Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 229: Enemy To Helper

Chapter 229: Enemy To Helper

Eldur’s P.O.V.

A sharp, searing pain shot through my gut, like someone had plunged a burning dagger into my stomach. I gritted my teeth, my fingers curling into a fist as heat bloomed across my skin.

I wasn’t alone.

Mai, sitting beside me, gasped and clutched her stomach. Her silver eyes, always sharp and calculating, widened in shock before they flickered to meet mine. I didn’t need to speak. I knew she felt it too.

This wasn’t normal.

I barely registered the teacher’s voice droning on at the front of the class, my focus narrowing to the fire licking at my skin, the phantom pain crawling up my spine. It wasn’t ours. This pain belonged to someone else.

Liam.

My body moved on instinct. I shot to my feet at the same time as Mai, both of us groaning at the sensation twisting through us like a blade of molten iron.

The teacher blinked, startled. "What on earth—"

Neither of us cared for an explanation.

Mai and I exchanged a glance, a silent agreement passing between us. Without hesitation, we vanished from the classroom, our bodies disintegrating into the air like wisps of smoke.

The restroom materialized around us in a blink.

And the sight before me was enough to make my blood boil.

Liam was pinned to the cold, filthy tiles, three boys restraining him, their hands digging into his arms and legs. Another stood by the door, his eyes darting nervously. But the worst of them, the one at the center of this pathetic spectacle, was holding a lighter dangerously close to Liam’s face.

The flickering flame drew shadows across Liam’s features, highlighting the terror in his wide, frozen eyes. His chest heaved in ragged breaths, his body trembling violently.

That was all it took for the room to shift.

The bullies turned, eyes widening in horror when they saw us.

"Shit," the one at the door muttered, taking a step back.

He tried to run.

Mai didn’t even lift a finger. A whisper of power hummed through the air, and the boy’s legs locked in place. He wobbled, his face twisting in panic as he realized he couldn’t move.

"You’re not going anywhere," Mai said, her voice a deadly purr.

She didn’t spare him another glance.

Her focus had already locked onto Liam.

With an urgency I had never seen in her before, Mai rushed to his side, dropping to her knees on the grimy floor. She pulled Liam into a fierce embrace, her fingers burying into his hair, pressing him against her chest.

Liam didn’t hesitate.

He latched onto her like she was the only thing keeping him from falling apart, his arms trembling as they clung to her.

"It’s okay," Mai whispered, kissing the top of his head. "You’re safe now. No one is going to hurt you. I’m here."

My jaw clenched.

Something twisted inside me.

Mai never held me like that.

Liam buried his face in her shoulder, his breath shuddering, his body still shaking. I could hear his heart pounding in his chest, the echoes of his fear, the remnants of his panic still clawing at him.

The lighter clattered to the floor.

the bastard holding it looked like he had just seen his own funeral. He took a slow step back, hands raised in defense. "H-Hey, look, it’s not what it looks like—"

Mai’s head snapped up.

Her eyes darkened, a slow, dangerous smile curling on her lips.

"Jamie," she purred.

The boy swallowed hard.

"What exactly were you doing to Liam just now?"

Jamie hesitated, clearly trying to piece together a lie that wouldn’t get him killed. "H-He started it!" he blurted. "He—he humiliated my father in front of the whole school today! Everyone was laughing at him! My dad’s a respected teacher, and this freak—" he gestured wildly at Liam, "—punched him in front of everyone!"

My fingers twitched.

So that’s what this was about.

Mr. Dawson.

Jamie was Dawson’s son. The same Dawson who had begged me like desperate fool to give him the spell on how to summon portals. The same pathetic Dawson who thought having a book full of spells could turn him, a scrawny werewolf, into an untouchable wizard.

A slow grin spread across my face.

Oh, this was going to be fun.

I took a single step forward. Jamie flinched.

"Let me get this straight," I mused, tilting my head. "Your father’s a grown man. A teacher. And he got punched by a seventeen-year-old." I chuckled. "That must’ve been humiliating."

Jamie’s face turned red with rage, but he didn’t dare open his mouth.

"Tell me, Jamie," I continued, my voice dripping with amusement, "did it hurt your fragile little feelings? Watching Daddy get his ass handed to him by someone half his size?"

