The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 54

**Chapter 7**

Miles remained utterly absorbed in his task, his weathered hands moving with a gentle precision over the silver frame. Each stroke was imbued with a tenderness that suggested the smiling faces within still yearned for his touch, as if they could somehow sense the love and sorrow he poured into his work.

Sierra, on the other hand, surged forward with a fierce determination, her heart pounding in her chest. In one swift motion, she struck Blake hard across the face, the sound of the slap echoing in the tense air.

“How dare you even ask about her?” she seethed, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and pain. “How many times did I plead with you to change your ways? If I were Lena, I would have slashed your throat while you slept!”

Her voice cracked, betraying the raw emotion that surged within her.

He was her brother, and seeing him in such a shattered state—broken, bleeding—should have shattered her heart into a million pieces. Yet, for seven long years, she had begged him to show kindness to Lena, to recognize the depth of her love.

“She loves you more than anyone else in this world,” she had often reminded him, her voice filled with hope.

But each time, he had merely scoffed, accusing Lena of manipulating the family, of using them as pawns in a game against him.

The memory of that fateful confrontation with Hannah flashed through her mind. She had been so naïve, thinking she could reason with the vicious she-wolf. But Hannah had darted straight to Blake, her loyalty unwavering.

Sierra would never forget the fury that had consumed Blake that night.

“If you ever harass Hannah again, I swear I will leave this pack! You all adore Lena so much? Fine! Let her rot as a glorified widow!” he had spat, his voice dripping with venom.

Tears streamed down Sierra’s cheeks as she stood there, unable to forgive Blake for his cruelty.

And worse still, she couldn’t forgive herself.

Those sweet girls—Lena’s daughters—had followed her everywhere, their tiny voices ringing in her ears as they chirped, “Aunt Sierra!” while they stuffed half-eaten candies into her pockets.

Blake stood there, a statue of defiance, not flinching from the blow. Blood trickled from his split lip, and he rasped, “I didn’t mean it. I just thought they needed discipline—”

“DISCIPLINE?!” Sierra screamed, her voice rising to a fever pitch as she hurled a crystal tumbler at his head. It struck his temple with a sickening crack, sending crimson rivulets cascading down his ashen face, a stark contrast against his pale skin.

“They were perfect! Lena raised them alone for five years, and they were kinder than you’ve ever been! Who were you really punishing, Blake? Them? Or HER?”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify