Rejected Luna Finds Freedom

The sterile scent of antiseptic filled my nostrils as I walked through the familiar corridors of the pack hospital, my heels clicking against the polished floors with each measured step. Three years. Three years of monthly visits, of hope slowly withering like autumn leaves, of pretending that this time might be different.

I clutched the appointment slip in my hand, the paper slightly damp from my nervous perspiration. Dr. Matthews had been cautiously optimistic about the new treatment protocol, but I'd learned not to let hope take root too deeply. The disappointment hurt less that way.

As I rounded the corner toward the fertility clinic, familiar voices drifted from one of the private consultation rooms. My steps slowed involuntarily, my wolf stirring with unease.

"—can't keep pretending forever, Rhett." The voice was distinctly feminine, sultry in a way that made my skin crawl.

"I know, but the timing has to be perfect." That was unmistakably my mate's voice, low and intimate in a way that sent ice through my veins.

I pressed myself against the wall, my heart hammering so loudly I was certain they could hear it. Through the slightly ajar door, I caught a glimpse of Rhett's broad shoulders, his dark hair disheveled as if someone had run their fingers through it. And there, nestled against his chest with her head tilted up adoringly, was Amira Pierce.

My breath caught in my throat as I noticed the gentle swell of her belly beneath her fitted dress.

"She's so pathetic, clinging to those treatments," Amira's voice carried clearly, dripping with mock sympathy. "Does she really think—"

"Teresa is..." Rhett's voice trailed off, and for a moment, hope fluttered in my chest. He would defend me. He had to. "She's a broken Luna who can't give me an heir. That's all there is to it."

The words hit me like a physical blow, stealing the air from my lungs. I gripped the doorframe to keep from collapsing, my knuckles white with the strain.

"Poor thing," Amira cooed, her hand moving protectively over her pregnant belly. "While she's wasting time with doctors, I'm already carrying your future Alpha."

Rhett's large hand covered hers, and I watched in horror as he pressed a tender kiss to her temple. "Our pup will be everything this pack needs. Strong. Whole. Perfect."

Everything I could never give him.

I stumbled backward, my vision blurring as tears threatened to spill. My wolf whimpered in anguish, the mate bond burning like acid in my chest. Eight years. Eight years of building this pack together, of believing we were partners, of thinking love could conquer anything.

Somehow, I made it to my car without breaking down completely. My hands shook as I fumbled with the keys, muscle memory guiding me home while my mind reeled. The drive passed in a haze of numbness, punctuated by sharp stabs of betrayal that made me gasp.

Once inside our—my—private study, I collapsed into the leather chair behind my desk. The room