Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 39: Decision to Leave

Chapter 39: Decision to Leave

TERESA’S P.O.V.

The city lights shimmered through my apartment window, it brighten up my apartment in a way that somehow felt mocking. My gaze was fixed on the horizon, where the neon signs and headlights blurred into a quiet dance, their brightness contrasting the ache in my chest. I could feel the weight of today pressing down on me, heavy and relentless, like a wound that hadn’t stopped bleeding.

Across from me, Luke sat in silence, his brow furrowed in a blend of confusion and concern. He had arrived just minutes ago, explaining that he’d been at a school event with his wife and children when I’d called. Guilt twisted in my chest—I knew I was pulling him away from his family once again. But selfishly, I couldn’t deny that his presence was like a soothing balm to the storm raging inside me. I spilled every tangled thought, words tumbling out as I struggled to make sense of the ache in my heart.

"I didn’t even make it into his office, Luke," I murmured, my voice barely a whisper. The words felt raw, each syllable scraping against the back of my throat. "I... I heard him shouting at Kenneth..." My voice trembled, the memory hitting me anew.

Luke’s face scrunched in puzzlement. "Wait—Kenneth? Who’s Kenneth again?"

I took a steadying breath, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. "Lucian’s personal assistant," I explained. He nodded, signaling for me to continue, his eyes never leaving mine.

I swallowed hard, fighting the sting of humiliation. "Lucian told Kenneth never to mention my name to him, ever again," I said, voice breaking on the last word. "They didn’t know I was just outside the door, and the way Lucian said it... his voice, it was filled with such... disgust." I clenched my fists, feeling the bitterness well up. "It felt like he slapped me, Luke. Like I was something shameful, something he couldn’t even bear to acknowledge."

Luke’s expression shifted, his brow furrowing as he absorbed my words. "Lucian said that? About you?" His tone was soft but edged with disbelief, and in his eyes, I saw a flicker of anger.

I nodded, feeling my cheeks burn hotter, the sting of embarrassment and rejection prickling my skin. "I didn’t let him see me. I just turned and ran before he could even know I was there." My hands curled around my arms as if shielding myself from the memory. The sharpness in Lucian’s voice still echoed in my mind, each word heavy and cruel. I felt exposed, as though every vulnerability had been laid bare before him.

Luke’s gaze softened, but his eyes held a hint of something I couldn’t quite place. "Teresa..." he began cautiously, his voice a careful whisper. "Don’t take this the wrong way, but... are you sure you didn’t do anything at his estate to make Lucian feel this strong dislike for you?" his voice was soft, his gaze steady. "I ask because this...this hatred he has for you, it’s...it doesn’t make any sense."

I stared at him, my heart twisting at the implication. "I swear, Luke," I choked out, the tremor in my voice betraying the tears I fought to hold back. "I’ve done nothing. Nothing to deserve this." I felt a knot tighten in my throat, the bitterness of it all bubbling up. "But what if... what if that hatred, that disgust he has for me... what if he directs it toward my children?" My hand drifted to my stomach, a reflexive, protective gesture that had become second nature ever since I found out about them. "What if he finds out they’re his? What if he decides to take them from me?"

The room fell silent, the gravity of my words settling between us. Luke’s face softened further, his features etched with a deep empathy. He reached out, wrapping his arms around me, holding me close as if he could shield me from the fears clawing at my heart. His embrace was firm, steady, grounding me.

"I’ll be there for your babies, Teresa. For you," he whispered against my hair, his words gentle but filled with a quiet resolve. "Nothing’s going to happen to you or them. I promise."

I pulled back slightly, looking up into his eyes. There was warmth there, strength. But I could feel something else too—a growing, gnawing fear that he just didn’t understand. "Luke, I need to leave this place." I could hear the desperation in my own voice. "This city...it’s too dangerous. Lucian is too powerful here. If he ever found out, if he ever even suspected..."

I swallowed, the anxiety tightening my throat. "He’s rich, Luke. Incredibly rich. If he wanted, he could find me in an instant. And then he’d know everything. He’d know I was pregnant. He’d know the babies were his. And with the kind of hatred he has for me...who’s to say he wouldn’t take them away?"

