The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 19

**Between Then and Now by Mark Twain**
**Chapter 10**

**Christian’s POV**

“The rope snapped.” Those words fell into the silence like a thunderclap, reverberating through the air and shattering the fragile calm. Time seemed to freeze, and in that moment, we were all statues—frozen in disbelief, our minds racing to comprehend the horror of what had just been revealed.

I finally found my voice, though it came out strained and tight, as if it were a fragile thread about to snap itself. “What rope?” I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

“The one at the cliff. It snapped—and Blair’s gone!” Finn’s voice trembled, each word laced with panic and despair.

The shock hit us all like a tidal wave, washing over our expressions and leaving us blank and hollow. It felt surreal, like a nightmare we couldn’t wake up from.

Lysander, fueled by a sudden surge of adrenaline, lunged forward, gripping Finn’s collar with a fierce intensity. His voice shook with rage and fear. “What the hell did you just say?!”

Finn’s eyes darted nervously, his lips quivering as he spoke the truth that none of us wanted to hear. “It’s true. When we got there, the rope by the cliff had already broken. All we found… was her jacket.”

In a daze, I rushed over and snatched the jacket from Finn’s trembling hands. My knees felt weak, nearly buckling beneath me.

It was unmistakably Blair’s jacket. The fabric was familiar, a haunting reminder of her presence.

The air around us thickened, turning cold and heavy, pressing down on my chest.

“Lysander… you didn’t have anyone untie her?” Orion’s voice was barely a whisper, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Lysander’s complexion drained of color, his face a mask of horror. “I just got back from the hospital yesterday. I…” His voice trailed off, leaving the unspoken words hanging in the air like a dark cloud.

We all understood the implications. Since his return, our focus had been solely on Carrie, our concerns for her overshadowing everything else. Blair had always been the shadow in our group, overlooked and forgotten, her existence barely acknowledged.

“Christian, are you okay?” Carrie’s voice broke through my thoughts, sounding small and fragile from behind me.

I didn’t respond, nor did I turn to face her. Instead, I pushed through the door, urgency propelling me forward as I instructed Finn to prepare the car for the journey to the cliff.

Carrie clearly hadn’t anticipated my abrupt departure. She stumbled, falling to the floor, her expression one of hurt and confusion.

Yet, none of the others—Lysander, Orion, or Zayden—moved to help her. They were all still reeling, grappling with the weight of the shocking news regarding Blair.

**Chapter 19**

As night descended, the ocean wind howled mercilessly against the cliffside, a chilling reminder of the chaos unfolding around us.

I stood at the very edge, gazing down at the frayed rope and the bloodstained rocks below, my heart pounding in my chest.

I felt an overwhelming urge to get closer, to peer into the abyss, but Finn’s hand shot out to stop me.

“Alpha, it’s too dangerous. The wind’s strong tonight.”

His concern fell on deaf ears as I brushed past him, stepping closer to the precipice.

Finally, the exhausted rescue team returned, their faces lined with fatigue. “Alpha Lysander, Alpha Christian—we’ve searched the cliffside and the base. There’s no sign of Blair.”

The winds and tides from the previous night had washed away any trace of her.

I clutched Blair’s jacket tightly against my chest, my eyes vacant and hollow.

The only sounds that remained were the relentless wind and the crashing waves below.

“Keep searching! I don’t care what it costs—find her!” I shouted, desperation creeping into my voice.

The team finally sprang into action, but their movements felt agonizingly slow. Impatient and fueled by a sense of urgency, I tied the rope around myself, ready to descend the cliff alone.

“Alpha Christian, please—it’s too dangerous. You can’t—” Finn’s voice was filled with concern, but I cut him off.

“I’m going.” My determination was unwavering; nothing could deter me now.

They began to lower me toward the cliff’s edge.

The wind whipped mercilessly at my clothes, and the rope scraped against the jagged rocks, tearing at my skin, but I felt nothing.

All I could see was Blair’s face from that day—the way she looked at me, filled with trust and warmth.

And I couldn’t help but wonder—if I hadn’t carried Carrie away that day… would everything have turned out differently?