The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 93

**Between Then and Now by Mark Twain**
**Chapter 9**

**Selene’s POV**

I stood there, my heart heavy yet strangely buoyant, as I watched Julian’s silhouette gradually shrink into the distance, disappearing beyond the imposing gates. The moment his figure vanished completely, I turned away, stepping back into the hollow silence of the house that had once felt so alive.

As I lay down on the cool sheets of my bed, the stillness was abruptly broken by the glow of my phone lighting up on the bedside table. I glanced at the screen, curiosity prickling at my thoughts. A message from Claire.

Despite the turmoil swirling within me, I couldn’t resist the urge to peek. With a swift motion, I opened the message, and my breath hitched as I saw a screenshot—an exchange between Claire and Julian.

Claire: “Julian, I found some old love letters I wrote you. Want to come and see them? If not, I’ll just burn them.”

Julian’s response was almost instantaneous, as if he had been waiting for this moment:

“Don’t burn them. Wait for me.”

My grip tightened around the phone, my knuckles whitening. He had promised he would return soon, yet here I was, grappling with the gnawing silence that stretched over the next two days. No calls, no messages—just the oppressive quiet that filled the void he left behind.

But perhaps it didn’t matter anymore. The final day of the Mate Bond cooling period had arrived, and with it, a sense of liberation. I picked up my phone, my heart racing as I dialed Attorney Li.

“The moon cycle is complete,” I stated, my voice steady. “Is the Severance finalized?”

“Yes,” came the bright, professional reply, the words ringing with finality. “The Pack Elders have ratified the Bond Severance. Congratulations, Miss Hartwell—you’re free.”

“Thank you,” I replied softly, the weight of the words settling over me like a warm blanket.

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, a genuine smile broke across my lips, illuminating my face with a lightness I thought I had lost. Ending the call, another name flashed across my screen: Ethan Caldwell.

In that moment, Julian’s voice echoed mockingly in my mind: “Stay away from Ethan. I know what other men want.” I shook off the thought, determined not to let his words dictate my life any longer. I answered the call, my voice steady.

“Senior Brother,” I greeted, a hint of warmth creeping into my tone.

Nothing Julian had ever said could shackle me from living my life. He no longer held that power over me.

“Selene,” Ethan’s voice was like a comforting embrace, warm and steady. “The moon cycle’s up. Are you ready to depart?”

A real, unburdened smile spread across my face. “I am,” I replied, feeling a surge of excitement. “I can leave today.”

“Good,” he said simply, his tone reassuring. “I’ll be waiting.”

After we hung up, I changed into a fresh, simple outfit, the fabric feeling light against my skin as I prepared to leave for the Pack Syndicate Office. Just as I reached the door, it swung open unexpectedly.

There stood Julian, clad in a black overcoat that seemed to absorb the cold winter air around him. Time froze for a moment as our eyes met—his expression caught between surprise and a wistful longing that tugged at my heart.

I laid it carefully on the velvet-lined tray before the Elder, my heart pounding in my chest. The severance ritual was simple yet irrevocable. Once the Crest was returned, my name would be struck from the Blake Pack lineage records. I would hold no claim, no rights—no chains binding me to the past.

The Elder pressed the final seal onto the Severance Certificate, a soft glow pulsing across the parchment, sealing my fate with ancient magic. It was done. Truly done.

Returning to the house one last time, I found Julian’s copy of the Severance Certificate waiting for him and placed it neatly on the living room table. I texted him, my fingers trembling slightly:

“I picked up something for you. It’s on the table.”

Seconds later, his reply came, warm yet laced with the familiar undertones of expectation: “Wait for me. We’ll look at the pup’s report together.”

I stared at the message for what felt like an eternity, the weight of his words pressing down on me. Then, without hesitation, I removed my phone’s SIM card, snapped it in half, and dropped it into the trash.

My luggage had been packed for days, ready for this moment. I wheeled it through the empty halls of the house, each step feeling lighter, as if the burdens of the past were being shed with every movement.

At the front door, I paused for just a moment, glancing back at the walls that had witnessed three years of my life. Three years filled with dreams, promises, and ultimately, betrayals.

“Julian Blake,” I whispered into the stillness of the house, my voice barely above a breath. “From today forward, you’re free. And so am I.”

“Goodbye.”

Without a second glance, I stepped into the night, the cool air wrapping around me like a promise. And this time, I didn’t just leave. I had no intention of ever returning.