Pursuing My Rejected Luna by Cara Anderson novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Jaxon

Over the next two hours, I start to notice things.

Little things that kill me. Like the way Skye is completely comfortable here. No tension in her shoulders. No careful monitoring of her words. She’s at peace.

And she talks about the Woolf estate like it’s home.

“Dimitri suggested I help with some of the administrative work. Nothing strenuous, just reviewing correspondence. But he could tell I was bored and it keeps me busy.”

“Nicolai arranged for Dr. Chernov to come here rather than making me travel. It’s more convenient.”

“Rena-she manages the household-has been wonderful about accommodating my food preferences.”

Nicolai. Dimitri. Rena. They’re part of her daily life now. Along with some doctor I don’t know who’s responsible for keeping our child safe and well. And I’m just supposed to trust they all have Skye’s best interests at heart.

Though it doesn’t take a genius to see she’s well taken care of. I notice the little touches too, like the pillow behind her back-positioned perfectly for comfort. Nicolai’s doing, probably. And the books on the side table-I recognize several titles, ones she was always reading at home. Which means someone paid attention to what she likes.

Everything I should have done. Everything I never bothered to learn.

When two hours are up-exactly two hours, I’ve been watching the clock-there’s a knock on the door. Nicolai enters again.

“I’m sorry to cut this short,” he says, his tone polite but firm. “But Skye needs to rest. Doctor’s orders.”

I look at Skye, waiting for her to argue. She doesn’t.

“Of course,” she says, already setting down her tea. “I am tired.”

She wants me to leave. Actually wants me to go. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.

“Of course,” I echo. “I’ll… I’ll see you next week?”

“Yes. Same time?” She asks, and I could almost delude myself into believing she’s looking forward to it.

“Same time.” I confirm.

I stand, and Mikhail materializes in the doorway to escort me out, because Goddess forbid I be allowed to wander alone

As we walk through the hallways, I catch a glimpse through a window of the terrace overlooking the gardens Nicolai and Skye are already there, his hand on her back, guiding her gently. Careful of her

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pregnant belly.

Skye is laughing at something he said, some private moment they’re sharing. The intimacy isn’t sexual, it’s deeper than that. And that almost makes it worse.

It’s trust. The kind of connection that takes time to build. Everything I could’ve had but destroyed before it could develop. Everything I should have cherished and didn’t.

I force myself to look away and keep walking.

In my car, after retrieving my phone and passing through the security checkpoints, I finally let myself feel it. The crushing weight of what I’ve lost. A weight that gets heavier everyday.

I pull over at a rest stop halfway home and call Noah. Not as my Beta but as my best friend. Just to not have to carry this knowledge alone.

“How’d it go?” he answers.

“He’s already in love with her.” I blurt out.

Silence.

“Woolf?” He clarifies.

Gradual increase to standard shared custody arrangement

Holiday arrangements to be negotiated

I scan the details, each one a reminder of how little control I have. Then I reach the bottom and feel all

the air leave my lungs.

Ms. Winters has also requested that Alpha Woolf be permitted to attend the birth as her support person, in addition to any medical staff and family she chooses. Please advise if this arrangement is acceptable.

I stare at the screen. Nicolai Woolf in the delivery room. Supporting Skye through the birth of my son.

The man who’s taking everything that should be mine. Who’s giving her everything I never did. Who she trusts more than she ever trusted me.

My first instinct is to refuse. To say absolutely not. That’s my son being born, my place to be there, not his. But I’ve already learned this lesson. It’s not about me.

It’s about Skye. About what she needs, who she wants there. And she wants Nicolai. So I type a response, each word feeling like broken glass.

Acceptable. Whatever Skye wants.

I hit send before I can change my mind. Because this is my penance. Watching another man be what I should have been. Giving Skye what I never could.

And accepting that I’ll never have the chance to try again.

Cara Anderson Author

Thank you for reading!

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