The Rejected Maid is the Alpha prince's Fated Luna

Chapter 3

The pharmacy on Fifth and Colton closed at nine, and Luna made it there with four minutes to spare, breathless from running six blocks.

"Cutting it close again," Mr. Alexander said, already reaching for the bag behind the counter.

"Long day."

He rang up the total, and the number on the screen made her stomach drop. "New dosage came in higher this month. Doctor's orders."

Luna counted out bills meant for a textbook she now wouldn't buy. "That's fine. I've got it."

She didn't, not really. But Grandma Rose's medication wasn't optional.

The apartment was dark except for the flicker of the television, Rose asleep in her armchair with a blanket pooled at her feet. Luna set the pharmacy bag down and tucked the blanket higher, careful not to wake her.

"You don't have to sneak," Rose said, eyes still closed. "I wasn't sleeping. Just resting."

"Sure you weren't." Luna kissed her forehead. "How was today?"

"Slow. Boring. The way I like it." Rose opened her eyes, studying Luna with sharp attention. "You seem tired. More than usual."

"University. Work. The usual."

"Mm." Rose didn't push. "Soup's on the stove. Eat before you fall asleep at your desk again."

Luna ate standing at the counter, scrolling lecture notes with one hand.

Her chemistry result were up — she'd passed, barely, a grade that would've disappointed her a year ago and now felt like a small miracle.

Her phone buzzed. A text from Damian: *Thinking about you. Sleep well.*

She smiled despite everything, despite Selena's voice still circling in her head. *It's cruel that no one's told you yet.*

*You too. See you tomorrow?*

*Try to stop me.*

"That the boy again?" Rose asked, not looking up from the television.

Luna nearly dropped her phone. "What boy?"

"The one you've been smiling at your phone about for months." Rose's eyebrow lifted — the same eyebrow Luna had inherited. "I'm old, not blind."

"It's nobody. A friend from work."

"Mm-hm." Rose went back to her show, clearly unconvinced. "Just be careful. Whoever he is."

"Why do you say that?"

Rose was quiet a beat too long. "Because you're the only family I have, and the world isn't kind to girls who fall in love with things too big to hold onto."

Something in her voice made Luna pause, spoon halfway to her mouth.

This wasn't ordinary grandmother worry. This was old. Specific.

"Grandma. Is there something you're not telling me?"

Rose's eyes flicked to her, sharp for a second, then softened into