Twice Rejected: The Luna Forged in Fire

Chapter 6

SLOANE

I sat up slowly, breath trembling, and turned my head.

Hunter lay beside me.

His arm was draped over his forehead, his chest rising and falling in slow, even breaths. He looked peaceful. Innocent. As if he hadn’t destroyed me in another life. As if he hadn’t chosen Ava over me. As if he hadn’t let me die.

My stomach twisted.

He shifted, sensing my movement, and blinked awake. His eyes were still heavy with sleep, but the moment he saw me, they warmed with a familiar hunger.

“Morning,” he murmured, voice low, already reaching for my waist.

I froze.

In the past, I would have melted into him.

I would have smiled, kissed him, let him pull me close.

I would have given him everything he wanted, even when I was exhausted, even when I felt invisible.

Not today.

I gently caught his wrist before he could touch me.

“I’m going to make coffee,” I said softly, slipping out of bed.

Hunter blinked, confused. “Now? Come here for a minute.”

His tone was coaxing, expectant — the tone of a man who was used to getting what he wanted.

I stepped back.

“I need to get ready,” I said, already moving toward the bathroom.

Hunter sat up, irritation flickering across his face. “Sloane. Seriously?”

I didn’t answer.I closed the bathroom door behind her and leaned against it, exhaling shakily.

My reflection stared back at me in the mirror — the same face, the same tired eyes, but something inside them had changed.

I wasn’t the same woman who died loving a man who never chose me.

Not anymore.

**

HUNTER

I stood in the bedroom, jaw tight, staring at the closed bathroom door.

Sloane never said no.

Not in the mornings or when I reached for her. Not when I wanted her attention.

But this morning she slipped away like smoke.

I ran a hand through my hair, annoyed.

I was already restless — painfully so — and the rejection only made it worse.

I thought briefly about Ava.

Ava would say yes. She always said yes.

But I couldn’t risk sneaking out now. Too obvious and dangerous.

With a frustrated groan, I headed for the shower — a cold one.

**

SLOANE

I moved through the kitchen with a calmness I didn’t feel.

I brewed a single cup of coffee — for myself — and sat at the table, savoring the warmth between my palms.

Hunter walked in moments later, towel around his waist, hair damp, irritation radiating off him.

“You didn’t make me coffee?” he asked.

I didn’t look up. “I was in a hurry. You can make your own.”

Hunter stared at her like I’d spoken another language.

Before he could respond, Ava breezed into the kitchen, bright and eager, wearing one of her too‑sweet smiles.

“Oh! Hunter, let me make it for you,” she chirped, already reaching for the coffee grounds.

I hid my smirk behind my mug.

Ava made the coffee. Hunter took one sip. His face twisted.

“This tastes like—”

He didn’t finish then dumped the entire mug into the sink.

Ava’s smile faltered.

I took another slow sip of my own coffee, enjoying the moment more than I should.

I moved through the house with purpose.

I laid out Caleb’s clothes for the award ceremony — the little button‑down shirt he loved, the dark jeans, the shoes he insisted made him “look like a big kid.”

Ava and Hunter were too busy whispering in the hallway to notice.

“Are you sure she’s going to work?” Ava hissed.

“She always does,” Hunter muttered. “She won’t show up.”

I smiled to myself.

They had no idea.

I kissed Caleb’s forehead when he came downstairs, smoothing his hair and helping him into his clothes.

“You look perfect,” I whispered.

Caleb beamed.

Ava and Hunter took him to school, smug and confident, certain I would stay behind like always.

They were wrong.

**

I arrived early.

I walked into the school auditorium with my head high, heart steady, mind clear. Teachers greeted me with surprise — I never attended daytime events. I was always working, always sacrificing.

Not today.

I took a seat in the front row.

Ava entered minutes later, holding Caleb’s hand, expecting to take the same seat she always did — right in front, where everyone could see her.

But the seat was taken.

By me.

Ava froze.

Hunter’s jaw clenched.

Caleb’s eyes lit up.

“Mommy!” he cried, running to me.

Ava’s smile cracked like glass.

I opened my arms, catching Caleb as he threw himself into my lap. He clung to me, burying his face in my shoulder, as if something deep inside him recognized me — truly recognized me — in a way he never recognized Ava.

Ava stepped forward, trying to reclaim the moment.

“Caleb, sweetie, come sit with—”

I shifted, blocking Ava with a gentle but unmistakable movement.

“He’s fine with me,” I said calmly.

Teachers exchanged glances.

Hunter’s irritation simmered.

Ava’s face tightened.

And Caleb, sweet innocent Caleb, looked up at me with pure adoration.

“Mommy,” he whispered again.

Ava’s smile shattered completely.

I held him close, my heart steady and resolve unbreakable.

This time, I wasn’t going to lose everything.

This time, I wasn’t going to die for people who never loved me.

This time, I was going to win.