Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 255: A Planned Coincidence

Chapter 255: A Planned Coincidence

Eldur’s POV

I never thought I’d say this, but... humans are weird.

I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’ve tortured vampires and made grown werewolves cry like newborn pups. I’ve opened portals in the middle of a fight just to drop my enemies into a nest of venomous serpents, just for the fun of it. But stepping into a human university? Westbridge University?

That was... terrifying.

Let’s rewind a bit.

After that ridiculous—yet effective—talk with my parents about me wanting to explore the human world, Adrian, my charmingly manipulative vampire father, pulled some invisible strings. And by invisible strings, I mean he made the dean of Westbridge University wet his pants and approve my admission. My father didn’t say what he did—he never does—but the gleam in his eye when he handed me the acceptance letter was enough.

"You’re in," he said, sipping blood wine at ten in the morning like it was juice. "Literature and History, naturally. You’ve always had a flair for dramatic violence and tragic love stories."

I rolled my eyes. "You mean cursed kings and bloody battles."

He smiled, fangs peeking out just slightly. "Exactly."

Mother didn’t say much. Juliette just leaned against the doorway with her arms folded, green eyes locked on me like she was trying to read my mind. "So you’re really doing this?" she asked after a long pause.

"Yeah. I’m doing this for me," I said.

Her lips twitched, almost forming a smirk. That was her version of a proud tear.

A month later, I was standing in front of a sleek, modern apartment building five blocks away from Westbridge. Dad had paid for the entire year upfront—of course—and Mom had already "handled" the landlord, whatever that meant. I didn’t ask.

The apartment was bigger than I expected. Two bedrooms, open kitchen, tall windows with views of the city skyline. I couldn’t care less. The only thing on my mind was Nova. Her scent haunted me, soft and warm like cinnamon and vanilla. I didn’t know if she was my mate. I couldn’t feel it. I didn’t have a wolf to howl it into my bones. But the way she looked at the world—with those storm-brown eyes—it made me want.

I’d never wanted like this before.

I didn’t tell her I was attending Westbridge. She would’ve probably thought I was stalking her, which... I mean, I wasn’t. Exactly. I just wanted to understand her world better. Be close enough to protect her. To figure out what this feeling was.

"Eldur, the curtains go on the windows, not the fridge!" Mom snapped, standing on a chair in ripped jeans and a tank top. Her hair was tied up, and she was holding a hammer like it was a weapon.

"I know that," I said defensively, even though I had, in fact, tried to pin the sheer black curtains on the fridge door.

Dad was lounging on the couch in sunglasses like it was a resort. "Let the boy express himself. Maybe the fridge deserves some privacy."

Mom glared at him. "You’re not helping."

"Wasn’t trying to," he replied coolly.

I dropped onto the barstool, watching my very immortal and dramatic parents decorate my human apartment. Dad had brought a rug that looked like it was stolen from a Victorian castle. Mom had picked out weapons to hang on the wall—actual medieval weapons. I mean... it was kind of perfect.

We spent hours setting it up. I didn’t think I’d laugh so hard.

Dad tried to hang a painting of himself above my bed—shirtless. I burned it.

Mom nearly stabbed Dad with a curtain rod when he made a joke about her "dusting instincts." She may have stabbed the wall.

I almost broke the oven trying to figure out how it worked. I had never cooked. I had magic. Fire spells. Who needed stoves?

By sunset, the apartment actually looked... livable. Warm, even. My things were in place. The bookshelf was filled with old tomes and new textbooks. My sword hung above my bed. My dark, forest-green sheets were ironed and tucked in (by Mom, not me, obviously).

I stood in the middle of it all, staring around in silence.

It felt like a beginning. And it scared me a little.

Mom came over, wrapped her arms around my waist, and pressed her forehead to my chest. "Don’t mess this up," she whispered. "She’s not Mai. And you’re not the same angry little boy anymore."

My eyes widened and my jaw sagged. "You knew?" Mom smirked. Of course, she knew. She always knows everything.

Dad pulled us both into a sudden hug, his cologne practically invading my lungs.

"I’m proud of you," he murmured. "Even if you still look like you murder people for a living."

