Alpha’s Rue: His Shunned Luna (Athena Enchanted) novel Chapter 439

“I did too,” she hiccups, fully sobbing now. “I always wanted to be better for you, but you let me get ruined.”

I carefully move closer, not wanting to alarm her when I pull her close again. “You are not ruined, you are a fighter, Aeliana,” I tell her, rubbing her back. “You’re strong, and you will overcome this, okay?”

“I can’t,” she sobs.

“You can,” I kiss her forehead. “Through everything, you’re what I draw strength from, so if you feel weak, take mine, baby.”

“You just want the pup,” she sniffs, slowly pulling away. When her eyes meet mine, the stabbing pain in my chest intensifies. She doesn’t want to believe she’s very important to me still, she doesn’t see herself as worthy that every action of mine towards her requires an explanation. “This is perfect for you, you finally get an heir, right?”

“I want you, Aeliana.” I cup her face in my hands. Wiping all her tears away. “I want my mate, I want my best friend. Nothing is more important to me than you are. You being pregnant doesn’t change anything, not in any selfish way. I do want to protect our pup, too, but you? You’re my first priority. I’ll do anything to keep you safe, even if it means letting go of…”

She blinks, “You don’t want it?” Her voice drops.

“I do,” I nod. I feel a mild attachment to our pup, but it isn’t greater than my desire to protect Aeliana and ensure her well-being. “I want to have a child with you, but if you feel now isn’t the time, I’ll understand. I will put you first again and again, I won’t fail you again, I can’t.”

“It’s just not fair.” She sobs, dropping her head against my chest.

I let her cry it out.

After a while, she goes quiet and pulls away, moving away from me again. I don’t push, I let her be, but the silence stretches wider and wider. She keeps staring at the wall with indifference, she barely blinks, and I worry she's gone, and Riley is creeping again, but she’s steady. It’s still Aeliana, just overthinking.

“Say something,” I softly say. “Talk to me, baby. What’s going on?”

She blinks, her gaze shifting back to me. “What were you saying to her?”

Her.

Audrey, she doesn’t have to say her name. I saw how scared she looked when she found us all in that room, and how close I was to her probably made her nervous, that’s why I tried to get her away as fast as I could. “Nothing important.”

“You can’t give her my baby.” She deadpans.

“She’s not allowed anywhere near any of my babies,” I smile. “Not my big baby, or our little baby. You don’t have to even think about seeing her around, okay?”

She doesn’t answer, her gaze shifts again, staring at the wall, while her hands repeatedly squeeze the corner of her pillow.

“What’s on your mind this time?” I coo.

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