Chapter 11: His childhood friend

Elowen blushed deeply as the girl's eyes landed on her, feeling the weight of Aria's scrutiny. The embarrassment of being introduced in this situation made her feel smaller than ever. She hadn't even been properly introduced before—she wasn't sure she was even worth it.

The girl's eyes widened. "What?" she asked, clearly caught off guard.

Cassian immediately spoke up, his voice harsh. "Aria can hug me whenever she wants," he said dismissively, pointing at Elowen. "I've already—"

Luna quickly cut him off. "Elowen is your mate, Cassian. Whether you like it or not." Her tone left no room for argument. Turning to Aria, she introduced her, "Elowen, this is Aria, Cassian's childhood friend."

Elowen lifted her gaze, finally looking at Aria properly. The smile that had adorned Aria's face just moments before was gone from the news and seeing Cassian's mate, replaced by a look of subtle disdain. It was a look Elowen recognized all too well. The same one she had seen in so many others—judgment, disappointment, and even disgust.

Aria quickly plastered a smile on her face, but the damage had already been done. Extending her hand towards Elowen, she said, "Nice to meet you." Her voice was pleasant enough, but there was an edge to it that made Elowen's stomach turn. "I never thought my idiot friend could actually find a mate." She laughed lightly, though the humor didn't reach her eyes.

Elowen blinked, feeling even more out of place. She hesitantly reached out to shake Aria's hand, her own voice barely above a whisper as she said, "My name is Elowen."

Luna, ever the diplomat, tried to smooth the situation over. "Why would you think that, Aria? Look, Cassian did find a mate, and she's a beautiful young lady."

Aria's discomfort was evident. Her eyes darted between Luna and Cassian before she forced another smile. "Yes, of course." She glanced at Elowen again, clearly uncomfortable with the praise being showered on her.

Cassian quickly stepped in his irritated tone. "Mom, enough. Aria just got here. She must be tired after her journey." He turned to Aria, his expression softening again. "Come on, you should rest. You can stay in my room."

Elowen's heart sank at his words, the blow cutting deep. His room. The same room she had just been in, where her scent still lingered. Now, he was leading Aria there, making it clear who he valued more. Elowen tried to mask the hurt, but it was impossible to hide the pain in her eyes as she looked away.

Luna frowned at her son's behavior but said nothing more, watching as Cassian gently guided Aria toward the stairs, his hand resting protectively on her back. The casual intimacy between them stung, another reminder of just how much Cassian despised her presence.

As they walked away, Cassian didn't even glance back at Elowen.

Luna watched the tension leave the room as Cassian and Aria disappeared up the stairs, but it left a bitter taste in her mouth. She sighed and turned to Elowen, her expression softening. "Elowen, I know what you're thinking. Aria...she recently lost her mate. Cassian doesn't want her to feel—"

Elowen interrupted with a soft smile, raising her hand to stop Luna mid-sentence. "Luna, you don't have to explain everything about him to me. I've already seen enough with my own eyes," she said, her voice calm, though the hurt behind it was unmistakable. "He doesn't want me. I understand that now."

Her smile was sad but sincere as she added, "But I appreciate your kindness. Truly, I've never met someone as caring as you. Thank you for everything you've done for me and my brother."

Luna reached out, gently clasping Elowen's hands in hers. "Please, don't say that. You belong here as much as anyone else. Cassian—he just…he doesn't know how to handle things properly. He's—"

Elowen shook her head again, her smile bittersweet. "No, Luna, really. It's okay. I know where I stand," Her voice grew softer. "I'm already rejected. There's no point in pretending otherwise."

Luna sighed heavily. She pulled Elowen into a warm embrace, her voice filled with regret. "I'm so sorry, Elowen."

Elowen felt a sting in her chest, but she hugged Luna back, appreciating the warmth and care she hadn't felt in so long. "You don't have to apologize, Luna. You've done more for me than anyone ever has. But I think it's time I leave."

Luna pulled back slightly, her eyes filled with concern. "Stay for another day, at least. Let Theo recover. He's still scared and hungry. After that, if you still want to go, I won't stop you."

Elowen looked down at her little brother, who was now eating quietly, still shaken but comforted by the presence of those around him.

She wondered if she could endure another day in the same house as Cassian, knowing how he felt about her—how he despised her, even her scent. It was so obvious how he looked at Aria, his childhood friend. The softness in his eyes when he gazed at her, the smile that never seemed to appear when Elowen was near him.

Meanwhile, he couldn't even stand to be in the same room as her. The pain of rejection cut deep, but it was the comparison that hurt most of all.

But then she looked at Theo again. His safety, his happiness—that mattered more than her own heartache. She couldn't just drag him away when he was so vulnerable.

With a deep breath, she nodded. "Alright, I'll stay another day."

Luna smiled gently and squeezed her hands once more. "Thank you, Elowen."

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