The Rejected Luna

Chapter 4

_Avery's POV_

The night before the wedding felt like a dream I couldn’t wake up from. The pack hall was decorated with shimmering lights, flowers, and deep blue drapes. Everywhere I looked, people were laughing and celebrating. It was supposed to be a grand pre-wedding ball for Kaden and me, a way to honor the next Alpha and his mate. But I felt like a stranger in the room. I was watching my own life play out from a distance.

My silver dress sparkled in the candlelight, but I barely felt like myself. I stood beside Kaden, who looked just as perfect as always. He wore a fitted black suit, and his hair was neatly combed back. Yet, he barely looked at me. His eyes were cold, distant, as if he was somewhere else completely.

And I knew exactly where his heart was.

As we greeted guests, I noticed Kaden’s gaze kept drifting to the far side of the hall. Following his line of sight, I spotted Anna, standing in the corner. She wore a beautiful red dress that hugged her curves, her dark hair falling in waves around her shoulders. She looked sad and her eyes were fixed on Kaden. Seeing her hurt, and I could feel the pain in my own chest. I was the reason for her sadness. I was the one tearing her away from the man she loved.

Luna Maria came over to me. "You look lovely, Avery," she said, her voice full of warmth. She hugged me and I forced a small smile. I wanted to say thank you, to be polite, but my voice felt trapped.

I excused myself and wandered out onto the terrace to get some air. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, when I noticed a shadow moving in the garden below. My heart sped up as I watched Kaden step out into the moonlight, his gaze intense as he looked around, searching. And then, from the corner of my eye, I saw her—Anna. She slipped outside quietly, following him.

I stayed hidden in the shadows, watching as they met in the middle of the garden. The moonlight cast a soft glow over them, making them look like they belonged in a different world—a world without me.

Kaden reached out, gently taking Anna’s hands in his. His voice was a soft whisper but I could still hear him.

"Anna, I don’t know how I am supposed to live without you," he murmured. "You are the only one I love. This—" he gestured back toward the hall, "—none of it matters to me without you."

Anna’s eyes filled with tears. "Kaden, we can’t keep doing this. You are supposed to be with Avery. She is your mate."

He shook his head, his voice low and desperate. "I don’t care, Anna. I’ll find a way out of this. Once I become Alpha, I’ll find a way to be with you. I can’t live my life chained to someone I don’t love."

The words cut through me like a knife. I clutched the edge of the stone railing, trying to keep myself steady. His promise to Anna felt like a betrayal all over again. Here I was, ready to give him everything, even if it meant living with his coldness. And he was planning to leave me as soon as he could.

I wanted to cry, to scream, but I stayed silent, frozen in place. Just then, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see Alpha Elias and Luna Maria, their eyes fixed on Kaden and Anna. They had seen it all.

Alpha Elias marched down to them, his face red with anger. "Kaden! What do you think you’re doing?" His voice was a harsh whisper, but it was filled with fury.

Kaden turned, startled, his grip on Anna loosening. "Father, I..."

Elias shook his head, cutting him off. "You’re publicly humiliating your mate—our family—and the entire pack! Is this what you call honor?"

Luna Maria stepped forward, her voice pleading. "Kaden, please, think about what you are doing. Avery is your fated mate. You can’t treat her like this."

Kaden’s face twisted with anger and desperation. He looked back at me, and I could feel his frustration. "I never wanted Avery, Mother. I wanted Anna. But you forced this on me! I don’t care about this bond. I only care about Anna."

My heart broke all over again. I stepped forward, finding strength I didn’t know I had. My voice was calm even though I felt like I was shattering inside.

"Kaden," I said quietly. He looked at me, and for the first time, I saw regret flicker in his eyes. But it wasn’t enough. Not anymore. "I release you from this bond."

The words hung in the air, shocking everyone. I kept my gaze steady, looking into his eyes. "I won’t stand here and force you to be with me when it’s clear that your heart belongs to someone else. I don’t deserve this, and neither do you. So, I release you."

“I, Avery Williams, reject you, Kaden Montague as my mate. I take the Moon Goddess as my witness.”

Kaden turned to me, his eyes wide with shock, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He just stared, his gaze locked onto mine, and I could see something flicker in his eyes—a flash of regret, or maybe a hint of pain. I couldn’t tell. But he looked at me for a long time, as if he were searching for something, and I felt the weight of our bond cracking, the ache of separation settling into my bones.

The silence stretched, my heart pounding as I waited. I thought maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t accept it. That he would feel the pull of our bond, that something inside him might change. But then he took a deep breath and his eyes hardened.

“I, Kaden Montague accept your rejection, Avery Williams,” he said. And just like that, it was over.

Pain surged through me, a burning ache I hadn’t expected. It was like part of my soul was being torn away. But I forced myself to stand tall, even as the bond unraveled, even as the hurt crashed over me. I had done what I had to do. I was free, even if freedom meant walking away from the love I had once wanted so desperately.

Alpha Elias and Luna Maria watched in stunned silence. Alpha Elias nodded, his gaze softening as he looked at me. “Avery,” he said quietly, “you have shown strength tonight. I’m sorry for what you have been put through.”

I nodded. “Thank you, Alpha.”

With that, I turned away, leaving them all behind. I walked back into the hall, past the decorations and the guests, past the life I had thought I wanted. I felt each step like a final goodbye, as I let go of the dreams I had once held onto so tightly.