Alpha’s Rue: His Shunned Luna (Athena Enchanted) novel Chapter 185

Chapter 185

I lay awake in the tub for hours, all I see is her. Every memory I’ve tried to forget is right before my eyes, pulling me into the past every time I try to sleep. My true Luna tattoo glows a few times, faintly reminding me where I am.

For years, I’ve learned to pick myself up when I fall into the deep end, but it feels like I’ll drown in my torment if I don’t drown in this tub. I need Kingston, I need him so bad, but I can’t help thinking what if Audrey was right back then. Was that why he stopped writing to me?

“Luna Aeliana!”

My eyes snap open, and brown eyes stare down at me in horror. I gasp, pulling my head from under the water where I don’t remember slipping. “Are you okay?”

“Lexie,” I swallow, taking in my surroundings. It’s bright everywhere, the night has crept away.

Lexie points at the door, “The door was open, and I—”

“It’s fine,” I nod, waving her off. “What time is it?”

“Almost nine.” She says, her tone worried. “Would you like anything specific for breakfast?”

“No, I’m good.” I say with a smile. I’d be better if Kingston were here, but I can’t ask him to return, I can’t be the dependent Luna, the one who goes everywhere with her husband like she’s going to fade without him. Thankfully, I don’t feel that way, but if I cling to him any harder, I will. I’ve easily grown attached to having him around when I need him, I can’t go on like this. I need to learn from last time.

“Luna Aeliana?” Lexie frowns, “Are you sure you’re fine?”

“Positive.” I smile again, “I’ll just finish up here.” I say, looking down at myself. “In the bath with my clothes, I don’t know why I didn’t just go to the pool.”

Lexie nods, promptly excusing herself.

It’s not until I’m done with my actual bath that I notice what it is that she saw. Dark circles around my eyes, and a hollow stare. I fix that instantly, I put on some light makeup and slip on a change of clothes before I head back downstairs.

When I walk out to the foyer, I find Damien there, staring into the garden. He seems to sense me because he turns around before I get a word out. “Hey A,” he smiles.

“Damien,” I try to return his smile, but I can’t, I’m on a low. I either have highs or lows when my demons start to haunt me and today is a heavy low.

“I see your staff really knows you well,” they said, ” they said you’d be hers.” He says, opening his arms and pulling me into a hug, “How are you doing?”

I try not to flinch at his touch, reminding myself who he is. A friend. I can trust Damien. “Great, how are you?” I ask, pulling away after a few unnerving beats of silence.

“I’m good,” he smiles. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. Is my brother keeping you locked up? You really scared him last time.”

“Actually no,” I let out a deep breath. “I was forced to stay in for a few days, but I’ve been released for a while.” I kid, “Kingston isn’t even here.”

Damien nods, “I know, he sent me here, said he left something important, and he was worried.”

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“Oh,” I nod. Kingston did leave me two people to go to if he was needed, and I didn’t feel like taking over for him. “Should I get you someone to help you find it or-”

“Already found it,” he smiles. My gaze drops to his hands, nothing there, nothing on the table or chairs. “It’s you, Aeliana.” Damien laughs. “He left you behind, and he wants me to check on you.”

I pause, the words he just said to me barely making any sense. “Me?”

He nods, “You’ve got the Alpha wrapped around your finger, lucky girl.” He dramatically sighs, “I want to be you when I grow up. Think you can give me some pointers? I need River to be obsessively in love with me as well.”

“Stop it,” I laugh, playfully punching his arm. “What did he really send you here for?”

“You,” he repeats, the playfulness in his tone gone. “He asked me to check on you, bring you these…” he says, reaching for the huge flower bouquet I assumed was from Luna Estelle because she sends me flowers from her garden every week.

My heart skips a beat when he hands them to me. Kingston sent me flowers? I haven’t gotten any flowers from him since I returned. “Plumeria, lilies and lotus,” I smile down at them. “My favourite flowers.”

“Yes, and when he asks, do tell him that I handpicked them just like he requested, but I just went to the store,” he explains. “I wasn’t going to drive to mom’s house for that, I don’t even know how to wrap the darn flowers or what they’re called.”

“Thank you,” I smile. Still unable to get over the fact that Kingston sent me flowers all the way from Astral Fang Pack. Not only that, but my favourite flowers, and he wanted them handpicked because he knows I love fresh flowers. “They’re perfect.”

“Now, if you could just pose for a picture..” he trails off, retrieving his phone from his pocket. “I’m getting paid really well for this job, but you know I would do it for free, right?”

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