The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 89

**Chapter 5**

**Selene’s POV**

Julian bent down, his fingers poised to grasp the fallen scroll, but before he could make contact, my hand darted forward, seizing it and clutching it tightly against my chest. The movement was instinctive, driven by a mix of urgency and protectiveness.

His gaze followed the motion, settling on the parchment now cradled in my arms as if it were something precious. I could see the flicker of understanding wash over his features, illuminating his expression with a hint of recognition.

“That’s the document you asked me to sign last time, isn’t it?” he remarked, a smile breaking across his face, relief evident in his tone.

In that moment, I realized he hadn’t fully grasped the significance of what I held. I nodded, a sense of weight lifting from my chest, even as a bitter tide surged behind it, threatening to overwhelm me.

Julian chuckled softly, the tension in his body dissipating like mist in the morning sun. “Why are you treating it like such a treasure?” he teased playfully. “I told you, Selene. Anything I gave you is yours. I can handle whatever it means.”

I remained silent, my heart racing, fearful that if I opened my mouth, the truths buried deep within would come pouring out like a dam breaking. Instead, I opted for a safer route, diverting the conversation.

“You mentioned you got me a gift,” I said, striving to keep my voice light and airy, masking the turmoil within. “What is it?”

His face lit up immediately, a spark igniting in his eyes. “Come on, I’ll show you,” he exclaimed, reaching into the drawer and pulling out a set of jangling keys.

With a playful flourish, he jangled them in front of me before leading me outside, the anticipation palpable in the air. Our destination was a newly constructed estate nestled on the outskirts of the Pack’s residential territory, a place that felt both foreign and enticing.

As we approached the front gates, I felt his hand resting lightly on my lower back, guiding me with a warmth that sent shivers down my spine. “You always said the old house felt too formal, too cold,” he said, his voice rich with affection. “So I bought a new one. Designed everything the way you like.”

As we strolled through the back garden, I was taken aback by a breathtaking sight—an ocean of violet orchids swaying gently in the breeze, their delicate petals dancing to a rhythm only they could hear.

My breath caught in my throat, a wave of nostalgia washing over me. Butterfly orchids—my absolute favorite.

“I remembered you liked them,” Julian murmured softly beside me, his presence a comforting anchor. “So I had the entire garden transplanted.”

He led me further into the heart of the house. At the end of a wide corridor, he pushed open a door, revealing a nursery that overflowed with soft furniture, tiny clothes, and toys crafted from the finest materials. It was a scene straight from a dream, yet it felt surreal.

Standing behind me, Julian wrapped his arms around my waist, his breath warm against my ear as he spoke, his voice low and filled with the visions of a future he had meticulously woven in his mind. “When our pup is born, this will be his room,” he murmured, his tone infused with hope. “Close enough that we can watch over him, but far enough that we’ll still have our time together.”

He pressed a gentle kiss to my temple, a gesture so tender it almost broke me. “Have you thought about a name?” he asked, his voice almost shy, as if the question held the weight of the world. “I was thinking… you’re Selene, and I love everything about you. Maybe we can name him Soren, or if it’s a girl, perhaps something like Seren.”

He chuckled softly, the sound warm and inviting. But I didn’t join in his laughter.

For a fleeting moment, his calm facade cracked, revealing the turmoil beneath. If it had been any other house, I knew he would have agreed without a second thought. And if it had been a few days ago—before guilt had begun to gnaw at him—he might have hesitated just a little longer.

But it was Claire. Of course, it was Claire.

Claire, who knew precisely how to tilt her head, how to let her voice tremble at just the right moment to elicit sympathy.

“Julian, please,” she implored, her voice dipping into a soft whimper that dripped with feigned vulnerability. “I love this place so much. It’s exactly what I dreamed of. Please, just this once?”

Julian hesitated, his fingers twitching against my side as if caught in a web of indecision. I closed my eyes for a brief second, bracing myself for the inevitable.

Then he sighed, the sound heavy with resignation, and nodded.

“Alright,” he said, his voice low and almost apologetic. “You can have it.”

He turned toward me, guilt etched deeply in his eyes. “Selene,” he said gently, “the pup’s not born yet. We’ll find another house. One just like this. I promise.”

But those words hung between us, brittle and empty, like promises made in the dead of winter—crumbling at the slightest touch.