The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 34

**Between Then and Now by Mark Twain**

**Chapter 3**

Skyla’s Perspective

As Alexia and I stepped into the bustling lunchroom, the air thick with chatter and the scent of greasy pizza, I felt a familiar knot of anxiety twist in my stomach.

“Alexia,” I called out, trying to keep my voice steady, “why are you hanging out with that loser?” My tone was sharper than I intended, but the words tumbled out, fueled by a mix of jealousy and frustration.

“Hey, biggie,” she replied, her voice light and teasing, “you should just skip lunch today.”

“Alexia, come sit over here with us,” I insisted, gesturing to our usual table where the laughter rang out like a siren call. “Let the loser eat alone.”

The laughter grew louder, a cacophony of mocking voices that seemed to echo off the walls. I could feel the eyes of my classmates drilling into me, their pointed fingers like arrows aimed at my heart.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I was determined not to let them spill. I wouldn’t give them that satisfaction.

Suddenly, the weight of humiliation crushed my appetite, and I pivoted on my heel, fleeing the scene. In my haste, I collided with someone, the impact sending me crashing to the floor, landing hard on my backside.

“Watch where you’re going, ugly bitch!” Cassian’s voice sliced through the air like a knife, his words laced with venom as he delivered a harsh kick to my side.

“I feel sorry for whoever ends up tied to you as a mate,” he sneered, his eyes gleaming with malice. “He’s probably going to reject your pathetic ass the moment he sees you! After all, who would want a weak, pathetic, fat, four-eyed bitch like you? I bet you’ll be alone for the rest of your miserable life. Just look at how you dress! Who would want to be seen with you?”

His taunts continued to rain down on me, a relentless barrage of cruelty, until he finally stalked away, delivering one last kick to my face that left me reeling. I could already feel the sting of a bruise forming, dark and angry, a physical reminder of the emotional pain that coursed through me.

For a moment, I lay there, questioning the depths of human cruelty and why some people felt the need to tear others down.

Then Sebastian entered the hallway, his expression shifting from confusion to fury as he spotted me on the floor, tears streaming down my cheeks.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify