Revenge of the Rejected Luna

Chapter 2

Eleanora's pov

The estate had never felt this cold before.

Not even on the night my father threw me into the snow for daring to speak back at him. Not even on the nights when he raised his hands at me and whispered apologies later.

At least then, I had hope.

Now?

Hope was nothing but a cruel joke.

I strolled through the hallway like a ghost, invisible to the maids who used to bow obediently to me. Now, they barely looked at me. Some glared while others whispered behind my back, their words slicing through my skin like a thousand daggers.

“What is she still doing here?” One of them scoffed as I walked by.

“I would've left by now if I were her.” Another one murmured.

I curled my fingers into my fists and kept walking, ignoring their whispers. They thought I couldn't hear them but I could.

The worst part of it wasn't the whispers nor was it even the cold stares I got nor the way the omegas rolled their eyes at me when I gave them an order. The worst was the pain.

It was a soul-shattering, gut-wrenching, and unbearable pain that rippled through my body every time Tristan touched her.

Violet, my ex-best friend and my sister from another mother. She was the person I had trusted with my secrets, fears and dreams. The same person who had gutted me without a second thought.

According to Wolf Law, the bond between mates was supposed to be sacred. It was a connection forged by the Moon Goddess herself, undeniable and unbreakable. But every time Tristan chose her, it was like the Goddess herself was punishing me.

A sharp jolt of electricity ran down my spine, forcing me to hold the wall for support. My knees wobbled and my vision blurred. The pain was so much I nearly keeled over.

I knew what that meant, where they were, what they were doing.

A broken sound escaped my throat, part sob, part laugh. How ironic. The man who once swore he would rather die than see me in pain was now the one hurting me.

I should've walked away the second I found out.

I should've left

But I didn't.

Because deep down, a pathetic part of me still wanted to believe that this was all a bad dream. That I would wake up and Tristan would be the man who once looked at me like I was his world. But in reality, he was the man that looked at me like I was nothing.

I heard a door creak open but dare not look. The familiar scent of citrus and wildberries filled the air.

Violet.

My spine was rigid and my nails dug into my palms but I quickly straightened up as she stepped closer. Her presence was unwelcoming and overwhelmingly suffocating.

“Oh, Eleanora. Didn't see you there,” She said like she hadn't seen me there. “You looked tired. You should get some rest.”

Tired? Wow, that's a funny way of saying “you look destroyed”

I turned to her with a blank expression on my face but my heart hammered against my ribcage.

Violet was… glowing. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips swollen and a faint red mark on her neck. She had been with Tristan and she had wanted me to see it.

And I did. I saw everything.

I saw the triumph in her eyes and the silent message she had said.

“Tristan had chosen me.”

“He loves me now.”

“You're nothing but a useless memory.”

I swallowed past the lump in my throat and asked. “Did you need something?”

Violet’s lips curved into a slow, satisfied smile. “No. I just… wanted to check up on you.”

I almost laughed. “Check up on me? But why? To make sure I haven't thrown myself off the balcony yet?”

Amusement flickered across her face and her eyes twinkled. “Now, now, Eleanora. Don't be so dramatic.”

I nearly scoffed. This girl was the same person who had once held my hand through my darkest nights, the same person who had once promised me we would always be together. Now, she was the reason I couldn't sleep at night.

I took a slow, measured breath. “You got what you wanted, Violet. So why are you still here?”

She shrugged. “I’m still here because I don't think you deserve everything you've had so easily.”

I stilled. “What?”

“You heard me.” Violet took a step closer, ice glazing her tone. “Your entire life you've been given things people like me had to fight for — love, protection, happiness. How is that fair, Eleanora?”

My breath got caught in my throat. She was right. I had fought and I had bled but I had survived. But in Violet's eyes, I was nothing but a spoiled princess who had been handed a perfect life.

“You think I had it easy?” My voice cracked, my fists trembling. “You think my parent's abuse was easy? You think growing up in fear, waiting for the next time they would hit me, was easy? Is that what you think, Violet?”

Violet’s expression didn't change. “And yet, you still have to have a mate who adored you, who treated you like a queen, and now, it's my turn, you can't handle it?”

A sharp pain seared in my chest. Her turn? I can't handle it? What?

My hands were shaking but I inhaled through my nose, trying to keep my composure but I failed.

“Go to hell, Violet!” Those words left my lips before I could think.

Those words should've startled anyone but Violet? She leaned in and brushed her lips against my ear in cruel amusement. “I already got what I wanted, Eleanora and I am never giving him back.”

She didn't wait for me to reply and turned away, walking away victoriously.

I stayed frozen in place, my vision swimming, my breath uneven.

I should've hated Tristan more.

But at that moment, I hated her the most.

And maybe, just maybe, I —

I hated myself too.