The packs outcast Luna (Kaia and Theo) novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34

–Elara–

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I slammed the door to Cara’s room loudly.

My blood boiling from anger.

Cara’s jerked when she saw this. Her expression was sour and irritated.

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Her visits here were supposed to help push things forward and instead Theo glared at both of us like we were enemies.

Because of her. That stray girl.

I fold my arms as Cara adjusts her skirt, looking me over like I’m another problem added to her list.

“We need to discuss the situation,” I began carefully.

Cara’s brows knit. “What situation?”

“That stray girl. Kaia.”

Her name tastes bitter in my mouth.

Cara looks unimpressed. “The girl who patched up the king? A servant with fast hands is hardly a threat.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “You didn’t see the way Theo looked at her today.”

Cara paused.

Just for a second. And that’s enough.

I step closer, lowering my voice.

“He defended her. He got angry when you mentioned her. And he-”

I swallow my frustration. “He looks at her like she matters.”

Cara’s eyes sharpen.

“And that makes things… difficult,” I continue. “Convincing him to get a Luna, to accept me as his luna, will be twice as hard with her hanging around.”

I watched Cara’s jaw tighten, but she didn’t say anything.

Exactly what I wanted.

So I push further.

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Chapter 34

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“We can’t let some orphaned stray girl ruin everything we’ve worked for. She needs to be…. taken care of… Immediately”

Cara whips her head toward me, eyes blazing.

“Do you hear yourself?” she snaps. “You left him years ago. You walked away from him when he needed you. And now you return, acting entitled to his affection. Obsessing over becoming his Luna”

Her words hit like slaps.

I stiffen. “I didn’t walk away. I-”

“You left,” Cara cuts in, unforgiving. “And if you hadn’t, we wouldn’t be dealing with this embarrassment now.”

“You do know how hard-headed Theo can be,” she pointed out.

Heat crawled up my neck.

Cara steps even closer, pointing a finger at me.

“Don’t you dare expect me to fix what you failed at. If you had stayed, that stray wouldn’t be anywhere near him.”

Her voice rose with disgust at the last word.

I take a breath, gripping the edge of my sleeve.

“We don’t have to argue about the past,” I say, carefully steadying my voice. “What matters now is getting Theo to marry me and make his Luna”

Cara looked at me,her irritation shifting into calculation.

“I can’t force Theo to send that stray girl away,” she says slowly. “Not when he treats me like his enemy already”

Then her gaze hardens. “But if the stray continues to interfere, I can make sure she is removed from your path.”

My heart kicks. Jumping with joy.

“So you’ll take care of it, right?” I whisper.

Cara lifts her chin, her expression cold and decisive.

“Yes,” she says. “Leave Kaia to me.”

A slow smile forms on my lips.

Good. Very good.

Kaia had better enjoy her days in this pack.

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Chapter 34

Because they are numbered.

–Kaia–

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My muscles ache after the training but the ache feels better than thinking about Theo

Better than remembering Theo’s face when Elara touched his arm.

Footsteps shuffle behind me.

Soft. Familiar.

I lower my fists. “Maliya?”

“I have something to tell you,” she whispered.

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Maliya shut the door behind us with that dramatic sigh she always did when she had gossip too big for her mouth to hold.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

She swallows. “Kaia… I- You didn’t hear this from me.”

My stomach tightens. News never starts like that unless it’s bad.

“Are you here with a more baseless rumour of yours?” I asked,not pretending not to take her seriously.

I didn’t turn around. I was still peeling off my training gloves, staring at the faint bruising on my knuckles like it mattered more than anything she could say.

“But it’s true,” she protested. She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “They had a council meeting.”

“About what?”

“About… the Luna position.”

My hands went cold.

I force myself to breathe. “What about it?”

Maliya hesitated, her eyes darting like she’s looking for a way to soften the blow.

There isn’t one.

“The Council….They’ve decided they’re talking about making Lady Elara the next Luna.” Maliya whispered. “They are choosing her”

My fingers froze.

Of all the things I’d stupidly hoped wouldn’t reach my ears today, that one slid in, sharp as a dagger.

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Chapter 34

“Oh,” I said.

:

Just that. Nothing else came out.

The world seems to tilt for a second.

Elara. Of course.

Perfect. Polished. From a powerful family.

And connected to Theo in a way I’m not and maybe never will be.

My throat tightens. “So it’s official?”

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“It’s not announced yet,” she says quickly. “Kaia… they say it’s already being discussed at the top level behind closed doors. Queen Cara is pushing it. Hard.”

Of course she did.

I look away, jaw clenched to keep the sting behind my eyes from spilling over.

Maliya stopped closer, touches my arm gently.

“Are you okay, Kaia?” She asked.

I nodded once, tight, like if I moved too much the entire mask I’m barely holding would crack.

It shouldn’t hurt.

Theo was an Alpha.

I was… what? A stray he sheltered? A problem he never asked for?

“Kaia… don’t take this as you losing something you never had.” Maliya tries to comfort me

I let out a shaky breath. “That doesn’t make it hurt less.”

Her fingers squeeze mine in sympathy.

“He’s been looking for you,” she adds quietly. “Last night. This morning.”

“He can go talk to his future Luna,” I mutter bitterly.

“Kaia-”

“No.” My voice cracks, but I keep it steady. “I knew what I was when I walked into this pack. A stray. A nobody. Just… someone they tolerate because I saved the Alpha.”

“Tell me you’re okay, Kaia.” Maliya said gently.

No. Not even close.

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Chapter 34

“I’m fine.” I nodded.

:..

It sounded like a lie even to me.

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She hesitated. “Don’t you want to talk to him? Maybe-”

“No,” I cut in. “Theo doesn’t need more trouble. I’m… not going to make this harder for him.”

The words tasted bitter. Like swallowing something sharp and pretending it doesn’t hurt.

I shoved the gloves into the laundry basket, grabbed my headscarf, and headed for the door.

Maliya followed a step behind.

“What are you going to do?” she asked softly.

“Distance myself.”

The answer slipped out in a small, exhausted breath.

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“He’s already got the Council questioning him. His father barely trusts him. And now Elara-” I stopped, jaw tightening. “I won’t be the reason anyone doubts him further.”

“You’re not the reason,” Maliya insisted.

I didn’t respond. Because if I said anything, everything might spill out – the jealousy, the hurt, the stupid hope I never asked for.

I can’t help the pang in my heart. For some reason it won’t go away.

We stepped into the hallway, and that was exactly when I saw him.

Theo.

Standing at the far end. Like he’d been waiting.

His eyes locked onto mine; concern, frustration, something pulling I didn’t want to name.

I stopped walking.

Just like that. Every thought scattered.

Maliya froze beside me.

Theo took a step toward me.

I immediately stepped back.

“I need to go,” I said quickly, not giving him time to speak. “You should… talk to Elara. She needs you more.”

His expression tightened, confused and angry and something else all at once.

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Chapter 34

“Kaia, wait-”

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“No.” I whispered, already turning away, forcing the distance even though something inside me cracked while doing it. “I don’t want to stir up trouble for you.”

I didn’t look back.

I couldn’t.

Because if I did, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to walk away at all.

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