The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 80

80 /135

**Chapter 24**

“What did you just say?”

“Alpha King?”

“Our Alpha King?”

Aaron stood high above, rage simmering within him as he gazed down, his eyes taking on an almost predatory gleam as he observed Ryan being restrained by the warriors. Each pulse of fury coursed through him, igniting the wolf inside that had been lying dormant.

“Is this the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack who dared to betray my mate?” he demanded, locking his fierce gaze onto Ryan, who was struggling against the grip of the warriors.

“You’re the one who took in your future Luna Queen, yet treated her with such disdain—the Luna of the Blood Moon Pack?” His voice dripped with contempt, each word a dagger aimed directly at Ryan’s heart.

The usual kindness that often colored Aaron’s demeanor had evaporated, replaced by an overwhelming presence of authority that filled the air with tension.

Ryan and Audrey bowed their heads, silence engulfing them like a thick fog.

Tessa, who had been privy to Aaron’s true identity for some time, had refrained from bringing it up, not wanting their personal feelings to cloud the gravity of the situation. She had hoped to keep their worlds separate, but now it seemed impossible.

With a gentle smile directed at Tessa, Aaron instinctively moved to shield her from the unfolding drama.

“If you wish, we can hold each of them accountable for their actions,” he proposed, his voice steady and unwavering.

“I could strip him of his Alpha title and banish him from the pack, or perhaps I could imprison your biological parents in the dungeon for the way they have treated you,” he added, his expression icy, as if he relished the thought of seeing them thrown from the pack.

“Let me take care of this,” he insisted, his tone brooking no argument.

Sensing the escalating tension, Tessa stepped forward, her voice calm yet firm. “Aaron, please don’t worry. I can handle this.” She took a deep breath, guiding Ryan and Audrey outside, away from the intensity of the moment.

“Can you just stop causing chaos?” Tessa’s voice cut through the air, a mixture of frustration and hurt lacing her words. “Now that I’ve left the pack, are you still not letting me go?”

“Is it truly enjoyable for you to keep harassing me? It feels like nothing but hypocrisy!”

Each word dripped with the anger she had kept bottled up for far too long.

If she were to be completely honest, she loathed them. The pain they had inflicted upon her was a heavy weight she had carried for years, and it felt unbearable.

Audrey trembled as she looked at Tessa, tears cascading down her cheeks, each drop a testament to the sorrow she felt.

Tessa halted, her heart momentarily softening. It was the first time she had ever witnessed her mother in such a vulnerable state, and for a fleeting moment, she wondered—was Audrey crying for her?

But that thought quickly faded; it no longer felt significant.

“Tessa, will you come back with me?” Audrey’s voice was softer now, devoid of the sharpness it had held moments before. “Mom misses you.”

For twenty long years, Audrey had never spoken to Tessa with such tenderness—only to Chloe.

Tessa had yearned for that kind of affection, but now, it felt irrelevant.

She softened her tone just a fraction. “I’m not going back. What’s so wonderful about that house?”

Deep down, she understood that her mother’s offer was not born out of love but rather out of the realization that Tessa was her biological daughter.

But for Tessa, it was too late.

At five, she had given her mother her cherished Barbie doll, hoping to bring a smile to her face. Audrey had accepted it, and Tessa had beamed with joy throughout the day. Yet, the very next morning, the doll had ended up in Chloe’s hands.