Pursuing My Rejected Luna by Cara Anderson novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Skye

+15 Bonus

I force myself to stand, gripping the counter for support. My reflection in the mirror looks like a ghost-pale skin, dark circles under my eyes, hair plastered to my forehead with sweat. I look sick. I feel sick.

“I’ll be right there,” I lie.

There’s a pause on the other side of the door. Then: “Five minutes, Skye. Don’t make this difficult.”

His footsteps retreat, and I’m alone again.

I turn on the faucet, splashing cold water on my face. The shock of it helps a little, cutting through the fog enough, that I can think. I take a few deep breaths, the way the pack therapist taught me years ago when I was learning to control my wolf during stressful situations.

In. Out. In. Out.

My hands are still shaking when I finally emerge from the bathroom.

The room is empty.

I stand there for a moment, staring at the space where Jaxon was standing just minutes ago. He didn’t wait. Didn’t check to see if I was okay. He just left.

The realization shouldn’t hurt as much as it does.

I sink onto the edge of the bed, my overnight bag still sitting where I dropped it. Around me, the room is beautiful -exposed timber beams, a stone fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking snow-covered pines. It’s the kind of place couples come to reconnect. To fall in love again.

I’ve never felt more alone.

I should go after them. I should force myself to put on a swimsuit and plaster on a smile and pretend everything is fine. That’s what a good Luna would do. That’s what Jaxon expects.

But I can’t. I physically cannot make myself move.

So I don’t.

Half an hour later, I finally venture out of the room.

The resort is quiet-most guests are probably at dinner or in the pools. My footsteps echo on the polished wood floors as I wander through the main building, looking for any sign of Jaxon or the others.

I check the main pool area. Empty.

The restaurant. Nothing.

I’m about to give up when I see Cole in the lobby, carrying a tray with what looks like sparkling water and fresh fruit.

“Cole,” I call out, and he turns, surprise flickering across his face.

“Luna.” He nods respectfully. “I didn’t expect to see you. I thought you were with the Alpha.”

“Where is he?”

1/3

Chapter 8

+15 Bgnus

“The private pool. On the east terrace.” He shifts the tray slightly. “I was just bringing this for Miss Winters. She requested-”

“It’s fine.” I cut him off before he can finish. I don’t need to hear about Cassandra’s requests. “Thank you.”

He hesitates, like he wants to say something else. Then: “Would you like me to show you the way?”

The offer is kind. More kindness than I’ve been shown all day.

But I shake my head. “No. Tell them… tell them I won’t be joining them.”

“Are you sure? The Alpha specifically asked me to-”

“I’m sure.”

I turn and walk away before he can argue, before I can see the pity I know must be written across his face.

Back in the room, I finally let myself fall apart.

I draw a bath-scalding hot, the way I’ve been craving since we arrived. Steam fills the bathroom as I sink into the water, and for the first time all day, I feel like I can breathe.

My body relaxes incrementally. The nausea fades to a dull ache. My limbs stop trembling.

I slide down until the water covers my shoulders, my head tilted back against the edge of the tub. For a moment, I almost let myself slip under completely. Just to feel weightless. To feel nothing.

But I don’t.

Because there’s a life depending on me now. A tiny, fragile life that deserves better than a mother who gave up.

My hand drifts to my stomach under the water. “I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I’m so sorry you’re stuck with all of this.”

The baby doesn’t answer. Of course not. It’s too early for that.

But somehow, the gesture helps anyway.

I stay in the bath until the water starts to cool, then drag myself out and into the soft hotel robe hanging on the back of the door. My body feels heavy, exhausted in a way that has nothing to do with the long drive.

The bed calls to me like a siren song.

I collapse onto it, not bothering to dry my hair or change into proper clothes. Sleep pulls at me immediately, dragging me under before I can fight it.

I wake to darkness.

For a moment, I don’t remember where I am. Then it comes back in pieces-the resort, the car ride, Jaxon wiping tears from Cassandra’s face.

The room is still empty except for me.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify