The Rejected Luna Strikes Back

Kimmy

A sharp pain in my stomach jolts me awake, my heart pounding.

I gasp for air, struggling to control my breathing. The pain is unbearable, a sharp, twisting sensation.

I try to sit up, but a wave of nausea forces me back down. I lie still, fearing any movement will worsen the agony. I try to clear my mind, but my thoughts keep returning to the inevitable truth. I want to deny it, to ignore it, but I can't escape the reality of the situation.

The thought of him with her, of his strong, rough hands, the ones that used to run over my skin, on another woman's skin, of his lips, the same ones that kissed mine, on hers, fills me with murderous rage and makes my stomach churn more, the pain intensifying because there is no other explanation.

Harry is getting intimate with her.

The instant I concede it in my mind, Akira, my inner wolf, unleashes a mournful howl.

Her anguish courses through my veins, her fury a fire that threatens to consume me.

Our emotions intertwine, and I moan with her, a primal wail rising from the depth of our shared heartache.

"I'm sorry, Akira. I'm so sorry," I whisper, tears I've been holding back finally streaming down my face.

Akira howls again. She doesn't want to accept it. She wants another explanation, but the pain in my stomach says it all.

My mate bond with Harry has never fully kicked in no matter how hard I try.

But the fragile bond I have with him has never deceived me, and we both know, intuitively, it isn't deceiving us now.

"We can't lie here and let that bitch have him, we need to stop this before it gets too far," Akira prompted, sounding livid.

"This is no time to lie crying. Stand up! Come on!"

I clench my jaw, the muscles aching, as I will myself up. My stomach roils, a bibitter taste rising to my mouth as I swing my legs down the side of my bed.

I pause, waiting for the nausea to pass, holding onto my mattress like a lifeline.

Akira's strength courses through me, and I take slow, labored steps toward the door, clinging to the wall for support.

The journey feels endless, crossing the vast expanse of my room - a luxurious sanctuary with cream-colored walls, plush carpet, and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a breathtaking view of the pack lands.

Nothing but the best for the pack's beloved Luna. Normally, I delight in watching the rolling green valleys, the children's laughter, and the teenagers' playful courtship rituals.

But today, I wish those windows would vanish. Anyone can gaze up and witness my weakness.

Usually, I'd wave back at familiar faces, but today, I dread the thought of being seen in such a state.

I open the door and walk as gently as possible towards Harry's room. It used to be my room too. Harry and I always slept together. Until she came back.

The hall is eerily quiet, a far cry from the usual bustle of pack members going about their routines.

Every footstep feels too loud in the silence, echoing down the corridor like a reminder of the confrontation that awaits me.

My head pounds, the pressure building behind my eyes, but Akira keeps me grounded, her fury lending me the strength I don't feel on my own.

"Don't hesitate," she urges. "We need answers."

The distance between my room and Harry's has never felt this long. It's as though the very air is thick with tension.

With each footfall, memories flash before me - Harry's laughter, his promises, and the tender moments we once shared.

But now, they seem like a distant echo, drowned out by the weight of betrayal.

He once told me, looking into my eyes with his soulful aquamarine ones, during a picnic as we lay on the grass,

"I can't imagine a better woman for me, Kimmy," his eyes bored into mine.

I felt a blush rising to my cheeks. Harry's looks were always so intense.

"Thank you." I wave the bittersweet memory away.

I pause just outside the door to Harry's room, my hand trembling as it hovers over the handle.

My heart is pounding again, not just from the pain, but from the fear of what I might find on the other side.

Akira's growl reverberates through me, and I cling to it, using her fury to mask my doubt.

"I can't do this," I whisper, more to myself than to Akira.

"Yes, you can," she snaps back, her voice filled with certainty. I'm glad she feels so. I can't feel it. "We have to."

Taking a deep breath, I force myself to turn the handle.

The door creaks open, revealing the dimly lit room.

My gaze sweeps across the familiar space, landing on the bed we used to share.

And there, sprawled across it, is Harry - shirtless, naked, I suspect, underneath the covers, his muscular form a silhouette in the faint light. But he's not alone.

She's there. Kylie Reynold. Harry's first love and his father's friend, the pack's former beta's daughter.

Her dark hair cascades over the pillow, her body wrapped in the same sheets that once only held us.

The sight of them together feels like a slap to the face, the final confirmation of what I've been trying to deny.

Akira's growl turns into a roar in my mind, and I feel her claws prick the edges of my consciousness, desperate to tear them apart.

But I'm frozen, my feet rooted to the spot, unable to move or speak.

