Rejected Three Years Ago, I Came Back as Luna Queen Chapter 02

Rejected Three Years Ago, I Came Back as Luna Queen Chapter 02

This time, I quietly set the message back to unread.

Just as I went to put the phone down, a grip tightened around my wrist, making me wince in pain.

“Olivia Voss! What are you doing!”

I looked at him bitterly.

His neatly styled hair was a mess, the tie I had straightened for him was crooked, and bloodshot veins filled his eyes, making him look almost wild.

It was the first time I had ever seen him so frantically worried about someone else.

“Nothing. I just saw your screen light up and wanted to hand it to you.”

He snatched the phone away.

One quick look, and his throat tightened. Without a word of explanation, he turned and bolted out the door.

His shoulder slammed into mine, sending a wave of numbness through half my body.

What followed was that disheveled bed, their intertwined bodies, and my parents weeping tears of relief before announcing that the brides would be swapped.

I accepted every bit of it.

On the day originally set for my mating ceremony—which had been turned into Emily and Brandon’s mate contract ceremony—I boarded a flight and began a three-year journey around the world.

Perhaps my college roommate’s comment had upset my sister again, because my mother called me.

It was her first call in three years, and after so long without contact, an awkward distance stretched between us.

After a quiet “Hello,” silence hung heavy in the air.

“Mom, is something wrong?”

I was the first to break the barrier.

She paused for a beat before quickly seizing the opening.

“No… nothing. How are you doing in Switzerland?”

“Mom, I’m in New Zealand.”

Panic crept into her voice on the other end.

“Huh? Since when? Wasn’t your Instagram…”

I didn’t want to hear her painful excuses.

“That post was from six months ago. If there’s something on your mind, just say it.”

“You child, you’re still so…”

Still so impossible to love, far less sweet-talking than your sister.

I had heard those words countless times before—she could go on for two hours without repeating a phrase.

She finally got down to business.

“It’s been three years. It’s not safe for a girl to be wandering around out there by herself. Besides, you’re getting older and still don’t have a boyfriend. Your sister is worried about you.”

Worried about me, or worried that Brandon couldn’t let go of me?

We both knew the answer.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed now that I knew the real reason for the call.

I had assumed these three years away would give everyone time to clear their heads, not just me.

As it turned out, they didn’t need to calm down at all; they had only ever protected my sister, while I was merely an obstacle in the way of their favoritism.

“What are you trying to say?”

My mother offered a sheepish chuckle, sensing the frost in my tone, unable to get the words out.

It was my father who stepped in to play the stern patriarch, scolding me instantly.

“Watch your tone with your mother! You vanished for three years without a word!”

“Get back here right now. Your mother and I have arranged a match for you. Settle down and sign a mate contract as soon as possible, and stop making the whole family worry about you.”

My mother chimed in from the side.

“He’s the Alpha heir of the Whitemoon Pack. We know his family well. He returned from his training on the border three years ago and is still single. It’s the perfect chance for you two to meet.”

I was taken aback.

Vincent was technically another childhood friend of ours.

He was just extremely quiet, often trailing behind us for an entire day without uttering a single word.

At first, seeing how handsome he was, my sister had tried to get closer to him, but he was too icy, walking around as if the whole world owed him something even as a kid.

Brandon got along with him decently enough, though, and they often met up to play basketball.

Whenever I asked to tag along, Vincent would refuse with a cold face.

I had always assumed he hated me.

Not long after, we went off to college, and he followed his family’s wishes to go abroad, staying away for six full years.

“He agreed?”

I couldn’t help asking.

My mother laughed happily.

“Of course! How could we make a decision like this on our own?”

My fingers tapped against the balcony railing in a steady rhythm.

I curled my fingers in and spoke softly: “Fine. I’ll be back tomorrow.”