The Moon Never Chose Me Chapter 03

The Moon Never Chose Me Chapter 03

The second Maeve got the credit, she plastered the trophy photo all over pack social media.

Caelan saw it and immediately started a competition. He insisted on throwing an even bigger celebration for his Youth Warrior win.

My parents had no choice but to combine both events into one.

The date they picked? My twentieth birthday.

For the first time, I actually let myself hope they’d celebrate me too.

I checked six months in advance. Everyone was free that day.

I even let myself imagine—maybe twenty meant adulthood. Maybe they’d finally see me as a real part of this family.

Stupid. All of it.

At Laurel Hall, my parents actually softened their voices around me. It felt almost foreign.

“We can always do your birthday party later.”

“Caelan and Maeve just brought honor to the family. The Youth Warrior title and the Moon Crown award only happen once. Don’t make this all about you.”

I forced the corner of my mouth up. It felt like breaking glass.

The words this might be my last birthday in this house died in my throat.

The celebration cake rolled out on a cart.

Caelan and Maeve stood shoulder to shoulder in front of it—him in his Youth Warrior uniform, her wearing the silver tiara of a Moon Crown candidate.

The spotlight hit them like they were the only two people in the room. Everyone gushed over the Moonhart double-moon twins.

Then some relative laughed and pointed out, “Isn’t it Layla’s birthday today too? One cake for three people—is that enough?”

My father already had the knife in his hand. He cut it right down the middle.

He glanced back at me with this awkward, dry laugh.

“Cutting it into three pieces would look tacky. We’ll get you a cake later.”

I’d heard that line so many times growing up.

I should’ve known better by now.

My parents’ love only stretched far enough to split two ways.

The third slice? It was never coming.

My mother must’ve been worried I’d make a scene. She pulled me aside and put me to work greeting guests.

The whole night, I did the exact same job as the hired staff. I didn’t even have time to have a sip of water.

I finally stepped back to catch my breath—and overheard my mother talking to one of my aunts nearby.

“You two shouldn’t keep circling around those twins all the time.”

“Caelan and Maeve bring you glory, sure. But Layla’s a good kid too. Keep ignoring her like this, and you’ll lose her for good.”

I told myself not to listen. Not to care.

But my body betrayed me. My shoulders went tight. My feet slowed down.

Then my mother’s voice cut through again.

“You don’t understand what the double-moon twins mean to this family. No other child compares. Caelan is strength. Maeve is image. When people see them, they remember Moonhart.”

“And Layla? She was an accident. She didn’t even shift until she was practically grown. She’s never given this family anything. Plus she’s so damn sensitive, always walking around like the world owes her something. I just can’t bring myself to like her.”

The water pitcher slipped from my hands. Scalding water splashed across my knuckles.

The burn spread fast—but it was nothing compared to the hollow ache collapsing in my chest.

Then a hand caught my wrist—gentle but firm—and pulled me to the cold sink.

I looked up into sky-blue eyes.

Declan. From the estate next door.

He was from Greypine Pack. We’d grown up together. He was the only one who ever remembered to ask if I was cold, if I’d eaten, if I was okay.

He ran cold water over my burned hand. Then he opened a velvet box.

Inside lay an emerald necklace.

“Happy birthday, Layla. The stone reminded me of your eyes. The second I saw it, I knew it was yours.”

Declan wasn’t rich.

He wasn’t an heir. He didn’t have Caelan’s resources. He’d been working part-time at a training gym to save up for city patrol tryouts.

I knew he must’ve saved forever to buy this.

The tears came before I could stop them.

I tried to say thank you. What came out was a choked, broken sob.

But there were relatives everywhere. My parents kept glancing over, watching. Judging.

I didn’t even get to cry properly.

I just hugged Declan, then ducked into the restroom to pull myself together.

When I came back to the ballroom, the necklace was gone from my bag.

My blood ran cold. My eyes scanned the crowd.

And then I saw it—around Maeve’s neck. The emerald.