Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 306: The Side-Effect

Chapter 306: The Side-Effect

Eldur’s POV

I saw it the moment her fingers gripped the armrest of her wheelchair—tight, trembling, as if the air around her was made of needles. Her breath came short. Her lips parted, but no sound escaped at first. Then her voice, fragile and threadbare, broke the air between us.

"I can hear everything. Every little thing. People talking down the street. Through walls. It’s like the world’s screaming at me."

My heart stopped.

There it was.

The shift.

The moment everything changed.

This wasn’t just her being overwhelmed. It was something deeper—sharper.

Her senses had dialed all the way up. Hearing, perception... everything cranked past human limits. Too far.

I watched her glance around the school, blinking fast like she was trying to clear static from her vision. Every tiny sound made her flinch, like it was slicing straight into her skull.

That wasn’t normal. That wasn’t panic.

It was something else.

And in that moment, I knew.

Her ears had turned. Like ours. Like mine. But she was human—or at least, she had been.

"When did this start?" I asked, leaning close enough to shield her from the rising storm of whispers and footsteps behind us.

She blinked, her brown eyes meeting mine. "Immediately I woke up. After... the accident."

My gut twisted. That wasn’t just a detail—it was everything.

I stood upright, pulling the world back into control with the straightness of my spine. Lara was kneeling beside Nova, worry clinging to her like static. I kept my voice even, low.

"Lara," I said, "go to class. I’m taking Nova home."

Lara looked up at me, eyes narrowing. "Home? What’s wrong with her? Shouldn’t she see a doctor or something?"

"She’ll be fine. It’s... a side effect of the accident. Nothing permanent. She just needs rest. Trust me."

Lara looked unsure, her lips parting to protest, but Nova reached out and touched her friend’s arm. "I’ll be okay, Lara," she said with a weak smile. "Promise."

Lara didn’t move for a second, then slowly nodded, the worry not quite leaving her eyes. "You better not let her die or something, Eldur," she muttered.

I smirked. "I don’t let things die. I kill them myself."

"Not helping," Lara hissed, then gave Nova’s hand a squeeze before grabbing her bag and walking away, reluctantly.

I crouched low and scooped Nova into my arms, careful and deliberate—like she was made of spun glass and secrets. Most people wouldn’t expect that kind of gentleness from me, but with her, it was second nature. At first, her body stiffened—braced for pain, maybe for the worst—but then she melted against me, exhaling like she’d been holding her breath for days.

I folded up her wheelchair like I’d done it a hundred times before. It clicked closed and slid into the trunk like muscle memory.

In the car, she sat silent, her breaths shallow and fingers twitching like they were trying to speak for her.

I glanced over. "Close your eyes."

She frowned faintly. "I can still hear everything, Eldur—"

I rolled my wrist, letting the shimmer of spellcraft ripple through the air. In my hands appeared a pair of ear muffs—soft as snowfall, glowing faintly with silver threads of magic pulsing like a heartbeat. "Try these."

She hesitated—just for a beat—then took them and slipped them over her ears. Her eyes widened. "Oh. That’s... better."

"Enchanted ear muffs," I said with a smirk, turning the wheel as we passed the university gates. "Patent pending."

She laughed—genuinely, without hesitation. Even in this state. Even now. Gods, her laugh. It was like sunlight breaking through storm clouds, sharp and warm and sudden. I’d chase it to the end of the world.

—

Back at my apartment, I carried her inside again, like I’d never want to put her down. She flinched slightly as the lights hit her, but said nothing. Brave as always.

I eased her onto the couch, adjusting the cushions until she looked like she belonged there—still and strong all at once.

I sat beside her, watching the way the light kissed her skin.

"Tell me the truth," I said softly. "Do you feel anything else?"

Nova was quiet for a second, then said, "Yeah. I can smell things. Really well. Like... I can tell your neighbor is cooking chicken noodle soup but added way too much thyme. And I can see far. Sharper than I’ve ever seen. But it hurts. My eyes burn when I look too long."

I cursed under my breath.

"Is something wrong with me, Eldur?" she asked, turning toward me. Her voice trembled. "Am I okay? I mean... I’m not turning into a vampire or something, right?"

