HEARTS OF DIVINE RUIN (The MoonGoddess and The AlphaKing)

"You said this is the only way—then tell me what it is. I promise you won't lose me," he murmured softly, fiercely. "Because I'm not letting you go."
And for the first time in what felt like forever, she found herself believing him—just a little but instead of replying , Without a word, Luna closed the distance between them, her heart pounding as she leaned in. Their lips collided with a fierce urgency, igniting a spark that crackled in the air. The world outside vanished as they melted into each other, every breath becoming a desperate plea for more. Alex responded with equal intensity, his hands gripping her waist, pulling her against him, as if he needed to prove she was real and not just a dream.
With a swift motion, he pushed her back onto the bed, never breaking their kiss. The soft bedding sank beneath her, and she gasped into his mouth as he climbed over her, his body pressing her into the mattress. Their lips moved in a passionate rhythm, tongues dancing and swirling, exploring every inch of one another. Luna's fingers tangled in his hair, tugging him closer, as if trying to fuse their souls in that heated embrace.
She arched against him, desperate for more, her body aligning perfectly with his as heat radiated off him in waves. Alex's lips left hers, trailing down her jawline, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. She tilted her head back, a soft, breathless moan escaping her lips as he found the sensitive skin beneath her ear. She felt like she was drowning in him, every nerve ending alive with a craving so intense it hurt. Each kiss deepened, raw and unrestrained, as they surrendered to the moment, their hearts pounding in tandem, their unspoken fears and desires fueling the flames of their passion.
Alex's hands roamed over her body with a hunger that belied his words, fingers digging into her hips, sliding up her sides, tracing the curves of her waist. It was as if he couldn't get enough, couldn't touch her enough, his every movement laced with a desperation that mirrored her own. She felt the trembling restraint in his touch, the way he seemed to war with himself, torn between losing himself in her completely and holding back. And then his hands were at her waist again, gripping, pulling her hips up against his with a force that drew a sharp gasp from her. The sensation of his lips leaving hers only made her crave more, and when he trailed heated kisses down her jaw and neck, her breaths turned ragged.
"Alex," she whispered, her voice breathless, needy. His name was a plea, a prayer, a cry for something she didn't even have the words for.
He growled low in his throat, a primal sound that made the heat in her belly coil tighter. His mouth traced a path lower, teeth grazing the sensitive spot just below her ear before his tongue swept over her skin, soothing the sting. Luna's hands fisted in his hair, pulling him closer as he lavished attention on her neck. But she felt it—the shift in his touch, the way his lips seemed to linger a moment too long. When his teeth brushed against her pulse, a thrill shot through her, making her moan softly.
But what she didn't realize was the danger lurking beneath the surface.
As Alex moved, his body vibrating with barely restrained need, his wolf stirred, the beast within clawing for control. His fangs elongated, sharp points pressing against the soft column of her throat. His breaths grew shallow, hot puffs of air against her skin, and then—he licked her. Saliva coated her neck, sliding down to her collarbone, marking a path that left her trembling. She shuddered, not knowing what it meant, lost in the pleasure that coiled through her.
But Alex knew. And he was losing himself.
His mind screamed at him to stop, to pull away, but every instinct rebelled. She was his. His to claim, to protect, to—
No. He couldn't do this. Luna wasn't a wolf; she was human. Marking her would be more than reckless—it could kill her. The change, the intensity of a wolf's bite, the bond it would forge... Her mortal body might not survive. How had he forgotten? His teeth hovered over her skin, his jaw tightening as he fought to hold back.
It wasn't until she whimpered softly, her breath a broken moan of his name—"Alex"—that the haze around his mind lifted.
For a moment, everything froze. The world narrowed to the sound of her voice, the way his name fell from her lips like a plea. His eyes shot open, reality crashing down on him in a wave of cold, hard clarity. He knew the stories. Knew how many human partners had died, their bodies breaking under the strain of trying to merge with a wolf's soul. The risk was too great. One wrong move, and he could lose her forever.
His breath came in harsh, ragged gasps, his heart hammering in his chest as he pulled back, staring down at her with wide, wild eyes. Guilt washed over him in a crashing wave, mingled with a fierce need he couldn't shake.
"We... we need to show some restraint," he choked out, his voice rough and strained.
Luna blinked up at him, confusion and frustration etched into her features. Her lips were swollen and red, her eyes dark with a desire that matched his own. She looked wrecked and beautiful, and the sight made something primal stir in his chest.
"Why?" she asked, breathless. Her voice was small, uncertain, like she couldn't understand why he'd stopped. And truth be told, he didn't know how he managed to, either.
Alex squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to take a shuddering breath. "Because... Because I don't want to hurt you." His words were tight, his hands still trembling where they rested on either side of her. "You're human, Luna. If I lose control—if I mark you—it could kill you. And I won't... I can't risk that."
Her eyes widened, shock flickering in their depths, but then her expression softened, something achingly vulnerable settling on her face. "Nothing's going to happen to me, Alex. I promise. I don't mind. I—"
"No." The word was harsh, final. He shook his head, jaw clenched so tight it hurt. "You don't know what you're saying. I've seen it happen, Luna. Wolves marking their human mates, and... and..." He trailed off, voice breaking as the memories flooded back. The screams, the blood, the broken bodies of those who hadn't survived the bond. "I can't do that to you."
