Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 49: Obsession

Chapter 49: Obsession

ADRIAN’S P.O.V.

As I strode through the grand iron gates of my estate, the familiar silence wrapped around me like a shroud. I stepped into the lowly lit, cavernous halls of the house, feeling the weight of my thoughts pressing down on me.

Though I was immune to the human affliction of physical exhaustion, my mind felt heavy, burdened by the silent echoes of thoughts I couldn’t shake. Dropping onto the plush leather couch, I allowed myself a rare moment of vulnerability. That’s when I heard the faint but unmistakable sound of Carlos’ footsteps approaching, barely perceptible against the quiet.

"Adrian," he said, his voice carrying a note of caution as if he were measuring my mood. "The mayor has requested your assistance with a so-called ’bear problem’ on the edge of town. There have been more sightings and incidents... and they believe it’s only a matter of time before more people start to gets hurt."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Bears," I repeated, almost amused. "The poor man really believes it, doesn’t he?" This so-called bear issue was really just another byproduct of rogue vampires-nomads ignorant of the fact that these lands were under my protection. They came through thinking they could hunt freely, without respect for boundaries or consequences. It was always a rude awakening when I stepped in to remind them otherwise.

Carlos chuckled, a lightness to his tone. "Well, you do have a certain... talent for handling beasts."

I smirked, though my thoughts quickly drifted elsewhere, landing on a name I couldn’t escape-Teresa. Her image stirred something deep within me, a pull I couldn’t fully understand nor ignore. She was like a magnet, drawing me in despite my every effort to remain detached. I barely registered Harry’s presence until he sauntered in, hands in his pockets, wearing that infuriatingly knowing smirk.

"Oh boy," he said with a grin, his eyes dancing with amusement. "I recognize that look. Thinking about the wolf girl Teresa again, are we?"

Startled from my reverie, I blinked and straightened. "Excuse me?"

Harry rolled his eyes, unamused. "Come on, Adrian. Don’t pretend. You’re thinking about her again."

"Well, she’s pregnant and vulnerable," I said, keeping my tone even, though Harry’s bluntness grated on my patience. "Ensuring her safety is the least I can do."

Harry scoffed, folding his arms. "Right, because you’re such a bleeding heart all of a sudden? Let’s not forget, Adrian, the whole reason she’s in town to begin with is because you couldn’t bring yourself to get rid of her, even though that was the original plan. And now here you are, hanging around her like some shadow. And let’s not forget," he added, voice laced with contempt, "she’s carrying werewolf pups, for crying out loud! Those mutts would be flooding into these lands very soon and we’ll end up having a pandemic in our hands just like last time."

I felt a flicker of anger but reined it in. "You know I don’t operate that way, Harry. I don’t hurt innocent people, especially not someone as pure as her."

"Not normally, no," he said, raising an eyebrow, "but you’re acting like a lovesick teenager. You’re following her. From street corners and alleys. We’ve seen this before, Adrian. And it’s not the first time you’ve... let things get out of hand."

My eyes narrowed. "What exactly are you getting at?"

Harry took a step closer, his gaze challenging. "Remember Margaret?"

I felt my jaw tighten, the mention of her name striking a nerve I’d thought I buried long ago. "Don’t bring up her name again," I warned, my voice barely above a whisper, yet carrying all the threat I could muster.

"Fine," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender, though his expression didn’t soften. "But this behavior is beneath you, Adrian. You are the first of the original vampires, your name is respected and feared throughout the world–this town, this valley, the first coven, we all rely on your strength, your restraint. And you’re throwing it away for a woman carrying another man’s children."

I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms as I struggled to keep my composure. "She is carrying her children. Alone. Unprotected. I can’t look away Harry; you know that’s not in my nature."

Harry’s patience was wearing thin. "So that’s your justification? Protecting her from the shadows, from behind trees and street corners? Adrian, either let this obsession go, or handle it. Because if you won’t, I will."

The words hung heavy in the air, and something in his tone changed-darkened, even. He was daring me.

I felt a cold rage swell up within me, something I hadn’t felt in ages. Without a second thought, my fangs elongated, my fingers sharpening into talons. I met Harry’s gaze, my voice a deadly calm. "If you so much as think about harming Teresa, we are no longer friends. And I bet you know what that means for you, Harry."

For a moment, we held each other’s stare, the silence charged with unspoken threats. He took a step back, hands up in silent concession, though I knew his warning still lingered, a reminder that even for a vampire as old and powerful as myself, personal attachments could be dangerous.

"Alright, alright," he murmured. "I didn’t realize things had escalated this much. But Adrian... you’re not acting like yourself. The coven depends on you, trusts you to be our guide and protector. This behavior of yours-it’s unsettling. If it continues, it’s bound to cause fear among the others."

I cut him off before he could finish. The weight of his words pressed against my thoughts, A part of me knew that Harry was right–I was treading dangerous ground when it came to Teresa. But another part of me, the part that clung to Teresa’s memory like a lifeline, couldn’t let go. I’d protect her, even if it meant walking this fine line between loyalty and obsession.

Without a glance back, I pushed past him and left the room, feeling a swirl of emotions I didn’t fully understand. And despite all that, the urge to see Teresa pulled at me, fierce and unrelenting, like a storm battering against a rocky shore. I’d seen her just this morning, yet the thought of her, the need to be near her, clawed at my senses. But I couldn’t risk it–not again. Carlos had just warned me about a new presence in town, vampires who didn’t belong to our coven. If they sensed any connection between us, Teresa could be drawn into a world she knew nothing about, a world filled with dangers she couldn’t even imagine.

And yet, despite all my reasons, I found myself standing just outside her house for the fiftieth time this month, hidden in the shadows like a fool. I watched as she stepped out of her front door, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow on her face, highlighting every detail I had memorized a hundred times. The pull was so strong, my instinct to protect her overriding all reason. As she walked down the path, I slipped into the trees, keeping my distance but never letting her out of my sight. The branches above shielded me, and the fallen leaves softened my steps as I followed her like a silent shadow.

She moved with a graceful, unhurried pace, completely unaware of my presence. Then, halfway through her walk, she stumbled over a rock in the path, her foot catching just enough to throw her off balance. My non existent heart did a flip and In a split second, I acted, sending a subtle wave of energy to steady her. She regained her balance, blinking in surprise as she looked around, clutching her baby bump bewildered.

"Must be our lucky day guys," she mumbled to herself with a small, amused smile, resuming her walk without a second thought. The simple relief on her face warmed something deep within me, and I stayed in the shadows, unseen yet close.

When she arrived at Flora’s Diner, I finally released the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. The diner was bustling, filled with the comforting noise of human chatter. With so many people around, I could finally let my guard down, trusting she would be safe. But as I turned to leave, Harry’s earlier words echoed in my mind. Why was I so captivated by her? What was it about her that set her apart from every girl in this town, that set my every instinct ablaze, that drew me in like a moth to flame? The mere thought of her facing danger was enough to drive me to the edge.

A frustrated growl escaped my lips as I slipped further into the cover of the trees. My mind was a mess, a tangled web of emotions and impulses I barely recognized. There was only one solution to this overwhelming distraction: feeding. The traditional way. I needed to sink my teeth into someone. Perhaps if I cleared my mind, I could regain control before I did something reckless. If not, I feared that the next conversation I had with Harry might be our last as friends.