Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 118: May I?

Chapter 118: May I?

ADRIAN’S P.O.V.

The moon hung low in the velvet sky, its glow casting soft silver streaks across the stone walls of my castle. Tonight had been a whirlwind of emotions, confessions, some tears, and even arguments. Lucian and Teresa’s ongoing drama also provided enough tension to make even the bravest hearts falter, yet I’d found myself observing it all with a strange sense of detachment. My focus wasn’t on their endless push and pull. No, my focus only her, my Juliette.

She was a vision, bold and fierce as ever, though her eyes betrayed the vulnerability she worked so hard to mask. We had spent the better part of the night in quiet conversation after our return from the crystal cave, her walls were slowly lowering brick by brick. I’d seen glimpses of the softness she hid behind her sharp tongue and quick wit, and every glance, every word, only deepened the connection I felt.

When the night finally began to wind down, I escorted her up the grand staircase to the guest room she was staying in. The air between us felt heavier with every step, charged with something I couldn’t quite describe but didn’t want to let go of.

We stopped at her door, and she turned to face me. "Good night, Adrian," she said softly, her tone uncharacteristically tender.

"Good night, Juliette," I replied, my voice smooth and steady, though my chest tightened at the thought of leaving her.

But I couldn’t move. My feet were rooted in place, my hand still resting on the doorframe. I didn’t want to let her go even for a second. I couldn’t let her go.

She hesitated, her hand on the doorknob, her eyes searching mine as though she could sense my turmoil. "You’re lingering," she said, a teasing lilt to her voice.

"Guilty," I admitted, stepping closer. "I’m not ready to say good night just yet."

Her lips curved into a small, reluctant smile. She felt it too, the pull between us, as undeniable as the tides drawn to the moon.

Before I could think better of it, I reached out and gently pulled her to my chest. She stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, her hands resting lightly against me. The warmth of her body against mine sent a surge of longing through me, raw and uncontainable.

"You’re intoxicating," I murmured, my voice low and hoarse. "I’ve been holding back all day, but I don’t think I can anymore."

Her breath hitched, and her gaze flickered to my lips. "Adrian..." she whispered, her voice wavering between hesitation and anticipation.

"May I kiss you?" I asked, my eyes locked on hers, every word deliberate and reverent.

Her eyes quickly left mine as she nodded, her cheeks flushing a beautiful shade of pink. "Yes," she breathed.

That single word undid me.

I leaned in slowly, giving her time to pull away if she wanted to, but she didn’t. Thankfully. When our lips finally met, it was like an explosion. Days of longing, of restraint, melted away in an instant. Her lips were soft and warm, and the taste of her was sweeter than I could have imagined.

I deepened the kiss, my hand sliding to the back of her neck to pull her closer. She responded with equal fervor, her fingers tangling in my hair as though tying herself to me. We stumbled backward into the room, the door slamming shut behind us as we became a tangle of lips, hands, and desperate sighs.

I pressed her against the wall, my hands framing her face as I kissed her like a man starved. Her arms wrapped around my neck, her body melting into mine as the kiss grew more heated, more urgent.

"Adrian," she gasped against my lips, her voice sending shivers down my spine.

I silenced her with another kiss, my lips trailing from her mouth to her jaw, then down to the delicate curve of her neck. She arched into me, her breath hitching as I nipped lightly at her skin, savoring the way her body responded to my touch.

Somehow, we ended up on the bed, our bodies tangled as we lost ourselves in each other. My hands explored the curve of her waist, the softness of her skin beneath her clothes. Her touch was equally bold, her fingers tracing the contours of my chest, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.

But I stopped before we crossed the line, pulling back to meet her gaze. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips swollen from our kisses, and she looked more beautiful than ever.

"We should stop," I said, though my voice was hoarse with desire. "I don’t want to rush this."

She nodded, her chest rising and falling as she caught her breath. "Me neither," she whispered, a soft smile gracing her lips.

"But that was so hot."I said kissing her lips one more time and she nodded with a wide smile." Very hot." We both laughed at our silliness.

We lay back on the bed, her head resting on my chest as I wrapped an arm around her. The silence between us was comfortable, filled with the unspoken understanding that this was only the beginning.

After a while, she began to speak, her voice soft and reflective. "I never thought I’d find my mate," she admitted. "Growing up, it was all I ever dreamed of, but as I got older, I started to think it wasn’t in the cards for me."

"Why would you think that?" I asked, stroking her hair gently.

She hesitated, then said, "Because I’m not like most girls. I grew up with five brothers, so I was always the tomboy. I climbed trees, wrestled in the mud, and scared away any boy who so much as looked at me. It wasn’t until I got older that I started to embrace my femininity, but even then, I was always a little rough around the edges."

I chuckled softly. "I like your edges, Juliette. They’re part of what makes you...you."

She smiled, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on my chest. "And now you’re here," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You’re everything I dreamed of and more. Sometimes, I can’t believe you’re real."

I tightened my hold on her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I could say the same about you," I murmured.

We talked for hours, sharing stories and secrets as the night wore on. She told me about her parents, her father a proud Gamma and her mother a humble Omega, and about her journey to becoming the strong, independent woman she was today.

By the time she finally drifted off to sleep around three in the morning, I was still wide awake, my eyes fixed on her peaceful face. She looked so serene, so perfect, that I couldn’t resist brushing a strand of hair from her face and pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

As I lay there, watching her sleep, I couldn’t help but wonder what I had done to deserve someone like her. She was everything I had ever wanted, everything I had ever needed, and I was determined not to screw it up.

"I’ll protect you," I whispered, my voice barely audible in the stillness of the room. "Always."

And as the first rays of dawn began to filter through the curtains, I held her close, silently vowing to cherish her for as long as she would let me.