Beneath the Alpha's Moon

TERESA’S P.O.V.

The living room felt colder than it should. The large windows let in streams of sunlight, but no amount of light could erase the shadows crawling inside me. I clutched Ollie tighter, his tiny hand resting on my neck as though he could sense the fear in me. I hadn’t slept, and I doubted I ever would again in this place. The memory of Lucian—no, the beast he became—haunted me. His claws had swiped so close, the wind from the movement sharp against my skin.

Now I sat on the Luxurious couch in Lucian’s extravagant mansion, a place that once felt like a strange blend of luxury and warmth but now felt like a cage filled with monsters. Luke sat beside me, his kind eyes darting between me and the others in the room. Andy, Paul, and Katrina sat at the far end, their expressions unreadable but their eyes on me. Watching.They’d found me in the woods after I ran blindly into the darkness, clutching Ollie for dear life. They brought me back here, claiming it was for my safety.

I didn’t trust them. Not anymore. If Lucian, Juliette, and others could transform into wolves, what were the chances these three weren’t hiding fangs or claws of their own? My stomach churned. I couldn’t leave—Lucian and Adrian had promised to bring Mai back. But could I trust them? Lucian’s promises were like fairy tales: pretty, but they never came true.

My faith was hanging on by a thread, a prayer in my heart repeating over and over.

God, please... please let her be okay. I’ll leave. I’ll disappear. Just give me my baby back.

It was early morning, almost 7 a.m. The soft chirps of birds outside felt surreal, almost mocking the turmoil in my chest. Luke was trying his best to calm me down. His hand rubbed gentle circles on my back. My brother was oblivious to the madness around us, still blissfully unaware of the kind of creature Lucian truly was or the things that took Mai. If he knew, he’d probably drag me out of here kicking and screaming. Maybe I should’ve let him.

"Teresa," he said softly, his voice like a tether trying to keep me grounded."Lucian will bring her back, Teresa. I get that you’re scared—I would be too—but trust me, he won’t let anything happen to Mai. Yeah, he’s got his flaws—let’s not sugarcoat it, the guy can be a real pain—but these past few days? The way he’s been with the twins? That’s not just for show. From one parent to another, I can tell you this: he loves them, fiercely. He’ll move heaven and earth if it means getting Mai back safely. No kidnappers stand a chance against that."

I wanted to believe him, but the image of Lucian lunging at me, growling like a feral animal, flashed in my mind. My grip on Ollie tightened, and he whimpered slightly in his sleep.