Beneath the Alpha's Moon

Nova’s POV

The car ride was smooth, like gliding on silk, but my insides were anything but calm. I couldn’t stop fidgeting with the hem of my blouse, occasionally sneaking glances at Eldur, who drove like he had been born behind the wheel of a luxury vehicle. His silver eyes stayed focused on the road, but his hand—warm, steady—rested near mine on the gear shift, and every time our fingers accidentally brushed, it sent tiny, frantic sparks through me. I was nineteen and human. He was... something more. A lot more.

And I was about to have dinner with his supernatural friends.

Lara, on the other hand, looked like she was headed to a movie premiere. "If I die tonight," she said, dramatically flipping her hair, "tell my mom I want to be buried in glitter."

I groaned. "Lara, you’re not going to die."

"Excuse me, but we’re about to meet the cool and scary Eldur’s besties. At a five-star restaurant. If this doesn’t scream ’you might end up as dessert’, I don’t know what does."

Eldur smirked. "You’ll survive. I think."

"Ha-ha," she muttered. "You’re lucky you’re hot."

We pulled up to the restaurant, and wow—opulence. The kind of place where the napkins probably had a higher IQ than me. The chandeliers glistened like they were made from frozen moonlight, and everything smelled faintly of roses and ridiculously expensive food.

Waiting just outside, Mai waved at me excitedly, dressed in a flowing white outfit that made her look like she’d stepped off the cover of a fantasy novel. Her twin, Ollie, stood beside her in a dark forest green shirt that made his green eyes pop, and Liam—sweet, kind Liam—stood with a soft smile and his hands clasped behind his back.

"Nova!" Mai squealed, rushing over to pull me into a bone-crushing hug. "It’s so good to see you again!"