The nausea I've been fighting all morning returns with a vengeance, and it takes everything in me not to collapse.

My heart clenches painfully, but I force myself to stand taller, Akira urging me forward.

I take in the scene before me, the sheets tangled around them, her presence filling what used to be "ours."

Harry sits up and looks at me, but there's no guilt in his eyes - just resignation.

Like he knew this moment would come, and he was too tired to pretend otherwise. Kylie shifts in the bed, slowly pulling the sheets up, but she doesn't look at me.

Her silence is louder than anything she could say.

"Kimmy," Harry says, his voice calm, steady. Too steady. His aquamarine eyes are cold. A sense of foreboding washes over me.

I knew that look, had seen it countless times. "You should've stayed in your room."

I blink, trying to process the coldness of his words, the detachment.

"I couldn't. You don't think I deserve an explanation?" My voice cracks, betraying the storm of emotions raging inside me.

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not going to sugarcoat this. You deserve the truth."

He stands, and for the first time, he doesn't look like the man I thought I knew.

"Kylie's the one. She always has been."

My stomach drops, but I clench my fists, grounding myself in Akira's simmering anger.

"Then why... why did you make me your Luna? Why did you let me think we had something real?"

He shrugs, and the nonchalance of the gesture cuts deeper than any words.

"You looked like her. Enough, anyway. It wasn't supposed to get this far."

The world blurs for a moment as his words sink in. I looked like her. That's all I was.

A shadow, a stand-in for the woman he truly loved.

All those times he kissed me, he was kissing her. Everything I thought we had was a sham.

Akira's growl rattles through me, and I step forward, my voice shaking. "I was just... a replacement?"

Harry doesn't flinch. "Kylie left. She was gone, and the pack needed a Luna. I needed someone by my side. You were strong and capable, and yeah, you reminded me of her. I thought I could make it work, that maybe I could forget her. But I was wrong."

His bluntness feels like a knife to the chest. I want to scream, to cry, but the tears refuse to fall. All I feel is numb, hollow. "So that's it? All this time, everything I've done for you, for this pack - it meant nothing to you?"

"It wasn't nothing," he says, but his voice is too casual, too indifferent. "You played your part. You were good for the pack, good for me. But Kylie's back now, and that changes things."

I shake my head, trying to make sense of the betrayal. "I was never really your mate, was I?"

"No," he says, his eyes locking onto mine, unflinching. "I thought you could be. But the bond... it was never there. Not for me."

Akira howls in the back of my mind, her fury barely contained, but I hold her back. I need to hear this. I need to hear every cruel word. "You let me believe we had something. You let me believe I could be enough."

He looks at me, and for a moment, there's something like pity in his eyes, but it's fleeting. "You were never meant to be more than a placeholder, Kimmy. You were a Luna, yes, but not "my" Luna. Kylie was always that, even when she wasn't here."

I stand there, the room spinning around me, but I don't move. I refuse to give them the satisfaction of seeing me fall apart. I swallow the painful lump in my throat. "I gave you everything," I whisper, more to myself than to him.

"I know," he replies, his voice devoid of emotion. "But that's over now."

The weight of his words settles heavily in my chest. It sounds final. Akira growls, and this time, I let her, her anger mirroring mine. "I'll never forgive you for this," I say, my voice low, trembling with barely contained rage.

Harry's face remains impassive, though his wolf flashes briefly through his eyes. "I don't expect you to."

"You are going to regret this decision, Harry."

He stands, and just as I thought, he is naked, the hard slabs of his stomach muscles and more on display. The fact that he doesn't have the shame to cover himself is an even bigger slap to my face.

"No, Kimmy, I won't." He looks down at Kylie, who is now sitting up, looking at me. "I'll never regret the best thing that has ever happened to me, even if I tried."

They're looking lovingly at each other now. Kylie has a big, goofy grin on her face. I'd like to slap it off, but I'm tired. Even Akira is silent now, sensing the man-and possibly the wolf-we love is beyond our reach. Even the pain in my stomach has fled, leaving me feeling empty and desolate.

I turn on my heel without another word and stalk out of the room, my head held high. I refuse to give them the satisfaction of seeing me break. I shut the door quietly behind me and let out a shaky breath, my vision blurring as the tears finally came.

"He was never ours," I whisper to Akira, my voice thick with the pain of betrayal. She growls in response, but deep down, we both know the truth. He never belonged to us. And he never will.

~Kimmy~

I come awake again, to the screams of children and the little growls of pups.

The soft glow of the pale orange evening light warms my face.

