Rejected Luna's Comeback

Chapter2

"Haylee" I greeted her with a smile. A fake one, of course. I hated the woman standing before me with a passion. I still couldn't figure out what kind of joke the moon goddess was playing, making her my brother's mate.

"You are finally home. I can't wait for us to bond again," Haylee said with a sickly sweet smile, which I matched with one of my own.

"Me too. I'm looking forward to it," I replied, feigning enthusiasm.

I couldn't have anybody finding out about our past. Not even Gael.

Looking at him gazing lovingly at her, I knew I had to make a sacrifice for him. Not to mention that she was heavily pregnant.

"Look at that, darling. I told you our baby would love Haylee. Of course, she's such a lovable girl. Who wouldn't love her?" My mother said, nudging my father lovingly.

Seeing how happy the family was, I could only smile and mask my pain.

I helped my mother serve lunch and we all sat around the table, enjoying the meal together.

Having my family there with me, what else could I have asked for?

Over the past years, food had never been something I enjoyed. To me, it had been more of a necessity. I only ate to keep living. But today, for the first time in years, I was actually enjoying a meal. All thanks to my family.

"Looooolaaaa!"

In the middle of lunch, an excited voice blasted through the four corners of the dining room.

Seconds later, a racing Chloe emerged, forcing me to my feet.

There was no way I was going to sit there and let that crazy woman send me flying out of my chair.

Bracing myself, I prepared to catch her, because she would absolutely throw herself into my arms. But to my surprise, she halted millimetres away from me, and I released a breath I hadn't known I was holding.

"You really are a bad friend." The first words out of her mouth were an accusation.

But she was right. I was a bad friend.

"Won't you give me a hug? It's been years," I said, attempting to placate her.

"Since you asked so nicely, I'll be magnanimous enough to hug you," Chloe replied.

I caught everyone at the table trying to stifle their laughter.

That was Chloe for you. She brought happiness everywhere she went.

"If Hunter hadn't told me you were back, I never would have known," Chloe complained.

"Surprise!" I said with exaggerated excitement, but she simply shook her head.

"Ladies, it's lunch time as you can see. Chloe, join us. You girls can catch up later," my mother interrupted, saving me.

It had completely slipped my mind to inform Chloe about my return, not that we had kept in close touch while I was in the city.

"Thanks, Aunt. I won't stand on ceremony then," Chloe replied enthusiastically, her earlier grievances already forgotten.

"Always a foodie," I whispered to myself, but being a wolf, she heard every word.

"Thanks for the reminder. I'll make sure you have nothing left to eat," she said, grinning.

Chloe took a seat opposite Gael.

I caught them occasionally glancing at each other.

Five years ago, everyone in the pack had been certain that Gael and Chloe were mates. That was until the moon goddess dealt them both a cruel hand.

Gael had found his mate and that mate was not Chloe. A year later, she found hers.

I hadn't been there when all of it unfolded, but I could tell from the awkward tension hanging over lunch that there was still bitterness between them. It made little sense to me though, considering they had each found their own mate. If my guess was right, something had happened between them that went beyond the disappointment of not being chosen. Since I couldn't ask my brother about it, Chloe would be the one to fill me in.

After lunch, Chloe dragged me to my room.

Watching her settle in, you would have thought the room was hers and not mine.

"I know what you're thinking. Don't worry, your room is my room," Chloe announced the moment she locked the door.

I could only shake my head helplessly.

"Feels so good to be home," I said absently, gazing around the room. It was exactly as I had left it five years ago.

"Yeah. Home to finally face the skeletons in your closet," Chloe retorted.

"When you say it like that, it sounds horrible," I said, smiling nervously.

She wasn't wrong though. It was about time I buried the past and started afresh.

"That's a fact you can't erase. So what do you plan to do?" Chloe's question caught me completely off guard.

What did I plan to do? Did I even have a plan?

"Honestly, I'm clueless. I'm still figuring it out, but one thing is certain, I have to put a stop to all this madness and focus on my future," I replied.

I might not have had a solid plan, but I was sure of one thing. I would finish what had been left undone five years ago.

"That's the spirit, girl. Show that asshole that you are better off without him. Make him regret every wrong he did you. You're a woman of talent and beauty and that should be known across all the land." Chloe’s words brought a smile to my face.

"Is he your sworn enemy and not your brother?" I asked, perplexed at the heat behind her words.

"He is my brother, by blood but beyond that, nothing binds us. On the other hand, I have you. My sworn sister."

That was what Chloe and I were to each other. Sworn sisters. Our bond went all the way back to when we were pups.

"So tell me, do you have a boyfriend?" Chloe's question made me choke on my own saliva.

What in the world?

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I can tell you're still a virgin. Do you intend to die one?" she asked, making me cough awkwardly.

She had always been blunt, but did she have any idea how mortifying her bluntness could be?

"I've been busy with studies and work. I haven't had time for that kind of thing," I answered quickly.

Dating had never even crossed my mind.

After being rejected by the one the moon goddess had chosen for you, where exactly was a person supposed to find the confidence to open their heart to someone else?

"Don't worry, you're back just in time. Today is Gael's birthday and there are plenty of handsome, eligible bachelors attending the party tonight. Six o'clock, I'll be here to get you ready for your first day of suitor hunting," Chloe declared, her voice brimming with excitement.

"Suitor hunting?" I repeated, already horrified.