"You don’t get it!" Jamie snapped. "My dad deserves respect!"

"Respect?" I arched a brow. "Your father is a coward who bullies his students. He deserved far worse than a single punch."

Jamie’s jaw locked, his fists clenched. "I was just teaching him a lesson!"

Mai let out a slow, humorless laugh.

Jamie paled.

"You," Mai said, her voice as soft as silk but as sharp as a knife, "were about to burn Liam’s face."

Jamie opened his mouth. Closed it. Took a step back.

"I wasn’t—"

Mai’s smile widened.

"Do you know what happens," she murmured, "when someone lays a hand on what’s mine?"

Jamie’s breath hitched.

"M-Mai—"

"I asked you a question, Jamie."

Silence.

Mai tilted her head. "No answer?"

I watched in amusement as Jamie struggled to swallow his fear, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to bolt. The other boys looked equally petrified.

"You want to burn him, Jamie?" Mai whispered. "You think you can finish what I started?"

I saw the exact moment Jamie realized his mistake.

"No—I—"

"You think I don’t regret it?" Mai’s voice cracked, her hold on Liam tightening. "You think I don’t hate myself for what I did to him?"

Liam flinched.

Mai’s expression darkened.

She looked back at Jamie, and for the first time in my life, I saw something terrifying in her eyes. Not rage. Not vengeance.

Something worse.

She wasn’t going to let Jamie leave this room the same way he walked in.

I almost felt sorry for him.

Almost.

Then I remembered what he had just done.

A slow smirk curled on my lips.

"Hey, Mai," I murmured, stepping closer to Jamie. "I think our little friend here could use a lesson in fear. Let me handle this."

Jamie stumbled back, his hands shaking. "D-Don’t come any closer—"

Mai smiled sweetly.

"Their all yours."

Jamie’s breath hitched as I took another slow step toward him. The scent of fear clung to the air, thick and stifling, and I drank it in like fine wine.

"Mr. Dawson deserves everything he’s currently going through," I said, my voice smooth, deliberate. "And not just because he’s a pathetic excuse for a teacher." I tilted my head, watching Jamie’s Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed hard. "Your father tried to have Liam killed."

Jamie blinked, his bravado crumbling. "W-what?"

I smirked, tilting my head. "He wanted access to my portals," I said, tapping my temple. "So, he came to me with an offer—said he’d take Liam out of Mai’s life permanently. And yeah, I won’t lie, I played along. But here’s the thing—I didn’t know he meant kill Liam. That was never the deal. If I wanted Liam dead, I would’ve done it myself." My grin widened, sharp and unbothered. "I just wanted to scare him off. But your old man?" I let out a low chuckle. "He just had to overcomplicate things. And now, here we are."

Jamie’s gaze darted to his friends, their faces pale and sweat-slicked. I could see their tiny brains struggling to piece together what I was saying, but I didn’t have the patience for their slow comprehension.

"Mr. Dawson wanted me to open a portal, different locations, different worlds." I continued, examining my nails with feigned boredom. "And I—I suppose I was wrong for not keeping my end of the bargain." My lips curled. "So, Jamie, I’m going to do something generous for you. I’ll open a portal on your father’s behalf."

Jamie’s mouth parted, his expression twisting into something between terror and disbelief. "What—what the hell are you talking about?"

I grinned. Then I raised my hand.

The air around us grew heavy, thick with energy. The restroom’s flickering light shattered, plunging the room into near darkness. A sharp wind howled from nowhere, rattling the stall doors. A crack of power split through the air like a whip, sending sparks skittering across the floor.

Then, the ground in front of Jamie groaned and tore open.

The portal expanded outward like a wound in the universe, its edges glowing with a ghostly blue light. Beyond it—nothing but endless dunes of golden sand stretching beneath a merciless sun. The heat rolled into the restroom like a living thing, the scent of dust and dry wind replacing the acrid stench of fear.

Jamie and his friends stumbled back.

"Oh, gods—" one of them choked out.

They tried to run.

I didn’t let them.

A flick of my fingers and an unseen force clamped around their limbs. Their bodies stiffened, feet dragging against the tiled floor as I pulled them forward—toward the portal’s hungry mouth.

