NOVEL WEB Chapter 12: Chapter 11: The Unspoken Tension
As they walked through the hotel's corridors, Alexander kept his gaze subtly fixed on Luna. He couldn't help but glance over her now and then, ensuring she was truly okay. She was in his oversized t-shirt, the fabric swamping her frame, while a soft, thin blanket draped over her shoulder—his insistence. The blanket was a small and thin , it was the only he could find in the hotel room rest were heavy and big comforters . Despite its simplicity, it added a sense of warmth and coziness to her appearance.
Luna, noticing his lingering glances, felt a mix of amusement and reassurance. The outfit was ridiculous, but somehow, in that moment, she felt safe.
As they reached the breakfast area, the atmosphere shifted. The staff stiffened, and a murmur rippled through the guests. Luna could sense the whispers—talk of last night's commotion hung heavy in the air.
But then, as her eyes adjusted to the room, she noticed how people were staring at her. It was a blend of admiration and curiosity, as if she were an art piece set against the backdrop of mundane life. Even amidst the chaos, her beauty was undeniable, captivating the room. Alexander walked beside her like an unusual knight, his rugged features contrasting sharply with her ethereal glow, and together they drew more than a few whispered comparisons.
"Look at them," Luna murmured, half to herself. "They think we're some sort of power couple."
"Or a circus act, Ridiculous " Alex replied dryly, a hint of a smile playing at his lips.
The server guided them to a corner table at VIP corner , away from prying eyes but still in the center of attention. As they settled into their seats, the server took their orders. Alex glanced at the menu before confidently stating, "I'll have the steak and eggs, please. And a side of bacon."
The server turned to Luna, but before she could open her mouth, Alex interjected, his voice firm yet playful. "And for my wife , make it bacon with scrambled eggs . And coffee with more milk , less coffee " .
The waiter nodded and left but the word hung my wife in the air, causing Luna to dart her eyes toward him, surprise etched on her features. Then a chuckle escaped her lips, realization dawning that he'd caught her little lie.
His grey eyes fixed on her ocean blues as he brought his hands closer , raising an eyebrow. "So, when did we get married, and why was I such a terrible husband that I left you alone in the cold?"
"Ah, well," Luna began, adopting a serious tone. "You see, I come from a poor family. We fell in love and decided to marry against all odds. But your mother didn't approve, and she used to throw all sorts of rude remarks at me."
Alexander's brow furrowed, intrigued. "Go on..."
"And then," she continued, her expression turning mock serious, "I crashed your favorite car into a tree."
His jaw dropped. "You crashed my car?"
"Yes!" she laughed. "And I also misplaced your mother's jewelry. So, she called me careless and irresponsible, which put you in a tough spot. You were caught between your love for me and your mother's disapproval, so we had this huge fight, and you stormed out of the house and was living in hotel , so i was waiting for you to come back home !"
"Luna," he said, incredulous, "losing jewelry and crashing my favorite car is reckless and irresponsible!"
They both erupted into laughter, the sound light and infectious.Alexander looked at her, captivated by the way her laughter danced through the air, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he murmured "It's beautiful " softly, barely audible for anyone .
"You should smile more often; it suits you better,"Luna shot back, her tone teasing but sincere, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She meant it, and somehow, he felt it too yet he didn't respond. A calm, warm silence settled between them, but it didn't last long. The waiter returned, bringing their food, and Luna's eyes lit up at the sight.
"I can't believe how hungry I am!" she exclaimed, her excitement palpable. "I've never felt like this before. Do mortals really eat this much?"
"Welcome to the group," Alexander replied, amusement twinkling in his eyes. "You've got a lot to catch up on."
As she dug into her meal, her enthusiasm was contagious. "Oh my gods, this is amazing!" she declared, practically bouncing in her seat. "Why did I ever think I wouldn't like food?"
"Because you were a goddess," he reminded her, leaning back as he watched her relish every bite. "You didn't need to eat, remember?"
"True," she said, a sly smile creeping across her face. "But I also didn't get to experience the joy of bacon and scrambled eggs . Oh, how I wish I had known!"
"Seems like you're making up for lost time," he teased, shaking his head. "Just don't crash my car while you're at it."
"I make no promises!" Luna replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Alex stood up, sliding his phone from his pocket with a small glance toward Luna. She had barely noticed him moving, too engrossed in her feast. As he took a few steps away from their table, she glanced up, a brief flicker of curiosity crossing her face. But she quickly dismissed it, assuming it had something to do with pack matters. Her attention drifted back to her meal, but her eyes kept stealing glances at him. Alex was speaking quietly into the phone, his back turned to her, but amidst the noisy clatter of plates and murmuring guests, she couldn't hear a thing.
