Beneath the Alpha's Moon

TERESA’S P.O.V.

The air in the room felt heavy, like it was brimming with secrets waiting to be spilled. I lay on the bed, with my twins nestled between me and Lucian. It was supposed to be comforting, but all I could focus on was the man lying beside me—Lucian. The man I loved, the man who hurt me in ways I never thought possible, and the man who I ran away from physically but couldn’t escape emotionally. The man I thought was a monster when I saw him change to a massive terrifying dog but turned out to have the kindest heart I had ever seen. I would never forget not in a thousand years how he had inexplicably sacrificed something as precious as his sight just to save his daughter’s.

I had sworn on the day he humiliated me and chased me out of his life that I’d never step foot in his house again—let alone in this room. But fate has a twisted sense of humor, doesn’t it? Not only did it drag me back to his doorstep, but it also pulled me straight into the one place I swore I’d never see again.

When I saw him trip over that table, the sight hit me harder than I expected. The man who once seemed unshakable—strong, dominant, untouchable—was now brought low, made fragile by forces even he couldn’t control. And damn it, I couldn’t stop my heart from breaking at the sight.

My eyes studied him on the bed. Lucian’s blank green eyes held an odd softness as he smiled at me, his voice was calm and steady as he spoke. "I know you asked what the term ’Luna’ means. But to explain that, I need to start with what a ’Mate’ is."

I gave a silent nod, catching myself just in time to add a soft "yes," though I fought to keep the flutter in my chest from betraying me. I wasn’t prepared for this charged intimacy crackling between us, but my curiosity burned too brightly to pull away.

Lucian’s tone turned gentle, almost reverent. "To a werewolf, a mate is... everything. We call it a ’fated mate’. The moon goddess herself chooses this person—a soulmate who is perfect in every way. The bond is instant, unbreakable, and..." He paused, smirking slightly, "...inescapable."

My brows furrowed, my confusion growing. "So... wait. Let me get this straight. You’re saying the moon goddess just... hands you someone and says, ’Here you go, this is your person. No take-backs? No dating, no heartbreaks, just instant ’happily ever after’?"

Lucian chuckled, the sound deep and rich; and for a moment, I hated how much I still found him devastatingly handsome.

"Something like that. When we meet them, it’s game over. We’re bonded for life."

I blinked, feeling a rush of emotions I couldn’t quite place. Jealousy, curiosity, and a strange sense of... loss? Did that mean he already had someone? Someone the goddess chose for him? My stomach twisted painfully at the thought.