Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 52: Unexpected Gifts

Chapter 52: Unexpected Gifts

TERESA’S P.O.V.

The last two weeks had been... quiet. Unsettlingly quiet, really. It was as if Adrian had vanished from my life entirely. I’d gone back to my usual routine—grocery runs, work, and the occasional walk in the park to clear my head. The empty spaces where Adrian usually haunted my thoughts and, well, my actual life, made me feel... odd. Which was ridiculous, right? I’d practically told him to leave me alone, to respect my boundaries. And now that he had, I was finding it all too lonely.

Then, the gifts started.

It was subtle at first, a cozy blanket, and a beautiful pair of comfortable sandals that appeared on my doorstep one night. I was sure I hadn’t ordered anything, and when I checked for a note, there was nothing—just a soft, warm blanket and shoes that looked too lovely to be forgotten Amazon Prime impulse shopping. But then the small gifts kept coming, every few days. A box of rare herbal tea, the kind I used to drink to relax before everything got complicated. Then some prenatal vitamins—the fancy kind, in one of those heavy, sophisticated glass jars. Each package was elegant, thoughtful, tailored to needs I hadn’t even shared with anyone. It was almost... comforting but mostly scary as if someone was watching me.

Of course, I worked hard wracking my brain trying to figure out who could be behind it. Maybe a kind neighbor? I had a quick mental list of potential benefactors in such a small town, but none of them fit the profile. Especially considering the packaging—it looked so... well, luxurious. Nothing like the casual favors my neighbors would’ve done. They’d offer a hot meal, maybe a hand with groceries, but this? This had intent.

A few days later, I found myself at the mall, restocking groceries and juggling bags that seemed determined to escape my grip. I was fumbling, probably looking like an accident waiting to happen. Just as I thought I had everything balanced, I saw him—Adrian. Or, maybe he saw me first. Either way, there he was, standing at the entrance of a boutique, leaning back against the counter in that infuriatingly calm way he had, as if the hustle of the world didn’t touch him.

My heart skipped a beat, an involuntary reaction I couldn’t control. I raised my hand in a casual wave, trying not to make it too obvious. But the moment his eyes met mine, something fluttered in my chest. His gaze was as intense and unreadable as ever, a piercing look that seemed to reach into me, unraveling whatever calm I was trying to maintain. He hadn’t changed. Still that same Adrian—charming, magnetic, carrying himself with an air of mystery that seemed older than the world itself, like he had all the time in the universe and knew things no one else did. There was something safe about him, something steady. But as I realized my own thoughts, I felt a little foolish. Why was I even hoping for anything?

"Adrian, hey!" I called, trying to sound casual, though I knew it came out awkward, my voice a little too high-pitched.

He gave me a small, soft smile and nodded. "Teresa. It’s good to see you."

There was warmth in his tone, but there was also a hint of distance. He maintained an almost formal space between us, his usual gentle charm present but guarded. He was there, but it felt like he was holding back, keeping up the boundary I’d once asked him to respect. I told myself it was for the best, but somewhere deep down, it stung.

"So," I began, attempting to lighten the mood, "I, uh, started noticing these little... things on my doorstep. Thoughtful things, actually—a cozy blanket, shoes, some herbal tea, prenatal vitamins. No notes, just left there in the mornings. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?"

He looked at me with a faintly amused smile, something playful sparking in his eyes. "Teresa," he said in that cool, calm way that was so typically him, "if I were leaving gifts, you’d know. I don’t go in for all that secrecy."

I blinked, feeling a little foolish again. "Oh. Right."

He was probably right, Adrian was the type to push into your space without second thought. If he was the one leaving gifts, he’d probably have banged my door early in the morning and be like, here I brought you gifts and then strolled into my living room and made himself comfy on my couch.

His expression shifted slightly, his gaze softer yet still unreadable. There was something in his look—an intensity that, for a brief second, made me forget how to breathe. He held my eyes for a beat longer than necessary, then said, "It’s good that someone’s looking out for you. They seem to know you quite well."

I didn’t know how to respond to that. There was something tender in his voice, and yet there was a coolness, as if he was deliberately holding back. For some reason, that felt like a bigger blow than if he’d simply been rude. "Yeah... I guess so."

As I watched Adrian turn and walk away, my heart gave this little, frustrated twist that I hated to admit was even there. He’d looked at me with that mysterious expression of his, that unfathomable gaze that always made me feel like he was about to say something—something important, maybe even something reassuring. But then, like he always did, he just gave that smooth, self-possessed nod, let his eyes skim over the bags I was struggling with, and excused himself, disappearing into the bustle of the mall as if it were nothing. As if I were nothing.

I stood there in the grocery aisle, the weight of my bags suddenly feeling even heavier. I’d told him to stay away—I knew that, he knew that—but I hadn’t meant for him to stop caring altogether. Before, he’d been attentive in ways I hadn’t even noticed until now. Adrian from before would’ve taken my bags without a second thought, even if they were empty. He wouldn’t have hesitated. He’d have noticed that I was a mess trying to carry everything, and he would’ve stepped in, always so calm, like helping me was the most natural thing in the world. But today, he hadn’t even offered, hadn’t even seemed to care. It hurt more than I wanted to admit.

When I finally got home, I dumped the bags onto the counter with a huff, feeling ridiculous and annoyed with myself. I had practically demanded he keep his distance, hadn’t I? So why was I suddenly so bitter about him doing exactly what I’d asked? I started unpacking the groceries, slamming cabinets shut with more force than necessary, every little noise making me wince.

"He’s just a friend," I muttered, as if saying it out loud would somehow convince me. I had no romantic feelings for Adrian, that was the truth. I was sure of it. So why was I feeling so...entitled to him? I knew I had no right to expect anything from him, but still, I was annoyed that he’d just left without a second glance, without that small act of kindness that used to be his default.

With a sigh, I leaned back against the counter, holding my growing belly. I rubbed gentle circles over the bump and whispered, "Please, don’t make your mom a moody woman who can’t even make up her own mind." My voice softened as I spoke to the little lives inside me. "I’m just... I’m tired, okay? I’m tired and I asked for this space, and yet here I am, wishing he’d just ignored what I wanted and been there anyway. Is that crazy?" My tone turned almost pleading, as if they could answer.

I drifted into my own thoughts, moving through the motions of preparing dinner without really paying attention. I couldn’t shake Adrian from my mind, the irritation and sadness settling deeper with every minute. I didn’t even notice that I’d left a pot on the stove until a sharp, acrid smell filled the kitchen, yanking me out of my thoughts. I turned to see a thin trail of smoke curling up from the pan, flames already licking the edges of it.

"Oh no—no, no, no!" I darted over, frantically reaching for the knob, but as I did, the flames surged, catching onto a nearby towel that I hadn’t realized was so close to the burner. Panic flooded my veins as the fire quickly grew, spreading faster than I could keep up. I grabbed a dish towel and tried to smother it, but the flames seemed to leap higher, defying my every effort. Smoke began to fill the air, thick and suffocating, stinging my eyes as I coughed, desperately trying to keep myself calm.

But it was spreading. The flames were everywhere now, licking up the cabinets, scorching the countertop, and filling the kitchen with a heat that felt unbearable. I was coughing harder, gasping as I backed away, trying to think, to find a way out before the fire consumed everything around me.

For a second, I wished Adrian were here—strong, calm, and always knowing what to do. But it was just me, trapped in this terrible moment, hoping I’d find the strength to save myself and the babies I was carrying.

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