Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 284: The Day Everything Sparkled

Chapter 284: The Day Everything Sparkled

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!"

"Nice to see you too," I said, hugging her back, a little stunned by the warmth in her voice.

"We missed you," Liam said, his voice warm as a summer breeze, the kind that brushes against your skin and makes you close your eyes for a second. He gave a calm nod, and his smile? It could’ve cooled down the Sahara.

Ollie’s eyes lit up as he spotted who was behind me. "Hold up—did you bring company?"

"Yep," I said, stepping aside with a little flair. "This is Lara. My ride-or-die. Roommate. Best friend since forever."

Ollie’s face cracked into a grin that could probably power a city. "Well, I like her already," he said, and something about the way he looked at Lara made her blink rapidly, like she’d just been hit with a glitter bomb to the face.

Lara instinctively ran her fingers through her curls, trying to play it cool. "Hi. So... okay, random question—but are you guys, like, billionaire rich? Because I’m putting two and two together here—your faces, the outfits, the car, and, uh, this place. It’s giving luxury."

"Lara!" I practically squeaked, my face going nuclear. I wanted to sink into the marble floor. But instead, the whole group burst into laughter.

Ollie leaned in slightly, mischief dancing in his eyes. "Among other things," he said with a wink that made Lara’s jaw twitch.

She turned toward me and hissed under her breath, "Nova. Nova. You did not tell me they were this rich and this hot."

"I just found out about the money part last night!" I whispered back, flustered.

Mai swooped in like the social queen she is and looped her arm through mine. "Enough gawking. Let’s get inside before Liam devours the bread basket like it insulted his family."

Walking into the restaurant felt like stepping into a Pinterest board titled Luxury Fairytale Vibes. There wasn’t a single harsh light in sight—just soft, golden glows that made everyone look like they were starring in a movie. The glasses sparkled, the air smelled like warm butter and roses, and the low hum of laughter floated around like background music written specifically for us.

Dinner was a vibe. No, a whole experience. The kind that makes you forget to check your phone. They told stories about that time we spent together at the amusement park—Mai animated and dramatic, Liam jumping in to correct the tiniest details like a fact-checking older brother, and Ollie... well, Ollie couldn’t stop stealing glances at Lara. Not subtle ones, either. The kind that make your chest flutter if you’re on the receiving end. Lara, to her credit, tried to play it cool but nearly snorted sparkling water out of her nose when their eyes locked too long.

Dessert came—a molten chocolate lava cake that tasted like it had been handcrafted by angels. I swear, one bite and your ex no longer exists in your memory.

After we paid (correction: they paid, despite my dramatic protests), we all piled back into Eldur’s absurdly sleek car. Because, apparently, the fun was just getting started.

"Trust me," Mai said with a wink, "this is going to be a Sunday you’ll be talking about for years."

The next stop was bowling.

And not just any bowling alley. This one looked like a scene from a sci-fi movie—neon lights, sleek screens, and VIP lanes roped off just for us.

"Of course," Lara whispered. "Rich and powerful and hot. What, do they sparkle in sunlight too?"

Mai overheard and gasped in mock horror. "Lara. Are you confusing us with vampires?"

"No comment," Lara said, casually slipping on rented bowling shoes like she was born for this.

We split into teams—Mai, Liam, and Ollie against Eldur, Lara, and me. I had never bowled before. And I think that made Eldur... almost happy?

"You’re terrible at this," he said after I gutter-balled three times in a row.

"I am a delicate flower," I huffed, holding the ball like it might explode. "Bowling is an art."

Lara cackled. "Art? Girl, you just knocked your own ankle."

"I did not—!"

Eldur leaned down beside me, hand resting on mine to adjust my grip. His breath brushed my ear as he whispered, "Let me help."

My entire face went up in flames. "Okay. Sure. Yep. That’s fine."

Lara whistled. "Get a room."

Eldur smirked. "Maybe later."

I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.

By the time we left, I was hoarse from laughing. Everything was so... easy. Real. I had expected sharp edges, monsters hidden behind friendly smiles. But instead, there were jokes and inside stories, shared fries and high-fives. It didn’t feel like a pack of supernatural creatures. It felt like home.

When Eldur finally pulled up in front of our apartment, I didn’t want the night to end.

"I’ve got something to do with the others," he said softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "But I’ll pick you up tomorrow. Bright and early."

"School," I groaned.

His smile was soft, but it reached his eyes. "Yes. Human things."

I stared at him for a moment. This strange, terrifying, beautiful boy. This magical creature. "Thanks... for today."

"I should be thanking you," he murmured, and then he was gone—vanishing into the night with a ripple of light as his friends climbed into his car.

The moment the door to our apartment clicked shut, Lara spun to me.

"Okay. I need to scream."

"Go ahead."

And she did—a high-pitched noise muffled by a pillow as she collapsed dramatically onto the couch.

"I cannot believe this is your life now. What is your life?"

"Apparently? A soap opera."

Lara peeked up. "I like them."

I blinked. "Who?"

"Eldur’s friends. Mai is hilarious, Liam is adorable, and Ollie..."

"Oh?"

She blushed. Blushed. Like bright pink, cheeks-on-fire blushed.

"I think he likes me," she whispered, curling into the throw blanket like a confessional turtle. "But I don’t know if he really likes me... or if he’s just... you know, looking for something casual."

I sat down beside her, heart squeezing. "Lara... he looked at you like you were the only girl in the building."

"But I’m not in his class," she whispered. "I’m not anything."

"You’re Lara. That’s enough."

She sniffled. "You’re just saying that because you love me."

"I am saying it because I love you. But also because it’s true."

She nudged me with her foot. "What about you and Snow White?"

I sighed, falling back against the cushions. "I think I’m in trouble."

"That bad?"

"No. That good."

She made a delighted sound. "Aww. You’re in love with a hot psycho prince."

"Apparently."

"Should I be worried?"

I smiled. "No. He’s... learning. He’s trying. For me. That’s what matters."

She went quiet. Then, with a sigh, she muttered, "Do you think they’d be willing to feed poor old me every weekends?"

I laughed until I nearly fell off the couch. "Lara. No."

She grinned. "Damn."

As we curled up on opposite ends of the couch, blankets pulled to our chins, the world outside kept spinning—but inside, everything felt still.

I was human. They weren’t.

But somehow, we fit.

Somehow, I belonged.

And I couldn’t wait to see what tomorrow would bring.

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