Beneath the Alpha's Moon

TERESA’S P.O.V.

I sat there on the ground, watching the flames die down with a heavy heart, clutching my growing belly protectively. Adrian was right in the thick of it, helping our neighbors to put out the fire. My hands shook as I held my belly, guilt swelling in me like a wave. Mrs. Flora’s house... how could I have been so careless? What could I ever do to make up for this?

As the smoke finally cleared, I stood up shakily, trying to thank everyone. "Thank you all so much... I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to cause such trouble."

Adrian, brushing soot off his sleeves, gave me a calm, reassuring smile. "Teresa, please, there’s no need for apologies. Accidents happen."

Despite his kind words, my heart still raced. "But it was all my fault. I... I’ll find a way to repay Mrs. Flora."

Adrian shook his head and gently placed a hand on my shoulder. "Worry less about apologies and more about yourself." Then he looked toward the house. "Wait here," he said, his voice as calm as if he were announcing the weather. "I’ll see if there’s anything we can salvage."

Before I could protest, he had already disappeared into the charred remains of the house, leaving me to pace nervously outside. Moments later, he returned, holding a thin box I immediately recognized.

"Oh, my certificates!" I gasped, grabbing it with relief. "If... if I’d lost these, Luke would’ve been heartbroken. He worked so hard to help me get them."

Adrian raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Luke?"