Alpha’s Rue: His Shunned Luna (Athena Enchanted) novel Chapter 104

Chapter 104

“Oh,” Finn nods. “That was you, Luna Aeliana? It’s brilliant, I’ve seen huge positives since enforcing it in the pack.”

Aeliana’s cheeks flush, “I… thank you.” She says shyly.

I’m not one to read articles, I approve summarised proposals, and I approved Aeliana’s work without knowing it was hers. God. She really is incredibly smart. The more she talks, the more I see why she wanted the professorship job, she doesn’t just talk, she explains, she makes room for doubt, questions, and laughable moments. She would have been great at the job, but I took that from her.

“I should steal you for Blackthorn,” Finn says.

“You’d have to battle Alpha Kingston for her,” Zachary says. “He’s a grumpy bastard when you steal her. I have the bite marks to prove it from second grade.” He says, showing us. Everyone laughs, teasing how cruel it was of me to bite him because he wouldn’t swap seats with me on the school trip when he sat next to her.

Finn kicks at my foot and when I turn to him he mouths, “Fucking score, she is amazing.”

“Very,” I mouth back.

“Wait, wait, tell us more about the hybrid schooling models,” Leon urges. “I was curious about how that went considering you started with packs that believe in old age traditions.”

Her face lights up the moment he asks to hear more. She tells them how many challenges she faced and what kept her and her team going. Mara, Leon, and Luna Lauren are the most intrigued. Seraphine and Hannah are a little quiet, they don’t understand most of the things that the others are saying.

Soon, Aeliana shifts the conversation to something lighter, something everyone can speak on, everyone is engaging with her, even Hannah.

She has everyone entertained, that’s not how these dinners usually go. It’s always three or two of us talking amongst ourselves but tonight? She changed that.

Nobody misses Audrey, her two companions don’t mention her either, she could never have done this. She has been coming with me for years now and while she would have smiled, said all the right tactful things, and charmed everyone without breaking a sweat, she wouldn’t achieve what Aeliana has.

Aeliana made Dave snort out wine, Dave! The man is hard to impress, he hardly smiles, and yet she made him laugh so hard. Audrey wouldn’t have made Hannah feel less alone, she wouldn’t have been able to challenge Leon’s theories.

When it’s time to go, Mara clings to her. “You should come to Blackthorn University,” she says. “I’m the Dean of students so I can organise a seminar.”

“Tempting,” Aeliana says softly, smiling still. But I noticed something shift in her eyes, like she had travelled to a different place for a moment.

“Lovely meeting you, Luna Aeliana.” Luna Lauren says, “You definitely should come to Blackthorn, even if it’s just for a visit, do come. We can go to the winery.” She winks.

“Thank you,” Aeliana smiles. “I’ll definitely come sometime.”

Everyone bids us goodbye, Hannah, and Zachary left before us. I lead her to the car but Finn, Mara and Luna Lauren stay outside the restaurant, waving at us when we look back from our car. “Had fun?” I clear my throat.

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“Yes.” She says, her smile gone now. She lets her hair done and closes her eyes.

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