Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 232: Eldur’s Obsession

Chapter 232: Eldur’s Obsession

Eldur’s P.O.V.

I have faced down rogue wolves, broken men’s minds with a whisper, and held the power to make the strongest of warriors crumble in pain at my fingertips. But somehow, none of those things had prepared me for Nova.

Nova.

Her name echoed in my head like an incantation gone wrong. Ever since that cursed amusement park, I hadn’t been able to get her out of my mind. The way her dimples deepened when she smiled, the way her laughter made something inside me tighten painfully. She was human, fragile, breakable. She had no idea that I could shatter bones with a flick of my wrist, that I could reduce a man to a screaming mess with nothing but a thought.

And yet... I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

"Eldur, you’re staring at the wall again."

Mai’s voice cut through my thoughts, and I blinked, realizing I had been sitting stiffly on the couch, gripping my phone like it had personally offended me.

Liam, who was sprawled across the armrest like he had no spine, smirked. "He’s been like that all morning. It’s hilarious."

I turned my glare on him. "Shut up, Rivers."

Liam simply stretched, looking obnoxiously pleased with himself. "You’re thinking about her, aren’t you?"

I scoffed. "Who?"

Mai leaned forward, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Nova."

I felt my entire body go rigid. "No."

"Oh, come on," she drawled. "We saw the way you looked at her."

"I did not look at her in any way."

Ollie, who had just walked into the living room, snorted. "Dude, you blushed."

"I don’t blush," I snapped.

Mai grinned. "You did. We have witnesses."

I clenched my jaw. They were enjoying this way too much.

"Anyway," Mai continued, pulling out her phone, "we got her number."

My entire body froze for a second.

I turned slowly, my heart hammering against my ribs in a way that made me irrationally angry. "What?"

Liam waggled his phone in the air. "Nova’s number. You know, in case you wanted to—oh, I don’t know—call her?"

I hated them. I hated them so much.

Mai folded her arms, fixing me with a look so intense I almost flinched. "Eldur, be honest. Do you think she’s your mate? The one the goddess spoke of?"

The words hit me like a punch.

Mate.

It felt foreign. Dangerous. A concept I had abandoned the moment Raivo—my wolf, my other half—had gone silent. What was the point of hoping for something I could no longer sense? Unlike other wolves, I didn’t have that internal compass, that instinctual pull toward my supposed other half.

For days, I had convinced myself Raivo was gone, ripped away from me by the goddess herself, leaving behind nothing but a hollow space where he used to be. But that night, after seeing Nova—after feeling something I couldn’t explain—I had searched deep within myself, desperate to find him again.

And I had.

He was there. Distant. Silent.

Not dead.

Just... cut off.

Because of Liam’s shield.

I inhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair as frustration coiled tight in my chest. "I don’t know," I admitted. The words tasted bitter, like defeat.

Mai arched a brow. "You don’t know?"

"No," I snapped, harsher than intended. "I don’t have a wolf whispering in my mind anymore, remember? I have no instincts screaming at me. No voice telling me what to do. I have nothing."

And that was the part that scared me the most.

For the first time in my life, I was completely alone inside my own head. No Raivo. No guidance. Just me.

Liam, who had been leaning back against the couch with an amused smirk, suddenly sat up, his expression shifting ever so slightly. "Wait... so you’re telling us you actually have to figure this out on your own?"

I shot him a glare. "Obviously."

His grin widened. "Oh, this is going to be fun."

I growled. "For who?"

"For us," Mai chimed in, a smirk playing on her lips. "Because for the first time ever, big bad Eldur has no idea what he’s doing."

I scowled, arms crossed tightly over my chest. "You’re both insufferable."

Liam waved a hand dismissively. "So are you." He leaned forward, eyes gleaming with mischief. "So, first things first—call her."

I stiffened. "What?"

"Call. Her."

I stared at him like he had just suggested I recite poetry in the middle of a battlefield. "Absolutely not."

Mai let out an exaggerated sigh. "Eldur, we literally got her number for you."

"You shouldn’t have."

"You’re welcome," Liam added with a smirk.

I gritted my teeth. "I don’t need it."

Mai gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. "Oh my goddess, he’s scared."

"I am not."

Liam grinned. "You totally are."

