HEARTS OF DIVINE RUIN (The MoonGoddess and The AlphaKing)

The silence of the room was broken only by the faint rustling of sheets as Luna shifted, turning onto her side to watch Alex. The moonlight streaming through the curtains painted soft shadows across his face, highlighting the slight furrow in his brow even as he slept. She had been lying there for hours, simply observing him. His dark lashes fluttered now and then, as if he was caught in some vivid dream, and every so often, his arm would tighten around her waist, instinctively pulling her closer, almost as if he feared she'd disappear.
How exhausted he must have been. The thought lingered in her mind, weighing heavily. He'd been pushing himself relentlessly throughout this journey, driving through treacherous roads and barely resting, while she had stolen small naps in the car. She hadn't considered what it was doing to him, too consumed by her own turmoil to realize the toll it was taking on him. 
Guilt gnawed at her, an unwelcome reminder of how much she had demanded of him—demands she knew he would never refuse.
She sighed softly, her gaze drifting from his face to the clock on the wall. 
3:45 a.m. 
The rest of the world was asleep, lost in their dreams, while her mind burned with thoughts and meticulously laid plans. Her eyes ached with fatigue, yet sleep eluded her, just as it had since that night—the night that had set everything in motion. She had no time to waste, no time to indulge in the peace that being in his arms offered.
Slowly, cautiously, Luna turned her back to him. The movement was almost imperceptible, yet his response was immediate. Even in sleep, his body reacted, his grip tightening as he shifted closer, his chest pressing firmly against her back. 
She felt his warmth seep into her, and for a moment, she closed her eyes, savoring the sensation of being held. It felt so good—so heartbreakingly good—that her resolve wavered. But she couldn't afford this, not anymore.
Taking a deep breath, Luna braced herself and began to slip out from his grasp, inch by painstaking inch. She froze as his arm shifted, muscles tensing as if he was on the verge of waking. Her heart stilled in her chest, but Alex merely sighed in his sleep, his brow relaxing. He was completely out, the deep, exhausted kind of sleep that comes only after too many sleepless nights.
With a silent exhale, she continued, finally managing to free herself without disturbing him. Her eyes lingered on his face one last time, the knife-sharp guilt piercing her as she gently brushed a lock of hair away from his forehead. Then, moving as silently as a shadow, she slipped out of the bed, padding across the room.
Her fingers curled around the handle of the dagger Lucifer had given her, its weight both a comfort and a curse. She glanced back only once before easing the door open and stepping out into the hallway. The Hell Lord's palace stretched before her in all its dark, haunting grandeur, the walls adorned with twisted carvings that seemed to watch her every move. The air was thick with an otherworldly stillness, heavy and foreboding, as if the very stones of the castle held the memories of ancient, malevolent deeds.
The corridors were dimly lit, casting long shadows that stretched across the floor like grasping fingers. The silence was deafening, broken only by the faint rustle of her clothing as she moved. But Luna knew better than to assume the palace was asleep. 
The demons that called this place home never truly rested. Even now, she could feel their eyes on her, lurking in the corners of the hallways, hidden in the darkness. 
The Hell Lord's domain was never at peace.
She reached the doors that led to the garden, the cold metal handle smooth beneath her touch. The gardens of Hell were as beautiful as they were deadly—dark roses in full bloom, the petals edged in a blood-red hue that glowed faintly in the darkness. 
As she stepped outside, the chill of the early morning air nipped at her skin. The world was bathed in the soft, eerie glow of the moon, casting an otherworldly light over the garden paths. It was haunting and beautiful, the kind of place that made one feel truly alive, teetering on the edge of danger.
Just as Luna's foot crossed the threshold, a voice, smooth as silk and laced with dark amusement, halted her in her tracks.
"Running away?"
Luna's gaze snapped to the figure leaning casually against one of the twisted, wrought-iron columns. 
Lucifer. 
He looked as though he'd just woken up himself, his hair tousled in a disarray of black waves, his usually pristine suit now slightly disheveled and unbuttoned at the collar. Even like this—unpolished and unguarded—his beauty was mesmerizing. The faint moonlight caressed his features, highlighting his sculpted cheekbones and making his eyes glint with a predatory light, like a beast that had just spotted its prey.
She couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. "Shouldn't you be sleeping?" she teased softly, her voice barely a whisper in the stillness.
Lucifer's smile was slow, almost lazy. "And miss out on the chance to see you sneaking around like a thief in the night? I think not." He straightened, his gaze never leaving hers. "Besides, the king upstairs will be rather disappointed when he wakes up and finds you gone."
A flash of pain darted through her chest, but she masked it quickly, lifting her chin. "Better disappointed than dead," she murmured.
Lucifer's eyes narrowed, confusion flickering across his face for a brief moment before understanding dawned. "Ah, I see." His expression softened, a shadow of something almost like sympathy darkening his features. "You know, I always thought fate was cruel only to me. But it seems it didn't spare you either."
