Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 309: The Gate to Forever

Chapter 309: The Gate to Forever

Nova’s POV

"You’re probably wondering why I brought you here first," Eldur said as he gently adjusted the blanket over my legs. We stood—or rather, I sat in my chair—on a rocky, elevated ridge surrounded by tall pines. The morning sun was casting golden ribbons of light across the forest floor. Cold mountain air kissed my cheeks and played with the ends of my hair, sending small chills down my arms, but I didn’t mind.

I turned to look at him. His silver eyes held something softer than usual. Not that familiar glint of danger or mischief I was used to seeing, but something warmer. Protective. Tender.

"I wanted you to see it," he said, nodding ahead. "The gate of the pack you’ll be mating into. You’re aware I don’t live in the pack lands—I have always only visited—but I’m still a member. It’s Moonpeak. My uncle, Alpha Lucian, runs it with his mate, Luna Teresa."

My heart tugged.

"Lucian and Teresa..." I whispered, a smile breaking across my face. "They’re part of the reason I even made it through that Margaret saga. I—Eldur, they are so sweet."

"I know," he said quietly, stepping beside me, his fingers brushing mine. "They care for you. They see what I see."

I turned to look ahead, and what met my eyes stole my breath.

From where Eldur had brought us—some kind of ridge or high hill that overlooked the entire valley—the Moonpeak lands spread out like a painting brought to life.

Below us was a long, winding road that led to a gate carved from dark ironwood, etched with shimmering runes that pulsed faintly like a heartbeat. Beyond the gate sprawled a kingdom of elegance and wilderness intertwined—grand mansions with slate roofs and glass balconies nestled between thick woods. Stone pathways curved between groves of ancient trees. There were glints of silver rivers winding between it all, and in the distance, a giant waterfall tumbled down a cliff face, catching the light like scattered diamonds.

It looked like a hidden resort. No, a hidden world where fairy tales might be born.

My throat tightened. I reached out and placed my hand over Eldur’s. "It’s beautiful."

"You’re the only thing more beautiful than this place," he murmured.

I blushed, biting my lip.

And just like that, he raised his hand and carved open another glowing portal in the air, golden-white and humming softly. "Let’s go."

I gave the view one last look, a quiet goodbye to the nerves fluttering in my chest. Then I nodded.

He pushed me gently through the portal.

We emerged in a grand hallway—a polished stone floor under my chair, walls covered with velvet drapes and paintings that looked centuries old.

A man in a crisply pressed black uniform stood beside the double doors of the entrance, arms crossed. He rolled his eyes dramatically.

"Dramatic entrances again?" the man sighed, voice smooth with just a touch of sarcasm. "Will you ever in your life use a door for once?"

Eldur chuckled, unbothered. "Alex, don’t pretend you don’t live for the drama."

Alex snorted and then turned his sharp brown eyes to me, raising an eyebrow.

"Alex," Eldur said with so much warmth in his voice, "this is Nova. My mate."

I blinked, the word still catching me off guard every time he said it.

Alex’s expression softened instantly. "So you’re the one everyone’s been whispering about. The girl who made the monster fall in love."

Eldur hissed playfully. "I’ll hex your tea."

I laughed. "It’s nice to meet you, Alex."

He bowed slightly. "The pleasure is mine, Miss Nova. Welcome to madness."

With that, Eldur wheeled me toward a grand staircase. Before we even made it halfway into the living room, I heard footsteps.

Then I saw her—auntie Teresa, in all her radiant warmth and motherly elegance, descending the stairs like she was running out of time. Her curly honey-brown hair was pulled into a regal bun, and her eyes—soft, almost golden—shimmered with joy.

"Nova!" she gasped, and before I could say a word, she was kneeling beside me, kissing both my cheeks and cupping my face in her warm hands. "Look at you, my darling! How are you? Are you warm enough? Is the chair comfortable? Did you eat?"

I laughed, overcome. "I’m fine! I promise."

She hugged me again, smelling of lavender and old parchment.

"Okay, okay," Eldur grumbled with a smirk. "That’s enough hugging. I’m getting jealous."

Teresa raised an eyebrow and leaned over to kiss Eldur on the forehead before pinching his cheek. "You’ll survive, drama king."

Eldur pouted. "Unprovoked attack."

