Alpha’s Rue: His Shunned Luna (Athena Enchanted) novel Chapter 81

Chapter 81

Aeliana would never let me into her head like that, not through the bond, not through the pack link either. I could talk to her through the bond, I could feel her but she won’t let me, but with her, patience proves to be my greatest virtue. Just like she asked me for sex, she will ask me to talk to her through our bond one day. But until then, I will use it to help her as I did at our wedding, she seems to get overstimulated easily but I can calm her when she lets

Rowan and I part ways at the staircase, he goes up and I head out back. I can still smell her on my skin, I did wash up but it’s no use. Even if her scent fades, she’s still under my skin, she is threaded in my brain, she’s in my blood, she is in everything.

I find her in the middle of the garden, kneeling in the dirt by a rose bush no one bothers with because of its stubborn thorns. Beside her is David, an old ex patrol guard who got injured defending a foreign pack and has been a gardener since. I’m surprised to see them together, David doesn’t like people, not us young people anyway. I’m pretty sure the only reason I see him is because he appreciates my garden, if not, he wouldn’t come here at all.

He is sitting on an overturned bucket with one leg stretched out. I notice blood seeping through the torn knee of his trousers and there is a pruning knife at his feet. He must have injured himself trying to tame the bush.

“I told you to be careful,” Aeliana huffs. For a moment, I’m frightened the grumpy old man might lash out but he just sits there, unbothered. “Your hearing can’t be that bad, David.” She scolds.

She doesn’t scold him the way she scolds me, her voice is softer with him, but still stern. “Why not leave this for the others, look what happened now.”

“They’re too young, Luna.” He grunts, watching him clean his wound. I am tempted to hurt myself and see if she will be that gentle with me too. “This bush needed a gentle hand. It’s just like a pretty stubborn lass, a little care is all it needs.”

She huffs, “Just because the flower is pretty doesn’t make it any less dangerous, you need to be careful, even the prettiest of flowers can harm you.”

“You sound just like my grandmother,” he smiles.

“How so?” She looks up, still wrapping a bandage around his knee. Their interaction is a bit hard to process.

“She would often scold me just like this,” he says, his smile showing a familiar warmth. “Grandmama would scold me badly when I did something stupid. I used it to hate it, thought it was because I wasn’t her child.”

Aeliana gasps, “Of course not, it must have been from a place of love. Moms always want the best for their children, all parents do.” She tells him.

My chest tightens at that, she never had that kind of bond she speaks of with her parents, Gamma Hartley was only ever around to scold her and Pandora would only pose for the crowd with her. That’s why I asked Mom not to bring her around anymore, she wasn’t present when Aeliana needed a mom. And just like then, I will take care of her without Pandora or Gamma Hartley. Aeliana grew up missing her birth mother-a woman she had never met but knew would treat her like she was all that mattered.

“She said that too, you’re right Luna Aeliana.” He says, his voice soft too.

“There,” she taps his knee. “All better. I’m having you fired the next time you get hurt on the job because of

carelessness.”

David laughs, I don’t think I’ve ever heard him laugh before, not once in all the twenty years I’ve known him. “I would be far more than honoured to lose my job because you cared, Luna. I’ve heard a question about your ability

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and worth as Luna but they’re wrong.”

“Why are they wrong?” She asks.

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“Because the moon goddess chose you, and she couldn’t have chosen a better Luna, you’re kind, that’s rare.”

He is the second person I’ve heard speak this way about her. I thought Lexie was merely trying to keep her job but she loves working for Aeliana. She says Aeliana is the kindest person she has ever come across, and now David too. Is she selective with whom she shows this side of herself?

She laughs, nervous and shy. “Anyone can be kind, David.”

“No,” he shakes his head. “They can try to be kind, but they’re not really kind if it takes that much effort. Don’t you agree, Alpha boy?” He asks, his head shifting to my direction.

I take a step back, almost running. David shakes his head, “What are you always creeping around for?”

“I was looking for my wife, Sir,” I say, motioning to her.

Aeliana’s soft smile is gone the moment her eyes meet mine. “Why are you looking for me?”

“We have a meeting to attend,” I say. “At the old pack house, it is in a few hours. You should wash up so we can leave early.”

She nods, rising to her feet. “See you next week, David. And you better be resting at home.”

David nods, giving her a warm smile. She takes the other way out to avoid walking past me and I sigh. David grunts, rising too. “She’s too smart for you, Alpha boy.”

“How did you know I was here?”

“I was a patrol war guard for half my life,” he simply says. “I wasn’t sent to war for my charming smile, was I?”

“I see why she likes you.” I nod, they’re both grumpy and sharp-tongued yet not towards each other. This friendship is a little concerning, I didn’t even know they were close. I feel somewhat jealous, David finds me tolerable but he seems to be fond of Aeliana.

“Don’t cut my roses,” he says, limping. “I will take care of them.”

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