HEARTS OF DIVINE RUIN (The MoonGoddess and The AlphaKing)

Chapter 14 :The Silence Between Us

The car continued down the road, the tension still crackling in the air, both of them navigating the complex emotions that lay just beneath the surface.

The car hummed softly as it sliced through the evening air, the world outside slowly transitioning from day to night. The road stretched endlessly ahead, flanked by the distant glow of small towns they had passed along the way. It had been seven, maybe eight hours since their last conversation—since Luna had pushed Alex to his limits with her playful taunts, forcing him to bring the car to a screeching halt and when he created boundaries between them . But after that, silence had taken hold. Neither of them had spoken a word.

Alex had kept his focus on the road, trying to ignore the tension swirling in the air between them. He wasn't one for talking unless necessary, especially when it came to feelings—something he had no intention of exploring. And yet, he had been keenly aware of Luna's presence beside him, even as the silence thickened. It wasn't just her words from earlier that had lodged in his mind but everything about her—the way she was so unapologetically herself, her relentless teasing, her stubbornness, her vulnerability in moments when she thought he wasn't watching.

He hadn't looked her way in hours, keeping his eyes on the road, but as the sky began to darken, painting the horizon with hues of deep purples and inky blues, something made him glance toward her. What he found pulled him in like a force he didn't want to reckon with.

Luna was asleep.

Her head rested lightly against the window, her features softened, her breathing slow and steady. Her long lashes fluttered slightly, as though she were dreaming.

 In that moment, she looked nothing like the playful goddess who'd tried to provoke him earlier.

 She looked... peaceful. Innocent, even.

Alex's gaze lingered on her, far longer than it should have. She had fallen asleep without complaint, without asking for a break, despite the exhausting day. He realized, with a pang, that she was far more mortal than she'd like to admit. 

There were slight dark circles under her eyes from the sleepless nights , her body slightly curled up as if trying to fend off the cold. It wasn't like her—she used to exude power, the very air around her once charged with authority. Now, she looked fragile.

He tore his eyes away from her and looked back at the road, then ahead to the distant sign of a stay house—small but decent enough for a rest stop. Alex slowed the car and pulled over near the building, the engine softening into silence as they came to a stop.

But he didn't get out of the car.

Instead, Alex sat there, his hands gripping the steering wheel loosely, his mind running through the events of the day. There was something in him, an unfamiliar weight, pressing down on him as he thought about Luna - like he owed her something . He had told himself he was only doing this because he had given his word—to get her to Lucifer and Davina, and then part ways. 

That's all this was supposed to be. But something had shifted.

His eyes drifted back to her, taking in her sleeping form. He exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair, leaning back in his seat. There had always been this intense, magnetic pull between them, as if some unseen force was shoving them together. Fate? he wondered, to which his wolf scoffed—ridiculous. 

Caring for her had not been part of the plan. It was dangerous, reckless even, for someone like him. He didn't want anyone in his life, didn't need the complications that came with it. Caring was a weakness he couldn't afford. Not now. Not ever.

And yet, here he was—unable to stop the warmth from spreading in his chest as he watched her sleep. It frustrated him how natural it felt, the instinct to keep her safe, to stay by her side until she was okay. He'd sworn to himself years ago that he wouldn't let anyone get that close again. Caring about someone—letting them in—it always led to loss, to pain.

But Luna... she was testing his resolve in ways he hadn't anticipated. 

And the worst part? She didn't even know it.

As he rubbed the back of his neck, his fingers brushing over the tension gathering there, he sighed again. His gaze, almost against his will, returned to her. There was something about her that tugged at him, something he couldn't ignore. Her fierce independence, mixed with the vulnerability she tried so hard to hide, stirred emotions in him that he had long since buried. 

She wasn't just some goddess stripped of her powers—she was Luna. And that, he realized, was becoming a problem.

His jaw clenched as he fought the feelings building inside him. He needed to push her away. He wanted to push her away. 

He continued reminding himself that he hates her - her existence and she is the reason his life is like this  but he knew the truth about her better than anyone and the longer they spent together, the harder it was becoming to avoid her . She wasn't just another burden; she was someone he had begun to care for, despite himself.

Alex closed his eyes briefly, his head tilting back against the seat. His hand, resting on his lap, itched with the impulse to reach over, to touch her, to confirm that she was real, that she was still there. But he resisted, swallowing the urge.

This needed to end. He needed to keep his distance before things got more complicated. Before he lost himself in her—or worse, lost her.

When he opened his eyes again, they were fixed on Luna once more. She looked so small, wrapped in that blanket she'd been clinging to since the morning. As if sensing his eyes on her, she shifted slightly, murmuring something under her breath, but didn't wake. Her face was relaxed, almost peaceful, a stark contrast to the turmoil he knew was swirling inside her mind when she was awake.

For a moment, Alex let himself take her in, his hard exterior softening just a fraction. But as quickly as it came, he pushed the thought away. He couldn't afford to get attached.

This needs to end.

He sighed again, running a hand through his hair as his gaze drifted back to the road ahead. Tomorrow, they would continue their journey. He would get her to Lucifer and Davina's, and then they would go their separate ways.

He repeated it in his head like a mantra, hoping it would sink in. 

With one last glance at Luna, Alex shut his eyes, leaning his head back against the seat, letting the soft hum of the night settle over him.