Luke shook his head, his hand on my shoulder. "Teresa, you’re overthinking this. Lucian wouldn’t do something like that. And if you’re so worried about staying here, I can help you find a new apartment."

I forced a small smile, but my heart was racing. Luke was trying to reassure me, but he couldn’t understand. This wasn’t just about Lucian. It was about everyone else who seemed to relish making my life miserable—our father, our stepmother, Sarah, and Jennifer. They all played a part in this nightmare.

"Two weeks ago, Sarah and Jennifer came into the boutique," I whispered, my voice trembling. "They humiliated me, Luke—mocked me until I could barely stand it. And yesterday, Vanessa showed up too, pretending she was there to shop. But right away, in front of everyone, she accused me of stealing her money. The shame...it was unbearable. I was so overwhelmed that I fainted, right there in front of everyone. They all saw."

Luke’s face darkened with anger, and he squeezed my hand. "Teresa, you don’t deserve any of this. They’re nothing but bullies."

I nodded, though it didn’t lessen the pain. "I don’t want that kind of negativity around my babies. I can’t...I won’t let them be raised in a world that feels so hostile, so cruel." My voice was stronger, but there was a quiver that gave away the fear simmering beneath the surface. I knew Luke thought I was being dramatic, that I was letting my fear run away with me. So I didn’t argue with him. I let him hold and comfort me but in my heart, I knew this city wasn’t safe for me—not for me or my children.

******

ONE MONTH LATER

The night was bitterly cold, the kind that digs deep beneath your skin and settles in your bones, lingering long after you find warmth. I’d been out late, roaming the city in a desperate attempt to quiet the gnawing worry that had consumed my mind. After my talk with Luke, I’d promised myself to take his advice—to stop overthinking, to let Lucian fade from my thoughts, to live as if he never existed. But tonight, as I stepped into my apartment, I realized nothing could be that simple.

The moment I opened the door, I froze. My small living room, usually tidy and quiet, was in disarray. Furniture had been upended, drawers yanked open, and their contents scattered like discarded memories across the floor. My belongings were strewn everywhere, a chaotic display that sent a chill through me deeper than the night outside. Someone had been here, tearing apart the fragments of my life with a carelessness that felt cruelly personal.

I fumbled for my phone, my hands trembling as I called Luke. My voice was barely more than a whisper as I explained the mess, the sense of invasion thickening the air around me. He arrived in minutes, his expression dark as he took in the wreckage.

"Teresa," he said, bending down to pick up a shattered photo frame. "Who could’ve done this?"

A lump formed in my throat. I didn’t want to say it, didn’t want to give voice to the thought that had lodged itself deep inside me, but I couldn’t ignore the cold certainty gnawing at my heart. "It has to be him, Luke. Lucian..." The name fell from my lips, thick with dread. "He must have found out. Somehow...he knows."

Luke’s hand found my shoulder, his grip firm but gentle as he tried to ground me. "Teresa, don’t jump to conclusions. We don’t know anything for sure. This could’ve been anyone."

But his voice wavered, and I saw the flicker of doubt behind his steady gaze. Even he didn’t believe the words he was saying. He knew, just as I did, that this wasn’t random. This wasn’t just anyone. Wrapping my arms around myself, I felt a cold isolation settle over me, one that made the walls of my home feel unfamiliar and threatening.

This was the moment I’d feared, the one I’d tried so hard to ignore. But I couldn’t keep pretending. The invasion of my home was a message, clear as day. This was the push I needed, the final sign that there was no turning back.

"Luke," I whispered, my voice shaking. "I can’t stay here. Not anymore. I have to leave this city."

He looked at me, pain flickering across his face. "Teresa, you don’t have to run. You have people here who care about you—I and my family, we will protect you."

But I shook my head, my decision resolute. "It’s not enough. I can’t risk him finding out...finding my babies. I’m going somewhere far away, somewhere he won’t be able to touch me. A place where no one will know who I am."

Luke’s eyes softened, and he pulled me into a hug. "please Teresa, let’s think this through. And if you still want to go, I will come with you."

My heart felt heavy as I hugged him back. I didn’t reply, I couldn’t. I wasn’t selfish enough to take Luke away from his wife and children or worse have them all follow me when they had a good life here. I had to leave but by the looks of things, I had to do it quietly, without his knowledge, just like last time.