The Cursed Alpha's Fifth Luna

Nina cried out. The pleasure broke over her in a sudden, sharp wave. Her body tensed, her muscles clamping down tightly around him in hard spasms.

Rodrigo let out a guttural sound. He drove into her one final time, burying himself as deep as he could go, and locked his body tight. He held her hard against the mattress as he spilled inside her. His breathing was, ragged, echoing in the quiet room.

He collapsed. His heavy arms wrapped tightly around her waist, and he buried his face in her hair.

He didn’t pull away. He stayed inside her.

Nina lay completely still beneath him. Her chest heaved, trying to catch her breath under his crushing weight. She slowly raised one hand and stroked the back of his neck, feeling his damp silver hair between her fingers.

Every muscle in his broad back was slick with sweat, the heat radiating off his skin warming the cool morning air filling the chamber. He buried his face in the curve of her neck, his nose pressed firmly against her pulse point. His mouth rested right over her skin, his warm breath fanning across her collarbone with every slow, shuddering exhale.

Minutes stretched on, but Rodrigo didn’t shift his weight. He didn’t ease off her, nor did he break the connection between their bodies.

“Snow…” Nina whispered softly, her voice raspy from the heat that had just passed between them. Her fingers moved up to stroke the back of his neck, tangling gently in his damp silver hair. “You’re heavy.”

Rodrigo let out a low, rough murmur against her skin, but he didn’t move. Instead, his grip around her waist tightened, pulling her hips even closer against his, refusing to allow a single millimeter of space to open up between them. His head turned slightly, his lips brushing against her jawline as he pressed a slow, lingering kiss right beneath her ear.

“Just a little more,” he rasped, his voice raw and heavy with exhaustion. His hand slid up her back, his broad palm cupping the back of her head to press her cheek into his shoulder. “I can’t get enough of you.”

A moment of quiet passed, and then Rodrigo breathed, easing his weight off her a bit, he stared in her eyes.

“Don’t leave me, Nina,” he rasped, his voice shredded. His hand slid up her back, cradling the nape of her neck as he pressed her into him. “If anything happens to you…” His breath caught. “There won’t be anything left of me.”

Nina stiffened beneath him, her lips parting as her heart thudded against her chest. Her eyes fluttered close slowly, her hands hugging him.

“I would never leave.”

A slow smile curved her lips as she spoke.

Rodrigo searched her face as though trying to carve those words into his soul.

“Promise me.” His voice came out rough, almost quiet.

For a heartbeat, Nina only looked at him.

Then she nodded.

“I promise.”

The tension slowly drained from his shoulders.

He lowered his forehead against hers, his eyes closing shut.

”I promise.”

…

The double doors of the throne room swung open, and the voices inside fell silent almost immediately.

Rodrigo stepped through first, his eyes sweeping across the councilmen gathered before the throne. Nina walked directly behind him, close enough that he could feel the warmth of her presence at his back.

The councilmen bowed as he approached. “Alpha. Luna.”

Rodrigo gave them a brief nod before climbing the stone stairs toward the throne. His eyes moved to the smaller seat beside his, and Nina followed his look, giving him a small smile before settling in.

Rodrigo took his place on the larger throne, resting one forearm against the dark wood as his eyes moved across the room. Across the hall, Dominic sat staring dark-eyed at nothing in particular. Rodrigo narrowed his eyes on his brother for a brief second before looking away.

Westerfort was staring at Nina. So were several others.

Clearing his throat, Westerfort stepped forward, his head remaining bowed. “Alpha, the former Luna is still locked away in the dungeons like a commoner. We beseech you to release her pending investigation. Given the upcoming Hunt festival, it would not look good if neighboring packs discover the issues within our walls. Please reconsider—especially with the lack of evidence. The former Luna needs to be treated with integrity.”

Rodrigo stared at the man in silence before letting his eyes drift across the rest of the council. Dominic looked like he had plenty to say, but he kept his mouth shut.

Before Rodrigo could respond, a heavy knock echoed against the double doors.

“Come in,” he ordered.

The doors swung open, and Seven walked in, accompanied by Caleb.

“Alpha,” they greeted with a bow. Rodrigo’s brows creased. Seven hesitated for a second before approaching the stairs leading up to the throne. “Lord Trojan, the former Luna’s father, is here. He seeks an audience with you.”

