The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 74

**Between Then and Now by Mark Twain**

**Chapter 18**

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the ocean waves, Tessa found herself reflecting on her first month aboard the cruise ship. She sat on the deck, her phone in hand, scrolling through an endless stream of captivating “news” that flickered across the screen. A surprising warmth blossomed in her heart, a feeling she had long thought lost to her.

For the first time in ages, she felt unburdened, liberated from the trivial matters that had once cast a shadow over her life. The decision to leave behind her old life and the people who had tethered her to it was proving to be a blessing.

No one could reach her now, and that was precisely what she needed.

While the ship was equipped with every luxury imaginable, there were moments when an unexpected wave of loneliness washed over her. Her wolf, Clara, was particularly despondent, weighed down by the absence of her mate.

“I miss our mate,” Clara lamented, her voice tinged with sorrow.

Tessa sighed, her tone nonchalant as she replied, “We no longer have a mate. That kind of mate isn’t worth having.”

“Do you think we’ll meet a new mate?” Clara’s voice held a glimmer of hope, a flicker of light in her otherwise gloomy demeanor.

Tessa fell silent, contemplating the question. The thought of enduring another failed relationship, of opening herself up to the possibility of betrayal once more, was daunting. Solitude, with all its quietude, felt far more appealing than risking her heart again.

This morning, the ship had docked in Naples, and the sight that greeted her was nothing short of breathtaking. The architecture was unlike anything she had ever encountered, a vivid tableau that danced perfectly with her imagination.

It was only 6 a.m., yet the world felt perfectly still, as if time itself had paused to take a breath. Seagulls wheeled overhead, their calls a sweet serenade that filled the air.

A smile crept onto Tessa’s lips, but it faltered when she turned and locked eyes with a man standing on the deck of the adjacent ship.

“Mate,” Clara whispered, disbelief coloring her voice.

Both Tessa and the man froze, caught in the moment, their gazes locked as if the universe had conspired to bring them together.

“We’ve found our new mate!” Clara exclaimed, her excitement palpable, a spark igniting within her.

Tessa was equally stunned. The serendipity of encountering her fated mate once more—especially on the same cruise—was astonishing.

She blinked, remembering the salesperson’s words from when she had purchased the cruise. There were only two ships like this in the entire world.

The vastness of existence had led them to this moment. It was destiny, woven intricately into the fabric of their lives.

Tessa studied the man before her. He exuded maturity and composure, his gaze steady as it lingered on her. She offered him a tentative smile, but before either could utter a word, the ships began to drift apart, each sailing in its own direction.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Tessa noticed the other ship had caught up with hers. There he was again, standing outside, his demeanor uncertain as he either admired the stunning view or awaited someone.

In his hand, he held a bottle of red wine, and though he wore casual attire, there was an undeniable strength and confidence in his posture that set him apart from the ordinary werewolves she had encountered.

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