"Please!" Jamie shrieked. "Eldur, don’t—don’t do this!"

I let out an exasperated sigh. "Oh, shut up."

The first boy vanished into the swirling abyss. Then the second.

"Eldur, please!" Jamie was sobbing now. "I-I swear I won’t touch Liam again!"

The third and fourth disappeared, their screams swallowed by the wind.

I finally turned my gaze to Jamie, who was shaking so violently I thought he might shatter.

"Listen carefully," I murmured, voice ice-cold. "I am not a good person. I never claimed to be. But if something—or someone—is under my protection..." My eyes gleamed in the dim light. "People should learn to stay clear."

And with that, I sent him tumbling into the desert’s scorching embrace.

The last thing I saw was his tear-streaked face before I snapped my fingers—

And the portal sealed shut.

I exhaled, rolling my shoulders. Two days out there should make them act better in society.

I turned back.

Mai was still cradling Liam against her chest, murmuring soft reassurances in his ear. His trembling had slowed, but I could still feel the remnants of his fear.

And for the first time in my life...

I felt something wretched clawing at my insides.

Regret.

I had done many horrible things in my life. Countless. I never felt bad about them. Never second-guessed them.

But now, because of Elizabeth’s binding spell, I could feel just a fraction of what Liam had gone through because of me.

And it was unbearable.

I had never been in a position of weakness. Never felt what it was like to be the one trapped, helpless, at the mercy of another’s cruelty.

But when Jamie’s fist had slammed into Liam’s stomach—when the fire had burned close to his skin—

I had felt it.

And suddenly, I could see it.

Liam’s tiny four-year-old body, crumpled on the ground, his screams tearing through the air as fire ate into his face.

My fire.

I clenched my fists so hard my nails cut into my palms.

Liam was on his feet now, though his legs still wobbled. He was avoiding my gaze, his focus entirely on Mai.

"Thank you," he murmured. His voice was hoarse, raw. "For coming to my rescue. I—I thought I was going to get burned again."

Mai stroked his hair. "No one will ever hurt you again."

Then, to my absolute shock, Liam turned to me.

"Thank you, Eldur," he said quietly. "For handling them."

I scoffed, but it came out weak. "Don’t thank me."

Mai and Liam both blinked at me, surprised.

I swallowed. Then forced the words out—words I never thought I’d say.

"I..." My throat burned. "I’m sorry."

Liam’s eyes widened. Mai actually stiffened beside him.

I gritted my teeth. "I caused you pain. A lot of it." I looked away, jaw tightening. "And I never stopped to think about how my actions would affect you. All I cared about was my own happiness." My lips twisted bitterly. "And what Raivo wanted."

Liam’s fingers twitched at the mention of his name.

I exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of my neck. "But now... I understand." I let out a short, humorless laugh. "I can’t believe I’m saying this, but... maybe it’s a good thing Raivo is silent now."

Liam’s jaw dropped.

Mai’s brows shot up.

I snorted. "What, don’t look so shocked. I’m capable of self-reflection. Sometimes."

Mai rolled her eyes, but there was something in her expression—something softer, something unreadable.

Liam, though, just stared at me.

Then, quietly, he asked, "Why?"

I met his gaze.

"I don’t know," I admitted. "Maybe because of this damn spell." I sighed. "Or maybe because, for the first time, I actually feel something other than..." I gestured vaguely. "Anger. Amusement. Indifference."

Liam looked down at his hands.

I could still see the way his fingers trembled slightly.

And for the first time, I wished I could take something back.

Mai shifted beside him, and I saw her watching me. Not with wariness. Not with annoyance.

With something else entirely.

Something unreadable.

Something that made my chest feel uncomfortably tight.

I clicked my tongue. "Well, that’s enough self-reflection for one day." I turned on my heel, making my way toward the door.

"Eldur."

I paused.

Liam’s voice was soft. Almost hesitant.

"...Thank you."

I didn’t turn around.

But my fingers twitched at my sides.

"...Whatever," I muttered. Then, before either of them could say another word, I shoved the door open and strode into the hallway—leaving behind the suffocating weight of emotions I didn’t want to deal with.

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