THE ALPHA I NEVER SAW

Chapter 14: Moonlit Hearts

*****Dinner*****

Before she could say anything, I picked up the crystal pitcher and poured water into her glass.

Without a word, I slid it across the table.

She looked up at me, surprise flickering in her violet eyes.

"...Thank you."

I simply nodded and continued eating.

A few moments later, I noticed her struggling with the steak on her plate.

She frowned slightly as she tried to cut it.

Without saying a word, I reached across the table and exchanged our plates.

She looked at me in confusion but remained silent.

Using my knife and fork, I neatly sliced the steak into bite-sized pieces before placing her plate back in front of her.

"There."

She stared at the plate for a moment before lifting her gaze to meet mine.

"...Professor?"

"You'll have an easier time eating."

A faint smile curved her lips.

"...Thank you."

Inside my head, Mida let out a dramatic sigh.

"You're spoiling her already."

"I'm being polite."

"If that's what you want to call it."

I chose to ignore him.

For the next few minutes, the only sound in the dining hall was the soft clinking of cutlery against porcelain plates.

The silence between us wasn't uncomfortable.

If anything...

It felt strangely peaceful.

As the meal continued, Seraphine reached for the pepper grinder sitting beside me.

Before she could stretch across the table, I picked it up and handed it to her.

"Here."

She accepted it with another soft smile.

"Thank you."

She had said those two words countless times tonight.

Yet somehow...

Each one sounded genuine.

By the time dinner came to an end, whatever awkwardness had existed between us had quietly disappeared.

She carefully folded her napkin and placed it beside her plate.

"Thank you for dinner."

"You're welcome."

She smiled.

Not the polite smile she'd worn all evening...

A real one.

The words escaped my mouth before I had the chance to stop them.

"...You should smile more often."

Silence.

She blinked.

I blinked.

Inside my head, Mida burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"Smooth."

I resisted the urge to sigh.

...Why did I say that out loud?

A delicate blush spread across Seraphine's cheeks.

She lowered her eyes shyly before looking back at me.

"I'll... keep that in mind."

For a brief second...

Neither of us spoke.

Then I rose to my feet.

"I'll show you to your room."

She nodded and quietly stood.

Together, we left the dining hall.

The mansion had grown even quieter.

Only the sound of our footsteps echoed through the long corridors while rain tapped gently against the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Neither of us said anything.

Yet the silence somehow felt... comfortable.

After walking for a short distance, I stopped in front of a pair of elegant white double doors.

Opening them, I stepped aside.

"This will be your room for the night."

She walked inside, her eyes slowly taking in every corner of the spacious guest suite.

A king-sized bed rested in the center of the room. Warm golden lights illuminated the elegant furniture, while a fireplace crackled softly nearby. Beyond the glass doors, a private balcony overlooked the rain-soaked gardens of Ravencrest Mansion.

Her eyes widened ever so slightly.

"I'll be staying here?"

I nodded.

"I had the staff prepare it while you were resting."

"It's beautiful."

She turned toward me with a grateful smile.

"Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me."

She laughed softly.

"I've been thanking you all night."

"And I'll probably keep doing it."

The corner of my lips lifted almost imperceptibly.

"I'm beginning to notice."

Her laughter grew a little brighter.

Inside my head, Mida chuckled.

"There she goes again."

"Be quiet."

"You're smiling too."

I ignored him.

"There are fresh clothes in the wardrobe," I said. "The bathroom is stocked with everything you might need. If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask one of the staff."

She nodded.

"I will."

For a brief moment, we simply looked at each other.

Then I stepped back toward the doorway.

"You've had a long day."

"You should get some rest."

She lowered her head politely.

"Goodnight... Professor."

I met her gaze one last time.

"Goodnight, Miss Veyra."

I quietly closed the door behind me.

The soft click echoed through the silent hallway.

On the other side of that door...

Seraphine Veyra could finally rest.

And as I walked away...

Mida's amused voice echoed once more.

"The mighty Alpha Darius Ravencrest..."

"...defeated by one smile.”

