Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 75: Cryptic Confession

Chapter 75: Cryptic Confession

TERESA’S P.O.V.

It was late—well, a little past eleven—and the house was finally quiet, the kind that wrapped around you and made every small sound seem louder than it should. The twins were fast asleep, their soft, rhythmic breathing filling the room with a comforting melody. I had just slipped under the covers, exhaustion tugging at my eyelids. My thin nightgown barely shielded me from the cold, but I didn’t care. The day had been long, and all I wanted was to drift into oblivion.

Lucian had said his goodnights at the door hours earlier. I had naively thought that would be the end of his interruptions for the day.

Then came the knock.

At first, I thought I’d imagined it—a figment of a tired mind desperate for rest. But the sound came again, soft yet insistent.

I groaned, pressing the heels of my hands to my eyes before pushing myself up. "What now?" I muttered, the irritation evident in my voice even though no one could hear it. Dragging my feet across the cold floor, I approached the door, fully prepared to give whoever it was a piece of my mind.

When I opened the door, there he was.

Lucian Blackwood.

He leaned against the doorframe, exuding a maddening air of confidence, his green eyes glinting with amusement. He looked as if he belonged there, as if my threshold were his throne. The sight of him only fueled my annoyance.

"Lucian," I said, my tone clipped, crossing my arms to ward off the chill. "It’s late. I was about to go to bed. What could you possibly want at this hour?"

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his eyes roamed over me, blatantly taking in every detail. From my bare feet to the thin fabric of my nightgown, to my bare cleavage, he missed nothing. The intensity of his gaze made heat creep up my neck, and I folded my arms tighter over my chest.

"Lucian," I snapped, snapping my fingers in front of his face. "Eyes up here. Are you going to say something, or should I just shut the door and pretend this didn’t happen?"

The corner of his mouth twitched into that infuriating smirk of his. "Tess," he drawled, his voice smooth and maddeningly amused. "If I’d known this was your bedtime wardrobe, I’d have found excuses to visit earlier."

I groaned audibly, spinning on my heel and walking back into the room. "If you’re here to flirt, save it. I’m too tired for this nonsense. Either say what you need to say or leave."

He chuckled softly, closing the door behind him with a deliberate click. "What? No warm welcome for the father of your children?"

I shot him a glare over my shoulder. "Lucian, I’m not in the mood for your games. Either get to the point or get out."

Raising his hands in mock surrender, he relented, his playful smirk fading. "Fine, fine, no flirting. Not tonight, anyway." His expression shifted, the air between us growing heavier. That was the thing about Lucian—he could flip a switch so quickly, leaving you struggling to catch up.

"I need to talk to you," he said, his voice lower now, steady but edged with tension. He gestured toward the bed. "Let’s sit."

Reluctantly, I perched on the edge of the bed, pulling my robe tighter around me to keep off his intrusive gaze. He settled beside me, his broad shoulders making the space feel too small, his presence overwhelming.

"Well?" I pressed, raising an eyebrow. "I don’t have all night. What is this about?"

He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck—a rare tell that he was genuinely concerned. "Things are going to get intense," he began, his voice measured. "Adrian Daegon is a big problem, and I can’t take any chances. Starting now, security will be tighter. You’ll notice men stationed around the estate, even at your door. Don’t let it bother you—it’s for your protection."

I blinked, his words sinking in like cold water. "Lucian, are you saying we’re in danger here? Do you really think Adrian would dare breach your estate?"

Lucian’s jaw tightened, his eyes meeting mine with unwavering intensity. "He won’t. I won’t let him. That’s why I need you to listen to me, Tess. Stick with Juliette. Don’t go anywhere alone. Don’t even think about leaving the estate without telling me first."

There was something in his eyes, something I couldn’t quite place. It wasn’t fear—it was darker, heavier. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

"Lucian..." I started, but my voice faltered.

"I’m serious, Teresa," he cut in, his tone firm. "Promise me. You and the twins are my priority. I can’t lose you. Not again. Not ever."

The vulnerability in his words was a rare glimpse of the man beneath the arrogance. For the first time that night, I saw Lucian not as the infuriatingly smug man who loved to push my buttons, but as someone who would do anything to protect what mattered most to him.

And that terrified me more than any threat Adrian could pose.

"Lucian," I said slowly, my voice carefully measured, "are you sure you can handle him? Adrian isn’t... human. You might be rich and powerful, but he’s—"

"Dangerous?" Lucian interrupted, his lips curling into a small, humorless smile. The glint in his eyes sent a shiver down my spine. "I know."

"No," I said, shaking my head, my voice rising slightly. "He’s not just dangerous, Lucian. He’s terrifying. He’s a vampire! The kind we see in books and movies—he could drain someone’s blood with a snap of his sharp fangs! I’ve seen him do it." My words trembled, the memory vivid and horrifying. "How are you supposed to protect us from someone like that when you’re just... a helpless human? Vampires drink humans like juice!"

Lucian chuckled slightly before his expression turned serious again, his gaze piercing, sharp enough to cut through my resolve. His eyes locked onto mine, the intensity of his stare making my breath hitch. "Teresa," he said softly, his tone so quiet it was almost a whisper, "you don’t need to worry about that."

He stood, his movements unhurried but deliberate, and crossed the room to where the twins lay sleeping. His entire demeanor shifted, the sharp edges of his arrogance softening into something tender. His fingers brushed lightly against the edge of their blankets, his touch so gentle it was almost reverent.

"They’re so perfect," he murmured, his voice filled with an emotion I couldn’t name. He smiled then—not the infuriating smirk I was used to, but a rare, genuine smile that sent an ache straight to my chest. For a moment, I forgot all the reasons I should keep my walls up.

"Just like their mother," he added, his words so soft they barely reached me.

I stared at him, caught between wanting to yell at him for dismissing my concerns and wanting to sink into the warmth of that fleeting smile. Then, just as suddenly, he turned to leave.

But at the door, he paused, glancing over his shoulder with a look that was both casual and calculated. "Teresa?" he said, his tone almost teasing, "What if I tell you that I’m not just a helpless human?"

His words struck me like a physical blow. My mouth opened, but no words came out. I sat there, stunned, the implications of his words swirling in my mind.

"What’s that supposed to mean? The last time someone said something like that to me, it turned out to be true. I’m not in the mood for your jokes, Lucian." I finally demanded, standing abruptly as he reached for the doorknob.

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he threw me a wink, his smirk making an unwelcome return. He blew me a kiss, his playful demeanor back in full force. "We’ll talk about it later, Teresa. Sweet dreams."

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me standing in the middle of the room.

Talk about what?

I stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the closed door. My mind raced, trying to piece together his cryptic words, but nothing made sense.

What did he mean? And why did I suddenly feel like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for the ground to give way beneath me?

Or maybe I was simply overthinking again. Not everyone was Adrian.

One thing was certain though—Lucian Blackwood was not a man easily understood. And tonight, he had left me with far more questions than answers.