The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 61

**Chapter 5**

As Tessa made her entrance, the atmosphere around her felt thick with indifference. The gathering of familiar faces barely acknowledged her presence; their bodies remained angled toward Chloe, their laughter and chatter forming a barrier that Tessa felt she could never penetrate.

The whispers began, sharp and critical, as if they were discussing a piece of art that had fallen short of expectations.

“Tessa, if only you had the spark and charm that Chloe possesses,” one voice chimed, dripping with condescension.

“I really wish we had a daughter like Chloe; she embodies the perfect Luna we all dream of,” another added, the words slicing through the air with a cruel precision.

This was not the first time Tessa had been subjected to such comparisons, and with each repetition, she felt herself growing numb, a protective shell forming around her heart. It was as if she had long ago accepted her role as the shadow in the backdrop of Chloe’s brilliance, forever unable to reveal any hidden depths of her own.

Chloe, radiant and effervescent, responded with a bright smile, her voice ringing with sincerity, “Don’t worry! You can treat me like your own daughter.”

Her words flowed like a soothing balm, and the laughter of Rig and Olivia mingled with hers, creating a symphony of camaraderie that felt foreign to Tessa.

“Even though Tessa isn’t exactly the most charming, I’ll do my best to help her win your favor and continue to take care of the pack,” Chloe added, her tone light and playful, as if she were merely discussing the weather.

Ryan, who sat nearby, couldn’t help but wear a grin of admiration as he watched Chloe. His gaze was filled with a sense of pride, as if she were a masterpiece he had created, a trophy that brought him joy. He was the second son of the Silver Moon pack, forever living in the shadow of his older brother, who was destined to be the perfect Alpha—the one everyone had been waiting for. The expectations placed upon him had always felt like a heavy cloak, suffocating and unyielding.

But tragedy had struck when Ryan met his mate, only to lose her too soon. The weight of despair had pulled him into a dark abyss, where he sought solace in bars, drowning his sorrows in the depths of alcohol. Yet, when Tessa entered his life, hope flickered anew. She was hailed as the perfect Luna, and with her, he felt he could finally step out from his brother’s looming shadow. He couldn’t bear the thought of giving up on Tessa.

As he gently placed a hand on Chloe’s thigh, their eyes locked in an understanding that transcended words. In that fleeting moment, the world around them faded, and all that mattered was the connection they shared.

Tessa observed them from a distance, her thoughts spiraling into a realm of loneliness.

“Why do I even stay here?” she pondered, the question echoing in her mind like a haunting refrain. She longed to escape, to break free from the suffocating atmosphere that surrounded her.

“Why don’t Alpha and Luna like us?” Clara, a friend, asked, her voice tinged with confusion.

“It’s not our fault, Clara. Don’t be sad,” another friend replied, trying to offer comfort.

“We’ll be fine once we leave the pack,” Clara insisted, her optimism a stark contrast to Tessa’s growing despondency.

In the past, Ryan had always made excuses to whisk her away from these gatherings, never minding the judgmental glances of others. But now, as she looked at him, she felt a pang of disappointment. Was he truly hiding his feelings, or had she simply been oblivious to them all along?

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