The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 65

**Chapter 9**

The shrill sound of his phone’s ringtone sliced through the tranquility of Ryan’s slumber, jolting him awake with a start.

“Hurry up, the mating ceremony is about to start!”

The urgency in Olivia’s voice was palpable, and it sent a rush of adrenaline through him.

“Why can’t I reach Tessa?” she continued, her tone laced with worry.

Ryan barely managed a mumbled response before disconnecting the call, the weight of Olivia’s concern hanging heavily in the air. At that moment, Chloe stirred, her peaceful slumber disrupted by the commotion.

“Ryan, once Tessa becomes your Luna, will you still like me?”

Chloe’s voice was soft, almost trembling, as she looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Her fingers poked at his arm, seeking reassurance.

Without uttering a word, Ryan instinctively pulled her into his arms, enveloping her in a warm embrace.

“Of course, everything I’m doing is for you,” he murmured, his heart swelling with affection as he looked into her eyes. He leaned down and pressed a fervent kiss to her lips, hoping to quell the unease that had settled between them.

“Alright, babe, let’s get ready. We should head to the Moon Tree,” he added, trying to inject a sense of excitement into the air.

Once he was dressed and ready, Ryan’s fingers flew over his phone screen as he dialed Tessa’s number.

Once, twice, and on the third attempt, when the call went to voicemail, an unsettling feeling coiled in his chest.

His wolf stirred restlessly within him, sensing the tension.

What if something had happened to Tessa?

With determination, he grabbed his belongings, intent on rushing to the pack house, brushing aside any protests that arose.

Just then, an unfamiliar number flashed on his screen.

It was Tessa.

“It’s me,” her voice came through, slightly distorted but unmistakably hers. “There’s something wrong with my phone, and it’s not functioning right, but don’t worry. I’m waiting for you under the Moon Tree.”

“I’ve prepared a surprise for you,” she added, and Ryan felt the anxiety that had gripped him begin to dissipate.

A smile spread across his face, and he turned to those around him, eager to share the good news.

“Tessa just called! Don’t worry, she’s preparing a surprise for me. Just wait!”

His smile radiated joy, and he reveled in the moment, feeling as though he was on the brink of something monumental.

Soon, he would step into the role of Alpha, a dream he had long cherished.

It was as if Tessa herself was trying to make this occasion unforgettable for him.

Nearby friends chuckled and teased him, their laughter lightening the atmosphere.

“You two are still so in love after all this time. Truly, you’re the picture of happiness,” one of them remarked, and Ryan felt warmth spread through him at their words.

Yet, as the ceremony drew closer, a gnawing sense of unease began to creep in.

“Do you think she’s having second thoughts?” Olivia leaned in, her voice a mere whisper in his ear. “It’s getting late, and we still haven’t seen her. If she tries to run, I won’t let her off easily.”

Ryan tugged at his mother’s sleeve, a frown creasing his brow.

“No, she loves me. There’s no way she’d run. Besides, she said she was preparing a surprise!”

He was blissfully unaware of the storm brewing on the horizon.

But as the elders beckoned them to take the stage, the first tendrils of panic began to snake through him.

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