The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 73

**Chapter 17**

Chloe felt the heat rush to her cheeks as she fought against the vice-like grip that Ryan had on her neck, her hands flailing in a desperate attempt to pry his fingers away.

“No…” she managed to gasp, her voice barely escaping her lips.

With a cruel smirk playing on his face, Ryan suddenly released her, the coldness in his eyes piercing through her. “Never mention her in front of me again. You’re not worthy!” His words hung in the air like a dark cloud, suffocating any hope she had left.

“And wasn’t this the outcome you were hoping for?” she shot back, her heart racing.

Without another word, he turned his back on her, leaving her alone in the hospital, the sterile smell of antiseptic and the beeping machines her only company.

Days passed in that lonely room, each one dragging on as she waited for someone—anyone—to come visit. But nobody did.

Finally, when the time came for her discharge, Chloe returned to the Silvermoon Pack’s house, her heart heavy with dread. As she stepped inside, she found Olivia already seated in the living room, her demeanor surprisingly warm.

“Back already? Are you feeling better?” Olivia’s unexpected concern caught Chloe off guard, making her pause.

“Yeah, better,” Chloe replied, her voice devoid of enthusiasm, like a shadow of its former self.

Ryan lounged on the couch, an air of indifference surrounding him. He seemed more worn down than ever, but only he understood the turmoil raging within. Each passing day intensified his yearning for Tessa, and the restlessness of his wolf was becoming unbearable.

Chloe, feeling utterly drained, began to make her way to her room, hoping for a moment of solitude. But Ryan’s sharp voice cut through the air, stopping her in her tracks.

“What are you doing?” he asked, his tone laced with irritation.

“Going to my room,” she replied, fatigue weighing heavily on her words.

Ryan closed his eyes, a smirk creeping onto his lips.

“Room? There’s no room for you here anymore.”

Chloe froze, her heart dropping as she processed his words.

“What do you mean?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly, a flicker of fear igniting within her.

“Literally what I said. There’s no room for you here. Can’t you understand that?” His tone was chilling, devoid of any empathy.

Chloe let out a bitter laugh, the sound echoing in the tense atmosphere. “Don’t forget, you’ve already acknowledged me as your Luna in front of the pack. You’ve marked me.”

Olivia regarded her with a casual indifference, then rose from her seat, her smile unwavering.

“Chloe, we’re here to discuss removing that mark.”

Chloe’s heart sank as she grasped the implications of Olivia’s words. Without a child, her worth to them had diminished significantly.

But she wasn’t ready to surrender just yet.

Ryan had callously taken away her child, a betrayal she had never anticipated from him, especially given the tenderness he once displayed.

Now, she realized that she had been the fool all along, blinded by her own hopes.

“I refuse to give up my position as Luna,” Chloe declared defiantly, though doubt lingered in her heart.

Olivia’s voice cut through her resolve like a knife. “Even if you cling to Ryan and insist on being our Luna, we won’t accept you anymore. We’ll expel you from the pack.”

“Did I ever promise you anything? You’re no longer part of this family, and we owe you nothing,” Olivia said, her voice dripping with condescension.

Fury ignited within Chloe, and she lunged at Ryan, but he shoved her harshly to the ground, his patience clearly worn thin.

“Stop bothering me. I can’t stand the sight of you!” he spat, his disdain palpable.

Like a discarded stray, Chloe found herself crumpled on the floor, feelings of helplessness and humiliation washing over her.

Exhausted, she wandered aimlessly until she stumbled upon a quiet corner to rest, her mind racing with thoughts she never thought she’d have to confront. How had her life spiraled into such chaos?

Now, her hatred for Ryan burned brighter than ever.

In a fit of rage, she quickly typed a message, her fingers flying across the screen as she sent it out into the world.

[The Alpha of the Silvermoon Pack has been secretly meeting with other women during his engagement!]

[Alpha Ryan intentionally caused a miscarriage!]

Chloe had kept a treasure trove of incriminating photos, knowing deep down that this day might come.

These images were potent enough to ignite a media storm, drawing unwanted attention to the Silvermoon Pack and exposing their darkest secrets.

As the insults and accusations flooded her phone, Chloe felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. The very pack that had cast her aside now faced the wrath of public scrutiny, their reputation hanging by a thread.

“Since I can’t have peace, no one else will either,” she thought bitterly, a smile creeping onto her lips despite the turmoil within her.