Rejected Luna Of The Cursed Alpha

Arrival Of The Guest

Aria’s POV

I stood still.

This wasn’t what I was expecting. Guess I hadn’t read about the clan rule well. I thought this was going to happen at the Luna Presentation Ceremony, where I would be crowned Luna.

I glanced at him. His eyes were on me, so I quickly looked away, shutting my eyes for that rejection.

My heart pounded against my ribs.

Every pair of eyes in the hall seemed fixed on us. The silence stretched so long that I could hear the crackling of the torches lining the walls.

Was he hesitating?

Had he changed his mind?

Or was he simply looking for the right words to reject me?

My fingers tightened around Leo’s tiny blanket.

I prayed silently.

Please don’t do this here.

Not in front of everyone.

I waited.

Only that the rejection didn’t come.

“As the law of the Valemont Pack states, this would be done on the night of the Luna Presentation Ceremony, so why are we going faster than the law states?”

I heard what my husband said, and I know even the littlest person in the crowd knew he had just said no because, if he was going to say yes, he would have said it right away.

“However, my wife and I humbly invite you all to the Luna Presentation Ceremony coming up seven days from now. Thank you all once again for felicitating with us.”

He brought me closer into his arms as we came down from the raised platform.

My mind was a jumbled mess.

He had just contradicted himself, putting my thoughts in disarray. It was like he had said no moments ago, then said yes after.

We both walked to our room, Leo in my arms.

Every few steps, someone stopped us to congratulate Kael.

“Congratulations, Alpha.”

“The heir is beautiful.”

“We’ll see you at the Luna Presentation.”

Each congratulation twisted the knot already forming in my chest.

If only they knew.

Immediately we were out of everyone’s sight, I moved away from his arms. There was no need pretending we were in good spirits.

After all, I had just caught him kissing his supposed ex.

Immediately the door locked behind us, I went straight to the crib to lay my baby down.

He was right behind me.

He held me by the shoulders so I could face him.

“Thank you for birthing me an heir. I really appreciate it.”

I did not say anything. I only waited for him to keep talking.

“Aria…” He shut his mouth, opened it, then shut it again. He ran his hand through his hair, scattering it, reminding me of the times we’d made passionate love. My hands always found his hair, scattering it.

Especially when he was between my thighs, eating me down there.

He cleared his throat. “Aria, trust me, I am sorry that you had to see that. I mean, Serena and I… it won’t happen again.”

I raised my eyes to look at his. I saw something in his eyes, and it pained me that I couldn’t define what I saw there.

I didn’t know what it was.

“Okay,” I replied bluntly. In all honesty, I didn’t have anything to talk to him about.

He leaned down and kissed my lips.

The kiss was as usual, his tongue delving into mine, claiming me like I was all he ever wanted.

His kiss made me wonder what was really happening. It made me question everything.

Did he really love me?

But if he didn’t, why did he kiss me like this?

My hands stayed by my side.

His hands moved to my back, holding me there, sending electric waves through my body. One of his hands slid to my butt, feeling the softness of it.

Just as my hand was about to move to his neck, to give him more access to ravage my mouth, Leo wailed.

“Excuse me,” I said and stepped out of his arms.

I went to nurse my baby while he went to the bathroom to cool off.

By the time I was done, I went under the covers to sleep.

When he came out, he was in his briefs only.

He came under the covers to join me. He held me in his arms and slept off.

I could hear his steady breathing before I decided to roll out of his arms.

Not long after, I slept off.

When I woke up in the morning, I was back in his arms. I knew it was his doing.

I was so weak and tired. I had woken up four times in the night to nurse my baby that I didn’t know someone had put me back in his arms.

Maybe this is what a family looks like.

I went to the bathroom to freshen up.

By the time I came out, he was already awake and on a phone call.

The moment I came in, he ended the call.

I knew something was wrong.

I recognized that look.

I recognized every one of his looks.

I thought to ask him or just let him tell me if he would.

What if he doesn’t?

He smiled.

“Morning.”

He walked over to Leo and picked him up, kissing his face.

After he put him down, he moved to me and kissed me on the lips.

Like we were one small happy family.

I moved to my dressing table while he went into the walk-in closet.

A few seconds later, he came out with a jewelry box.

I could see him from the mirror as he moved closer to me.

He opened the box and brought out a necklace with a moon-shaped pendant.

“My mom wore this when she first became Luna.”

He placed it around my neck from behind.

I lifted my hair and brought it to one side while he clasped it.

I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my lips as he bent and kissed the back of my neck.

“I have to go. We’ll talk tonight,” he said before heading back into the bathroom.

The remainder of the morning went smoothly.

After Kael had left, I just found myself sitting around doing nothing apart from looking after Leo.

I would feed him, let him sleep, cry once he woke up, and want to be carried right away as soon as I laid him back down. Sometimes, Helen would come and help me out, saying that I required as much rest as possible after the pregnancy, but somehow, my own thoughts were more tiring than being a mother.

They kept going back to last night.

To Serena.

To the kiss.

To the pause before Kael spoke back to the elder.

Around the afternoon, my phone rang.

Kael.

I felt a smile pull at my lips involuntarily before answering. “Hello?”

“Sorry,” he apologized immediately. “Something important happened. I will not be coming home for the next three days.”

My smile disappeared. “Three days?”

“Yes.”

“What is happening?”

“I will tell you when I come back.”

There was a pause.

“I have to go.” Before I could ask another question, the line disconnected. I stared at my phone for several seconds. Urgent business. For some reason, I couldn’t convince myself it was business.

One part of me simply could not help but wonder if he went to see Serena.

I hated myself for having such thoughts.

But how could I not, after what had happened yesterday?

That evening, right when I got Leo to sleep, someone knocked lightly on the door to my bedroom.

“Come in.”

It was Helen.

She looked more nervous than usual. “My Lady…” She clasped her hands together. “I came here to inform you that we have…”

She did not get to finish her sentence because another maid walked in without even knocking.

The arrogant smile that was on her face instantly set me off.

“Oh, she does not know?” the maid said with mock amusement.

Helen frowned. “I was just about to tell her.”

The maid glanced at me and smiled wider. “Lady Serena has arrived.”

My brows furrowed. “Arrived?”

“Yes,” she answered. “With all her luggage.”

My heart skipped a beat.

Helen lowered her head, looking uncomfortable.

“The Alpha ordered that the east wing be prepared for her.” The other maid said, folding her arms.

“Judging by the quantity of her luggage, Lady Serena did not come here for a visit.” She let the words sink in before delivering the final blow. “It looks like she’s moving into the Alpha’s mansion."