Alpha’s Rue: His Shunned Luna (Athena Enchanted) novel Chapter 196

Chapter 196

“Alpha bro,” Damien cheers, settling down in the seat beside my wife, not bothering to properly greet me. Welcome home.”

I don’t respond, I keep my eyes on Aeliana.

She doesn’t look at me once, she keeps her eyes everywhere but in my direction. “Good morning, Dani.” She beams, “Cute dress.”

“Thank you,” Danielle giggles. “My brother bought it for me.”

She nods, taking a sip of her tea. “Alpha Jaxon has great taste,” she says. “It’s good he isn’t only handsome.”

“Handsome?” I whisper to myself, my eyes shifting between her and Rowan who shakes his head.

“How was Astral Fang?” Damien asks, to no one in particular. Before I can speak, Aeliana pours syrup on his pancakes. “Thanks, A.” He grins, “No one knows what I like here, but you pay attention to everything. Can I get a bit more?” He asks, trying to use my wife as his personal servant.

“Careful, D.” She sighs, “You might want to cut back on the sugar before you’re accused of having a sugar problem or worse, an addiction.”

“Aeliana, I’m sorry.”

She doesn’t flinch, she doesn’t even look up, I expect her to tell me to shut up, but she doesn’t say a word, she carries on as if nothing happened. “Please talk to me,” I beg. “Yell at me, just say something.”

“Pass the fruit,” she says, her eyes landing on Caleb who does just that.

“How rude,” Audrey scoffs, “Do you not hear him talking to you?”

Damien snaps his head towards her, “Shut up, Audrey.” Rowan snarls, “Do you not read the room? It’s more than obvious what’s happening here, and if you don’t mind your business, you’ll wind up with more than a broken nose this time.” He says.

“I’m just saying-”

“Say less,” Damien cuts in, his tone irritated, and bored. “Or I’ll make sure you can’t say anything at all.”

I can feel the heat of Audrey’s gaze, but I don’t look, I’m too busy taking in the smile Aeliana bites down at the sound of Damien and Rowan defending her. Damien cares for Damien, and Damien only, he doesn’t stand up for anyone, but he is growing overprotective of Aeliana, it pleases me that she has this with him.

“This is delicious,” she moans, chewing on a piece of melon, slow and oblivious. Every time she takes a bite, her head tilts back a little, and she moans a little.

I don’t know if she’s consciously doing it or not, but it’s torture. She carries quiet conversations with Damien, both of them laughing at things the rest of us can’t comprehend, almost like they’re speaking in code. And in true little brother fashion, Damien enjoys every second I’m ignored.

She sits directly opposite me, but not once have our eyes met. Her silence is louder than any scream. She isn’t just upset with me, she’s done, and that scares me. She would have yelled at me, scolded me, but no, she chooses not to act. It’s almost like she’s erasing me from existence, right here, I’m losing her, and she’s making sure I see it play out.

The thought makes me feel sick, physically sick-like my stomach is trying to turn itself inside out.

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“Lexie,” she calls. “Sweetie, can I have some more melon please?”

I take that as my cue, I have melons, untouched in my fruit bowl. I quickly pick out the berries and mango slices then dump the melon on her plate before Lexie bursts through the doors. “Here,” I say, hoping for so much as a glance.

She pauses, staring at the plate with confusion, and then mumbling something to herself before grabbing her entire plate and flinging it across the room. The plate clatters to the floor, fruit and marmalade staining the walls. “Would you look at that?” She frowns.

“Oh my God!” Audrey gasps.

“Wow,” Danielle winces.

“D, I’ll see you later,” she says with a polite smile. “If anyone sensible needs me, I’ll be in my room thinking about divorce, and severing mate bonds,” she says, pushing off her chair slowly and deliberately.

“Aeliana please,” I beg, my voice raised with panic.

Danielle gasps, “Severing bonds? Luna Aeliana, that’s-”

“Stay out of it, babe,” Rowan tells her.

Damien grumbles, “You ruined her breakfast.”

“Baby, I’m sorry,” I blurt out, already up and following her. “Please come back to the table, I won’t give you anything, I won’t touch anything on your plate,” I say, jogging after her.

She doesn’t say anything, she keeps walking, slow and silent, staring at the ground. “Aeliana stop,” I say, reaching for her arm but she yanks it away, still refusing to look at me.

She races up the stairs, but I catch up to her easily, keeping my hands to myself. I need to undo this mess, I need her to look at me, if not listen to me.

I drop to my knees in front of her, close to her bedroom door, which gets her to look at me, eyes blank and her nose crinkling. “Please don’t leave, I fucked up, I know that, but don’t do this to me, Aeliana. Please talk to me, don’t act like I don’t exist. You promised to communicate, remember? It hurts me when you do this.”

She reaches the door, her eyes still on mine. And with one final word, she pushes it open. “Good,” she says. “Hold on to that hurt.”

I reckon I should have blocked her door because she walks in, slamming it so hard it could fall off the hinges.

I know I deserve it, but it hurts, my wolf howls in pain, blaming me too. I knock once, twice, getting no response, but I know she’s inside so I talk. I ask for forgiveness. “I’m sorry, Siren,” I tell her, holding on to her door as it puts us closer. “I was wrong, I was stupid to even doubt you for a second, and I know I can’t take that back, but tell me how to make it up to you? I need you, Aeliana.” I swallow, my heart seizing at the thought of her breaking our bond. She doesn’t answer, it’s like I’m talking to a wall, and I would rather that than have her break us, I know she’s listening. “Let me fix this. It doesn’t have to be like this, please…I do anything, Ellie.” I sigh, my forehead pressed against the door. “I’m sorry I hurt your feelings, I was just worried, Siren. I know you’re mad, but I’ll stay right here until you’re ready to talk again.”

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