Luna’s Awakening

2. AD

Nina and Rachel walked down the busy road, the cool night's breeze playing with their hair. From a mile away, they could hear the loud music coming from the party. It sounded like what seemed like a fusion of pop and jazz rock. Rachel smiled cheekily at Nina.

“Do you hear that?" Rachel asked, her eyes sparkling. "That's the sound of life."

Nina raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Or the sound of temporary escape from reality," she replied dryly, her voice barely audible over the music. "Some of us have essays due tomorrow, remember?"

Rachel laughed loudly, nudging Nina playfully and intertwining their arms. "Come on, Nina, lighten up! It's just one night. We can survive on coffee fumes tomorrow."

Nina couldn't help but smile at Rachel's infectious energy. As they approached the party, the music grew louder, and the smell of food and drinks wafted through the air, enticing them.

"Okay, fine," Nina said, "but just for a few hours, and don't expect me to be the life of the party."

Rachel grinned mischievously. "I'll take what I can get."

As they entered the party, the vibrant atmosphere enveloped them. They made their way through the crowd. Rachel's eyes locked onto Mark, her boyfriend, across the room. She waved enthusiastically, and Mark's face lit up with a smile. He excused himself from his group of friends and made his way over to the girls.

"Hey, babe!" Mark said, wrapping his arm around Rachel's waist. "Glad you could make it Nina”.

Nina smiled politely, feeling a bit like a third wheel. "Hey, Mark, yeah, Rachel dragged me here."

Mark chuckled. "Well, I'm glad she did. Come meet some of my friends."

“Uh, I think I saw the bar by the entrance, you guys go on I’ll just grab something to drink and meet up”.

Rachel smiled softly at her, she knew Nina was not going to meet up. In fact, she'd probably spend the entire night by the bar, but she was there and that was what mattered.

“That’s alright Nina, just text me if you need me. And please don’t run off”.

“Not making any promises”. Nina muttered as she turned around and headed back towards the bar, avoiding running into people on her way.

Nina walked down to the bar, and requested a glass of sparkling water.

“You're not in the mood to party?" a voice called out softly from her side.

She turned to her side to see one of the most beautiful men she had ever seen, golden blonde hair cascading down his forehead, bright blue crystal eyes, plump lips, and a straight nose sitting majestically on his face. He was wearing a leather jacket and loose, faded black jeans. Nina could tell he had strong muscles hidden underneath his clothes. Her heart skipped a beat, her mouth went dry. "Huh," she managed to utter.

He smiled softly, she could see the glitter in his eyes. He definitely got reactions like this a lot – with a face like that, who wouldn't? "Sparkling water? It's a party," he said, raising an eyebrow.

Nina felt a flush rise to her cheeks as she took the sparkling water from the bartender. "Just not really my thing," she replied, trying to sound casual.

His gaze lingered on her face, and Nina wondered if he was sizing her up or genuinely interested.

"I'm AD," he said, holding out his hand for a handshake. Hesitating for a moment, she took his hand. They were soft and warm, his grip firm yet comforting. She found herself relaxing slightly into the handshake.

"Nina," she replied, locking eyes with his bright blue ones. They seem almost otherworldly, like sapphires gleaming in the light. His face is chiseled yet smooth, like that of a Renaissance statue, flawless and captivating.

"Nice," he said, his deep voice breaking the spell. The sound jolted her out of her reverie, and she quickly withdrew her hand, mentally kicking herself for staring so hard.

She picked up her drink and lifted it to her lips, hoping to hide her embarrassment behind the glass. As she took a sip of the sparkling water, she felt a rush of coolness spread through her chest, calming her nerves slightly.

AD's gaze lingered on her face, and she wondered if he noticed her blush. There was a hint of amusement in his eyes, but his expression remained friendly, putting her at ease.

"So, Nina," he said, turning slightly to face her, "what brings you to this party?"

Nina took another sip of her drink, trying to compose herself. "Just hanging out with friends," she replied, gesturing vaguely towards the crowd.

AD nodded, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "I'm more of a solo act myself," he said. "But it's nice to meet new people."

They chat for a bit, exchanging small talk about the party and what they find interesting about it. Nina finds herself relaxing in AD's presence, despite the initial jolt of attraction.

"So, what do you do?" Nina asks, curiosity getting the best of her.

AD's smile hinted at secrets. "I'm a student," he said.. "Among other things."

Nina raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Among other things?" she repeated.

AD chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Let's just say I'm keeping busy."

Nina looked up at him, curiosity lurking at her tongue. She wanted to ask him what it was that kept him busy, but the buzzing from her phone stood her. She pulled it out to see a text from Rachel: "Hey, we're heading out to grab some food. Want to join us?"

"Uh sorry," Nina said to AD, "I think my friends are leaving."

AD nodded understandingly. "It was nice meeting you, Nina. Maybe I'll see you around."

As Nina turned to leave, AD called out, "Hey, Nina?"

She turned back, and he was holding out a small piece of paper with a number scribbled on it. "My number," he said with a smile. "In case you want to grab coffee or something."

As she took the piece of paper from his hand, Nina looked up at his face, and for a fleeting moment, she could have sworn his eyes lost their bright spark and went dark. The change was so sudden and brief that she wondered if it was just her imagination playing tricks on her, or perhaps the reflection of the party lights dancing around them.

She blinked, and AD's eyes returned to their piercing blue, sparkling with amusement as he smiled at her. "See you around," he says, his voice low and smooth.

Nina smiled back, feeling a shiver run down her spine. Definitely her imagination, she thought as she walked away.

As Nina disappears into the crowd, AD's smile fades, replaced by a dark, sinister gaze. He reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a cigarette and lighter, and lit up, inhaling deeply. The smoke curled around his face, shrouding his features in mystery.

Ray, one of his men, approached him, eyes fixed on AD's profile. "It's her," AD said, exhaling smoke, his voice low and even. "She doesn't know it yet."

Ray's expression remained neutral, awaiting further instruction.

"Is that good or bad?" Ray asked, his tone measured. AD's gaze drifted back to the crowd, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered the question. The smoke from his cigarette wafted around him.

"Great. But we’ll watch her, keep tabs on her," he said finally, his voice low and deliberate. "I want to know everything about her, her schedule and daily activities." Ray nodded, his expression still neutral, but a flicker of understanding was in his eyes.

“What about your brother?” Ray asked. “What do I tell him when he asks?”

AD's expression turned cold, his eyes glinting in the dim light. "Damien doesn't need to know yet," he says, he commanded. Ray's brow furrowed, concern etched on his face.

"We can't lie to him, AD. He's the alpha," Ray reminded him, his voice measured. AD's gaze intensifies, his jaw clenched.

"Then don't," he said curtly. "Be quiet." Ray's eyes lock onto AD's, a silent understanding passing between them. Ray nodded slightly, acknowledging the order.

AD's ambition burned brighter with every passing moment. He knew the prophecy surrounding the Awakened Luna - she was destined to be with the alpha. But what others didn’t know was that Nina's heritage held the key to creating a new alpha line.

This secret gave AD leverage. He'll stop at nothing to make Nina fall for him, securing his place as alpha. Damien, the current alpha, and potential mate according to prophecy, is unaware of the true stakes.