The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 60

**Chapter 4**

Ryan reached for his phone, his heart heavy, and cast a quick glance at Tessa, who lay peacefully asleep beside him. Satisfied that she was lost in her dreams, he pressed the voice message button with a sense of urgency.

His voice, when it came through, was laced with affection, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within him. “But I just got back, babe. How about tomorrow?”

On the other end, Chloe wasted no time in making her feelings known, her tone direct and unwavering. “Ryan, don’t you miss me? I miss you so much. I just want to see you.”

Her words tugged at his heartstrings, but he fought to keep the conversation light. “By the way, did the wedding dress I wore today look good?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ryan replied, “Of course it looked great.” He could almost hear the smile in her voice as she pressed on, eager for validation.

“Who do you think looks better in that dress, Tessa or me?”

Ryan hesitated, a flicker of guilt washing over him as he glanced at Tessa, her serene face illuminated by the moonlight. He took a breath, feeling the weight of the moment. “No one looks better than you.”

The moment those words escaped his lips, they felt like a blade, sharp and unforgiving, piercing through Tessa’s heart. He remembered the times he had declared Tessa to be the most beautiful and kind-hearted woman he had ever encountered. Just a short while ago, he had stood before the pack, proudly announcing that Tessa would be the future Luna, a proclamation that had filled her with hope and dreams of a blissful life together.

But now, as the reality settled in, Tessa understood that Ryan’s declaration was merely a means to an end—a tactic to extricate her from the Bloodmoon pack. It was a calculated move, allowing Chloe to rise as the sole future Luna, claiming not only the affection of the pack but also the approval of their parents. This maneuver gave Chloe the power to manipulate Tessa from within, all while basking in the glory of her position as Luna.

Chloe, seemingly pleased with Ryan’s answer, softened her tone, a siren’s call that was hard to resist. “Then, are you coming over to stay with me tonight?”

“I’m still waiting for you today…” Ryan’s heart raced, caught in a web of conflicting emotions.

Chloe’s voice, sweet and inviting, made it difficult for him to say no. “Tessa is asleep now. Wait for me.”

With a sigh, he stood up, gathering his clothes as he prepared to slip away. Before he left, he sent a quick text to Tessa, a feeble attempt to cover his tracks. “Babe, there’s a sudden matter with the pack. I need to head back. Stay home and wait for me.”

Tessa had long since lost count of the nights Ryan had spun tales of “pack business.” Each time he claimed to be attending to important matters, she wondered if he was truly meeting with Chloe in secret. The thought gnawed at her, a bitter reminder of the trust that had slowly eroded over time.

Before long, a message from the Beta of the Bloodmoon pack pinged on her phone. “Today is the day we discuss the mating ceremony with the Slivermoon pack. You both must attend.”

It wasn’t an invitation; it was a command.

Even though Tessa’s heart sank at the thought of participating in this farce, she knew she had to play her part. The venue was set in a park, and the restaurant chosen was Chloe’s favorite, a place that felt tainted by the very thought of their meeting.

As the gathering commenced, it became painfully clear that the focus was not on Tessa and Ryan’s impending mating ceremony, but rather on Chloe, who sat beside Ryan in a striking white dress that seemed to glow with an unnatural light. Rig and Olivia, seated with them, treated Chloe with an obvious favoritism that stung Tessa’s pride. They allowed her to occupy the best seat at the table, lavishing her with attention.

In stark contrast, Tessa, the adopted daughter of the pack, felt the coldness of their indifference. Rig and Olivia were far more eager to see Ryan’s Luna as Chloe—the biological daughter of the Alpha from the neighboring pack—than to accept Tessa, the orphaned girl who had fought for her place among them.

Despite their outward politeness, Tessa could sense the chill in their demeanor, a stark reminder of her status. When she had first fallen for Ryan, believing him to be her destined mate, she had been willing to endure their lack of affection and respect, convinced that love would eventually bloom.

But now, as she sat there, a hollow shell of her former self, she no longer believed in fairy tales. She couldn’t endure this life any longer, and every moment felt like a countdown to her escape. The weight of her reality pressed down on her, and she longed for freedom from this charade that had become her existence.