Pursuing My Rejected Luna by Cara Anderson novel Chapter 3

Skye

The words drop into the silence like stones into still water.

Jaxon’s eyes narrow. “What did you just say?”

“You heard me.” My hands are steady now, even as my heart splinters. “Whatever sick arrangement you and Cassandra have planned, count me out. I won’t be part of this.”

“You don’t mean that.” Jaxon takes a step forward, and for a moment something flickers in his eyes—surprise, maybe, or anger. “Skye, you’re my mate. You can’t just—”

“Watch me.”

I turn and walk out before he can see me fall apart. Before Cassandra can offer more poisonous sympathy. Before I do something stupid like tell him about the baby growing inside me—the baby that should have been his heir, but never will be now.

Behind me, I hear Jaxon call my name, sharp and commanding.

I don’t stop.

I don’t look back.

My hands tremble and my legs shake as I make the climb up the cliff to my secret hideaway, but I keep going until I reach the top. I found this place when I was fourteen, after one of the numerous times Cassandra humiliated me in front of the entire pack and I’ve been coming here ever since.

It’s beautiful up here. Peaceful. Everything my life isn’t.

I wrap my arms around my knees and let myself cry—really cry, the kind of gasping, ugly sobs I’d never allow anyone to see. My carefully applied makeup is probably running down my face in dark streaks. The blue dress Jaxon supposedly liked is creased and dirty from the climb up here.

I don’t care.

Let it all fall apart. It was an illusion anyway.

“I knew I’d find you here.”

I jerk my head up, my wolf surging with alarm before I catch the familiar scent. Warm brown sugar. Safe. Known.

Noah.

He’s standing a few feet away, hands in his pockets, his dark hair slightly windswept. Those warm brown eyes that used to crinkle with laughter when we’d sneak away together are filled with concern now.

“Go away,” I tell him, my voice raw.

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