"I do."

"Ah, yes, that’s true."

They left an hour later.

Mom kissed my cheek and warned me to use protection—ugh. Dad told me not to bite anyone without permission—double ugh.

Then it was just me. Alone.

The silence crept in. I stared at the moon through my window, half wondering if the Moon Goddess was laughing at me. If Nova was my mate, how was I supposed to confirm it? Why wasn’t the goddess saying anything? Will Nova be able to feel the bond?

Maybe humans aren’t meant to.

I shook my head. Enough brooding, Eldur.

Through the mind link, I reached out to the one group who always made things weirdly better.

Mind link active: Mai, Liam, Ollie.

Eldur: "Hey idiots."

Mai: "ELDUR?"

Liam: "Holy sh—dude, are you using the conference link? You NEVER use that."

Ollie: "Wait, wait, wait—is this for real? Is the dark prince himself calling a friend meeting?"

Eldur:"I have news. Shut up."

Mai: "Are you dying?"

Liam:"Are we dying?"

Ollie: "Is the world ending? Should I take off my pants now or later?"

Eldur:"I GOT INTO WESTBRIDGE."

(Silence.)

Liam:"...The human university?"

Mai:"Wait—NO. Don’t tell me. You actually followed through with your Nova stalking plans?"

Ollie:"Oooohhh this is going in the tea group chat."

Eldur:"I swear to the moon goddess, if you don’t shut up, I’m opening a portal in your bathroom."

Mai:"Aww. He’s so in LOVE."

Liam:"You’ve gone soft."

Ollie:"Eldur has a crush. What’s next? Adrian opening a bakery?"

Eldur: "Okay, first of all—I am still terrifying. Second, I’m NOT soft. Third... shut up."

Mai:"We’re proud of you, Ed. I know you don’t do emotions, but this? This is huge."

Liam: "Yeah man. Go get her. Be weird, be dark, be you—but maybe don’t threaten her with fireballs on the first official date."

Ollie:"Seriously. Try smiling without looking like you’re about to eat her soul."

Eldur: "...I hate all of you. But thanks."

Mai:"We love you too."

Ollie: "Now, go seduce the human. And wear deodorant."

Liam: "And don’t kill anyone."

Eldur: "No promises."

The mind-link dissolved with Ollie’s idiotic laugh still echoing in my skull. I sat in the silence of my newly christened apartment, staring at the empty window like it might start speaking to me. It didn’t. I sighed and muttered a spell to close the curtains, but then cursed myself and reopened them—Nova might walk by. Not that I’d be watching. Pfft. Of course not.

Okay, maybe a little.

I stood and paced, my boots thudding softly on the rug Dad insisted would "tie the room together." What did that even mean? I had no idea. All I knew was that it was ugly and extremely fluffy.

Nova.

That name alone curled through me like fire and silk. I’d seen her earlier, just briefly, when she moved into her own apartment down the street. Modest, tiny, but she looked... happy. Her smile when she held up a hideous lavender pillow was almost enough to make me combust.

So yeah. I decided to check up on her.

And by "check up," I mean I teleported to the roof across from her building and sat in a lawn chair I conjured from thin air, sipping apple juice like a weirdo with a crush.

Her window was open. Thank the Moon.

Nova was with her roommate, a loud, curly-haired hurricane named Lara who talked like she’d downed five espressos and lived on sarcasm. Lara was studying Fine Arts, and Nova—my Nova—was enrolled in Creative Writing.

I don’t know why that made my chest feel full. Maybe it was the idea of her creating entire worlds with her words. Maybe it was the way her eyes lit up when she talked about it.

They chatted for hours. I stayed rooted in my lawn chair, hidden in shadows. Magical shadows, not the regular peasant ones.

"She said Dr. Hansen teaches like he’s got a stick permanently stuck up his—"

"Lara!"

"I’m just saying!" Lara cackled and flopped on the bed. "Anyway, I checked RateMyProfessor. He’s the kind who either ruins your GPA or inspires you to drop out and open a crystal shop."

Nova was laughing, leaning against her tiny desk with her knees pulled up. "You’ll be fine. You talk too much to flunk."

