HEARTS OF DIVINE RUIN (The MoonGoddess and The AlphaKing)

As Luna stepped forward, the massive iron gates swung open without a creak, as if bowing to her presence. They seemed to sigh under the weight of ancient power, acknowledging her approach. The moment she passed through, they shut behind her with a resounding clang, sealing her fate. But she didn't even flinch. If anything, a small smirk played on her lips.
Because waiting for her just beyond those gates was a storm wrapped in a familiar face.
Alex's silver eyes—tired, frustrated, and laced with a fiery anger—locked onto hers the moment she stepped out. His broad frame was rigid, shoulders squared as if he were bracing himself for a fight, while his gaze seemed to silently scream: Did you really think you could just sneak away? The question burned in his eyes, daring her to answer.
"Good Morning, Alpha King," she drawled lazily, her lips quirking in a teasing grin, deliberately ignoring the tension crackling between them. She could practically feel his fury vibrating through the air.
"You think this is funny?" he growled, taking a single step forward, his shadow looming over her. "Sneaking off like that, when I specifically begged not to leave me behind?" His jaw was tight, and she had to bite back the urge to laugh at how very serious he looked, all coiled anger and dark intensity.
"Begged? Cmon don't make be the bad one here ?" she teased, eyes sparkling mischievously. She made a point of slowly stretching her arms overhead, letting his gaze follow her every movement. "And here I thought you liked chasing me, King. Were you scared I wouldn't let you catch me this time?"
His eyes narrowed. "You think I wouldn't?"
"Oh, I'm sure you would've," she purred, stepping closer, toeing the dangerous line between challenge and flirtation. "But, Alex, you really shouldn't worry so much. I couldn't leave without you."
"Couldn't?" he repeated, a disbelieving edge in his voice. He didn't miss a beat, closing the remaining space between them until his chest was inches from hers. "You looked like you were doing just fine without me when I woke up to an empty bed."
Luna chuckled softly, a sultry sound that made his eyes darken further. "Aww, did I hurt your feelings?" She tilted her head, batting her lashes in mock sympathy. "Maybe I was testing you. Seeing how fast you'd track me down."
He let out a low, frustrated growl, hands twitching as if he wanted to throttle her—and maybe kiss her all at once. "You shouldn't be testing my patience, Luna."
"Good thing we have time , maybe we can test someother things too" she whispered, her voice dropping, eyes challenging him to push back.
"Luna," he warned, voice gravelly and dangerously low, but she only smiled wider.
"What?" she asked innocently, her eyes twinkling. "I only mean testing how powerful or strong you are ?"
"Don't," he bit out, leaning down so close she could feel the heat of his breath against her lips. "Don't play that game with me."

"What game, darling?" She trailed a finger slowly up his chest, feeling his muscles tense beneath her touch. "I only meant to stretch my legs. You know, take a little walk." She paused, lips curling devilishly. "And maybe see if I could get a rise out of you in the process."
"Get a rise?" He arched an incredulous brow, expression darkening as if to say Careful. But she just smirked, eyes dancing with mischief.
"You look adorable when you're mad," she cooed, biting her lower lip to keep from laughing outright. "All growly and—"
His arms shot out, wrapping around her waist and yanking her flush against him. "I swear, Luna," he murmured, the threat half-melting into a soft, frustrated exhale. "You're going to drive me insane."
Her breath hitched, but she refused to back down, her gaze still locked on his. "That's the plan, Alpha," she murmured cheekily, then leaned up to brush her lips against his cheek in a feather-light kiss. "Wouldn't want you to get bored of me, now would we?"
"Bored?" He huffed, almost laughing despite himself, shaking his head as if exasperated. "Boredom isn't what I'm worried about."
"Then what are you worried about?" She tipped her head back, eyes wide and feigning innocence as his fingers dug into her hips. "Scared I'd really run off?"
His grip tightened. "You were running off."
