The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 90

**Chapter 6**

**Selene’s POV**

A simple smile graced my lips, a mask of serenity that concealed the turmoil within.

There was no nod of agreement, nor a shake of dissent—just silence enveloping me like a shroud.

In the grand scheme of things, it had become utterly inconsequential.

Julian Blake had made his choice, and that choice did not include me.

Whether I consented or not, my opinion had become a mere whisper lost in the wind.

And the pup he so affectionately mentioned…

That pup didn’t exist.

Not for ages.

But he was blissfully unaware.

At least, not yet.

To mark Claire’s return to the Pack, a small Moon Banquet had been arranged—a celebration held beneath the vast expanse of twinkling stars, with long, elegantly set tables gracing the open courtyard of the Pack House.

Torches flickered in the gathering dusk, casting warm, golden halos around the wolves who laughed and raised their goblets in joyous toasts.

Julian, still burdened by the guilt of taking the estate from me, suggested we attend the banquet together, as if that would somehow mend the rift between us.

Claire had personally extended the invitation, her voice dripping with sweetness, as if she were offering me a slice of cake rather than a reminder of my losses.

With a practiced emptiness, I accepted, my smile remaining fixed and unyielding.

As the banquet commenced, servers glided gracefully through the crowd, presenting platter after platter of mouthwatering dishes, while goblets of rich, velvety wine were passed around like cherished secrets among the guests.

I kept my gaze lowered, meticulously cutting my meat, resolute in my determination to navigate the evening without incident.

But Claire had other intentions.

Leaning across the table, her voice rose just high enough to ensure that the nearest guests caught every word.

“You know,” she began, swirling her wine with an air of elegance, “even if he gave the house to you first, Selene, anything I desire, Julian still grants me.”

Her smile sparkled with a brightness that felt almost predatory, her eyes glinting with sharpness that could cut through the thickest tension.

Around us, a few wolves shifted uncomfortably in their seats, pretending to be engrossed in their conversations, yet unable to ignore the charged atmosphere.

Claire’s gaze locked onto mine, a malicious delight dancing in her irises, as if she relished the power she wielded in that moment.

“Sweet little Selene,” she cooed, her tone dripping with mockery. “You’re still clinging to hope, aren’t you? Still dreaming that you’ll matter more than just a fleeting fancy?”

I continued to eat, my heart a fortress against her taunts, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction.

“Be smart,” Claire said softly, her voice almost honeyed, as if she were offering me sage advice. “Sever the bond while you still have some dignity left. Don’t wait until Julian tires of you and tosses you aside like yesterday’s leftovers.”

I placed my knife and fork down with deliberate care, wiping the corners of my mouth with precision, a semblance of calmness enveloping me.

Only then did I lift my eyes to meet hers, unwavering.

“Are you finished?” I inquired, my voice cool and unaffected, as if we were discussing the weather rather than our intertwined fates.

The tranquility in my tone clearly rattled her.

She opened her mouth, ready to unleash another wave of venom—

but then, in a heartbeat, her expression shifted.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted movement—Julian was returning, having just finished a phone call.

In an instant, Claire’s smugness morphed into frantic calculation, and without a moment’s hesitation, she snatched a goblet filled with steaming broth from the table and splashed it onto herself, letting out an exaggerated shriek.

“Ahhh!”

Her cry sliced through the night, silencing the conversations around us like a sudden gust of wind.

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