"And you write too pretty not to pass." Lara pointed a finger like she’d solved the secrets of the universe. "Promise me we’ll leave by 7:30. I want good seats. Front row."

Nova wrinkled her nose adorably. "You want front row?"

"Yes! So I can see every sarcastic eye-roll our professors make."

Nova grinned. "Okay, 7:30. Promise."

"Swear it."

Nova raised a pinky.

They pinky swore. I watched it all like a total creep.

When the lights finally dimmed and they both fell asleep—Nova curled on her bed, clutching a notebook to her chest—I stayed another hour. Just watching.

Her hair was messy. One sock had slipped halfway off. She mumbled in her sleep, something about noodles and a dog named Harold. I didn’t understand any of it, but I still smiled.

Goddess help me, I was falling harder than I ever had. And the terrifying part?

I didn’t want to stop.

I made no sound as I vanished into the night, the portal closing behind me with a soft shimmer of silver and starlight.

*********

The next morning was... chaotic.

I forgot that humans used alarm clocks. I had a spell for waking up, but I overslept because I muttered the wrong word. Instead of "waken," I whispered "bacon," which, apparently, summons sizzling breakfast sounds instead of alertness.

By the time I was dressed—black jeans, black tee, long black coat (because duh)—Nova’s apartment light was already on.

I sprinted across the rooftops, landing silently behind the tree near her building. From there, I had the perfect angle to watch as Nova and Lara stepped out, both carrying book bags and takeaway coffee cups.

They were laughing. Lara was saying something about a "mysterious guy who looked like he was born to break hearts and steal souls." Nova giggled but said nothing.

I had a sinking suspicion she was talking about me.

I slipped around the side of the building, following from a safe distance. No teleporting this time—I didn’t want to miss a second.

They walked toward the gate where the college cabs usually parked. Nova was rummaging in her bag, still sleepy, her movements sluggish and soft. The early morning light kissed her hair, turning it gold.

I stepped out from behind the tree at the exact moment she looked up.

Our eyes met.

Her foot snagged on the sidewalk.

She stumbled.

I reached her in a blink.

"Whoa—careful," I said, catching her elbow before she could fall.

She stared up at me, blinking rapidly. "Eldur?"

I tilted my head and smiled, just enough to not look like a maniac. "Fancy meeting you here."

She blinked again, her face scrunching like she couldn’t tell if this was reality or an elaborate prank. "Wait. You’re here? You go to Westbridge?"

I leaned casually against the cab post like I hadn’t stalked her since 4 a.m. "Yeah. Just started. Transferred. Surprise."

"You’re... going here? To this school?"

"Is that so hard to believe?" I arched a brow.

"Yes. Very." She laughed. "You look like you belong in a secret mountain fortress plotting world domination, not in Philosophy 101."

"Well, I did take over a fortress once. Briefly. It’s a long story." I offered a smirk. "But yeah. I’m here."

"For real?"

"For real."

She stared, her lips parting slightly. Then she shook her head and smiled, soft and curious and so unaware of the war I was waging inside.

"You should’ve told me," she said.

"I didn’t know you would also be here."

"True. At one point, I thought I wouldn’t make it."

"I’m glad you did." I said with a smile.

Lara was watching us with her eyebrow arched halfway to Jupiter. "So, this is the infamous mystery man?"

Nova turned red. "Lara."

"I like him," Lara said bluntly. "He looks like he listens to murder podcasts for fun and owns way too many rings. Also, that coat? Drama. I respect it."

I had no idea what she was talking about but I gave her a small nod. "I accept your approval."

Lara smirked. "You better. Nova, get in the cab before you combust."

Nova rolled her eyes but smiled at me again. "See you around?"

I nodded. "Count on it."

She slid into the cab beside Lara. The door closed.

But her eyes stayed on me until they turned the corner.

I stood there for a long moment, heart thudding in a rhythm I didn’t understand. I’d faced armies. Dark beasts. My father during one of his moods. But nothing—nothing—had ever terrified me as much as the way she looked at me just now.

Like she might want to know me.

Like she might care.

And I wasn’t ready.

But I would be.

For her.

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