The Cursed Alpha's Fifth Luna

Nina pushed open the heavy wooden doors to the Alpha’s chamber, her feet coming to a stop just inside the doorway.

Rodrigo stood in the center of the room, looking completely distraught. His hair was disheveled, pulled in every direction, and Seven and Caleb stood before him with grim faces.

The moment the doors opened, all three men turned. They froze.

Rodrigo stared at her as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. “Nina?” he said softly.

Nina blinked, her eyes moving from Rodrigo to Seven and Caleb before settling back on him. “What is going on?” she asked, forcing her expression into a smooth mask of calm.

In a flash, Rodrigo crossed the room. Before she could react, his hands closed around her shoulders—his grip tight, demanding, and almost bruising. He searched every inch of her face, his gaze wild and possessive. “Where have you been? I searched every span of this pack house for you.”

“Snow—”

Before she could finish, he slammed her against his chest, pulling her into a desperate, crushing embrace. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent deeply, greedily—as if trying to erase the agonizing hours she had been missing. He exhaled a long, shuddering breath, his chest heaving violently against hers as if her presence was the only thing keeping him alive.

Nina wrapped her arms around his back, holding him close.

She couldn’t tell him about the three realms. He wouldn’t trust her, and Cersei had promised she would end the curse. She would only tell him after the curse was broken. She would explain everything then.

“I was sleeping by the Garden of Lilies,” Nina explained gently against his chest, smoothing a hand over his tangled hair. “I lost track of time. I’m so sorry I made you worry.”

Behind them, Seven and Caleb exchanged a brief, knowing look, bowed quietly, and backed out of the room, closing the heavy doors behind them.

When Rodrigo pulled back, his hands didn’t release her. Instead, they slid down, locking onto her waist with iron finality. He dragged her flushed body flush against his own, resting his forehead against hers while his eyes burned into hers. “You went to sleep at the Garden of Lilies alone?”

A small, sheepish smile touched her lips. “I wanted some quiet. Moreen would have disturbed me, so I didn’t take her. When I woke up, it was already dark.”

Rodrigo dragged his hand over his face, his jaw clenching so tight a muscle ticked in his cheek. “Why would you go there alone?” His voice was low, laced with a dangerous edge. “You don’t leave my sight like that, Nina. You don’t wander off where I can’t protect you.”

Nina blinked, feeling the sudden weight of his dark gaze. “I said I’m sorry, Rodrigo. What would you have me do?”

Rodrigo shut his eyes, exhaling a harsh, jagged breath. When he opened them, the raw, suffocating obsession in his eyes made her breath hitch. He brought his hands up to frame her face, his thumbs pressing firmly against her cheekbones.

“I would have you stay where I can see you,” he growled softly, his voice leaving no room for argument. “I lost my mind tonight. Don’t ever do that to me again.”

“I’m here now. It’s alright,” she whispered softly. “Everything is going to be just fine.”

Everything was going to be fine. Once she got her powers back and ended the curse, everyone would be fine.

Nina slipped her arms free, coming around to stand on her tiptoes. She reached up and pressed her lips to his cheek. Rodrigo’s eyes closed, the terrifying intensity in his posture giving way to a deep, possessive release as he drank in her touch.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’ll let you know where I am next time.”

He wrapped both arms around her again, pulling her so close there wasn’t a whisper of air between them. He buried his face in her hair, resting his chin heavily on her head. His hold was suffocating, almost possessive to a fault—as if he intended to lock her in this room and never let the world see her again.

Nina held him close, breathing against his chest, feeling the frantic, steady thud of his heart against her cheek.

“I’m here now,” she murmured.

…

Thirty minutes later, they sat together on the balcony, having dinner under the cool night sky. The lantern light hung low on the stone wall, casting long shadows across the table as the chilly breeze stirred the dark trees below.

Nina sat across from Rodrigo, humming softly to herself as she ate. Rodrigo cut a piece of steak with a careful precision and placed it gently onto her plate.

“Thank you.” Nina smiled up at him and picked up her fork, taking a bite.

Rodrigo watched her for a long moment before setting his fork down with a faint clatter. His gaze shifted, growing dark.

“Do you remember what we spoke about two nights ago?”

Nina’s hands stopped moving. She coughed, her eyes growing wide, then reached for her glass and swallowed a large gulp of water.

“Yes… I remember,” Nina replied. “You wanted… to ask me questions.”

Rodrigo’s fingers tightened around his fork. “Do you think you can answer them truthfully?” he asked. “If you can’t, I will not hold it against you.”

Nina’s lips thinned as she stared at him.

She could lie just one more time.

As long as she would fix everything in the end.

“I’ll tell you whatever you want, Snow,” Nina said. “Anything that would make you trust me.”

There was a moment of silence, the quiet rustle of the leaves filling the space between them. Then Rodrigo asked before he could stop himself,

“Why are you looking for the earthstone?”

Nina’s blank gaze stared at him for a moment, no words leaving her lips. She hadn’t expected him to lead with that question.

Rodrigo’s heart squeezed painfully in his chest. He’d waited for this moment for so long, but now he did not want to hear it anymore. No, he shouldn’t have asked the question. He shouldn’t have—

“Nina—” Rodrigo started, his hand moving to reach across the cold table for her.

“I am not looking for the earthstone,” she lied, stopping him short.

Rodrigo blinked. “What?”

Nina was quiet for a second. If she needed him to trust her completely, then she needed a half truth. What can she tell him?

“There is something I have not told you about me,” Nina continued. She tilted her head slightly, letting a single, precise tear pool in the corner of her eye before it spilled down her cheek. She reached across the table, placing her trembling hand over his.

“My mother was a witch—my real mother. She had magic books which talked about the earthstone, and I read those books before my father burnt them. So I was just thrilled to see what it looked like.” She let out a small, wet exhale. “The only reason I didn’t tell you was because I thought,” she paused, her lips trembling,

”I thought, you wouldn’t want me anymore if you knew that my mother was a witch.”

There was a moment of quiet as Rodrigo watched her, his heart thudding in his ears.

He listened to her heartbeat—a steady, slow rhythm, completely devoid of stutter or rush. It was absolutely calm. She wasn’t lying to him.

Before he could think, Rodrigo was out of his chair. He crossed to where she sat and pulled her into a hug, sapping the breath from her lungs.

His shoulders trembled as he shut his eyes tightly. “You should have just told me,” Rodrigo exhaled. “Why did you make me worry?”

Nina raised her hand to his waist, hugging him back. “I thought you would hate me,” her voice shook at the edges. A tear slipped from her eyes, and she shut them.

I don’t want you to hate me… Snow.

“Why would I hate you because of that?” Rodrigo asked.

“You don’t?” Nina asked softly against his shoulder.

“I don’t.”

Rodrigo kissed her forehead, a smile brightening his face as the weight on his shoulders lifted completely.

“Do you trust me now?” Nina asked.

Rodrigo was quiet for a moment. “I trust you, Nina. Completely.”