Alpha’s Rue: His Shunned Luna (Athena Enchanted) novel Chapter 408

“I’m sorry, baby,” I swallow, tears stinging in my eyes as I reach for her hand. “I didn’t know, this is all my fault, I should have never agreed to this, I should have brought them to you instead.”

“Stop touching me!” She gasps, sliding off the edge of the bench. She falls but quickly picks herself up. “Who are you?” She pauses, her eyes wide with fear.

“Ellie—”

“What is your problem, Ellie?” She hisses. “Why do you keep appearing in front of me? You’re starting to creep me out. Why is it that I’m seeing everyone but the one person I am looking for?”

“Who are you looking for?”

“The maid? Where did that girl go?” She frowns, “She has my diamond.”

“Maid?” I frown. “Are you talking about Lexie? She’s home. You’ll see her when we get home.” I tell her, trying to take her hand, but she slaps my hand away.

“Stop that,” she glares. “Don’t touch me!”

One of the security staff nearby steps forward. “Is there a problem?”

“No, I’m taking my wife home, come,” I say, once again taking her hand, but she pulls away with a frustrated groan.

“Wife? Who are you?” She gasps.

“Ellie, stop joking. I know I’ve upset you, but—”

She growls, “Who is this Ellie?”

“You,” I almost whisper. “You’re Ellie. My Aeliana.”

She pauses, something unfamiliar flickering in her gaze. “Aeliana?” She asks, her voice low and trying. I nod, watching her lips curve into a wide, devious smile. “Oh, my name is Riley, and Aeliana is…she’s gone.” She shrugs.

“Riley?” I frown.

She nods, fluffing her hair.

Her actions feel familiar now that I’ve heard that name. Riley Vanderbilt.

I could never forget that name after all the playdates I was dragged into. Riley Vanderbilt is a persona that she created when we were young. There’s a whole game to it called Riley’s world in which she, of course, was Riley, and we got to be her side characters. She’d always play Riley when she forced us into playing Barbies too, and every time that happened, she was an entirely different person. She never broke character, not until she was tired of playing.

“I was promised cake if I came out of my room,” she groans. “Where is it? That little girl is getting on my nerves now.”

“Aeliana, that is not funny.”

“I’m your husband.”

“I have a husband?” She gasps, her eyes falling to her hand. “Where’s the ring? You have some nerve lying to me. What is it? You’re trying to kidnap me, right?” She dramatically gasps, her hand flying to her chest. “I’ve seen this before. I need to call my daddy. I can’t deal right now. Where is my phone? Did I leave it in the cheap hotel room? Oh, clutz.” She smacks her forehead.

“Kingston!” Maddox calls, jogging up to me. “I…umm. handled it,” he says, pointing in the direction he just came from. “Oh, hey, Ellie. You look alive.” He remarks. “Excited to go home?”

Aeliana steps forward, her strides purposeful. “Alive to you too,” she says, her eyes on Maddox. “I mean hello,” she giggles, her cheeks flushing. “Yes, hello.”

“Hi?” Maddox frowns, staring between us.

“Who might you be?”

“What?”

“You’re cute,” she says with a shy laugh, the one that always gave her away when I was in the room. “Do you have a name, handsome?”

“My…” Maddox yelps when she puts her hand on his chest. “My-ma. myy…what is going on here?” He takes a step back. “I’m scared.” He whispers, looking at me.

Aeliana counters with another two steps, breathing him in. “What is that?” She sniffs his shirt, her whole face turning red now. I don’t understand what’s happening right now. Is she flirting with him? “Jasmine?” She asks with a low, satisfied groan. “Pretty and smells good. Riley likey.”