Filed To Story: Chasing the Rejected Luna's Heart (Clara & Liam) Book PDF Free
His words were like a punch in the gut, but it wasn’t the fact that they were coming from him that hurt. It was the fact that no one, not Dad, not Damon, not even Liam, was bothering to refute them.
My throat was too tight to speak for a while, but once I finally gained the ability, my voice was trembling. With rage, with fear, with grief, I didn’t even know anymore. It didn’t seem to matter. “So what are you saying?” I demanded, wanting him to at least have to come out and say it. “You already marked me. You can’t just-“”Half-marked,” Jax corrected, sounding triumphant. He had clearly already thought all this out and was far from broken up about it. And I could imagine why. All his trepidations about being mated were in the driver’s seat, and now, he had a perfect get out of jail free card. Finally, he could be rid of me and the obligations I represented without losing his honor or jeopardizing his position as the future alpha.
I didn’t know what I was feeling, exactly, but when a laugh came bubbling out of my throat, I guess disbelief won out. “Of course,” I said bitterly. “This is working out great for you, isn’t it? You wanted to be rid of me from the very beginning.”
He didn’t deny it.”Guess you could say I just had a feeling,” he shot back. Another blow I was unprepared for. Mostly because I found myself wondering if he was right. And he wasn’t the only one. From the kids in school, to Dad, to my own subconscious mind, I’d always known there was something off about me. Something inadequate.”Jax!” Liam scolded. I felt a twinge of hope that maybe, even if he had taken a while to process it, he hadn’t entirely abandoned me. He was coming to my defense, which was a good sign he didn’t just see me as some unwanted changeling, even if I had ceased to be myself to everyone else overnight. He finally looked my way, and something about the sadness in his gaze filled me with more dread than how the others were going to react.”Liam…” I pleaded, shaking my head. “Don’t do this.”
I wasn’t even sure what I was asking him not to do, but I sounded desperate all the same.”I’m sorry, Lavinia,” he said quietly.
I shook my head, backing up only to hit the door. I sank against it because I didn’t trust my ability to stand anymore. Everything was happening so fast, and yet, my thoughts were moving at a crawl. “So what happens now?” I demanded. “You just all wash your hands of me? Pretend like I don’t even exist?””You’re not in any position to complain,” Dad said, his voice cold and detached. “If this was the old times, we would be having a very different conversation.”
I stared at him in disbelief, or maybe I just didn’t want to believe what he was saying. “Are youthreateningme?”
He blew a puff of air through his nostrils. “Threatening you? Please. I would be within my rights to do just that, so you’d better watch the way you talk to me, girl.”
The ice in his tone was hurtful, but I expected it. Somehow, it didn’t hurt nearly as much as being rejected by the others. Abandoned. Betrayed.”So what are you going to do with me?” I demanded, my heart pounding in my ears. “Marry me off to some random guy and hope you can break the mark that way?”
Something about the confusion that challenge elicited in Dad unnerved me more than his anger would have.”You don’t understand,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “You’re not going to be mated to anyone. As of now, you are no longer a member of this pack.”
I stared at him in dismay, waiting for the punchline. Not that it was rational at this point. I should already have known things were going to go as badly as they could.”Are you serious?” I demanded. “I didn’t do anything!””I’ve already spent the last twenty years feeding and clothing a child that wasn’t my own, and I won’t be forced to endure the sight of you any longer,” he snapped. “Considering the ceremony has already begun, I can’t send you away without offering you to them first, but if they don’t want you, that’s that.”
I looked between the three guys, their expressions ranging from apathy to guilt. Even Damon looked uncomfortable. Not that he said a damn word about it.”See that?” Dad challenged. “No takers.”
My throat was so tight, I couldn’t even breathe for a few moments, let alone formulate a thought into words. “Where am I supposed to go?” I asked. “I spent my whole life training to be their fucking property. You’re just going to kick me out on the streets?”
Dad gave a weary sigh, as if my line of questioning was utterly unreasonable. “You will be given a monthly stipend and set up with an apartment outside the territory for long enough to get on your feet. That’s more than I owe you, so I suggest you watch your tone.”
I shook my head. My whole body was trembling, but I refused to give him the pleasure of breaking down in the tears that were streaming down my face already. That I couldn’t help, but sobbing and letting the overwhelming grief consume me was just barely within my grasp.”You can keep your fucking money,” I said, turning toward the door. I paused with my hand on the doorknob and turned back, barely able to see them through the tears. “Fuck you. All of you.”
With that, I slammed the door, and never looked back.
* * *
It took surprisingly little time to pack up the remnants of my life. Twenty years in the same place, never leaving for more than the odd field trip into the nearby human city, and all I had to show for it was a suitcase and a small duffel bag full of the essentials. I didn’t give a shit about the rest. Things that had once seemed important were now meaningless. Meaningless, empty, and unwelcome reminders of a world I was now expected to leave behind.
My world. The only one I had ever known.
I was still sorting through my clothes when I discovered the photograph I kept tucked away in my sock drawer. It was a picture of me and Mom, and one of the few that had survived the purge. I could only imagine he would do the same thing with me soon, with much greater vigor.
The door creaked open and I turned, expecting it to be one of the servants who would usually have come by while I was out at lessons during this time, but the sight of Liam was far less welcome.”Lavinia,” he began, reaching for me.