Mai leaned in, eyes gleaming. "What’s wrong, Eldur? Afraid of a human girl?"

I let out a sharp exhale, my grip tightening around the armrest of the couch. "I don’t know what I’m supposed to say to her."

Liam and Mai exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter.

"You’re hopeless," Mai said between giggles.

Liam wiped a fake tear from his eye. "This is my favorite thing that’s ever happened."

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. "I hate both of you."

"Love you too," Liam said cheerfully. "Now, since you won’t call her, what’s the next best option?"

Mai grinned. "Oh, I know—stalking."

My head snapped up.

Liam blinked. "Wait... are you actually considering it?"

I cleared my throat. "I’m simply... gathering information."

Mai threw her head back in laughter. "Oh, this is gold."

Liam shook his head, grinning. "Alright, fine. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right."

I did not call Nova.

No, that would have been the sane, rational, normal thing to do.

So I ended up following Nova about.

Not alone, of course—Mai and Liam were bound to me by magic, so I had no choice but to drag them along with every portal jump. And somehow, Ollie always managed to tag along like a persistent parasite.

And that was how, against my better judgment, I found myself standing outside Nova’s high school the next day, hood pulled low, arms crossed as I watched the students spill out of the building.

Mai stood beside me, looking far too entertained. "Eldur, you do realize you look like a serial killer, right?"

"Shut up."

Ollie, who had been stuffing his face with street food, pointed at a group of girls. "There she is."

I followed his gaze.

There she was. Nova.

She was laughing, her dimples deepening as she playfully nudged a friend. Her curly black hair was pulled into a loose bun, a few tendrils framing her face. There was something painfully effortless about her. Like she belonged in the light while I lurked in the shadows.

I felt... uneasy.

Like I wanted to walk away and run toward her all at once.

Mai nudged me. "Eldur. You’re staring."

"I was observing."

Liam snorted. "Uh-huh. Observing like a total creep. This is hilarious. Eldur, you and Mai really are the same person."

I glared at him. "Explain."

"Oh, you know," he said airily. "Mai used to stalk me all the time too when she wanted my attention."

Mai gasped, feigning offense. "Excuse me?"

"You know it’s true."

She huffed but didn’t deny it.

Ollie, now munching on a granola bar like we were watching a movie, pointed toward Nova’s group. "Look at her. She’s talking to another guy. What if he’s her boyfriend?"

I stiffened. "He isn’t."

"Oh?" Mai teased. "Someone’s jealous."

I ignored them.

The guy talking to Nova was tall, built, and annoyingly good-looking. He laughed, nudging her shoulder playfully, and something inside me burned.

Liam hummed. "Eldur, your face looks like you want to set something on fire."

"I do."

Ollie clapped his hands together. "I’m so glad we’re here."

Nova’s friend said something that made her laugh again, and I felt a sharp, unfamiliar ache in my chest.

I had no idea what it meant.

I was completely and utterly clueless.

Mai nudged me. "You know, you could just go talk to her."

I scoffed. "And say what?"

"Hi, I’m Eldur. I have anger issues and magical powers, but I think you’re really pretty?"

I stared at her. "That is the worst thing I’ve ever heard."

She shrugged. "You’re not wrong. But seriously, what’s your plan? Stalk her forever?"

I looked away. "Maybe."

Liam sighed, shaking his head. "We’re doomed."

*******

That night, as we returned to our apartment, I sat on the couch, staring at Nova’s number on my phone.

My fingers hovered over the call button.

I could do it.

I could press one button and hear her voice.

But the idea made my pulse race in a way that felt too raw, too real.

Instead, I tossed my phone onto the table and leaned back with a groan.

Mai sat beside me, watching me closely. "You’re scared."

I scoffed. "I’m not scared."

"Yes, you are."

I clenched my jaw, but I didn’t argue.

Because she was right.

I had no power over this situation. No control.

I had fought wars, bent reality with my magic, and yet... one human girl had me completely undone.

Mai smiled softly. "She’ll like you, you know."

I exhaled slowly. "I don’t know how to do this."

"You don’t have to. Just... be you."

I stared at her.

"That’s the problem."

Liam snorted from the other side of the room. "Oh, we are so screwed."

Ollie grinned. "This is gonna be the best thing ever."

I buried my face in my hands.

This was hell.