The Cursed Alpha's Fifth Luna

Seven snatched the handkerchief from her fingers and tucked it into his pocket.

"I have plenty of handkerchiefs." His voice was flat, devoid of warmth. "How would I know this is the exact one you gave me?"

Ruri stared at him, her brows slowly pulling together before she rolled her eyes with a harsh exhale. "You didn’t have to be rude."

She clicked her tongue, looking away from him.

Behind his back, Seven’s hands curled tightly into fists. He stared at her for a beat before his eyes shifted toward the empty courtyard.

Something was missing. Someone.

"Where’s your guard?"

Ruri stopped in her tracks.

Seven frowned, his eyes searching the grounds as if expecting the man to step out from the shadows like he usually would whenever he tried to talk to her. "Ethan, was it? He’s not with you today?’’

Ruri’s fingers tightened around the fabric of her dress, her eyes dropping to the dirt.

"I don’t know where he is." Her voice turned suddenly, icy cold. "He’s not my business."

’’What—’’

She spun around before he could finish, her boots striking the ground in loud, angry thuds as she marched toward the Pack House.

"Ruri!" Seven called after her, but she didn’t slow down.

He watched her disappear into the archway, his gaze darkening. His hand slipped into his pocket, his thumb brushing against the delicate embroidered fabric inside.

Seven exhaled a slow, heavy breath and turned away. But his hand stayed in his pocket, tightly wrapped around the handkerchief she had made for him.

Nina walked out of the infirmary, her eyes fixed on nothing at all. She didn’t know where she was heading—only that her feet kept carrying her forward through the stony pathway.

Then, the familiar scent of him hit her.

Nina stopped walking. Slowly lifting her head, her eyes fell on him.

Rodrigo stood several feet away, his eyes fixed on her as though he’d been watching her for a while.

For a moment, they stood quietly, the cold night’s breeze stinging her arms. Then, Rodrigo began walking toward her.

"Nina,’’ he called as he approached, ’’I thought you—"

Before he could finish the sentence, she closed the remaining distance between them and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, burying her face into the curve of his neck. The rest of his words died on his tongue, cut off by a sharp intake of breath.

Rodrigo went completely rigid. His hands hovered in the air for a fraction of a second, unsure where to settle, his breath hitching in his throat.

"Snow..." Her voice was barely a whisper, cracking at the edge, muffled by the fabric of his shirt. "There you are."

Rodrigo didn’t move. His body remained frozen beneath her embrace, his chin tucked slightly as his eyes stared blankly over her shoulder at the empty road. He felt impossibly tense, like a bowstring pulled past its breaking point.

Gently, Nina lifted one hand, her palm resting flat against his back, and patted him softly. Once. Then again.

"What happened?" Rodrigo’s voice came out low and muffled against her shoulder, his chest expanding unevenly against hers. "Did Charlotte hurt you?"

Nina did not respond. Instead, she closed her eyes, inhaling deep, letting the steady scent of cedar push back the lingering pain coursing through her bones.

"No. Nothing happened,’’ she exhaled. ’’I just want to comfort you."

Rodrigo stiffened. Another pat came on his back.

’’You had to do this all alone while carrying the entire weight of the pack on your back. I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been for you,’’ she said softly.

Rodrigo shut his eyes slowly. Every pain he’d kept down came rushing back. His hands tightened into fists, his jaw clenched tightly.

’’It is okay not to be okay,’’ Nina said, patting his back again. ’’You have me now.’’

For a moment, everything disappeared. The trees, the pain, everything—and all that was left was her.

Rodrigo’s shoulders fell as he dropped his head to her neck. ’’You heard everything?’’ he asked quietly.

Nina thought quietly for a moment, and then she nodded.

"It’s okay," Nina whispered, patting his back again. "You have me now." She said, a knot forming in her throat. ’’You will always have me.’’

Nina’s eyes watered as she drew a painful breath.

’’Snow?’’ Nina called.

’’Mm...’’

Nina was quiet for a moment. "No matter what happens, I want you to know..." She bit her lip so hard she tasted copper on her tongue, shutting her eyes tightly against the burn. "I would never hurt you."

Tomorrow, she would meet the witches. She would give anything they wanted. Anything—if it meant saving him.

Her hands clenched behind his back as she hugged him tightly, her shoulders trembling. Rodrigo raised his hands and hugged her back, exhaling a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding.

They stood locked in the silence for a long moment before Rodrigo slowly lifted his head. A faint, painful smile touched his lips.

"Let’s go."

He took her hand, squeezing it tight, and led her toward the pack house. Nina held him steadfast.

The hooves of a stallion beat a rhythm against the trail, kicking up clouds of earth as Ethan rode through the gates of the Hades Pack. The entrance guards, recognizing the stride of the warhorse, scrambled out of the aisle and bowed as he swept past. Ethan barely acknowledged them, his eyes locked ahead, his posture stiff in the saddle.

He didn’t slow down until he reached the courtyard of the Hades Pack House.

With a pull of the reins, he yanked the horse to a halt outside the main steps. The stallion neighed, tossing its mane and snorting through its nostrils as its hooves skidded across the stone. Ethan sat unmoving, his eyes lifting to the moon hanging above the fortress. He stared at the light, watching a veil of clouds drift across its face, before his gaze dropped to the massive doors of the building in front of him.

A patrol guard carrying a torch spotted the horse and rider, stopping in his tracks. Recognizing the rider, the guard lowered his head, bowing.

"Lord Ethan! You’ve returned?"

Ethan swung his leg over the saddle and climbed down without a word, the leather of his boots hitting the stone with a thud. He marched toward the guard, his cloak billowing behind him with every stride.

"Where is my brother?" he demanded, his voice low, vibrating with a danger that made the guard flinch.