I cried myself to sleep on an empty stomach, but it isn't my stomach that feels empty-it's my heart.

I can't feel anything. I gently rise from the floor where I'd collapsed after my conversation with Harry.

His cruel words come rushing back to me, made even more painful because I know he wasn't trying to be cruel.

"You were never meant to be more than a placeholder, Kimmy."

I force myself to stand and immediately clutch the wall as a wave of dizziness swamps me.

I might not be hungry, but my body needs food, so I walk to my bathroom door and go in to freshen up.

My bathroom is a blend of luxury and tranquility, a personal sanctuary away from the chaos of pack life.

Harry couldn't have had it built better if he tried.

The floors are made of polished white marble, cool under my feet, with soft veins of grey running through them.

The walls are tiled in a warm, muted beige, giving the space a calming, spa-like atmosphere.

Harry once said the colors suited my temperament. I wonder now what he meant by that.

A large clawfoot bathtub sits in the center, its smooth porcelain gleaming under the soft light from the hanging crystal chandelier above.

The tub is deep, perfect for long, soothing baths after a day of emotional turmoil-like today.

To the side, there's a large walk-in shower encased in glass, with rainfall showerheads and a built-in bench.

Most pack members have similar showerheads.

The shower tiles are a mix of natural stone and smooth glass, reflecting the light and making the space feel larger.

Shelves built into the shower walls hold a variety of high-end shampoos, conditioners, and soaps, each with a subtle, calming scent of lavender and eucalyptus.

Harry used to bury his nose in my neck and take long, deep breaths after I showered using them.

Against one wall is a wide double vanity with marble countertops that match the floors.

Gold-framed mirrors hang above each sink, and the faucets are a matching brushed gold, giving the room a touch of elegance.

I stand in front of one of those mirrors now, looking at my shabby reflection. I look horrible.

Akira huffs out an amused laugh at my thought, finally breaking her silence.

"Yes, you do." She says laughingly, then her laugh trails off, and she adds gravely,

"And considering what you've been through today, you should look worse."

I observe my reflection in the mirror, fully aware of my drop-dead gorgeous appearance.

I also recognize that this is one of the reasons Harry noticed me in the first place.

Hell, it's the reason most men do. My features are a mesmerizing blend of my Irish mother and Brazilian father's heritage.

My fair skin and the light freckles on the bridge of my nose come from my mom, while my green eyes, the rich warmth of my skin, and the stunning array of browns in my hair-from deep mahogany to sunlit caramel, with natural highlights that shimmer in the sun-are from my dad.

My high cheekbones and the smooth, sun-kissed undertone of my skin are also inherited from him.

I still remember the day Harry noticed me for the first time.

Of course, I knew him as the pack's alpha and had heard a lot about him from the pack female gossip I occasionally engaged in.

Every unmated young woman in the pack aspired to be Luna.

It didn't hurt that the alpha in question was

"Hot as Hades." He had this brooding, intense gaze that made you feel he could see right through you.

His rugged good looks and commanding presence made him the center of whispered desires and fantasies.

I wasn't an exception. I was captivated by him and felt my cheeks growing warm every time I saw him, though he never seemed to notice.

It was a bright, sunny day with a clear sky and warm weather, and everyone was going about their duties in high spirits.

The juveniles, tasked with keeping the children from running too wild and avoiding injuries while playing, weren't having much luck with their task.

"Oh, come on, stop tumbling over each other already! Moon's mercy, someone's gonna get a bruise!" Jeremy shouted, visibly frustrated.

He was one of the pack's soldiers in training, a cute teenager who always blushed when he spoke.

The children weren't listening. Lily, the four-year-old daughter of the pack's senior healer, was leading the attack.

They were a whirlwind of joyous chaos in the sunlit clearing.

Their laughter rang out with pure delight as their tiny feet kicked up puffs of dust.

Water guns in hand, they shot streams of cool, refreshing water at each other, the droplets catching the sunlight and creating sparkling rainbows in the air.

They tumbled and rolled on the soft grass, their clothes soaked through and sticking to their bodies as they wrestled and playfully shoved one another.

Brightly colored splash marks dotted the ground where they'd slipped and sprawled, adding to the scene's vibrant energy.

The juveniles, standing on the sidelines, tried to call out warnings and get their attention, but their voices were drowned out by the children's gleeful shrieks.

Thinking to help, I entered the middle of the fray.

"Come on, sweethearts, let's get you all dried and cleaned up," I said, gently grabbing Charlie, the child nearest to me.

