Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 58: Mine To Love

You know, I’ve lived a few centuries, watched empires rise and fall, and seen things that would make the average mortal lose sleep for months. But there I was, grinning like a fool, walking alongside Teresa and her newborns as we strolled out of the hospital. It was almost surreal – the congratulatory smiles from everyone we passed, nods of admiration, people stopping to coo over the babies. I swear, if I could blush, I’d be positively pink.

"Look at you," I murmured, leaning close to Teresa. "Our little princess and prince, finally out of their castle."

She gave me a soft, somewhat shy smile, glancing down at the babies cradled in her arms. "I can’t believe they’re finally here," she said quietly, her voice like a soft hum in my ear. I found myself melting right then and there. Who knew a vampire could feel like he’d just won the lottery of eternity?

Yet something gnawed at me, an uneasy, persistent prickling beneath my skin, like a pebble lodged in the sole of my shoe. From the moment Teresa awoke this morning, a tension had lingered between us—subtle yet unmistakable, growing sharper with each passing glance, every heartbeat quickened in my presence. I’d been sitting by her hospital bed, watching her stir as consciousness slowly crept over her. Her lashes fluttered, her gaze swept around the room, and then... she’d shut her eyes, feigning sleep. I knew the difference; I’ve spent years studying humans, observing their every nuance and quirk. I could tell when someone was pretending, trying to hide beneath the fragile veil of closed eyes. But why? Why would Teresa, of all people, feel the need to mask herself from me?

Every time I spoke, I could hear her heart—a rapid, uncoordinated beats that betrayed her unease, spiking sharply as if recoiling from each word. It was more than simple fatigue or post-birth disorientation; there was fear there, a tremor in her pulse that sent a faint chill through my core.

The real worry came, though, when I held one of the babies. I’d lifted the tiny bundle with a sense of respect and pride, feeling the softness of new life against me, a warmth I’d almost forgotten. But the instant I cradled the child in my arms, Teresa’s heart seemed to thunder, the rhythm wild and erratic, as if it were fighting to break free from her chest. Her eyes never left my hands, her gaze flickering between me and the baby with an intensity that bordered on panic.

Gently, sensing the distress radiating from her, I’d placed the baby back into her arms. "Teresa," I murmured, keeping my voice soft, laced with the warmth I hoped would soothe her. "Do you remember much from that night?"

I watched her carefully, searching her expression for any hint of what she might be hiding. But her face was a mask, a strained calm held together by threads of apprehension. I could feel the tension between us, thick and unyielding, a barrier I couldn’t quite penetrate.

She looked at me, blinking in confusion. "I... I don’t remember anything," she admitted. "It’s all a blur."

I narrowed my eyes slightly, trying to read her. "Nothing at all?"

She shook her head, looking genuinely confused, and strangely enough, her heartbeat was steady as she asked, "Why? Did... something happen?"

I let it go, although the thought lingered at the back of my mind. Had she truly forgotten seeing me... feed? Was this just new-mother nerves? Either way, I decided to keep my focus where it mattered. Teresa and her babies were my joy now, and I had every intention of keeping them safe – no matter what.

*********

Back at the estate, I went above and beyond for her. Some might say I was being excessive, but I knew Teresa needed rest. So, she wasn’t lifting a finger.

"Adrian," she laughed as I brought in her breakfast. "You’re spoiling me."

"And what’s wrong with that?" I replied, giving her my best mischievous smile. "A little pampering never hurt anyone."

"Oh, I see," she smirked, tilting her head. "So, you’re planning to keep me completely useless?"

"Completely," I chuckled, setting the tray down. "And you know, I’d do this every morning for eternity if I must."

Her heart skipped a beat again and she blushed, and I couldn’t help but notice how she clung to her babies, almost like she didn’t want to let them out of her sight. Not even with me.

At one point, I tried to convince her to let me hold one while she took a well-deserved nap, but she shook her head, holding them tighter. "I... I’d rather keep them close."

"Teresa," I said gently, "I promise, I’d guard them with my life."