"Now," Teresa said, standing up straight, hands on her hips like a proud general inspecting her troops, "are you two ready for the mating ceremony?"

Eldur and I exchanged a glance.

He said, "As ready as I’ll ever be."

And I added, "I think so?"

Teresa laughed heartily. "Relax, you two. Tonight is going to be the best night of your lives." She winked. "You’ll see."

She turned and strolled off, still chuckling to herself.

I leaned close to Eldur. "Why was she winking? And laughing like that?"

He just smiled mysteriously. "You’ll understand later."

That evening, everything transformed.

Eldur wheeled me down a forest path lit with soft lanterns, each flame glowing blue. The air felt enchanted—charged with something old and sacred. Eventually, the path opened into a vast circular clearing ringed with torches and flower petals.

This was it.

The ceremony ground.

At least two hundred people had gathered—some seated on carved wooden benches, others standing in reverent silence. There were faces I didn’t know, all dressed in regal clothes. Wolves. Vampires. Magic hummed in the air like a lullaby.

But then I spotted familiar ones.

Mai and Liam—her long crimson dress swirling like fire, and Liam’s gentle smile shining like a lighthouse in stormy seas. Ollie stood with them, grinning proudly.

Up ahead, framed by the glow of moonlight and flickering lanterns, stood Eldur’s parents.

Adrian looked like he’d stepped out of a myth—every angle of his face perfectly sculpted, the kind of man who could wear a crown without ever needing one. His smile was easy, almost lazy, but his eyes—those sharp, knowing eyes—missed nothing. He didn’t just look at you; he saw through you.

Beside him was Juliette, radiant and commanding, with a posture that made people stand straighter without realizing why. She had the kind of presence that could quiet a battlefield. Her hand rested over her heart, eyes locked on us like she was memorizing every second of our approach.

And at the heart of it all—beneath a graceful silver arch that shimmered like starlight—sat Uncle Lucian and Auntie Teresa. Regal. Serene. Like the night itself bowed to them.

I laced my fingers tighter around Eldur’s, grounding myself in the feel of him, solid and real.

The crowd was a sea of anticipation, all eyes drawn to us. Whispers rippled through the air like ripples on water. Not loud, but pointed—sharp enough to cut if you listened too closely. A small cluster off to the side—young, dressed like they’d just walked off the runway of some fantasy kingdom—watched us with smug eyes and cruel smiles.

"Is that her?" one girl sneered. "That’s Eldur’s mate?"

"A human," a guy replied, his voice thick with scorn. "And worse, a broken one."

"Karma," someone else muttered. "After everything Eldur’s pulled... this is just the universe evening the score."

"I bet she doesn’t even know what mating is," another scoffed, like I wasn’t standing ten feet away.

I heard every word. Every syllable. Every insult. They thought I wouldn’t, couldn’t. Just a human, right? A fragile little thing with a weak body and weaker ears.

But I heard them.

I turned my head slightly toward Eldur. His silver eyes were no longer soft or glowing. They were sharp. Dangerous. Thunderclouds gathering fast. His jaw clenched, his body going still in that terrifying way predators do before they strike.

"I’ll kill them," he muttered, voice low and smooth—like a blade dragged across velvet.

I squeezed his hand before the storm could break.

"No."

"They don’t get to talk about you like that—"

"They don’t know me," I said quietly. "They don’t know you. They only think they do."

He stared at me, like he was trying to read the weight behind my words. Then he let out a breath. Slow. Controlled. Like he was forcing the fire back into the cage.

"You’re too good," he said under his breath.

"No," I whispered, smiling gently. "I just love you too much to let them steal a single second of tonight."

His face softened. He leaned down and kissed the back of my hand—just once. Gentle. Reverent.

And then, from the front, Uncle Lucian rose to his feet.

He didn’t speak right away.

He didn’t need to.

The moment he stood, the entire crowd hushed. Like the air itself paused, waiting. Even the wind fell still.

When he finally spoke, his voice rolled through the night like a steady drumbeat—deep, sure, undeniable.

"All who are to be mated under the full moon tonight," he said, "step into the center of the circle."

I looked at Eldur. He looked at me.

My heart was a wild drum inside my chest.

But I nodded.

He lowered his head, pressing his forehead to mine. "With you," he whispered, "always."

And together, hand in hand, we stepped forward—into the center of the circle.

Into whatever came next.

Into forever.