Pursuing My Rejected Luna by Cara Anderson novel Chapter 81

Chapter 81

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Chapter 81

Skye

The legal arrangements our lawyers agreed to include visitation rights for Jaxon during the pregnancy. Weekly video calls on Sundays. Monthly in-person visits once we finalize the details.

I agreed because I want our baby to know his father and bonding during pregnancy is important for wolves. Even if Jaxon was a terrible husband, he deserves the chance to be a good father. And our pup deserves to know both his parents. I’d never try to keep them apart, that would be selfish.

But the first video call is scheduled for this Sunday and I’m already dreading it. So of course Sunday

arrives too quickly.

I set up my laptop in my room, angling it so Jaxon can’t see too much of my new space. One hand rests on my belly-nineteen weeks now and definitely showing.

The baby has started moving too, mostly little flutters that feel like butterflies. But sometimes stronger kicks that take me by surprise. I wonder if Jaxon will ask about that, how or what I’m feeling. Or will he just use this time to try to win me back?

The call connects, and Jaxon’s face fills the screen. He looks tired. There are shadows under his eyes that weren’t there before. His hair is slightly longer, like he hasn’t bothered with a haircut.

“Skye.” His voice is careful.

“Jaxon.”

Awkward silence. “How are you feeling?” he asks finally.

“Fine.” I don’t mean to be curt, I really don’t. But he’s never cared before so it’s no wonder I don’t know

what to say.

“The baby?” He forces the words out like it pains him to think about.

“Healthy. As far as I know.”

More silence. Apparently I’m not the only one that doesn’t know what to say. Which is ironic, since Jaxon always had plenty to say when he was unhappy about something.

A moment of sadness washes over me, that this is what our relationship has been reduced to. Stilted small talk. Required check-ins. The bare minimum of communication necessary to co-parent a child who isn’t even born yet. Not that it amounted to much more than that before.

Jaxon tries again. “I’ve been thinking about names-”

“I’ll handle the name.” My voice comes out colder than I intended but he caught me off guard.

He flinches. “Skye, this is my child too-”

“I know that ” I force myself to soften slightly. “But I’m the one carrying the baby. I’m the one who’ll be

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with them every day. I’ll choose the name.”

“Can I at least make suggestions?”

I consider it then sigh. “Fine. Send me a list. I’ll review it.”

It’s a small concession, but from the way his face lights up slightly, you’d think I’d given him the world.

We mostly sit in uncomfortable silence for the remaining twenty-five minutes. I suppose I could hang up but Jaxon doesn’t seem in a hurry and it’s his time.

Still, it’s painful, the clock on my laptop screen counting down slowly. Each minute feels like an hour. When the thirty minutes are finally up, I’m exhausted.

“Same time next week?” Jaxon asks.

“As agreed.”

I stare at the message, suddenly wide awake.

Who sent this?

Only family and Jaxon’s pack know I’m here. The divorce and my relocation haven’t been made public beyond the immediate pack circles. So who else is watching?

I tell myself it’s probably just well-wishers who heard through the pack network. Pack members gossip. News spreads. It’s not unusual for someone to reach out with congratulations or support.

But something about the message feels… off.

The phrasing. The timing. The fact that it came from an unknown number rather than someone I know.

I delete the message and set my phone down. Try to go back to sleep. But unease settles in my chest, heavy and persistent.

And sleep doesn’t come for a long time.

Cara Anderson

Author

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