But before I could try to steer him away, Lily saw me and, with a mischievous grin, shouted at the top of her voice,

"Attack! Kimmy's trying to spoil the fun! Get her!"

With the command from their general, water guns were aimed at me, and a chorus of

"Attack!" filled the air. I laughed as their earlier chaos turned into a coordinated, joyful ambush.

Kids jumped her from all sides, laughing and squealing. I laughed with them.

I suddenly looked up from the mayhem, laughing, to find the alpha standing there, his unwavering attention fixed entirely on me.

Dan, his beta, was saying something to him, but Harry wasn't listening.

My eyes locked onto his. His intense aquamarine eyes bored into mine, and the chaotic laughter and splashes of the children faded into the background.

I shivered as I realized, without a doubt, that he wanted me.

I had known about his first love, Kylie, the pack's former beta's daughter.

They'd grown up together and later fallen in love. Everyone had been happy about the situation, having expected and encouraged it.

According to the stories I had heard, Harry hadn't always been like this.

"Ah, Kimmy, love, come 'ere. Lemme tell ya somethin' about Harry.

He used to be a right cheerful young lad, always smilin' and laughin'.

That was 'Fore Kylie left him, mind ya," Maude, an old Irish lady in the pack, said when she noticed Harry's interest in me.

"Really? I've only ever seen him so serious," I replied, unable to imagine Harry other than he is now.

"Aye, it's a shame, isn't it? He was a different man back then. Kylie had him all bright-eyed and full of life. But when she left, well, it changed him. He got all broody and distant. Folks only remember the way he is now. But I remember the smiles, the laughter. It's a pity, it is. A good heart lost in the shadows."

"Thank you for telling me. It's... helpful to know," I replied, shaken by the revelation.

"Ah, don't mention it, dear. Just keep that in mind when ye look at him. Folks change, but there's always a story behind the change."

Now, I wash my swollen face and brush my hair and teeth. I refuse to procrastinate any longer.

The pack members must have gotten wind of what's happening already; news travels fast in a tightly-knit pack.

I dress and mentally steel myself to face the whirlwind head-on.

"Trust yourself, Kimmy. We've got this," Akira encourages.

~Kimmy~

I step out into the hallway held high, only to find it empty.

I make my way down the hallway, my steps echoing.

The closer I get to the houses main areas dining hall, the lounge, and the common rooms_ the more I lose my confidence.

Nobody is here. I step out of the pack's double door onto the crisp evening breeze.

I take a deep breath, and my stomach rumbles reminding me I haven't had anything to eat since I woke up this morning.

I hear a little growl and look down. It is a little gray pup.

"Lily?" I ask, dropping to my knees to pet her. She growls, jumping around, trying to push me back inside.

That's when I realized-she was trying to warn me.

I gently massage her fur, but she keeps nudging me with her head, growling softly.

"What is it, sweetheart? What are you trying to tell me?"

"She says it would be better if you went back inside," Akira, my wolf, huffs out.

"The pup is trying to protect us."

Lily whines softly now, her big amber eyes pleading.

I stand and walk forward anyway, Lily trailing by my side. My pace slows as I approach the pack's main gathering grounds.

The usually quiet space-only used for occasional meetings or training sessions-is now filled with murmurs. Tension hangs in the air.

I scan the crowd for my parents but can't find them. Instead, I spot Ayeesha, tall with her long dreadlocks and warm brown skin.

She's my best friend, and her fierce, angry eyes lock onto mine.

She starts to come toward me, but someone grabs her hand, stopping her.

I turn to see what has everyone's attention. And then I see him-Harry.

He stands on the large, carved stone platform, the spot he always uses to address the pack during important announcements.

His eyes-now amber, showing that his wolf, Ben, is present-are locked on me.

They seem more intense than usual. For a moment, I think I catch a flicker of guilt in them, but it vanishes as his gaze hardens.

I swallow, my throat dry.

"What... what's going on?" I manage to say.

"Kimmy, we've been waiting for you," Harry replies calmly.

"I sent Liz to get you, but you must have been sleeping deeply. You didn't wake when I knocked."

"I said, what the Fuck is going on here?" I shout, startling the crowd and finally breaking through Harry's cold exterior. His face registers a flicker of emotion.

"Kimmy..." he trails off, then looks behind him.

Kylie Renold stands there, looking at the very picture of innocence.

Blonde hair in a neat ponytail? Check. Virginal white dress? Check.

Big, soft blue eyes that scream remorseful? Check.

But I know the real Kylie. Only I can see the faint smirk on her lips as she looks at me.