"Hmm," she hummed thoughtfully, then leaned up to nip lightly at his jawline. "Maybe I was."
"Luna—" The warning in his voice melted into something else entirely as her lips brushed against his pulse. "Stop that."
"Stop what?" she whispered teasingly, lips brushing against his skin again as he fought to keep his expression stern. "This?"
"You know what," he growled, hands sliding up to cradle the back of her neck, holding her in place as he stared down at her. "If you think doing this will make me distracted and you can run away again then i better tell you right now , You my dear goddess - can't run away from me , no matter how far you run away i will find you  "
"Maybe I did wanted to run away few minutes back But - ," she mused, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "I just changed my mind." She winked. "I like having my very own furious Alpha King as company."
"Luna," he groaned, exasperated, but his anger was already ebbing away under her relentless teasing. "One day, I'm going to—"
"—to what?" she cut him off with a grin. "Tie me up and keep me with you forever?"
His gaze darkened, but the corner of his mouth quirked despite himself. "Don't tempt me."
"Tempt you?" she echoed, eyes glinting wickedly. "I thought that's what you are best at - Tying people up" She traced the line of his collarbone with a delicate finger, making him shudder as brought her hand in handcuffed stance to tease him more .
"You're impossible," he muttered, releasing her just enough to let out a long breath. "And infuriating."
"And yet you're still here," she whispered, eyes softening slightly as the intensity between them shifted. "Still by my side."
He hesitated, staring down at her, a thousand words left unsaid. Then, finally, he sighed, shoulders relaxing. "Where are we going, Luna?" he asked quietly, the frustration melting into something softer, more resigned.
A slow, mysterious smile curled her lips as she glanced around. "We're not going anywhere boring, I promise." Her eyes sparkled with a hidden excitement. 
His brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Luna's smile turned mysterious. "We're going to have a bit of fun first."
"Fun?" He sounded skeptical, but she could see the curiosity beneath the suspicion.
"Yes, fun," she repeated, her eyes gleaming. "Because this little game of hide-and-seek is about to end. And when it does... well, let's just say the one in the shadows will have no choice but to step into the light."
Understanding flickered in Alex's gaze, followed by a sharp, assessing look. "Who are they?" he demanded, voice low. "And what do they want with you?"
Luna paused, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. "I only know one—" she began, her tone almost sing-song, dancing on the edge of playfulness. But then something flickered in her eyes, a shadow of hesitation. "The rest of 'they'... I'm still figuring out."
"But no worries," she added with a light shrug, trying to recapture her earlier flippancy. "When that one shows up, the others will follow."
His gaze sharpened, suspicion mingling with something else—something like admiration. "You've planned this."
"Of course," she replied, flashing him a cheeky grin. "And even if I hadn't... well, that's what I have you for, right?"
Alex groaned softly, running a hand through his hair, his frustration fighting a losing battle against the pull of her charm. "I swear, you'll be my undoing."
"Maybe," she agreed, a wicked smile dancing on her lips. "But hey, I promise to make it worth your while."
For a long, tense moment, Alex just stared at her, caught between exasperation, disbelief, and a myriad of emotions he couldn't quite name. But then his expression shifted, darkened, his eyes narrowing as something seemed to click into place. "But... who is the one that you know?" he asked slowly, his voice dropping to a low, careful murmur as if bracing for an answer he wouldn't like.
Luna's playful demeanor shattered. The smile slipped from her lips, her teasing air vanishing like smoke in the wind. She hesitated, and for a heartbeat, Alex glimpsed something he'd never thought he'd see in her—uncertainty. Her gaze dropped to the ground, fingers tightening around the fabric of her clothes as if holding herself together. When she finally looked back at him, the mischievous goddess who'd been baiting him only moments before was gone, replaced by someone raw and unguarded.
"That one..." she whispered softly, as if saying it aloud might summon a ghost from her past. "He was... my mate."