Beneath the Alpha's Moon

Nova’s POV

The warmth of Eldur’s shoulder had started to lull me into a comfortable sort of silence. The park was completely empty save for the rustling leaves and the distant sound of a car speeding through the night. I didn’t want to move. Didn’t want to leave the safety of his presence, the bizarre comfort of his weird stories, or the soft way his fingers now rested over mine.

But eventually, Eldur shifted slightly, just enough to say, "It’s getting too late. We should head back."

I looked up at the sky. The moon had risen high, turning the world silver. I blinked a little in surprise. "Crap. Yeah, you’re right. I didn’t realize how long we’d been out here."

He stood and offered me his hand, and for reasons I didn’t fully understand, I took it.

We walked down the dim path out of the park together, hands brushing every now and then. A quiet part of me wished he’d just take my hand again.

Once we reached the curb, Eldur glanced around and frowned slightly. "No taxis," he muttered.

I followed his gaze. The road was quiet. Too quiet. "I guess we missed the last of them. Should we call an Uber?"

Eldur gave me a look like I’d just asked if unicorns delivered groceries. "I don’t do apps."

I blinked. "What do you mean you don’t do apps?"

"I mean, I don’t trust tiny internet squares to decide my fate."