On the other side of the room, Alex's heart raced as he dialed a unknown number. He didn't have Lucifer's number, so he called Davina instead. The weight of what he was about to do, the conversation he had to have, pressed down on him. The nervousness felt foreign—he wasn't usually like this. His chest tightened, breath catching in his throat.
And then the familiar voice broke through the silence.
"Hello?" Davina's voice was just as he remembered, warm, sincere, and full of that genuine care she always held for him. He swallowed, words momentarily stuck in his throat. She repeated herself, "Hello?"
Finally, he forced the words out. "Hello, it's me."
"Alex?" Her surprise was gentle, followed by a light laugh. "How have you been? It's been so long. You came to our wedding, but left without even meeting us..."
Before he could answer, another voice chimed in, one that made Alex's smile turn bitter. "Who is it, honey?" It was Lucifer.
Alex felt a strange pang in his chest, not of jealousy, but of regret. Regret for how things had ended, for the paths their lives had taken. He wasn't in love with Davina anymore—he had moved on from those feelings long ago—but there was still a part of him that couldn't forget how happy she once made him feel and then the mistakes he had made, the guilt he carried for how he'd let her down.
"Alex?" she asked again, sensing his silence.
"Is that Lucifer ?" he asked, his voice steady. She hummed in response, and Alex continued, "Can you give him the phone? I called to speak to him."
There was a pause before Davina passed the phone to Lucifer, her curiosity lingering.
"Hey, Alex," Lucifer's voice was calm but carried that same curiosity, clearly not expecting to hear from him.
"Hi," Alex replied, keeping it short.
"So... you want to talk to me?" Lucifer asked, and there was an edge of disbelief in his tone. The two of them hadn't exactly been close, and the idea of Alex calling him out of the blue seemed strange.
Alex took a deep breath. "Luna—" But before he could finish, Lucifer's voice cut through the line.
"Luna? Is she with you? Is she okay?" There was a note of concern in Lucifer's voice, a hint that he knew more than he was letting on.
Alex paused, a little caught off guard by the reaction. "Yes," he finally replied, hearing a sigh of relief from Lucifer on the other end. "She's... she's not the same Luna you know anymore."
Lucifer's voice turned sharp, filled with confusion. "What do you mean?"
"She wants to meet you," Alex said, sidestepping the explanation. A silence stretched between them for a few seconds before the muffled sounds of voices came from Lucifer's side, as if he was telling Davina what Alex had just said.
Then Lucifer's voice came back, more composed. "Can you bring her here? I need to talk to her too. There's something important."
Alex hesitated but eventually agreed. "I'll bring her to you." But before he could end the call, Davina's voice rang out in the background. "Alex! You should come along too!" she called, her words brimming with warmth.
Pretending not to hear her, Alex simply said, "I'll bring her to you then," ignoring the personal invitation.
"Be careful on the way," Lucifer added, his voice carrying a weight that made Alex wonder just how much more there was to the situation.
The call ended, and Alex slipped his phone back into his pocket. His gaze found Luna across the room, still finishing her breakfast. She looked peaceful, content—but that only made the worry gnaw at him more fiercely. Whatever this was, it was deeper than he could've imagined. His gut churned with unease, and then, for the first time in months, his wolf stirred.
A voice whispered in his mind, low and warning. "Don't get involved. Just do what you promised and part ways."
Alex's breath hitched. His wolf had been silent for so long—ever since that day when he had lost control under the influence of the moon gods. It was a silence that had weighed heavily on him, and now, even though his wolf had finally spoken, it was just as quickly gone again, slipping back into the shadows, leaving Alex alone with his racing thoughts.
When he approached their table, Luna had just finished her meal, wiping her hands daintily with a napkin. She looked up at him, noticing the shift in his expression immediately.
"Are you done?" His tone was more serious than before, almost distant.
She didn't answer directly. Instead, her brows furrowed in concern. "Was it someone important? Is everything okay?"
Alex's gaze softened as he stared into her eyes, but there was something heavier behind them now, something serious and unspoken. "It was Lucifer," he said, watching her closely for her reaction. "He asked me to bring you to him."
Luna's face immediately shifted, the lightness that had been there moments ago vanishing. Her eyes widened ever so slightly, the gravity of his words sinking in. She straightened in her chair, her playful demeanor gone, replaced by an unmistakable seriousness.
Her heart seemed to sink deeper as she try to piece together. Did Lucifer already know something?
Her thoughts swirled, and for the first time since becoming human, Luna felt truly vulnerable. She met Alex's gaze, searching for answers, but all she found was the same confusion reflected back at her.
"I... I see," she finally said, her voice quiet, trying to mask the anxiety that had crept into her chest. "Then we should go."
As they stood together, ready to leave, there was an unspoken tension between them. Alex could feel it, the storm that was beginning to brew, and his instincts told him that whatever lay ahead, it was far more complicated than either of them had anticipated.