"It’s not that..." She hesitated, then gave me an apologetic smile. "I’m just... not ready to be apart from them. Not yet."

I nodded, trying to ignore the slight pang that tugged at me. It was understandable; she was their mother, after all. But deep down, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to it.

********

Later that evening, a soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I glanced up, already knowing who it would be—Harry’s timing was never coincidental. His presence was always deliberate, especially when he came bearing news I might not want to hear.

"Harry," I greeted, motioning him inside. He stepped in, his dark eyes steady as he assessed me, his usual nonchalance replaced by a weight that hinted at troubling updates. "What news do you bring?" I asked, already bracing myself.

He crossed his arms, leaning slightly against the doorframe, his expression unreadable but serious. "Sightings," he said with a grim set to his mouth. "Werewolves. They’re pushing closer, hovering right at the valley’s borders."

A chill traced its way down my spine. I turned away, glancing over my shoulder to ensure Teresa was nowhere in sight. Her presence had complicated everything, but no part of me regretted bringing her and the babies here. Not for a second.

"Persistent, aren’t they?" I muttered under my breath, trying to keep my tone casual. But Harry’s next words carried a dark undertone that shattered my attempts at composure.

"And it’s not just the werewolves," he continued, his voice barely above a whisper, like he was sharing a forbidden truth. "Carlos and Brian have reported... unrest among the coven. Teresa and the children’s presence—it’s stirring things up, especially with the newborns."

I clenched my jaw, feeling the tension creep up my back. Newborn vampires, still raw in their bloodlust, always hovered on the edge of control. The scent of Teresa’s babies, so innocently human and achingly pure, must have been torturous for them, amplifying their hunger in a way no one could fully manage. And Teresa herself carried that distinct, unsettling werewolf scent—a blend of forest, earth, and something primal. It baffled us all, lingering in the air, an invisible barrier that kept most of the coven from approaching her directly. But even that wouldn’t keep them away forever.

"Tell them to stay away," I said, my voice sharpening into a warning. "No one gets close to Teresa or her children. I don’t care how strong the scent is—control it."

Harry ran a hand through his hair, a rare display of frustration from someone usually so unflappable. "I’ve tried," he admitted. "But it’s not just the scent. It’s the allure, the vulnerability of them. Even the older vampires feel it—they’re losing restraint. If we don’t find a stronger shield, it’s only a matter of time."

I forced myself to remain calm, letting my mind race through options until a solution surfaced. "Fetch Elizabeth," I commanded. "We need her to renew the protective cloak around the valley and around Teresa and her babies. We can’t afford any intrusions—any unwanted guests slipping in. That includes the... the one who fathered Teresa’s children."

Just saying the words left a bitter taste in my mouth. The thought of that someone—unknown, unseen, lurking somewhere out there with a possible claim on Teresa and her babies—made something primal stir within me. My fangs throbbed with a barely controlled anger that rose like a wave. They were mine to protect, mine to love. No one was going to touch them.

"Oh, and Harry," I said, turning back to him with a steely gaze, "I want you on guard duty. Assemble the most loyal among us. I want eyes on Teresa at all times, day and night."

He raised an eyebrow, something between a sigh and a look of exasperation playing on his face. "You really have gone soft, haven’t you?" he remarked, a light tease woven into the gravity of our situation.

I rolled my eyes, letting a faint smirk tug at my lips. "Not in the slightest. And if word gets out that the ’scary old vampire’ has gone soft," I warned, my voice laced with mock menace, "I’ll kill you myself."

Harry chuckled, his eyes glinting with familiar mischief. "Too late for that. Half the coven already thinks you’ve become a sentimental fool."

A quiet laugh escaped me, but the moment was fleeting. My gaze drifted back toward the hallway where Teresa and the children rested, the weight of my responsibility pressing down on me like an unbreakable vow. Whatever it took, I’d protect them, even if it meant tearing down every barrier I’d built around my heart, even if it meant defying everything I used to be. They were my new purpose, my reason to stand against the darkness that threatened us all.