A Proposal For The Rejected Luna

Chapter 5: Kara’s Threats and the Emotional War Within Me

I knew it wouldn’t be easy to fit into the Shadowfang Pack, especially not after everything that had happened, but I didn’t think it would feel like that. I couldn’t move forward no matter how hard I tried; the past always hung over me.

I felt eyes on me everywhere I went. Sure, the pack had accepted me, but it was cold, and I wasn’t wholly part of it. And I can’t blame them. I had just come from Crimson Moon, where I had lived my whole life. The same place that had rejected me, that Mason—the man I thought was my fated mate—had thrown me away like I was nothing.

It was hard not to think about him, especially when Kara was around.

Mason’s new mate, Kara, had a way of making everything feel even worse. Most of the time, she didn’t even need to say anything. Just being there reminded me of the life I had lost and the one she was taking. I couldn’t even look at her without my chest feeling tight.

At first, I tried to avoid her, but it didn’t take long for her to make me feel more minor and less important. Her words were poison, always wrapped in a smile and sharp enough to hurt.

After training, I was walking back to my room one day when I heard a voice yelling at me.

Kara’s voice was sweet, but there was an edge to it that sent a shiver down my spine: "Well, well, if it isn’t Cassie, the rejected Luna."

I turned my face neutral as best I could, but I didn’t fight the storm brewing inside of me. "What do you want, Kara?"

Her smile never wavered, and she tilted her head. I just wanted to see how you were doing. You know, it must be hard being left behind that way. He must feel such a relief to be free of all that baggage.

I held my breath in my throat. I moved closer, my voice barely a whisper. 'You know nothing about it.'

"Oh, I think I do. I know how much Mason cares for me. He doesn’t need the weight of your past weighing him down.” Her eyes sparkled with something darker now, and she stepped closer, too. “And look at you. You’re just... alone now.”

The anger boiled up, but I swallowed the lump and kept calm. I turned to walk away, saying, "You're not worth my time."

But she wasn’t done.

Kara shouted at me, 'You don't think you can just hide behind Xander's protection forever!?"

The words stung more than I wanted to admit, but I didn’t turn back. My feet were heavy with the weight of it all, and I kept walking. My hands shook when I got to my room, but I slammed the door shut behind me and tried to push everything down.

The pain, the frustration, it didn’t go away. I was drowning between the past I couldn’t forget and the future that was still so uncertain.

That night, I couldn’t sleep. Kara’s words kept playing through my head; the more I thought about it, the madder I got. She didn’t know what I was going through. I did not know what it felt like to be discarded by the one person you thought would never hurt you.

There was something else, though, something darker. The more Kara bullied me, the more I felt like I wasn’t just fighting her. I was fighting myself and the memories of Mason and my life. I fought the parts of me that still wanted to believe in love, even though everything about it had been twisted.

I couldn’t continue living like this.

As the pack billed at the meeting the following day, I saw Kara standing off to the side, staring at me. Her gaze was sharp and piercing; I could feel it. This time, I didn’t shy away from it. I stood taller and squared my shoulders, not letting her get to me.

On my right was Xander, a constant reassurance of his presence, but nothing could still the storm inside. He could see it on my face. He knew when something was wrong.

He mumbled, his voice low enough that only I could hear, “Cassie.” “Are you okay?”

I nodded quickly, not wanting to make a scene. “I’m fine. Just... tired.”

But I wasn’t acceptable. I was anything but.

Xander could tell that he was hiding something and wanted to press further, but before he could do so, Kara stepped forward, with her eyes narrowing and a lovely smile.

She said, her voice smooth, but I could hear the bite of it. “I wanted to apologise. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings earlier. Being so alone must be hard.”

Her apology was anything but sincere, and I wasn’t sure if I should be insulted or relieved that she wasn’t pushing harder. I would not let her get away with it. I would not let her get away with it.

I said, my voice firm, my chest tight, “You know nothing about me.” “Don’t pretend like you do, then.”

The sound was sweet and mocking, and Kara laughed. "I know more than you think, Cassie," she laughed. "Oh, I know more than you think," she continued. "You're not the only one who's been hurt," she added.

They hit me harder than I was ready for. I froze, my mind racing. Was she trying to tell me something? Was there more to her than just the jealousy and the taunts? I tried to ask a question, but she turned away before I could speak. I stood there, confused and overwhelmed.

A hand came down on my shoulder as Xander grounded me. He whispered and with a certain firmness. 'Don't let her get to you.' She’s just trying to push your buttons. Prevent her from winning.

I nodded, but my mind was a mess. But hearing Kara play a dangerous game was also sad because the more she pushed, the more of me I lost.

After that meeting that day, I was strolling through the woods all by myself and thinking of everything that had happened later that day. I struggled to silence my mind and think about the peace surrounding me. Mason’s betrayal. Those chains around my chest locked a little more tightly with each step I took. Kara’s words also wrapped themselves around my chest.

Then, some unknown, somehow Kara just came out. I didn’t hear her coming until she stood before me, blocking my path.

Her eyes were dark and sharp, and she met mine. “I’m not done with you, Cassie,” she said. “I will not let you take what’s mine.”

Panic rose in my chest. “What are you talking about?” I tried to keep my voice steady as I asked, but it was creeping up.

Her voice was low and menacing; Kara took a step closer. You’re just a replacement, Cassie. You don’t need Mason anymore. You’re just here to fill space.

Her words were more complex than anything else she had said. I wanted to scream at her, tell her she was wrong, and fight back. But my throat closed, and I could hear the weight of her words.

I whispered, my voice shaking, “I’m not the one who needs to go.”

Somewhere in Kara's eyes shone something darker. “We’ll see about that.”

She turned and walked in the other direction, away from me, leaving me, chest tight, head spinning, standing there. Was she right? Was I filling space? Was Mason’s rejection a sign that I was nothing to anyone anymore?

I didn’t know how much more I could handle. How long could I resist her, resist my past, resist myself?

Would I be able to stand my ground, or would Kara’s words push me closer to the edge?