The Rejected Luna

Chapter Two:A Family's Shame

Selene didn't remember climbing the stairs.

Her feet carried her to the small bedroom at the end of the hallway while her mind remained trapped inside the dressmaker's shop.

"The Alpha Prince deserves someone beautiful."

"She'd need three times the fabric."

"The Moon Goddess would never choose someone like her."

Every word replayed inside her head, refusing to fade.

She quietly closed the bedroom door behind her.

The cheerful voices downstairs became distant, replaced by a silence that somehow hurt even more.

Her room was the smallest in the Ashcroft mansion.

It had a narrow bed, a cracked mirror hanging crookedly on the wall, a tiny wardrobe that had belonged to one of the servants years ago, and a single window overlooking the back garden.

No fresh flowers.

No expensive furniture.

Nothing that resembled the room of a noble family's daughter.

Selene rested her forehead against the door and closed her eyes.

She told herself she was used to this.

She had been hearing those insults since she was a little girl.

So why...

Why did they still hurt?

After a long moment, she walked to the old wardrobe and pulled out the blue dress her mother had mentioned.

Her fingers gently brushed over the faded fabric.

It used to be beautiful.

She still remembered the day Father had bought it for her.

She had been thirteen.

He had smiled as she twirled around the living room.

"My little girl looks like a princess."

That was the last time he had ever bought her a dress.

The memory made her chest tighten.

Slowly, she slipped out of her clothes and pulled the blue dress over her head.

She reached behind her back for the zipper.

It moved halfway before stopping.

Selene frowned.

She took a deep breath and pulled harder.

Nothing.

"Come on..."

She sucked in her stomach and tried again.

The zipper climbed another inch.

Hope flickered inside her.

Maybe...

Maybe it would fit after all.

She pulled one last time.

Rrrip.

The sound echoed through the quiet room.

Selene froze.

Her heartbeat stopped.

Slowly...

Very slowly...

She reached beneath her arm.

Her fingertips brushed against torn fabric.

The seam had split open.

She stared at herself in the mirror.

The tear stretched from beneath her arm almost to her waist.

For a long moment, she couldn't breathe.

Then she looked away.

A bitter smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

"So..."

She whispered to herself.

"It finally gave up too."

She carefully took the dress off as though she were afraid it would tear even more.

Once it was folded neatly on the bed, she sat beside it.

Her hands rested in her lap.

She stared at the dress without blinking.

Tomorrow was the Moon Festival.

Every unmated wolf dreamed of tomorrow.

Some hoped to meet their fated mate.

Others dreamed of dancing beneath the full moon.

Girls spent months preparing for this night.

New dresses.

New jewelry.

Perfect hairstyles.

Selene had spent months pretending she wasn't excited.

Because hope was dangerous.

Hope only made disappointment hurt more.

A tear escaped before she could stop it.

It landed on the faded blue fabric.

She quickly wiped it away.

"No."

She shook her head.

"I'm not crying over a dress."

Another tear followed.

Then another.

She laughed quietly at herself.

"What a liar."

A knock sounded at the door.

Selene immediately wiped her face with the back of her hand.

"Come in."

The door opened.

Vivienne stepped inside carrying the silver gown from the dressmaker's shop.

She looked around the tiny bedroom before wrinkling her nose.

"I always forget how small this room is."

Selene stood.

"What do you want?"

Vivienne's eyes drifted toward the torn blue dress lying on the bed.

Her lips slowly curved into a smile.

"Oh..."

"What happened?"

Selene quickly folded the torn side beneath the dress.

"Nothing."

Vivienne walked closer anyway.

Without asking permission, she picked it up.

She examined the torn seam before letting out a soft sigh.

"I knew it."

Selene frowned.

"Knew what?"

"That it wouldn't fit anymore."

She ran her fingers over the ripped fabric.

"I actually told Mother not to bother giving it to you."

Selene looked at her.

"What?"

Vivienne smiled sadly.

"I told her you'd only embarrass yourself."

For a brief second...

Selene almost believed she sounded concerned.

Then Vivienne tilted her head and added softly,

"I guess I was right."

Selene reached for the dress.

"Give it back."

Vivienne held it just out of reach.

"You know..."

Her eyes slowly traveled over Selene's body.

"You've changed so much."

Selene said nothing.

"I still remember when we were children."

Vivienne chuckled.

"You were always stealing sweets from the kitchen."

"I wasn't."

"No?"

Vivienne laughed.

"Then I suppose you became like this overnight."

The room fell silent.

Selene lowered her eyes.

"I didn't ask for this."

"I know."

Vivienne's smile remained.

"But the rest of the pack doesn't."

She gently laid the torn dress back on the bed, smoothing the wrinkled fabric with the palm of her hand.

"Do you know what they were saying in the dressmaker's shop after you left?"

Selene's fingers stiffened.

"I heard enough."

"No." Vivienne shook her head. "You only heard the beginning."

She folded her arms across her chest.