I let out a sharp laugh. "Nova, no. You’re not turning into a vampire, I promise. Elizabeth triple-checked—there’s not a single drop of vampire venom left in your system."

I gave her a look, half amusement, half mock horror. "Besides, if you were turning, you’d be craving blood by now. And let’s not forget—you nearly puked when I made that steak rare last week. That alone should clear your name."

I grinned. "Case closed, Countess."

She smirked. "You eat like a beast."

"I am a beast," I said, a crooked grin on my lips.

Her smile faded, though, and fear crept back into her gaze. I didn’t let it stay.

"I’m going to find out what’s happening. I swear to you."

I stood up and drew a glowing circle into the air with my finger. The portal shimmered open—directly into Elizabeth’s bedroom. She was standing in front of her vanity mirror, braiding her long red hair with that practiced grace of a princess. She turned and gave me a flat look.

"Did someone die?" she asked dryly.

"No. But something worse might happen if you don’t come with me."

She sighed, but without argument, stepped through the portal, her boots clicking against my apartment floor. She looked around, then spotted Nova. Her face softened immediately.

"What happened?"

Nova took a breath and explained everything—her senses, her confusion, the pain. Elizabeth didn’t interrupt. She listened, arms folded lightly, eyes flicking over Nova’s face, her posture, her aura.

"I thought something like this might happen," Elizabeth finally said.

My stomach dropped. "What do you mean?"

Elizabeth’s voice was steady, almost too calm—but when her eyes locked with mine, there was something sharp behind them. A knowing glint. "It’s the aftermath of Margaret’s hex," she said, "and... the bite mark you left on her."

Nova blinked. Then gasped. "Wait—what? Your bite did this?"

"I asked your permission before I did it! Also, It’s a werewolf thing!" I blurted, raising my hands like that would somehow make it sound better. "It’s how we mark our mates. That bite—it’s securing my place in your life, yeah, but it also bonding for our souls. I didn’t think it’d, you know, trigger anything."

Nova stared at me, expression unreadable for a second. Then she deadpanned, "Oh great. Nothing screams romance like a magical soul-bonding bite from your werewolf-slash-wizard boyfriend that accidentally gives you superpowers."

I winced. "Okay, when you say it like that, it sounds bad."

"Because it is bad."

"Technically, it’s also kind of awesome."

She rolled her eyes, but I caught the hint of a smirk tugging at her lips.

Elizabeth chuckled but turned serious again. "The bite mixed with the curse residue. It’s changing her. But don’t worry, Nova. You’ll be okay. These side effects will fade in time. Your body just needs to adjust."

Nova relaxed a little. "Thank you."

But in the next moment, Elizabeth’s voice entered my mind. "Eldur, we need to talk—mind link only."

"What?" I responded, instantly on edge.

"These powers... they’re unstable. If they’re not controlled soon, Nova might die."

"What?!" My heart slammed against my ribs. "You said she’d be okay."

"She will—if you act fast." Elizabeth’s mental voice was calm, almost amused. "You need to join the next batch of mates for the Mating Ceremony. Complete the bond with her. That will stabilize her magic and help her body process the changes."

I stared at her in disbelief.

"You’re serious?"

"Dead serious."

My eyes flicked to Nova. She was talking to herself now, sniffing the air and mumbling about how my couch smelled like "arrogance and sandalwood." I nearly choked on a laugh, but the panic lingered in my chest.

The Mating Ceremony. This wasn’t some casual hand-holding or whispered promise under moonlight.

It was everything. Sacred. Binding. Forever.

And Nova... she had no idea how deep my world really went. Not yet. Not fully.

She wasn’t ready. Honestly, neither was I.

But if I didn’t claim her—if I waited too long, hesitated for even a moment...

I could lose her.

And I wasn’t built to survive that.

Not again.

Not her.

Elizabeth shot me a look—wordless, but loud all the same. A warning... and a push.

I gave the smallest nod. Quiet. Almost invisible.

Nova didn’t notice.

But the winds were already shifting. The storm had started, whether I wanted it or not.

And ready or not... I had to walk straight into it.

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