The Silent Luna's Trial (Maple and Finn) novel Chapter 62

Chapter 8

Tessa felt no desire to confront anyone. Engaging in arguments seemed utterly pointless to her. All she wanted was to leave this place as swiftly as possible. Each passing minute only made her stomach twist tighter with unease.

“The ship is scheduled to arrive early this morning. Would you prefer to board later in the day, or…?” the attendant began to ask.

Before the sentence could finish, Tessa cut in sharply, “I’ll take the earliest departure.”

“Very well. We’ll be waiting for you,” the attendant replied with a polite nod.

With Ryan gone, there was little left for her to manage. She carefully packed up her belongings and arranged for them to be sent ahead, leaving behind only Ryan’s things. The news of their mating ceremony had already spread like wildfire among the packs. Her phone buzzed incessantly with messages:

“Congratulations on your wedding!”

“Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together!”

“I always knew you and Alpha Ryan were meant to be.”

Endless streams of well-wishes poured in—nothing more than formal pleasantries. Tessa stared at the screen, her eyes stinging with unshed tears.

Wedding? That word felt like a cruel joke. She couldn’t bring herself to respond to a single message. Becoming Ryan’s Luna had never been a role she desired.

Alone, she visited the venue where the ceremony was to take place. Her gaze roamed over the lavish floral arrangements—ornate and beautiful, exactly the kind she had once dreamed of. But the people standing beside her in those dreams had changed long ago.

She looked at the photographs displayed—smiling faces, radiant and joyful. Without warning, she ripped one of the wedding photos to shreds.

Nearby, an attendant watched silently as Tessa’s cold voice cut through the quiet. “Take all of these down. I don’t want to see any of them.”

The attendant didn’t question her, assuming only that she was unhappy.

“Why are you throwing a tantrum? You’re about to become Luna of the pack; you should behave with more maturity,” a familiar voice said from behind.

Tessa turned to see Audrey standing there. From childhood, Audrey had always pressured her to be the perfect Luna, while Chloe had been allowed to be carefree and lively. Tessa had long since grown numb to Audrey’s constant criticisms.

Audrey scoffed and pulled a small gift box from her purse. “This is your new mating ceremony gift.”

Tessa blinked in surprise. Had her mother ever given her anything before? Her emotions tangled in confusion, but she waited until Audrey left before opening it.

Inside lay a dazzling diamond necklace. For a moment, she simply stared at it, a cold, bitter smile fixed on her lips.

She recognized it immediately. Audrey had given the same necklace to Chloe on her fifth birthday. When Audrey noticed Tessa admired it, she had promised to give it to her on her tenth birthday.

But that promise had stretched on for over a decade.

Chloe had received it effortlessly, while Tessa had waited years. When she finally earned her own paycheck as an adult, she had bought the necklace herself.

“Sorry, but Ryan and I’s mating ceremony has been canceled. Please attend the ceremony for Ryan and Chloe instead.”

Attached were photos of Ryan and Chloe together—captured during their frequent meetings, arranged discreetly by a photographer.

Once she boarded the ship, the message would send automatically. It was her final gift to them.

Half an hour later, she stood before the cruise ship, identical to the model she had seen earlier.

“Miss, where would you like to go?” the attendant asked.

Tessa gazed out at the dark, endless ocean. Its depths were hidden beneath the waves, but ahead lay new beginnings.

“To Naples,” she answered quietly.

As the ship pulled away from the shore, she reached into her pocket and tossed her phone’s SIM card into the sea.

She didn’t want anyone to find her.

Her thoughts tumbled in a chaotic whirl, her lashes trembling slightly with unshed tears.

She knew she would never return to this place again.