Big fat tears fill her eyes and roll down her cheeks.

I should be angry she's fooling everyone, but all I can do is marvel at how perfectly she plays the part.

"I'm sorry, Kimmy," she whispers, her blue eyes wide and pleading. Tears roll down her cheeks.

Seriously, someone gives the girl an Oscar already.

Harry's voice cuts through the murmurs, loud and authoritative.

"Thank you all for your patience. I have an important announcement to make." He pauses, letting the weight of his words settle on the crowd.

"I understand there's been a lot of confusion and speculation about Kylie Renold's return.

Everyone needs to understand her position in this pack-and in my life."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut.

"She was a valuable member of the pack before her departure, and she's returned, ready to make amends. She's extremely skilled, and losing her again would be a mistake for the pack," he says, his gaze finding mine.

"And for me."

My throat tightens. A lump forms, and I can feel tears threatening to spill over.

"It's no secret I was in love with Kylie," Harry continues.

"In truth, I never stopped being in love with her. That's not why I'm accepting her back into the pack, but it "is" why I'm accepting her back into my life."

Chaos erupts around us as the crowd finally understands where this is headed.

"And on that note, Kimmy..." His eyes settle on me again, cold and unyielding.

A sob breaks free from my mouth, tears now streaming down my face uncontrollably. Harry's eyes follow the path of my tears, but his gaze doesn't soften, not even for a second.

"I want to thank you, Kimmy. You've been a wonderful Luna, the best companion I could've asked for. You've stood by my side through some of the hardest times, and I'm sure everyone in the pack loves you," he says, his voice steady though his throat tightens.

Ben, his wolf, is present in his eyes now. "But I don't love you. Not the way I should."

And just like that, my heart shatters all over again.

I can't hold back anymore. Fury overtakes me, and I storm up to the platform, climbing onto it without hesitation.

All eyes are on me, but I don't care. Without a word, I walk right up to Harry and slap him-hard.

The crack of the slap echoes through the crowd. No one's ever dared to do this before. My hand stings, but I don't care.

His head snaps back, and when he turns to face me again, his eyes are completely amber. Ben is in control now, and a low growl escapes his throat.

I'm supposed to be terrified-anyone else would be. But I'm not.

My eyes blaze with a mix of pain, anger, and betrayal. My voice shakes as I speak.

"You think it's fine to use me and then just toss me aside, right? What, Harry? You thought I'd grovel and beg at your feet? You thought I'd be grateful for whatever scraps you're willing to give me?"

I laugh, a bitter, harsh sound.

"You used me for two years! Two years of love, of devotion, of sacrifice. And now you think you can just sweep it all away? Like I never mattered? Like it was nothing?"

Harry's expression turns cold.

"If you were anyone else, Kimmy, I'd punish you severely for this outburst," he says, his tone icy and controlled.

"But given the situation, I'll let it go this time."

He takes a deep breath, his gaze heavy with finality.

"You can choose your place in the pack, but know this: you will no longer be my Luna. That position is no longer yours. Your actions-your outburst-have made that clear."

I laugh again, a hollow, manic sound.

"Actions and outbursts? That's your excuse to throw me out as the villain so you can be with your perfect Kylie, right? Well, fuck you, Harry. Fuck you very much!"

I shove him, but he grabs my hand. I struggle to break free, Akira growling in the back of my mind, ready to lash out. I growl too.

"Kimmy, calm down. You're causing a scene," Harry says, his voice deep and frustrated. He looks like he can't wait for this to be over.

I stop struggling and stare into his eyes. Ben is still there, staring back. For the first time, I see a flicker of guilt, though I'm not sure if it's Ben's or Harry's. I look from him to Kylie, who stands with her head bowed, a faint smirk still playing on her lips.

I glance at the pack-at the familiar faces of friends and family. They're all staring at me, shocked.

This isn't the Kimmy they know.

A manic laugh breaks free from me again, and I laugh until I'm crying and hiccuping.

"I don't deserve this," I whisper to myself.

"No, we don't," Akira agrees softly.

I pull away from Harry and make my way off the platform, heading toward The pack building.

"Kimmy!" someone calls after me. It's Ayeesha. I turn to face her, tears still streaming down my face.

She's not alone. Harry's mother, Kimberly, stands beside her. She always said we were meant to be, that even our names were the same.

Kimberly's aquamarine eyes-so much like her son's-fill with worry as she takes one look at me.

"Oh, you poor thing. Come here," she says, opening her arms.

I collapse into them, sobbing uncontrollably. This might just break me.