Seraphine

The bedroom door clicked shut behind Professor Ravencrest.

Silence settled over the room once again.

I leaned back against the door and slowly exhaled.

Today...

Everything had changed.

I wasn't hallucinating.

I really had a wolf.

And according to her...

Professor Darius Ravencrest was my true mate.

I closed my eyes.

"...This is all happening too fast."

A soft chuckle echoed inside my mind.

I turned toward the floor-to-ceiling window.

Lyra was sitting gracefully beneath the moonlight, her silver fur shimmering softly as she gazed out over the rain-washed gardens of Ravencrest Mansion.

"He's different," she said quietly.

I followed her gaze.

"...I know."

"You noticed."

I gave a small nod.

"Anyone would."

Lyra smiled before gently shaking her head.

"No."

"Anyone wouldn't."

She looked at me with eyes filled with quiet understanding.

"You've spent so long surrounded by people who betrayed you..."

"...that kindness feels unfamiliar."

Her words settled heavily in my heart.

Images from my previous life flashed through my mind.

Kieran.

Caroline.

The execution platform.

The hatred.

The loneliness.

Then...

A different memory.

Professor Ravencrest sitting beside my bed.

Holding my hand.

Waiting.

Expecting nothing in return.

Lyra's gentle voice broke through my thoughts.

"He's been standing where you couldn't see him for a very long time.”

I slowly lifted my head.

"You don't have to love him tomorrow."

"Or next week."

"Or even next month."

She padded toward me until she was standing only a step away.

"But..."

"...don't run away before giving your heart the chance to decide."

My fingers unconsciously rested against my chest.

My heartbeat was steady.

Calm.

Yet somehow...

Different.

since my rebirth...

The future no longer belonged only to revenge.

There was...

Something else.

Someone else.

And strangely...

That possibility no longer frightened me.

Lyra watched me quietly before a mischievous smile spread across her face.

"Oh..."

"I almost forgot."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Forgot what?"

She grinned.

"Our Alpha."

I blinked.

"...Professor Ravencrest?"

Lyra nodded enthusiastically.

"He pretends to be calm..."

"...but his wolf has been laughing at him all night."

"What?"

"He accidentally told you to smile more."

I couldn't help smiling at the memory.

"He looked so composed."

Lyra giggled.

"That's because you couldn't hear Mida."

"He has been teasing him nonstop."

Despite myself...

A soft laugh escaped my lips.

"So even the great Professor Ravencrest gets embarrassed?"

"Oh, absolutely."

Lyra's tail swayed happily.

"Our Alpha has it bad."

Heat crept onto my cheeks.

"Lyra..."

"What?"

"I'm only telling the truth."

I shook my head, unable to hide my smile.

I couldn't help laughing.

Outside my bedroom...

Farther down the quiet hallway...

Another Alpha stood alone by a rain-speckled window.

Looking up at the very same moon.

---

Darius

I stood silently beside the window of my study.

Rain continued to fall over Ravencrest Mansion.

For some reason...

I couldn't stop thinking about her.

Mida's lazy voice echoed through my mind.

Mida: "So..."

I already knew that tone.

"...Did you enjoy dinner?"

"It was fine."

"Really?"

"Mm."

"Because from where I was watching..."

"...you looked happier feeding her than feeding yourself."

I remained silent.

Mida laughed.

"I've seen you negotiate billion-dollar contracts without blinking."

"...But one smile from her..."

"...and suddenly you forget how to think.”

"Congratulations."

"You've officially become the type of Alpha who cuts steak for his mate.”

I rubbed my forehead.

"You've become very talkative tonight."

Mida laughed louder.

"I waited a long time to see this version of you.”

I looked toward the guest wing.

One light remained on.

She was probably still awake.

Somehow...

Knowing she was under the same roof made the mansion feel less empty.

The full moon emerged from behind the clouds, its silver light washing over Ravencrest Mansion.

All beneath the same moon.

Outside, the rain continued to fall. Inside Ravencrest Mansion, two hearts had taken their first careful step toward each other.