Claiming the Rejected Luna

Chapter 9:

Aria’s POV

My heart was pounding, practically echoing in my ears as I replayed Drake’s words over and over. I made a mistake. Just hearing him say it had me spiraling, like the room had suddenly become ten times smaller and every exit was blocked. Drake was really standing here, right in front of me, admitting he’d been wrong. After everything—after all the pain and humiliation, the nights spent alone wondering what I’d done wrong—now he was saying it was a mistake. And I couldn’t tell if that made me furious or just... sad.

I thought back to how sure I’d been that we were meant for each other, how his bond had once been the only thing that felt real in my life. I’d trusted him, poured everything into that bond, convinced that he was my future. But then he’d gone to Zelda, and every time he was with her, I’d felt that bond between us, that invisible thread, weaken a little more. It was like he’d taken everything I’d built my world on and let it fall apart without a second thought.

Now, Damon was here too, but with him, everything was tangled and uncertain. I knew he cared about me; I’d seen it in those rare, intense looks, in the way he’d step in when no one else would. But I didn’t know what he actually felt. Did he want me? Was he ashamed of whatever this was between us? And did I even have the courage to ask?

I shifted on my feet, feeling that familiar, gnawing urge to get out of here, to leave the room and never look back. My stomach twisted, and I had to close my eyes for a second, taking a deep breath to keep myself from losing it. I was barely holding on when there was a loud, insistent pounding at the door, making my head snap up.

Damon’s eyes darkened as he turned toward the door, his voice coming out low and steady. “Come back later. Unless it’s life or death.”

The pounding didn’t stop, only got louder and more urgent. Whoever was on the other side wasn’t going away without a fight. Damon glanced at Drake, a warning in his eyes. “See who it is,” he muttered, his tone edged with irritation.

Drake moved to the door, unlocked it with a quick twist, and opened it just a crack. Before he could even get a word out, Zelda shoved her way inside, her face flushed and eyes blazing with anger. The tension in the room ratcheted up in an instant, and I knew this wasn’t going to end well.

Without missing a beat, she stormed right up to me, her hand raised as if she was about to slap me. But before she could so much as lift her arm fully, Damon was there, moving faster than I’d ever seen him, his hand catching her wrist mid-swing. His grip was tight, his expression hard as he stared her down, and I felt my breath catch.

“Touch her,” he said, his voice deadly calm, “and you’re going to regret it.”

For a second, everything was silent. I just stood there, too stunned to move, as Zelda glared at him, her eyes wild with anger and frustration. But she didn’t back down. Instead, she turned her gaze on me, venom dripping from every word as she spoke.

“You weak, pathetic little liar,” she spat, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. “You’re not strong enough to be Drake’s mate, and you know it. Everyone knows it.”

The words stung more than I wanted to admit, and I felt my face flush with anger and hurt. I glanced at Drake, half-hoping, half-expecting that he’d step in, that he’d say something to defend me. But he just stood there, silent, like he was completely torn.

Zelda’s voice cut through the silence again, this time even louder. “He didn’t choose you because you’re not good enough for him, Aria. You were never enough. You couldn’t even stay true to the bond. You’re a liar and a coward, and everyone knows you betrayed him for another mate!”

The accusation hit me like a slap, anger mixing with disbelief. “That’s not true,” I said, my voice shaking but defiant. “I never betrayed him. I never once—”

Zelda let out a bitter, mocking laugh, her eyes flashing with triumph as if she’d just exposed my biggest secret. But before she could say another word, Damon’s grip on her arm tightened, his expression turning cold as steel.

“I think we’ve heard enough, Zelda,” he said, his tone edged with sarcasm. He gave her a look that was so calm, so dismissive, that I almost felt sorry for her. “How about you take your accusations somewhere else? We’re done here.”

He turned to me then, his gaze softening, and I could feel the weight of his words in a way that felt almost physical. “It’s time to make a decision, Aria.”

His voice was steady, but there was something in his eyes that held so much more than just the words he’d spoken. In that moment, it was like he was asking me to trust him, to step away from everything I’d held onto and finally let go. And with Damon, I felt like I could. He’d always been there, steady and unwavering, even when I’d been a complete mess. With him, I felt safe, like he’d protect me no matter what. And that’s something I never thought I’d feel again.

Taking a deep breath, I turned to Drake, my heart pounding as I spoke the words that I’d held back for too long. “I, Aria Russo, accept your rejection.”

The room seemed to go still as the words left my mouth. I felt a strange, almost surreal lightness wash over me, like I’d been freed from something heavy and painful I’d been carrying for far too long. Drake’s face twisted in pain, his hands clutching at his chest as the severed bond hit him with full force. I watched him drop to his knees, but I didn’t feel a single pang of regret. Just relief. Freedom.

Zelda looked at me with pure disgust, her lips curling as she turned and stormed out, muttering something under her breath. Damon still held the door open, turning to Drake with an expression that left no room for debate. “You too,” he said, his voice calm but unyielding. “Go get some rest. Sleep it off.”

Drake staggered to his feet, looking like he’d just taken a hit he wasn’t ready for, and without meeting my eyes, he walked out, leaving the room filled with a strange, thick silence. Damon closed the door, locking it with a finality that felt almost symbolic. Then he crossed the room, pouring two glasses of bourbon from a decanter on the side table.

He handed one to me, and as our hands brushed, a sudden spark shot up my arm, warm and electric. It was different from anything I’d ever felt, and I could tell by the way his face shifted, just for a second, that he’d felt it too.

Without a word, I downed the bourbon, feeling the warmth spread through me, settling my nerves. Damon set his glass down, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made my heart skip.

“Goddamn it, Aria,” he murmured, his voice rough, raw. “I can’t take this anymore.”

Before I could even respond, he was there, his hands on my waist, pulling me close. I felt his warmth, his steady strength, and for the first time in so long, I didn’t feel the need to hold back. His lips met mine, soft at first, almost like he was waiting for me to tell him it was okay. And then, as if a dam had broken, his kiss deepened, becoming fierce and insistent, like he’d been holding back as much as I had.

Everything around us faded, leaving only the two of us in that moment. His hands gripped me, holding me as if I was something he’d been waiting for his whole life, and I let myself melt into him, losing myself in the heat of his touch, his taste, the feeling of finally letting go. I could feel the desk behind me as he lifted me onto it, his body pressing against mine, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, my fingers tangling in his hair as our kiss grew deeper, more desperate.

His lips left mine, trailing down my neck, leaving a line of warmth that made my head spin. My heart was pounding, my breath coming in short, quick gasps as his hands moved over me, and I felt like I’d been set on fire.

But then, just as suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and we both froze. Damon pulled back, his breathing heavy, his eyes wide with the same surprise and frustration I felt. We quickly composed ourselves, straightening our clothes, trying to look somewhat normal as we caught our breath.

The door creaked open, and Luna Alice stepped inside, her gaze flicking from Damon to me, taking in my flushed cheeks and mussed hair with a small, knowing smile. She didn’t say anything, but the look in her eyes was enough to make my cheeks burn.

“Sorry to interrupt,” she said, her voice light but with a hint of amusement, “but I thought you’d want to know. Your grandfather’s been... acting strange all day. He’s been asking to speak with you, Damon. And he insists on having Aria there too.”

I glanced at Damon, feeling a strange sense of excitement and dread building in my chest. Whatever his grandfather wanted to talk about, it wasn’t going to be a casual conversation. There was something about the way Luna Alice said it, something that hinted this was bigger than any of us knew.

Damon’s jaw tightened, and he nodded, his voice steady as he replied. “Alright. We’ll be there.”