The Rejected Luna

Chapter 6

_Avery's POV_

As I sat in the car, staring out the window, I couldn't stop my thoughts from drifting. The pack house was slowly fading in the distance, and all I could do was wonder how different my life would be if the Moon Goddess had chosen someone else for me. Maybe then, I would have been happy. Maybe then, I wouldn’t be sitting here, leaving behind everything I had known and loved.

But that wasn’t my story. I had been given a mate, and I had loved him fiercely. I had dreamed of a future with him, of building a life together. And yet, here I was, on my way to the airport, on my way to a new life, alone. It was rare, so rare, for a werewolf to get a second chance mate. I knew my luck, and I knew the chances were low. I would be alone.

For a moment, a cold shiver ran through me. The thought of living the rest of my life without that kind of connection, that deep, unbreakable bond, it hurt. But I couldn’t let myself stay trapped in that sadness. I had to move forward. I had to focus on what I could still create for myself.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I was going to college. A whole new world was waiting for me. Maybe I would meet new people, make friends, and build a life that was just for me. I had always wanted to study engineering, to work on projects that made the world better in some small way. Now, I had that chance.

The car ride felt endless, but I forced myself to think about the future. I would pour everything into my studies. I would make something of myself. The ache in my chest was still there, but the further we drove, the more determined I felt. I didn’t know what lay ahead, but I knew I had to make it count.

The airport was loud and busy, a mix of voices and footsteps echoing through the halls. I felt a little nervous, standing there with my ticket in hand, watching the crowd move around me. But when I boarded the plane and sank into my seat, a strange calm settled over me. I was really doing this. I was leaving, starting fresh.

The flight was long but comfortable. The steady hum of the plane’s engine was oddly soothing, and for the first time in a long time, I felt a hint of excitement. When we landed, I looked out the window, my heart racing a little as I saw the sign. "Welcome to Sweden."

A smile crept onto my face. This was it. My new home, at least for the next three years. I stepped out of the airport, the cold air hitting me, fresh and crisp. The scenery was breathtakingly different from what I was used to. Snow-capped mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks glittering in the sunlight. The air smelled different, clean and sharp, and the ground was dusted with a light layer of snow.

I looked around, taking it all in. The mountains were beautiful, tall and silent, and they made me feel small in the best way. The trees were dense and dark, stretching out toward the horizon, and there were frozen lakes scattered across the land. Everything felt so open, so vast.

I climbed into the taxi that was waiting for me, giving the driver the address of my apartment. We drove along narrow roads lined with tall trees, the snow crunching softly under the tires. I pressed my face to the window, watching as we passed by small houses with steep, sloping roofs. I had never seen anything like this back home. The land was quiet, almost peaceful, and the mountains stood like silent guardians.

When we arrived at the apartment building, I grabbed my suitcase, thanked the driver, and looked up at the small building. It wasn’t big or fancy, but it looked cozy. I climbed the stairs, my footsteps echoing in the empty hallways, and finally reached the door to my new home.

I turned the key and stepped inside. The apartment was small, with a tiny kitchen, a living room, and a bedroom tucked off to the side. The walls were painted a soft cream color, and the furniture was simple but comfortable. There was a big window in the living room, and when I walked over, I could see the mountains in the distance, their snowy peaks sparkling in the afternoon sun.

I set my suitcase down and sat on the couch, taking a deep breath. For the first time in a long time, I felt a strange sense of peace. I was far from the pack, far from Kaden, far from all the memories that had haunted me. Here, I could start over.

There was a small knock on the door, and I jumped, my heart racing. I opened it to find an elderly woman standing there. She was smiling kindly.

"Hello, dear," she said in a warm, accented voice. "I am your neighbor, Ingrid. I just wanted to welcome you to the building."

"Thank you," I replied, smiling shyly. "It’s nice to meet you."

She handed me a small basket filled with homemade pastries. "A little welcome gift. And if you ever need anything, just knock on my door, alright?"

"Thank you so much," I said, touched by her kindness.

She patted my arm gently. "Take care, dear. It’s a new beginning for you, I can see it in your eyes. You’ll do just fine here."

After she left, I sat back down on the couch, looking around the apartment again. The loneliness still lingered, but now, it felt different. It didn’t feel like something I couldn’t bear. It felt like an empty space that I could slowly fill with new memories, new experiences.

I unpacked my suitcase, hanging my clothes in the small closet and arranging my things on the shelves. Each item I unpacked felt like a small piece of me finding its place. I was building a new home here, one that was just mine.

That night, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The silence was comforting, and the faint glow from the streetlamp outside cast a soft light through the window. I thought about all the dreams I had once had, the life I had imagined with Kaden. And then I thought about the life I was beginning now, a life that was mine and mine alone.

In the quiet darkness, I whispered to myself, “I’ll be okay. I’ll make something of this.” And for the first time, I truly believed it.

The next day, I would explore the town, get to know the people, and start preparing for school. I had a future here, and I was ready to live it.