"One of the ladies said Prince Kael would rather reject the Moon Goddess than accept a mate who looked like you."

Selene's lips parted slightly.

Vivienne continued as though she were discussing the weather.

"Another woman said they should prepare a bigger chair for you at tomorrow's banquet."

She laughed softly.

"I almost defended you."

"Almost?"

Vivienne nodded.

"But then I realized... they weren't lying."

The room became painfully quiet.

Selene looked down at the floor.

"You enjoy this, don't you?"

Vivienne blinked innocently.

"Enjoy what?"

"Hurting me."

A small smile tugged at Vivienne's lips.

"I don't have to hurt you, Selene."

She took one slow step closer.

"The mirror does that every morning."

The words landed like a knife.

Selene's throat tightened, but she refused to let the tears fall.

Vivienne circled her slowly.

"Tell me something."

"When was the last time Father looked at you the way he looks at me?"

Selene remained silent.

"When was the last time Mother hugged you?"

Another silence.

"When was the last time anyone in this house said they were proud of you?"

Selene closed her eyes.

She already knew the answer.

She couldn't remember.

Vivienne stopped in front of her.

"You see?"

"I don't have to make you feel unwanted."

"You already know you are."

Selene finally looked up.

"I never hated you."

Vivienne's smile disappeared for the first time.

"I know."

"Then... why?"

For a brief second, something cold flashed through Vivienne's eyes.

"Because every time people look at you..."

She leaned closer.

"...they remember we're sisters."

Selene felt something crack inside her.

Vivienne took a slow breath before her sweet smile returned.

"Mother says a family is only as respected as its weakest member."

Her gaze drifted over Selene once more.

"You've always been ours."

A knock interrupted them.

"Miss Vivienne," a maid called from outside. "Lady Helena is asking for you."

"I'm coming."

Vivienne walked to the door, then paused with her hand on the knob.

"Oh..."

She looked back with another innocent smile.

"I forgot to tell you."

"The Alpha Manor sent special jewelers this afternoon."

"They're adjusting my necklace so it'll match tomorrow's ceremony."

She tilted her head.

"Mother said if Prince Kael's mate mark appears tomorrow..."

"...she wants his first memory of me to be perfect."

Selene swallowed hard.

Vivienne's eyes dropped to the torn dress.

"I suppose you'll spend tonight sewing."

She sighed dramatically.

"Try not to prick your fingers."

"I'd hate for blood to stain the only dress you have."

She walked out, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

Silence filled the room once again.

Selene stood without moving.

She listened to Vivienne's footsteps fade down the hallway.

Only when they disappeared completely did she allow herself to breathe.

She walked toward the mirror.

The girl staring back at her looked exhausted.

Her cheeks were soft.

Her waist curved beneath the thin nightdress.

Her eyes...

They looked empty.

She slowly reached up and touched her own reflection.

"Are they right?"

Her voice was barely a whisper.

"Am I really that impossible to love?"

No one answered.

Outside, laughter drifted through the open window.

Servants were hanging lanterns in the garden.

Music floated through the evening air.

The whole pack was celebrating tomorrow's Moon Festival.

Selene couldn't remember the last time she had looked forward to anything.

She looked down at the torn dress resting on the bed.

It wasn't just a dress.

It was all she had.

Carefully, she opened the small wooden drawer beside her bed and took out an old sewing kit.

Most of the thread had already been used.

The needles had begun to rust.

She threaded one anyway.

Her hands trembled.

The first stitch came out crooked.

She pulled it loose.

The second wasn't much better.

She tried again.

And again.

Each stitch was painfully uneven.

She stared at the rough seam she'd created.

It looked ugly.

Obvious.

Impossible to hide.

A sad smile crossed her face.

"No matter how hard I try..."

"...people always notice what's broken."

She kept sewing.

The needle slipped.

"Ouch."

A tiny drop of blood appeared on her fingertip.

She quickly wiped it away before it could stain the fabric.

"I can't even afford to ruin this."

An hour passed.

Then another.

By the time she finished, the tear was closed.

Not perfectly.

But well enough that it might survive one more night.

She held the dress against her chest.

"I just need you to last until tomorrow."

Her voice trembled.

"One more festival."

She folded it carefully and laid it across the chair beside her bed.

Outside, fireworks exploded across the night sky.

Golden lights flashed through her window.

Everyone cheered.

Selene walked to the window and looked up at the full moon beginning to rise above the forest.

Its pale light bathed the entire pack in silver.

She clasped her hands together.

"Moon Goddess..."

She hesitated.

"I've never asked You for anything."

Her eyes glistened.

"If tomorrow brings me more humiliation..."

"...please give me the strength to survive it."

A cool breeze drifted through the room, gently lifting the curtains.

For a brief moment...

She could have sworn the moonlight grew brighter.

Selene smiled sadly.

"It doesn't matter."

She turned away from the window and blew out the candle beside her bed.

Tomorrow...

The entire pack would witness the happiest day of Vivienne's life.

Selene had no idea...

It would also be the day her own life changed forever.