A heavy quiet fell over the hall. Nina glanced at Rodrigo, watching his expression harden instantly. Across the room, Dominic’s face shifted, a smirk creeping onto his chin.

Lord Trojan—Rodrigo’s grandfather—was the only lord allowed by the late Alpha to amass a private army. It had been sanctioned for emergencies, but Trojan had built a fortress of men who answered only to him. He had retired from the council years ago, steering clear of court matters.

Until now.

A low murmur erupted among the councilmen. Rodrigo’s jaw clenched. “Send him in.”

“At once, Alpha.” Seven bowed and turned back to the doors.

Rodrigo leaned back, his index finger tapping once against the armrest—a single, heavy thud against the wood.

When the doors opened again, Seven led the way. Lord Trojan appeared directly behind him, flanked by four of his private guards.

The mere presence of the man made Nina stiffen in her seat. Short, bald, with a long beard and dark, sunken eyes, Trojan crossed the threshold. He stared fixedly at Rodrigo like he was still a boy, not bothering to glance at Nina once.

Rodrigo tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as the old man stopped at the foot of the stairs. Trojan’s guards bowed, but Trojan barely moved his neck.

Rodrigo’s fingers stopped tapping. He looked the old man over slowly before resting his cheek against his knuckles. “What brings you here, Lord Trojan?”

Trojan chuckled, a deep baritone sound. “An event within these walls has pulled me out of retirement, Alpha.”

Rodrigo’s mouth curved faintly. “And what might that be?”

An eerie silence stretched between them as they held each other’s look. Nina felt a cold chill creep up her skin.

Trojan laughed, the sound abruptly cutting off as his expression turned cold. “My daughter is being kept in your dungeons like a common slave. You have crossed the line this time, Alpha. Whatever you feel she has done, you must follow due process.”

Rodrigo’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t shift an inch. After a long, heavy silence, a quiet chuckle escaped him. “You have a lot of nerve saying that to my face, Lord Trojan.” He shifted his weight, his eyes locked on the old man. “Especially considering your daughter committed treason.”

Trojan’s expression remained composed.

Rodrigo’s eyes hardened. “Seven,” he called calmly. “Can you remind Lord Trojan what happens to anyone who commits treason? He must have forgotten during his years away from court.”

Trojan’s eyes snapped to the aide.

Seven stepped forward. “They and their entire family, down to the third generation, are to be annihilated, Alpha.”

The entire hall erupted into hushed chaos. Dominic’s head snapped toward Rodrigo, his jaw tightening as the reality of the threat set in.

Rodrigo chuckled, mimicking Trojan’s condescending tone with terrifying precision. “I dare say… you have forgotten your place.”

An instant silence filled the hall as Rodrigo’s gaze darkened, devoid of a single shred of warmth. Then he straightened. “Now, if you have thought about your request carefully, I will give you one chance to rephrase your words,” he said, his eyes unflinching.

For the first time since Nina had known him, she was terrified. She could barely reconcile this freezing monster with the affectionate, gentle man who had held her just hours ago. That soft side of him seemed entirely non-existent now.

Suddenly, the old man’s gaze shifted to her for the very first time.

Nina stopped breathing.

His eyes lingered on her face for a long, heavy second before a slow smile touched his lips. He looked back at Rodrigo.

“I think I have delivered my message clearly, Alpha,” Trojan said softly. “I would think it wise not to pick a fight when you have so much to lose.”

Rodrigo’s body stiffened as he tracked Trojan’s gaze toward Nina, his jaw locking tight.

Before the tension could snap, Radeon stepped forward to intervene. “Alpha, all we are asking is that the former Luna be kept in habitable conditions until the investigations are concluded. Please consider this.”

Rodrigo’s eyes moved from the old man to the rest of the councilmen. He held the room in dead silence for a beat before straightening his shoulders. “Lady Charlotte shall be moved to her private quarters and strictly guarded. No visitors will be allowed in or out until the investigation is complete.”

Nina exhaled a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

Before the councilmen could respond, another sharp knock echoed against the double doors.

Rodrigo’s gaze snapped toward the sound.

A guard stepped through the large double doors, panic written across his face as he bowed low. “Alpha, the Alpha of the Hades Pack has arrived.”