Rejected Luna Returns with Secret Twins (Lysandra) novel Chapter 191

Chapter 191

The sound of the bell jingled through the empty coffee shop as Tristan walked out, leaving me standing there with my hands shaking tape babbled up inside me, hot and overwhelming.

You’re taken?” I whispered to the empty room, my voice trembling with anger. What the actual fuck does that mean?”

I glanced down at the torn pieces of Jake’s letter scattered across the floor like confetti. The image of Tristan ripping it apart replayed in my mind–the cold calculation in his eyes, the possessive gesture that contradicted everything he’d just said about not caring who I was with

1. me.

“You don’t get to do this, I muttered, crouching to pick up the fragments. “You don’t

get

to

treat me like garbage and then act like you own

My fingers trembled as I gathered the pieces. The memory of Tristan’s words about Selene “taking on maternal duties for my children hit me like a physical blow. My children. The thought of another woman–especially her–playing mother to Orion and Lyra made my stomach twist

into knots.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. The coffee shop suddenly felt needed to pull myself together before the others returned.

Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them back furiously. I wouldn’t cry. Not here. Not

Over him.

small too confined, like the walls were closing in. f

Eleanor and the rest of the staff trickled back in about fifteen minutes later, eyeing

me cautio

as

they resumed their positions.

“You okay?” Eleanor asked quietly, tying her apron back on.

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

Do you want to talk about it?” she offered.

I shook my head. “Not really. Let’s just get back to work.”

The afternoon dragged on endlessly. I moved through my tasks like a robot, my mind elsewhere. I broke two cups, mixed up three orders, and completely forgot to restock the pastry case. A customer complained that I’d given her regular milk instead of almond, and I barely managed to apologize without snapping at her.

*Lysandra, Eleanor said gently after I’d spilled an entire pitcher of cream. “Maybe you should go home early. I can handle the rest of the shift.”

“I’m fine, I insisted, grabbing a cloth to mop up the mess.

“You’re clearly not,” she said, taking the cloth from my hands. “Take some time. Process it.”

started to argue but stopped when I saw the genuine concern in her eyes. “I can’t just leave you short–staffed.”

“We’re past the afternoon rush. It’ll be quiet until closing.” She squeezed my shoulder. “Seriously, go home.”

I’ll stay,” I said firmly. “But thanks for offering.“/

Eleanor studied me for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. But I’m leaving at eight instead of closing with you. You need some quiet time.”

I didn’t argue. The thought of being alone in the empty coffee shop after hours actually sounded appealing–a chance to decompress without having to pretend I was okay.

‘Here,” she said, pressing something into my palm. I looked down to see a spare key to the shop. “You can lock up tonight. Just make sure to

set the alarm.”

1/3

By nine o’clock, the last customer had left, and I was alone in the allent coffer hop, fat arready counted the best

and wiped down all the tables. All that remained was to lock up and leave.

But I wasn’t ready to go home yet. Home meant facing my empty apartment, thinking about my children sleeping in Another bad? another root, with Selene hovering nearby. The thought made my chest ache,

“What a fucking day. I’muttered to myself, untying my apron and hanging it on the hook.

I took a deep breath, savoring the quiet. No children needing attention. No Alpha ex–husband making demands. No coworkers watchin with concerned eyes. Just me and the lingeting scent of coffee.

What was I now? A mother without her children. A Luna without a pack. Just a coffee shop employee with an uncertain future.

I was about to grab my purse when the bell above the door jingled. I turned, ready to tell whoever it was that we were closed.

“I’m sorry, we’re

The words died in my throat as I recognized the tall figure who’d just walked in.

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