warmth to it that wraps around you like a cozy blanket.

They’re approaching the office from the increasing volume of their conversation. I could run back to my closet and hide but I decide to keep moving toward the office door instead.

They pass the see-through glass panel in the door at exactly the wrong moment. I see Piper. Laughing. The full- face laugh of someone who is entirely comfortable and not thinking about how they look.

And Noah-his hand at her back, the kind of touch that comes from familiarity rather than decision, the easy gesture of someone who has done this before with this person. The pain of it takes my breath away.

He looks up, straight through the glass panel and our eyes meet. One second, maybe less. That’s all it is. But in that second, I swear he pulls her just a little bit closer, a look in his eyes like he wants me to know he’s moved on.

I hear their footsteps continue down the corridor. Their voices, quieter now but not stopped. Two people who are enjoying each other’s company too much to worry who;d listening.

I stand in the empty office and think about fated bonds and what they’re supposed to mean and what it means when the person the bond is pointing at has his hand at someone else’s back with the ease of something familiar.

I think about what I chose instead of him, about the one second through the glass and what I saw on his face in that one second-You didn’t break me. I’ve moved on.

I’m glad I didn’t break him, that he can move on and be happy. That’s what he deserves.

I just had no idea how much seeing him with her would break me.

Cara Anderson Author

Thank you for reading!

103

Comments

Support

Share

2/2

+15 Bonus