BloodMoon: Captivated by the Forbidden Lycan Alpha
Chapter 144: JAW DROPPING MOMENT

Chapter 144: JAW DROPPING MOMENT

{"I saw that you were perfect, and so I loved you."}

"Where is Frery Kayne now?"

I turned my head slightly, expecting to be the one to answer. But before I could, Nessa’s voice filled the space, instead calm, sure, and effortlessly composed.

"He’s meditating," she said, folding her arms across her chest. "In the Kayne land garden sanctuary."

Byron blinked, not expecting that response and the rest of the council members. Desmond, of course, was the first to recover, a slow smirk creeping across his face. "Meditating," he repeated, as if tasting the word on his tongue, finding it amusing. "That’s an interesting choice for a man who just threw down a challenge to Lord Marcel."

I studied Nessa’s expression steady, unbothered. "He’s not waiting for an answer," she continued, voice unwavering. "He’s preparing for one."

The weight of her words settled over the chamber, undeniable, and I couldn’t help the small smirk that tugged at the corner of my lips. Of course, Frery was in Hanka Island, and we were buying him time and making the coven council unsettled.

I met Desmond’s gaze one last time, searching for something in those sharp, calculating eyes. A warning, a challenge, maybe even the slightest flicker of approval. But, as always, Desmond was unreadable. I had said what needed to be said, and now, it was time to go.

I turned to Nessa, who gave me the smallest nod just enough. Then, together, we stepped back from the council hall center, away from their scrutiny and their expectations.

Nessa’s voice was smooth but firm as she spoke. "That will be all for tonight."

No one moved to stop us, and Aggrey and Armon, our fathers, the only two in this entire chamber who had looked pleased with our announcement, watched us go with knowing smiles. Byron kept his expression blank, though I could see the tension in his shoulders, while Desmond simply smirked, leaning back as if this whole thing had been nothing more than an evening’s entertainment.

We had given them plenty to discuss, and without another word, we turned and strode toward the grand double doors of the council hall. The heavy wood groaned slightly as the guards pulled them open, revealing the dark, sprawling city beyond. As we stepped through, I kept my chin high, my stride measured. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of looking back.

The night air met us like a whisper of freedom, cool against my skin. The tension in the council chamber didn’t fade completely, but with every step away from that room, I felt lighter.

Nessa walked beside me, silent for a moment. "That went well," she said, her tone deceptively casual.

I huffed a laugh, shaking my head. "Did it?"

"Well, no one tried to kill us, so I’d call it a success, and we managed to buy Frery some time."

Our steps led us deeper into the city, toward the grand estate that was Nessa’s coven home. The streets were quiet at this hour, the flickering lanterns casting long shadows across the cobblestone paths. For the first time tonight, I allowed myself a break, one not laced with calculation or restraint.

Nessa glanced at me, golden eyes gleaming in the dim light. "You did well in there," she murmured.

A warmth spread through me at her words, but I merely smirked. "So did you."

Her fingers brushed against mine. Light, fleeting. A reminder. A promise and as we walked through the city, away from the weight of the council hall, I realized that I finally had started to live my life, away from the control and now I was enjoying the taste of freedom.

Nessa’s home stood before us, tall and elegant, its towering windows glowing softly against the night. It was a place I had visited before, too many times to count, but tonight, something about it felt different.

Maybe it was the way the city lights reflected off the dark stone. Maybe it was the way Nessa’s presence beside me felt heavier now, charged with something unspoken. Or maybe just maybe it was the fact that for the first time in a very, very long time...I felt shy. The realization struck me like a well-aimed dagger to the ribs, sharp and unexpected.

I, Aurora Jade, who had stared down council members without flinching, who had faced threats and betrayals and impossible choices with steady hands, was hesitating at a damn doorstep. Nessa didn’t seem to notice at first. She moved forward with her usual ease, pushing open the grand doors as if the entire night hadn’t just shifted something between us. The entrance hall was warm, bathed in the soft glow of lantern light, the scent of aged wood and something faintly floral lingering in the air.

She turned back to me, her golden eyes bright, expectant. "Come in," she said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

And it was. So why did my feet feel heavier than they should? I swallowed, forcing myself to step inside, to move past whatever this strange, unfamiliar feeling was. Nessa shut the door behind me, the soft click echoing through the quiet space.

