Alpha’s Rue: His Shunned Luna (Athena Enchanted) novel Chapter 1

AELIANA

Hell is empty, and all the devils are here.

I’ve learned to run from mine, the ones that unleashed demons to torment me for the rest of my life, but as I stare at the warning in my hand, I reckon I didn’t run far enough. Not too fast either.

[To Aeliana Hartley,

With the blessing of their families, Seraphine Paul Hartley & Diego Rollins request the honour of your presence to bear witness to the start of their union.

Save the date: February 28th.

Venue: Valour Hall] it reads. My name in cursive

I don’t understand why I have to go, I’m pretty sure the bride—my stepsister doesn’t want me there. Sera and I don’t get along, I’d hate to ruin her special day with my presence and besides, going back would mean soaking up waters that once drowned me.

That was why I tried to decline, made up every possible excuse to not attend but my father wouldn’t hear it. He wouldn’t want to appear as though he didn’t have a perfect family, but he does. Without me that is. I’m the one who ruins things, the one who should have died in the delivery room, but mom died instead.

My heart races when the pack gates open, I

“Identification please,” the pack patrol officer says. “And state your purpose.”

“Aeliana Hartley, here for my sister’s wedding. I will be residing in Oaks, house number twenty-six, Hartley Street.” I say, handing him my passport.

The officer looks at me, then my ID. “Are you sure this is you?” He raises an eyebrow.

No, surely this is some kind of joke. The picture is a few years old, but I look the same, and I just had a sixteen-hour flight, not to mention the nine-hour flight before that one.

Thankfully, he doesn’t press further. “And do you plan on staying long?”

“Sir, I was born here. I have every legal right and document to stay as long as I prefer, but I will only be here until tomorrow.”

He nods, giving me back my ID card. “New pack laws state absence for more than five years warrants renewal of membership by the legal office.”

“Good thing I’m just visiting,” I smirk.

“Have a good one,” he smiles, slapping the top of the car.

I give him one last smile before I drive away in my rental car. A service I'm grateful for because I don’t want to bother anyone tomorrow when it’s time to leave. I have several missed calls from dad, along with a few messages saying I’m late from my other siblings. In my opinion, I’m on time but in reality, I missed the church ceremony, and I’m going to get scolded for that but I'm here.

When I step out of the car, I’m met with many faces, some familiar, others not at all. The pack smells familiar, it smells like memories, both good and bad. So many memories that the air is almost suffocating, I want to get back into the car and get on the next flight out of here, but I can’t.

I swallow down the lump creeping in my throat and remind myself it’s just one day. One ceremony, a few fake smiles for the camera, and then I can leave again. People seem to be having a ball, a few others are drunk outside the hall, others are getting drunk, others are only just now arriving….like me.

My father stands near the entrance, his posture rigid, a cigar between his fingers while he speaks to a man I don’t recognise. I’m thinking of a way to enter without him seeing me, but his eyes find me first, fast and cold. He’s mad.

I take a deep breath and walk towards him. “You’re late,” he says.

“Flight issues,” I calmly retort. If anything I wished for an emergency landing so I couldn’t come.

Father nods, his jaw ticking. “Follow me,” he says. Not bothering to introduce me to his colleague like he always does with my siblings.

He doesn’t say a single word, he walks in front of him, and I follow, my heart syncing up with the fast pace of my heels clicking on the floor. People are staring at me, whispering, laughing, I’m getting every dirty look in the book and I know why. But it’s one of those things I’ve decided to live with, the kind that doesn’t matter where I’m at in life now.

Father leads me to a crowd of women, I can smell his wife before he turns to look at me. “Be seen.” He orders, walking past them, leaving me with them.

“Honey—” Pandora, my stepmother calls out, her smile wide and bright. She must be so proud of her little girl Sera. This venue is expensive, and the wedding package they offer is just as expensive. “Oh, she came.”

I lift my hand to wave, but she pulls me into a tight hug. “Hello, Liana baby.” she kisses my cheek. “Lovely of you to join us.”

“Liana?” Mrs Thorne gasps, “As in Aeliana? Freya’s little girl?”

Mom Pandora nods, “Yes that’s her.”

“Oh my, you look so different, dear.” Mrs Cole smiles, eyeing me up and down. “How beautiful.”

I swallow, “Thank you.” It’s hardly a compliment, she’s called me ugly a few times, and while Pandora stood up for me, she also laughed.

“You’re so blessed Pandora, you have such gorgeous children.” Another remarks, one I don’t recognise. “Wow.”

Mom laughs, the sound forced and fake. “Oh stop it. This one isn’t even mine, I can’t take credit for her.”

Translation: she’s a screw-up but not mine. I’m only the Hartley family’s daughter when it’s convenient and unfortunately for me, that’s once in a never-blue-moon.

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