The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 15

**Between Then and Now by Mark Twain**

**Chapter 6**

**Blair’s POV**

At that very moment, a fierce gust of wind swept across the deck, sending monstrous waves crashing against the hull of the cruise ship. The vessel lurched violently, as if it were a toy in the hands of a child.

I opened my mouth to speak, to share my thoughts, but before I could utter another syllable, my voice was drowned out by the cacophony of screams and the relentless roar of the waves.

Christian shot me a concerned look, his brow furrowing slightly. “What did you just say? The wind’s howling so loudly—I couldn’t catch a word.”

I was on the verge of repeating myself when Carrie suddenly latched onto his arm, her expression shifting to one of faux distress. “It’s so dangerous out here! I’m really scared… Can we please go back to the cabin?”

In an instant, the other three men rallied around her, forming a protective circle as they escorted her away from the tumultuous deck.

I trailed behind them, a solitary figure amidst their camaraderie, feeling more like a ghost than a friend.

As I glanced back, I caught sight of the dolphins gracefully disappearing into the horizon, and a soft, bitter laugh escaped my lips.

Perhaps this was destiny’s cruel hand.

They would never realize the depth of my wish—that I never wanted to see any of them again for the rest of my days.

They had never truly valued me. All the love and loyalty I had freely given meant nothing to them. And they certainly wouldn’t know that I had already resolved to vanish from their lives for good.

The day Carrie received the invitation to the lavish socialite ball, it seemed that all four men were “busy.”

“Lysander, Orion, and Zayden are flying to Paris to fetch that exquisite pink diamond for me,” Carrie chirped, waving the invitation like a trophy, her smile sugary sweet.

“And Christian’s caught up in some crucial alliance discussions for his pack. Blair, will you accompany me? Please?”

She blinked at me, deploying her most helpless, wide-eyed expression. “It’s been five long years since I attended one of these events. I’m terrified I’ll embarrass myself.”

“I’m not going,” I shot back sharply, my voice firm.

But before she could even muster a response, the men had already made my fate clear.

“Carrie’s health isn’t at its best. You should go with her,” Lysander declared coldly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“You understand these kinds of events better than anyone,” Orion added, adjusting his glasses with an air of authority. “Make sure Carrie doesn’t make a fool of herself.”

Zayden, ever the impatient one, didn’t hesitate—he practically shoved me into the car. “Look after her. And for heaven’s sake, don’t cause any trouble.”

The door slammed shut with a resounding thud. Through the tinted window, I caught a glimpse of their faces, etched with concern for Carrie, and I couldn’t help but find the whole situation absurd and laughable.

They only ever seemed to care about whether Carrie was feeling hurt or upset, never once stopping to ask if I was okay with any of it.

That night, Carrie donned a breathtaking red gown, radiating confidence and basking in the attention as if she were the star of a grand performance.

“Here, drink this for me.” She handed me a glass of champagne, her smile sweet but laced with a hint of malice. “If I show up tipsy, what do you think they’ll say?”

My fingers tightened around the glass, knuckles turning white.

She was doing this on purpose.

And I knew—if anything went awry with her, they would come for me first.

With each glass, my head began to spin, the world around me blurring.

“Oh no, Blair… are you already drunk?” Carrie gasped, feigning innocence. “Let me help you lie down.”

I tried to push her away, but she possessed a surprising strength.

Much stronger than I had anticipated. She dragged me down a long hallway, away from the ballroom, and forcefully shoved me into a strange hotel room.

“Have fun,” she whispered in my ear, her voice dripping with a sickly sweetness. Then, the door clicked shut behind her, sealing my fate.

I collapsed to the floor, the room spinning around me, my consciousness fading in and out.

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