The Rejected Luna

I didn’t mean to tell him. Not all of it. Maybe just a piece.

But once I started… the words wouldn’t stop.

We moved to the sitting room off the kitchen. He didn’t push or prod. Just sat there, legs slightly apart, forearms resting on his thighs, watching me like I was something precious. Like he was giving me the space to break, if I wanted to.

But I wouldn’t break. I was past that now.

“My parents hated me,” I said, voice steady. “Or maybe they didn’t. Maybe they just hated the fact that I existed. I don’t remember when it started — I just remember that one day I stopped looking them in the eye and started apologizing for breathing.”

Lorenzo’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing.

“I was blamed for things I didn’t do. Beaten for things I never said. Ignored when I screamed for help. And when I finally thought I’d get a piece of happiness—my mate—it was him.”

His eyes darkened. “Luke.”

I nodded slowly.

“I thought maybe things would change then. That the Moon Goddess would fix it all. That she made a mistake, giving me that life, and this was her way of fixing it. But no. He rejected me. Called me filth. Accused me of murdering his mother.”

Lorenzo’s head lifted. “You didn’t?”

I gave a humorless laugh. “I couldn’t even stand up for myself when someone told me the necklace I wore since birth wasn’t mine. I was a shadow. Do you really think I had the strength to poison the Luna? The only person who ever defended me?”

His expression turned dangerous. Not at me. For me.

“They all believed Lisa,” I continued. “Because why wouldn’t they? She smiled sweet, lied easily, and had everyone wrapped around her fake little claws. And I… I was the broken girl hiding in the corner, waiting to be stepped on.”

Silence stretched between us. He was still. Too still. Like any moment he’d go find every single person who ever laid a hand on me and tear them limb from limb.

“I don’t need pity,” I said softly, almost as a warning.

“I’m not giving you any,” he murmured. “What I feel for you isn’t pity. It’s respect. Fury. Maybe something worse. Or better.”

That made me look at him.

His eyes didn’t waver. “You survived what most would’ve let destroy them. And you didn’t just survive—you became someone stronger. That’s not weak, Allyssia. That’s power.”

My throat tightened.

And for the first time, I didn’t feel embarrassed for the tears that welled in my eyes.

I was still learning how to cry without shame.

“Thank you,” I said, barely above a whisper.

His hand reached for mine.

And I let him hold it.

His hand still lingered against mine, his warmth tucked into my skin like a secret. I hadn’t wanted to move. Not yet. Not from that comfort. Not from him.

Then the door slammed open.

“Ally!” Nixy burst into the room, panting, hair wild like she'd sprinted across the house. “We’ve got something. A lead—fresh tracks, matching the markings. Rose and Ellian are already there.”

Lorenzo was on his feet before I could fully process her words, tension radiating from him like a storm about to break. He didn’t even hesitate.

“I’m coming,” he said firmly, already moving to grab his coat.

I blinked. “You don’t have to—”

“Yes, I do.” He cut me off, his voice low and final. “You think I’m going to let my mate walk into danger without me? Not happening.”

My heart skipped. Not because he called me his mate. He’d done that before.

But because this time… it didn’t sound like a claim.

It sounded like a promise.

My wolf howled in agreement, already eager for his presence, his protection, his everything.

I shoved that thought down.

“Let’s go, then,” I muttered, already moving past him, ignoring the warmth blooming in my chest like an idiot flower. “Time to see who’s been stupid enough to play games with this pack.”

Lorenzo fell into step beside me. Our stride matched, like muscle memory we didn’t know we had. Behind us, Nixy smirked, clearly catching the shift in air.

There was danger waiting out there.

And for once, I didn’t feel alone walking into it.