"I'll be okay," she insisted, but he noticed the flicker of uncertainty shadowing her gaze, the subtle tension tightening her shoulders as doubt seeped into her expression.
Unknown to Alex , She wasn't fully human—not completely. She had revealed to Lucifer once that she'd concealed her divinity within the fragile confines of this mortal heart. Even if Alex marked her, she would still survive. Her divine essence would continue to sustain her for as long as it remained hidden deep within. But she wasn't ready to tell Alex that. Not yet.
"I'm not ready to take that chance," he whispered, brushing a trembling hand over her hair. "You mean too much to me."
Her breath hitched, her eyes wide and searching as they locked onto his. For a long moment, neither of them moved, the air between them crackling with everything left unsaid. And then, slowly, Luna reached up, cupping his face in her hands, her touch so gentle it nearly broke him.
"What if I said I didn't care?" she murmured. "What if I told you I'd be fine?"
A low, humorless laugh escaped him, his heart aching as he gazed down at her. "You think I could believe that?" He shook his head, leaning down until their foreheads touched. "Luna, even if I wanted to... I can't. I'm old school. I don't want to rush things with you."
His words were firm, but his actions told a different story. His hands, still resting on her waist, tightened almost possessively, fingers digging into her skin in a way that sent a shiver racing down her spine. He wasn't letting go, wasn't pulling away—if anything, he seemed to be drawing her closer, his body still pressed intimately against hers, his breath hot and unsteady against her cheek.
Luna couldn't help it—she let out a soft, breathy laugh, her eyes sparkling with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "You say that," she murmured, her voice teasing, "but I can feel the way your body's reacting, Alex. It's saying something very, very different."
A low growl rumbled deep in his chest, his eyes flashing as he looked down at her, and for a heartbeat, she thought he would kiss her again, lose himself in her like before. But then he sighed, a soft, almost defeated sound, and leaned back, running a hand through his disheveled hair.
"You have no idea how hard it is to stop," he confessed quietly, his voice raw. "How hard it is to even think about holding back with you." He raised a hand, brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face with a gentleness that made her heart ache. "But I don't want this to be just about the heat of the moment. I want more with you. I want... everything."
The silence between them was deafening, a heavy, fragile thing that seemed to pulse with each beat of their hearts. And then, finally, Luna let out a soft sigh, her gaze softening.
"You really are old school," she murmured, a hint of laughter in her voice.
"Yeah," he admitted with a crooked smile. "Guess I am." His voice was firm, almost strained, and yet his hands... his hands. They still lingered on her skin, still trembled slightly as his thumb brushed absently against her ribs. His touch was soft, but it seared her, every stroke of his fingers a reminder of the restraint he was barely clinging to. "I want to do this right. I want to savor every moment, Luna."
She stared up at him, eyes wide, chest rising and falling rapidly. Her entire body was screaming at her to pull him back down, to kiss him until neither of them could breathe, to chase that fiery, overwhelming rush until they were both consumed by it. But his words... gods, his words made her heart ache. Because even as he spoke, his actions told a different story. His lips were still brushing lightly against her skin, his body still pressing her down into the mattress, his breath coming out in harsh, shallow bursts as if he couldn't control himself.
"Then why are you still touching me?" she whispered, a faint smile tugging at her lips even as frustration simmered just beneath the surface.
A soft, humorless laugh escaped him, and he leaned down, his nose brushing against hers, his eyes half-closed. "Because I'm a hypocrite," he muttered, his voice low and rough. "Because... gods, I don't want to let go of you."
Her breath caught, and before she could stop herself, she lifted a hand, cupping his cheek, her thumb brushing lightly over his lower lip. "Then don't," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion she couldn't quite hide. "Stay."
They stayed like that, tangled together in the silence, until, slowly, Alex shifted, wrapping his arms around her in a way that felt achingly right. Luna found herself melting into his embrace, her head resting against his chest, listening to the frantic beat of his heart. It was fast, so fast, and it didn't seem to be slowing down.
But as the minutes passed, she felt it—the way his body slowly relaxed against hers, the way his breathing evened out, his eyes growing heavier with exhaustion. And yet... even as his body sagged, even as sleep beckoned, his grip on her only tightened, his arm wrapping around her with a possessiveness that made her chest ache.
"I'm not going anywhere," she whispered, the words slipping out before she could stop them.
But his only response was a soft, broken murmur, a barely audible plea that made her heart clench painfully. "Don't leave."
She closed her eyes, the weight of his fear wrapping around her like a vise. And in that moment, she realized—no matter what happened, no matter what choices she made, this man had already become her weakness.
"I won't," she breathed, pressing a soft kiss to his chest, her own heart breaking in the silence. "Not tonight."
His arms tightened around her, a soft, almost inaudible sigh escaping his lips as he finally, finally drifted off, his breathing evening out, the tension in his body slowly melting away.
But Luna lay awake, staring up at the ceiling, her thoughts a tangled mess of fear and longing and something that tasted far too much like regret.
Because she knew, deep down, that staying was the one thing she might not be able to promise.