1. Mysterious Lover

Alicia’s POV

My body feels hot as I grab my chest firmly and try to catch my breath. A man's silhouette appears on the balcony a few seconds later, as if on cue. His figure blocks the serene moonlight from outside.

"It’s happening again?" His mellow yet deep voice echoes through the walls of my bedroom. He sounds so familiar that his presence makes me feel at ease, despite the pain I suffer.

Nodding my head in response, I beckoned him to come close. "Did someone see you come in?" I ask, my voice coming out as a whisper. "You know I don’t want to be in a tight spot if someone sees you enter my bedroom." I groan when the pain inside my chest increases. "I already have too much to handle as it is."

His tall and toned figure closes the distance between us. I hate to admit it, but I’m glad he came on time, like always. "Do you need my help?"

I extend my hands and cup his face while heaving a deep breath. My body moves on its own as if a mysterious energy forces me to bend to its will. The next moment, I find my lips pressing against his. "Yes, please. I need you tonight," I mutter between the kisses, almost desperate.

"You don’t have to beg me, princess."

I can feel his sneer on my face before he puts me in bed. "Wait a second," I say as I reach for the button on his shirt. "Let me..."

He nods his head and allows my hands to unbutton his clothes. Three months ago, he refused to let me touch him. But after doing it several times with him, he slowly let his guard down around me.

My fingers keep shaking while I remove his shirt. I take a deep breath once I’m done, inhaling his scent. The smell of soap on his skin feels so divine, arousing my senses. Suddenly, I have the urge to kiss his chest. His broad and hard chest... I wonder how it will feel under my touch.

"You can touch it," he says as he puts my hands on his body. "You can do whatever you want with me tonight, Alicia." His blueish eyes gleam like dumortierite jewels locked in the dark depths of the ocean—deep and captivating.

My breath hitches when my fingertips touch his skin. Bolts of electricity shudder in my entirety. I swallow the lump in my throat and close my eyes, visualizing a delicious treat in front of me. The moment I move my hands on his body, I know there’s no going back.

"In exchange," he huffs at every touch. "You should allow me to do anything to you, too."

How bold is he? To demand from me, the daughter of the Alpha of Lightcrest Pack? He has guts.

I open my eyes and gaze at his face in the moonlight, "I don't know where you get the impression that you can do what you want with me just because you're letting me do what I want to you, but I'd like to give you a chance." I could stare at those stunning blue orbs he possesses for the rest of my life.

I put my hands on his shoulders and move him a little to the side so I can stand. As he observes me taking off my robe, he holds his breath. "Pleasure me," I command.

My chest pain is fading away, but it is not entirely gone. I need to get it out of here as quickly as possible. Otherwise, I'll lose everything the next morning when the Alpha catches wind of this. I can't tell anyone about my situation, even if it means sleeping with this stranger again.

"As you wish, princess."

His huge hands hold my face as he closes the gap between our lips. The kiss starts gentle and sweet until, several seconds later, his movement becomes wild.

"Ah!" I moan when his lips suck on the skin of my neck. While his hands are busy exploring my curves, his heavy breathing lulls my nerves to sleep. He knows what he’s doing when I continue moaning after that.

"I’ll be more than happy to fulfill your wish again, princess. Thank you for trusting me," are his words before he gets in between my thighs and pulls my knees up. "You should remember tonight as well, my princess."

My eyes roll back when our bodies become one. It’s one of the greatest nights yet again—when pain leaves my body and pleasures fill it in.

"Sleep tight." He plants a kiss on my forehead when we’re done.

"Good night, Alicia.

I open my eyes to the warm sunlight coming from the balcony’s open door. A smile curls on my lips. Leaving the door to the balcony open is proof that he’s been here tonight. He comes in from the balcony and leaves the door open as a reminder. A reminder that I wasn’t just dreaming last night—that he’s real.

It’s always been like that. Whenever I’m in pain and in need of help, he comes to me at midnight, under the moonlight. He’s a stranger to me, but in bed, we’re more than just familiar. Our body does the talking, and just like that, I find myself relying on him in my hard times, despite not knowing his name.

The usual knock on my door cuts off my train of thought. I didn’t bother to reply, knowing that the person knocking would enter my room, anyway.

"Miss Alicia, breakfast is ready. Everyone is waiting in the dining hall, including the guests from The Nightreapers Pack," Elliot, the pack’s Beta, informs me. His eyes land on my clothes scattered on the floor. "Is it a unique hobby of yours?" He frowns.

"Good morning to you, too, Elliot. I greet him in a low voice. Apart from being the Beta of the pack, Elliot is my childhood friend. Well, many things happened, and I don’t think we’re friends anymore. The moment my father, the Alpha, chose him as his Beta, I cut ties with Elliot. I can’t stand just being the Alpha’s daughter when I know what I'm capable of. Unfortunately, before I could even prove myself, I fell ill. An illness that locks me away from freedom.

Unable to control the lustful desires within me during the full moon, the illness forced me to submit my body to carnal desire, and I did it with the mysterious man who first witnessed my struggle. Initially, I thought it wasn’t a coincidence that a man appeared in my room at that time. However, after knowing why a stranger came to find me that night, it convinced me he wasn’t the cause of my sudden illness. After all, he came to assassinate me. How peculiar it is that he ended up in my bed instead of killing me. Since then, he has become my regular visitor at midnight every full moon, fulfilling my needs while enjoying himself.

"I will appreciate it if you get dressed right away and join the others for breakfast," Elliot says, looking away.

I bend my head down and realized I'm not wearing anything. I must have fallen asleep last night without putting on anything first. "You can go ahead. I’ll be there in a minute." I jump off the bed, pulling the sheet and wrapping it around me. "I will need some time to wash up. We have guests, right? I can’t just show up casually in front of them."

"I’ll wait for you. Just make it fast," Elliot insists.

"Oh, why? I walk towards him and poke his chest. "You’re not going against my words, are you? I want you to leave. I know where the dining hall is."

Elliot faces me with a scowl. "The Alpha ordered me to get you to the dining hall, Miss. I’ll drag you there if I have to. Don’t even think about ditching again this time. "

"Pft!" I cover my mouth, letting out a mocking laugh. "Right. You’re doing all of this because of the Alpha’s order. I wonder if the Alpha also ordered you to reject me." I press my finger on his chest. "Nevertheless, stop bossing me around and just leave."

Elliot clenches his jaw. His strong hands grab me by the shoulder and pin me to the wall. "Don’t act like a brat now, Alicia. How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not interested in you as a mate, as you aren't the one I love? You should just accept it and get on with your life.

"Move on?" I felt my heart clenching. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Elliot." I push him away from me. I'm finished with you. You don't even have to reject me in the first place." I smirk as his face darkens.

"What exactly do you mean?"

"I don't hate you for rejecting me because I'm head over heels for you; I hate you because you beat me to it," I scoff, tilting my head to the side. "It should be me rejecting you, Elliot. It shouldn’t be the other way around. And I hate you for that," I state, flipping my hair before turning my back to him and heading to the bathroom.

"You’re lying," Elliot mutters from behind me. "You’re not a good liar, Alicia."

I halt and burst into laughter, hiding my true feelings to save my face. I’m trying not to tear up in front of him, but he’s so heartless to point out my weakness. "You’re not good at keeping promises, either. Don’t dream I’m coming back to you, Elliot."

That’s right. I’m no longer the same as before. I'm not going to beg for someone's love and attention. I'm done playing a pathetic fool.

"I never loved you, Elliot. Never.