Alpha’s Rue: His Shunned Luna (Athena Enchanted) novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10

“How sweet,” Luna Estelle swoons.

King scoffs, lightly shaking his head in disbelief. He knows I’m bluffing. All I ever miss about this place is nothing but memories.

Mom and Luna Estelle immediately fall into conversation and when our father’s return to the table, we order our lunch. I don’t get to choose, Mom orders for me, she orders one of Seraphine’s favourite dishes. I wonder if she realises how little she knows about me, and my preferences.

No one else bothered to say hi to me, not King, not Rowan, not the woman I’ve come to know as Rowan’s wife. They chatter among themselves, like I’m not at the table. Mom shares a few stories about my childhood that are in fact not about me but her other daughters. I don’t correct her, I stay invisible. “Aeliana,” Luna Estelle softly calls out. “I hear you’re a graduate?”

I nod, pretending to chew on air. I don’t like what’s on my plate enough to eat when no one is looking. “Oh, pretty and smart.” She smiles, “She’s so perfect isn’t she, King?”

Again, I don’t expect him to say anything but he does. “Not one bit,” he says, his tone laced with annoyance.

A waitress comes to refill my water glass but when I look up at her, the glass slips out of her hand and spills on me before shattering on the floor.

“Oh my God,” she gasps, eyes wide with horror. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine,” I tell her, dabbing myself with napkins.

“Dear. Are you okay?” Luna Estelle winces.

I nod, “I’m fine, I’ll wash up.”

“I’m sorry,” the waitress apologises again.

I simply nod and find the bathroom. Thankfully, I’m wearing shorts under my sweats so I’m able to dry them just

fine.

The women in the bathroom are hardly whispering about me while I fix myself up in the mirror. One is telling the others who I am and what I’ve done. “Are you sure that’s her?” One asks.

“What?” the other woman gasps. “That’s so cruel.”

“She’s probably behind it. Just think of it, she hasn’t come back to the pack until now.” She sighs. “She was hiding from her dirty past. Ah, I’m so grossed out just remembering it.”

“If I were Audrey? I would pull her hair out.”

“Are you kidding me? She’d beat her up, you know how gentle Audrey is.” She laughs. “She can’t even fight for her love.”

Gentle? I can’t listen to this crap anymore.

I immediately walk out, and one shushes the others. “Shh, she’s coming.”

Oh. So they noticed.

Nobody says anything, they simply watch as I walk towards the door. I was grateful the bathroom is huge but now? I wish it were small.