Pursuing My Rejected Luna by Cara Anderson novel Chapter 41

Summary for Chapter 41: Pursuing My Rejected Luna by Cara Anderson

Pursuing My Rejected Luna novel Skye Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Jaxon

I can’t sleep.

Every time I close my eyes, I see them. The way Skye smiled at Nicolai across the dinner table. The easy conversation that flowed between them like they’d never stopped talking. The way his eyes softened when he looked at her-not with the polite respect you show a fellow Alpha’s mate, but with something

warmer. Familiar.

Possessive.

I get out of bed at three in the morning and pour myself a drink I don’t want in my office.

The way they finished each other’s sentences. The inside joke that I wasn’t part of. The comfortable silence between them when the conversation lulled-the kind of silence that only exists between people who know each other well enough that words aren’t always necessary.

This is more than old acquaintances who met a few times at packfunctions.

But how much more?

My wolf paces restlessly, agitated in a way I’ve never experienced. Not territorial aggression-something else. Something that feels uncomfortably like fear.

Fear that I’m losing something I didn’t know I had.

By the time dawn breaks, I haven’t slept at all. And I’ve made a decision.

If Nicolai Woolf thinks he can come into my territory and look at my mate like that, he’s about to learn exactly who he’s dealing with.

“I thought you might like a tour of the pack lands,” I tell Nicolai over breakfast. “See what we’ve built here.”

It’s phrased as hospitality. It’s really a challenge.

Nicolai’s dark eyes-almost black in the morning light-meet mine with perfect understanding. “I’d be

honored.”

We set out an hour later. Just the two of us, no entourage, no witnesses. Alpha to Alpha.

I take him through the training grounds first. Show him where our warriors drill, the obstacle courses we’ve built, the sparring rings where pack members test themselves daily. Our fighters are good-some

of the best in the southern territories.

Nicolai watches with polite interest but no intimidation.

Strike one But I shake it off. Of course he wouldn’t be impressed. His family is known for the strength of

their “enforcers”

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Next, I show him our agricultural operations. The fields we’ve cultivated, the livestock we raise, the self- sufficiency we’ve achieved. The Ironwood pack doesn’t depend on outside resources. We’re strong. Independent.

Nicolai nods appreciatively. “Impressive. You’ve built something sustainable here.”

But again, he’s not impressed. Not really.

Strike two.

By the time we reach the northern border-where our territory meets neutral ground-I’m running out of displays of dominance that don’t make me look desperate.

“Your pack is well-managed,” Nicolai says as we stand looking out over the valley. “You should be proud of what you’ve accomplished.”

The compliment should satisfy me. Instead, it grates.

“I understand you and my mate knew each other before,” I say, keeping my tone casual.

“As I mentioned last night at dinner, our fathers’ packs had dealings.” Nicolai’s expression doesn’t change. “We were two kids, both forced to endure boring events for appearances sake when the truth was, no one even noticed we were there. We kept each other company.”

“She speaks highly of you.”

It’s a lie. Skye barely mentions anyone from her past. But I want to see how he reacts.

“Skye is kind.” There it is-the softening in his voice when he says her name. The slight emphasis that suggests ownership. “She speaks highly of everyone.”

The deflection is smooth. Practiced. But I heard what I needed to hear.

“How well did you know her?” I press. “Before.”

Nicolai turns to face me fully. “Well enough to know she deserved better than what she got.”

The words hang in the air like a declaration of war.

“Excuse me?”

“Your mate.” Nicolai’s voice is calm, but there’s steel underneath. “She’s intelligent, compassionate, capable. She should be cherished. Protected. Instead, she’s being monitored like a prisoner and forced

to live with your ex-lover.”

My hands curl into fists. “You don’t know anything about my marriage.”

“I know enough.” His eyes bore into mine. “I know Skye well enough to recognize when she’s unhappy. And right now, she’s miserable.”

“That’s not-”

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“Don’t lie to me, Vale.” Nicolai takes a step closer, and I realize he’s not intimidated by me at all. If anything, he’s holding himself back from something violent. “I’ve seen how you look at her. Or rather, how you don’t look at her. Like she’s a possession you’re obligated to maintain but don’t particularly

value.”

“You’ve been here less than twenty-four hours-”

“And in that time, I’ve watched you ignore your mate while entertaining guests, allow another woman to undermine her authority at the dinner table, and monitor her movements like she’s a threat instead of your partner.” Nicolai’s voice drops dangerously low. “So yes, I may have only been here a day. But I’ve

seen enough.”

The accuracy of his observations makes my blood boil.

“My relationship with Skye is none of your concern. She’s my mate-

“Then maybe you should start acting like it.” Nicolai turns and starts walking back toward the Alpha house. “Thank you for the tour, Alpha Vale. Very enlightening.”

I stand there watching him go, my wolf howling with rage…

And something uncomfortably close to panic.

Cara Anderson Author

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“She speaks highly of you.”

It’s a lie. Skye barely mentions anyone from her past. But I want to see how he reacts.

“Skye is kind.” There it is-the softening in his voice when he says her name. The slight emphasis that suggests ownership. “She speaks highly of everyone.”

The deflection is smooth. Practiced. But I heard what I needed to hear.

“How well did you know her?” I press. “Before.”

Nicolai turns to face me fully. “Well enough to know she deserved better than what she got.

The words hang in the air like a declaration of war.

“Excuse me?”

“Your mate.” Nicolai’s voice is calm, but there’s steel underneath. “She’s intelligent, compassionate, capable. She should be cherished. Protected. Instead, she’s being monitored like a prisoner and forced

to live with your ex-lover.”

My hands curl into fists. “You don’t know anything about my marriage.”

“I know enough.” His eyes bore into mine. “I know Skye well enough to recognize when she’s unhappy. And right now, she’s miserable.”

“That’s not-”

2/3

+15 Bonus

“Don’t lie to me, Vale.” Nicolai takes a step closer, and I realize he’s not intimidated by me at all. If anything, he’s holding himself back from something violent. “I’ve seen how you look at her. Or rather, how you don’t look at her. Like she’s a possession you’re obligated to maintain but don’t particularly

value.”

“You’ve been here less than twenty-four hours-”

“And in that time, I’ve watched you ignore your mate while entertaining guests, allow another woman to undermine her authority at the dinner table, and monitor her movements like she’s a threat instead of your partner.” Nicolai’s voice drops dangerously low. “So yes, I may have only been here a day. But I’ve

seen enough.”

The accuracy of his observations makes my blood boil.

“My relationship with Skye is none of your concern. She’s my mate-”

“Then maybe you should start acting like it.” Nicolai turns and starts walking back toward the Alpha house. “Thank you for the tour, Alpha Vale. Very enlightening.” 1

I stand there watching him go, my wolf howling with rage…

And something uncomfortably close to panic.

Cara Anderson Author

Thank you for reading!

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Comments

Support

Share

3/3

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