The Beast Within

Chapter Ten: The Longing After the Moonlight

Tex stared at the screen of his laptop as the bright colors brought life to the darkness of his apartment. It was a ritual he had grown accustomed to over the weeks since Addy had returned to Kentucky. They would video chat every chance they got, seeking comfort in each other’s presence despite the miles that stretched between them. It felt both exhilarating and torturous, seeing her face but knowing they were worlds apart.

“Hey, you,” Addy's face lit up the moment their call connected. Her smile filled him with warmth, but also a poignant reminder of the distance separating them.

“Hey, beautiful,” he replied, feeling a rush of love surge in his chest. They had created a sanctuary in those shared conversations — a space where the chaos of the world melted away, for a brief moment, while they shared their lives.

As they caught up on the events of the day, Tex could feel the ache of longing gnawing at him. He missed her laughter, the way her eyes sparkled with mischief, and the comfort of their shared intimacy. Being apart had become a struggle, especially as the primal instincts within them had begun to flare up once more.

“I had to go out last night,” Addy confessed, her expression shifting slightly, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

“Yeah? How was it?” he asked, tensing in anticipation of her answer.

She smiled sheepishly, biting her lip. “It wasn't what I expected, though the beast inside me was restless, like it needed… something. I ended up chatting with a guy at the bar. He kept buying drinks, and I thought it would distract me…”

Tex could hear the reluctance in her voice, a mix of embarrassment and guilt. “Did it help?” he pressed gently.

“No, not really. The moment we kissed, I realized how hollow it felt. It was just… instinctual. The thrill of it didn’t compare to what we share,” she admitted, her eyes glistening. “How about you? Any adventures?”

He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, a knot forming in his gut. “Yeah, I had a moment too. I ran into someone at the hardware store. We… ended up at my place. It felt reckless, but the entire time, I just thought about you.”

Addy nodded knowingly. “It’s the beast, Tex. It craves physical connection, but we both know it can’t replace what we have. I wish we could be together.”

The weight of their situation bore down on them both. With each random encounter they shared but both acknowledged, the hollow feeling gnawed at them. The primal hunger burning within them seemed insatiable, a wild beast clawing at the walls they tried to maintain between their emotions and the rash impulses brought on by distance.

“Have you done any research on our kind since we’ve been apart?” Tex asked, shifting the tone of their conversation, desperate to find something hopeful amid the chaos.

“Yes! I found some fascinating articles about werewolves. Did you know that when wolves imprint on each other, it’s like the moon goddess herself chooses them as mates?” she said, her voice brightening.

Tex’s heart raced at her words, a feeling of euphoria surging through him. “Imprinting? That explains so much!” He felt a thrilling sense of urgency replacing the oppressive longing that had settled in his chest. “We imprinted on each other, didn’t we?”

Addy’s gaze was unwavering. “I think we did. It’s like something deep within me recognized you from the very beginning, even before we met. The way our instincts align… it’s undeniable.”

Excitement coursed through Tex as the realization washed over him. “That’s why it feels so right between us! The moon goddess chose us for a reason.”

“Yes!” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “We have to embrace it, Tex. We’re destined for something greater than what our individual instincts push us toward. It’s powerful — but we need to fight against these reckonings when we’re apart.”

“Together,” he affirmed, feeling invigorated by the newfound clarity. “We’ll take on this journey, no matter how hard it gets.”

As they spoke, the deep connection that pulsed between them made it easier to accept their current struggles. The knowledge of being chosen by the moon goddess lent them strength, but the ache of longing, of being apart, remained unyielding.

In the days that followed, Tex focused on the new bond they had forged through the power of acceptance and commitment. However, the uncontrollable impulses fueled by their distance sometimes left them feeling reckless. Their nights became consumed with fleeting encounters, shared through their video calls, both seeking the thrill while recognizing the hollowness it brought.

“Last night was a real struggle,” Addy shared in one conversation, her voice tinged with frustration. “I went out with friends and couldn’t shake the emptiness. A guy started flirtatiously following me around, and as much as I tried to engage, it just felt… wrong.”

Tex could relate intimately. “I know what you mean. Sometimes I can feel the beast in me acting out, demanding for an escape. I’m constantly fighting against it, and every encounter only reminds me of how much I want you,” he confessed.

The weight of unfulfilled desire lingered heavily between them, even as they tried to fill the void through their calls. But every chat, every laughter shared felt like a balm on the wounds ravaging their spirits, a promise that each moment apart meant they were working toward something greater.

“I want to hold you,” Tex said softly, longing sparking in his voice. “I want to feel whole.”

“Me too,” Addy responded earnestly, her expression turning more serious. “But we’ll get through this. We just need to stay connected, keep exploring who we are.”

The conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter, deep exchanges, and tender confessions that wove their hearts closer each day. Yet the recklessness of their urges wouldn’t stay at bay, and it gnawed at them both.

As the week continued, they committed to being each other’s strength, creating a bond that felt more profound and remarkable than anything they had experienced before. And while life continued to throw challenges their way, Tex and Addy faced those challenges head-on, knowing that they were bound together by something far greater than their distance — a wild, primal love gifted to them by the moon goddess herself.

And someday, when the time came for them to reunite again, that love would blaze a brighter path, illuminating the way forward into their shared future. Until then, each moment spent apart would serve only to strengthen the desires they had for one another and the inevitability of their reunion.