"You okay?" she asked, amusement laced in her voice.

I scoffed immediately. "Of course." Too fast. Too defensive.

Her gaze flickered over me, sharp and knowing, and that damn smirk of hers started to form.

"You’re shy," she said, as if she had just uncovered some grand secret.

I huffed, crossing my arms. "I am not shy."

Nessa stepped closer, her presence wrapping around me like a quiet storm. "Oh, you are."

I lifted my chin, trying desperately to reclaim my usual sharpness, my effortless confidence. "I have nothing to be shy about."

"Really?" She tilted her head, studying me in that infuriatingly patient way. "Then why haven’t you moved from that exact spot since you walked in?"

Damn it. She had a point. I forced myself to shift, to do something other than stand there like an idiot. But the moment I did, she laughed, a real, soft, delighted laugh.

And just like that, the tightness in my chest eased.

I sighed, rolling my eyes dramatically. "Fine. Maybe I’m a little shy."

Nessa grinned. "I like it."

I groaned. "Of course you do."

She just laughed again, stepping past me toward the grand staircase. "Come on, shy one," she teased, throwing a glance over her shoulder. "Let’s go upstairs and take a shower."

The warm water ran over my skin, washing away the weight of the council meeting, the heavy gazes, the whispered consequences that were sure to follow. But no matter how much I focused on the feeling of the heat soaking into my muscles, my thoughts drifted elsewhere.

To Nessa and the fact that she had simply given me space. I had expected something else when we arrived at her home: playful teasing, another round of that insufferable knowing smirk, maybe even the casual closeness that had always been between us, but now felt like something more.

Instead, she had walked me to her room, pointed to the adjoining bath, and said, "Take your time, I’ll be downstairs."

Just like that, she left. No hovering, no pressing, no watching me with that amused glint in her eyes like she could see every thought racing through my head.

I had never wanted her more, and that realization sent a shiver down my spine, one that had nothing to do with the water. I exhaled slowly, pressing my palms against the cool tile. Life mates. That word had always seemed so distant, something tied to fate and destiny and things I never let myself believe in too much. But now, it was real.

And it made me feel, by the blood, it made me feel needy. I clenched my jaw at the thought, shaking my head as if I could somehow banish the feeling. I wasn’t the needy one. I wasn’t the one who hesitated, who second-guessed, who wanted so openly.

I shut off the water, grabbing a towel as I listened. Nessa was still downstairs. The soft creak of cabinets opening. The faint clicks and clank of glasses being moved. A bottle being uncorked. I wrapped the towel around myself, gripping the edges a little tighter than necessary. This was ridiculous. I had faced enemies in battle and stood before the most powerful members of the coven without blinking, yet the idea of walking downstairs and seeing her again after the weight of our admission tonight.

I took a deep breath, then another. And before I could think about it too much, I turned the handle and stepped out into the cool air of her room and walked downstairs to face her. I took my time descending the stairs. Not because I needed to; I could’ve moved with my usual confidence, that effortless stride I always carried. But something inside me wanted to slow down, to draw out this moment, to see if she would notice.

The second I stepped into view, towel wrapped securely around me, damp strands of hair falling over my shoulders, I watched as Nessa, unshakable, always-composed Nessa, froze. Her golden eyes widened slightly; the glass she was holding hovered in mid-air as if she had completely forgotten what she was doing. And then. her jaw dropped.

I almost laughed and instead, I leaned against the railing, tilting my head slightly, pretending like I hadn’t just caught her staring. "You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

Her mouth opened, then closed. Opened again and no teasing remark, no quick-witted comeback, no smug grin. Just stunned, silent Nessa. I stepped off the last stair, walking toward her, and she still hadn’t moved. The light above flickered against her skin, casting a soft glow over her sharp features. She blinked, once, then again, as if she were trying to make sure I was real.

"You—" Her voice came out slightly hoarse, and she cleared her throat, setting the glass down with a soft clink before trying again. "You... took your time."

I smirked. "Did I?"

She exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair as if that would somehow help her recover. "You know what you’re doing."

I did, ofcourse.