The ill fated lovers (the Alpha king and his Queen luna)

XV -(a)

DAVINA's POV

I met his eyes—angelic, stormy gray—shining faintly, as if reflecting emotions he couldn't quite voice. They seemed tired but filled with a trace of hope. His gaze locked onto me, and I felt the weight of the past between us.

"Davina..." His voice was thick with emotion, trembling with happiness yet strained by fatigue.

Before I could respond, Austin stepped forward, positioning himself between us. I could feel the tension building in the air.

"You're mistaken, sir," Austin said firmly, his voice cutting through the moment like a blade. "That girl is my girlfriend, Antonia."

I blinked, thankful for Austin's intervention. I didn't know what I would have said if Alex had asked me anything. The weight of today's revelations was still settling in, and the last thing I needed was to engage in a conversation with him—especially when his memories had been wiped clean. It was better to stay away from him and his pack for both our sakes.

But Alex didn't hesitate. His eyes darkened, and within seconds, his hand shot out, gripping Austin's neck with shocking force.

"Alex!" I cried out, rushing forward, grabbing his arm in desperation. "What are you doing? Let him go!"

His cold gray eyes locked with mine, and for a fleeting second, I saw something—hurt. My words stung him, though I didn't understand why. Slowly, his grip loosened, and Austin dropped to his feet, gasping for air.

"Same eyes... same face... same scent," Alex muttered, almost to himself, his brows furrowed in confusion. "But why? Why, when you touched me, didn't I feel anything?" His voice cracked, filled with self-doubt, as though he were questioning his own reality.

Before I could respond, Charlie came sprinting toward Alex, halting abruptly when his eyes landed on me. He looked stunned, his mouth opening as if to speak, but then stopping short. Alex must have mind-linked him, as Charlie's expression shifted to one of deep contemplation.

I quickly turned to Austin, kneeling to help him up. "Are you okay?" I asked, worry flooding my voice.

Austin nodded, brushing off the dust and straightening his clothes. "I'm fine," he muttered, though his eyes burned with restrained anger. I was grateful he hadn't retaliated, knowing that if he had, the situation would have escalated beyond control.

"I apologize for mistaking you for someone else," Alex said suddenly, extending his hand, his voice formal. "I'm Alpha King Alexander."

A painful twist formed in my chest as Daeliah, my wolf, spoke inside my mind. "How many times are we going to break his heart, Davina? How long will you keep up this lie?"

"Antonia," I said flatly, shaking his hand. Sparks shot through me the moment our skin touched, sending a warm shiver down my spine. But beneath that pleasant sensation, there was pain, because I knew—deep down—that these sparks were one-sided. The bond that once tied us was severed, and I was to blame.

"You're not from here, are you?" Alex asked, his sharp gaze scanning my face. "Where are you staying?"

I knew this was a trap. "My boyfriend and I are just passing through," I said, careful to keep my voice steady. "We'll be leaving in a day or two, Alpha." I watched his reaction, seeing a flicker of surprise cross his face.

There was a beat of silence. Then, his tone shifted, authoritative. "You're welcome to stay as my guests until you leave," he said, the offer not as innocent as it sounded. His Alpha command hung in the air like a heavy weight.

"You can't refuse," Daeliah's voice echoed in my mind. "He'll know something is wrong if you do."

I plastered a smile on my face, hiding the anxiety that gnawed at my core. "Sure, Alpha," I agreed reluctantly, noticing Austin's confused glance in my direction. He wasn't thrilled about my decision, but there was no other choice.

We made our way to his home, an imposing structure that loomed over the landscape like a sentinel. Austin had left for the guesthouse to gather our things, promising to return within a few hours, leaving me alone with Alex in his car.

"So, Antonia," Alex began, his voice smooth but probing, "where are you from?"

I swallowed the knot in my throat. "A small town to the east, Alpha," I said, forcing the title out. It felt strange addressing him like that, as though I were talking to a stranger instead of the man who had once been my everything.

"And how did you meet... the vampire?" His tone was casual, but the question was laced with suspicion.

"His name is Austin," I corrected softly, "and it's a long story."

Alex seemed to pick up on my unwillingness to elaborate and let out a short, frustrated breath. "I see."

The tension in the car thickened, and I needed a distraction. Leaning forward, I turned on the radio, drowning the conversation in soft music. The interior of his car was sleek, all black leather and custom touches. It was a beautiful vehicle, no doubt, but the atmosphere was suffocating. Somewhere along the ride, I must have drifted into sleep.

I jolted awake when Alex's voice whispered close to my ear, "We're here."

My eyes shot open, and I realized with shock that his lips were only centimeters from my ear. His presence sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. My heart pounded as I felt his hand brush across my waist, and for a second, my mind raced with confusion.

"Relax," he chuckled, sensing my tension. "I was just helping you with your seatbelt."

I exhaled sharply, embarrassed. Stupid, I thought, as Daeliah snickered in my mind. I cleared my throat and quickly followed him out of the car.

The house was grand, as I remembered, but it looked different—untouched by the fire that had ravaged it months ago. As we approached, six guards surrounded us, bowing their heads in respect.

"It's been three months," Daeliah whispered mockingly.

"Three months, fourteen days, eleven hours," I replied, feeling every second of that time deep within me.

"This is your place," I said quietly as we stood in the entryway. "How could we possibly stay here?"

Alex raised a brow. "How do you know this is my house? It's your first time here... isn't it?"

Charlie stepped forward, glancing at me with suspicion.

"I guessed," I answered quickly, forcing a smile. "It's so beautiful and large—it had to belong to someone important."

Alex didn't press further, but there was something in his eyes that told me he wasn't buying my story. "You're my guests," he said smoothly, "and with so many empty rooms, I figured we might as well put them to use."

We entered the house, and I looked around desperately, searching for Ethan. But he was nowhere in sight.

"Do you live here alone?" I asked, hoping for some insight.

Charlie opened his mouth to respond, but Alex cut him off. "Yes, who else would live here?"

I could hear the challenge in his tone. He was testing me. My heart raced as I tried to keep my voice even. "I meant... your mate, or your children."

The second the words left my mouth, I regretted them. Pain flickered across his face, and I felt the weight of my question settle in the air. He looked away, the hurt visible in his eyes, before he forced a smile. "I don't have any children. And my mate..." His voice trailed off before Tim barged in, breaking the moment .

Tim's booming voice filled the room as he grabbed my shoulders, his eyes wide in shock. "Holy shit. Davina?"