Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 262: Falling

Chapter 262: Falling

Nova’s POV

The warmth of Eldur’s shoulder had started to lull me into a comfortable sort of silence. The park was completely empty save for the rustling leaves and the distant sound of a car speeding through the night. I didn’t want to move. Didn’t want to leave the safety of his presence, the bizarre comfort of his weird stories, or the soft way his fingers now rested over mine.

But eventually, Eldur shifted slightly, just enough to say, "It’s getting too late. We should head back."

I looked up at the sky. The moon had risen high, turning the world silver. I blinked a little in surprise. "Crap. Yeah, you’re right. I didn’t realize how long we’d been out here."

He stood and offered me his hand, and for reasons I didn’t fully understand, I took it.

We walked down the dim path out of the park together, hands brushing every now and then. A quiet part of me wished he’d just take my hand again.

Once we reached the curb, Eldur glanced around and frowned slightly. "No taxis," he muttered.

I followed his gaze. The road was quiet. Too quiet. "I guess we missed the last of them. Should we call an Uber?"

Eldur gave me a look like I’d just asked if unicorns delivered groceries. "I don’t do apps."

I blinked. "What do you mean you don’t do apps?"

"I mean, I don’t trust tiny internet squares to decide my fate."

I stared at him, then burst out laughing. "That is the most you thing you’ve ever said."

He grinned. "Thank you."

"That wasn’t a compliment."

"I know."

I shook my head, smiling in spite of myself. "Okay, so what now? Are we just stranded in the city like two idiots?"

Eldur’s eyes twinkled under the moonlight. "We walk."

I froze. "Walk? Home?"

He nodded cheerfully. "Come on, it’ll be fun. It’s not that far."

"You say that like we live across the street. Eldur, it’s at least a forty-minute walk!"

"Exactly." He offered his arm like a dramatic Victorian gentleman. "Plenty of time for more stories."

"Oh god," I groaned, taking his arm anyway. "This is how I die. Death by fairy tales."

As we began walking through the sleepy city streets, I found myself oddly content. Eldur’s presence had that effect on me—a strange gravity that made me forget to be afraid of the dark.

"So," I said, breaking the comfortable silence. "Got any more bedtime stories, Mr. No-Apps?"

He raised a brow. "Ever heard of the boy who could steal people’s dreams just by touching their pillow?"

"What? No. That sounds kind of creepy."

"He wasn’t trying to be," Eldur said. "He just wanted to see what made people happy. He thought maybe if he knew, he could learn to feel it, too."

I glanced at him sideways. "That’s actually... weirdly sad."

He shrugged, the corner of his mouth twitching up. "He got better. Eventually realized it was okay not to understand everything right away."

There was something in the way he said it. Like the story wasn’t really about the boy at all.

I didn’t push.

We kept walking. The streets blurred into each other, lamp-lit and hushed, and my feet began to ache in my boots. I didn’t complain at first—I didn’t want to ruin the moment. But eventually, I slowed down without meaning to.

"You alright?" Eldur asked, turning slightly.

"Yeah," I lied, even as I massaged my ankle. "Just... maybe we should’ve waited for an Uber."

He raised an eyebrow. "Or maybe you should accept defeat."

Before I could retort, he turned around, crouched a little, and said, "Hop on."

My mouth dropped. "Excuse me?"

"I said, hop on. Piggyback time. Your royal highness looks tired."

"I—no. I can’t—no way."

He looked over his shoulder, silver eyes dancing. "Scared I’ll drop you?"

I squinted at him. "No. I’m scared I’ll fall in love."

He froze.

I froze.

Oh no. Did I say that out loud?

But before I could backtrack, Eldur let out a low laugh. "Well. That’s a risk I’m willing to take."

I stared at him. "You’re weird."

"Still waiting," he said, wiggling his shoulders like a child.

With a groan and a face as red as a tomato, I climbed onto his back. He caught my thighs like it was nothing, standing up straight and carrying me like I weighed less than a feather.

"This is so embarrassing," I mumbled, hiding my face in the crook of his neck.

"I think it’s adorable," he said simply. "You smell like lavender and spite."

"Oh my god, please let me go."

"Not a chance."

He carried me the rest of the way, telling me more strange stories—this time about a girl who could turn music into color, and a man who stored all his memories in glass bottles so he’d never feel grief again.

When we finally reached my apartment building, the street was completely silent, save for the hum of a distant generator. Eldur let me down gently, hands lingering just a second longer than necessary.

I exhaled deeply, wobbling slightly from my legs waking up. "Thanks for the lift, noble steed."

"Anytime, my lady," he said with an exaggerated bow.

I smiled and turned toward the door, rummaging through my bag.

And then I froze.

"No," I muttered, rifling through everything—my purse, my pockets, my soul, probably. "No, no, no. Where the hell—?"

Eldur leaned in. "Problem?"

I looked at him, stricken. "I don’t have my keys."

He blinked. "You’re joking."

"Ugh, I wish I was kidding. I must’ve dropped them somewhere—damn it! And of course, I don’t have a spare. Guess I’m stuck waiting for Lara to drag herself back with hers."

"Can you call her?"

I already had my phone in hand, dialing. It rang once. Twice. Straight to voicemail.

"She’s still at the bar," I groaned. "And probably too drunk to hear her phone."

Eldur crossed his arms. "So you’re locked out. In the middle of the night. With sore feet. And an empty hot cocoa packet."

I slumped against the wall. "I’m officially a disaster."

There was a pause.

Then Eldur said, very calmly, "Come stay at mine."

I snapped my head up so fast I nearly dislocated something. "What?"

"You heard me."

"No, I mean—I heard you, but—Eldur, we’ve known each other for, like, a few months. You want me to just... crash at your place?"

He shrugged, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Do you have a better idea? Because unless you plan on sleeping on this step, I’m your best option."

"I—You—"

He tilted his head. "Look, I’ll sleep on the couch if it makes you feel better. Or outside. I’m not trying anything weird. I just don’t want you out here all night. Besides..."

He looked at me then, and there was something in his gaze—something soft. Something almost... vulnerable.

"...I like having you close."

That shut me up.

I swallowed hard, torn between a dozen feelings I couldn’t name. But mostly? I was just tired. My feet hurt, the night air was getting cold, and the guy offering me shelter had literally carried me on his back without complaint.

"I get the bed," I said finally.

Eldur grinned. "Obviously. I’ll even throw in another packet of imaginary hot cocoa."

I rolled my eyes, but I was smiling. "You’re ridiculous."

"You’re welcome."

And with that, I followed him into the night, trying to ignore the tiny voice in my head whispering that maybe, just maybe...

I was falling for him.