Luna's smile was brittle as she looked away. "That's why we're friends, right?" she said lightly, though there was no humor in her voice.
He chuckled, a low, rich sound that reverberated in the silence. "Yes, that's why." His gaze grew serious as he stepped closer, his eyes intent on hers. "I can't do much for you, Luna," he said quietly. "But I can promise you this—if your friend upstairs ever comes knocking at my door... I'll send him back empty-handed."
Luna's heart tightened painfully at his words. She knew what he meant. As the Hell Lord, he had dominion over the souls of mortals, the power to decide who crossed into his realm and who didn't. So , If Alex ever died... Lucifer was saying he would refuse his entry - He will not let him die. He would send Alex's soul back to her, no matter the cost.
Her breath caught, the weight of his words sinking in. "Lucifer, you don't have to—"
"I will , I promise . So -, Just take him with you," Lucifer continued, his voice low and insistent. "Stop running. He'll play a vital role in what's to come. And with him by your side, I won't have to worry about you."
She looked up at him, their gazes locked in a wordless understanding. They had known each other for eons—since the dawn of time itself. They had fought against each other and for each other, stood together through Heaven's fall and Hell's rise. There was a deep, unspoken bond between them, forged through millennia of shared history.
And although she had never said it aloud, she knew that Lucifer knew. 
He knew that she was the one who had knelt before the Supreme God for days, months, pleading for his life when he broke the contract with the previous lord of hell and was condemned to eternal death.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath. "But you know what I cannot tag him along" she continued softly. " He will be in danger with me."
Lucifer's jaw tightened, his expression hardening. "He will die either way," he said gently. "You can't fight fate, Luna. The Alpha King had the mark of death on him long before you met him so your interference means nothing. It's his fate - like we have ours hanging upon us . Let him come with you." he murmured. "He's already lost too much because of your so called Gods."
Her emotions churned—a tangled mess of chaos and uncertainty. Indeed , she'd seen the death aura clouding Alex from the very beginning. 
It was one of the reasons she'd decided to keep him close at first, a curious fascination that had grown into something far more dangerous. Caring for him was starting to gnaw at her insides, consuming her thoughts. She knew Lucifer was right, and with a deep breath, she looked at him, her eyes searching his.
"That promise you made just now... will you really keep it?" she asked quietly, desperation coloring her words.
Lucifer's gaze softened as he nodded. "I will."
Luna stared at him, disbelief clouding her gaze. "Why are you going this far, Lucifer? You know you'll be risking more than just punishment if you get tangled up in this mess. The other kind Gods, Heaven, even your own people—they won't forgive you if you interfere with the wolves."
Lucifer merely smiled, a shadow of something far older and deeper flickering behind his eyes. "Because, little goddess—uhm, now human—it's what you would have done for me if our places were reversed." His voice softened, taking on a gentleness few would believe the Hell Lord capable of. "You're my friend, Luna. My sister. My family. Do you really think I'd stand by and watch you throw everything away, again?"
"Sister?" She blinked at him, caught off guard by the word. The absurdity of it drew a startled laugh from her lips. "What in the world of incest is this? You don't call someone a sister when, once upon a time, that same sister was infatuated with you."
Lucifer's eyes widened briefly, and then he laughed—a rich, genuine sound that echoed through the empty halls. "Are you saying you're no longer infatuated with me?" he teased, his grin wicked.
"Hardly," she shot back, shaking her head with a smile. "I've just found someone prettier than you." The words slipped out before she could stop them, and as soon as she said it, she knew he would catch the hidden truth within.
"Someone prettier, huh?" His voice turned sly. "And what happened to just having 'fun' with that someone prettier?"
Luna's expression didn't falter, but something in her eyes shifted, just for a second. "What's wrong with appreciating beauty?" she replied lightly, deflecting, even though she knew he was never just 'fun' to begin with.
Lucifer's gaze softened, the knowing gleam in his eyes replaced by something more serious. "just so you know - He's already waiting for you, behind those gates," he said quietly, nodding toward the palace's entrance.
Her shoulders tensed, and she looked in the direction he indicated, the fight draining out of her. She knew it wouldn't be easy to fool an Alpha King. Her feet turned towards the gates, and she started walking, only to stop, hesitation gripping her like a vice.
"You're family to me," Lucifer murmured, stepping closer, his voice dropping to a low, earnest tone. "To me, to Davina—to everyone who matters. So listen to me, Luna. You just have to say the word, and I'll be there. No matter what it costs me. No matter the consequences."
She stared up at him, struck by the raw sincerity in his gaze. He meant every word. But his hands were tied—by laws older than both of them, by the nature of his existence itself. As the Hell Lord, he couldn't interfere with the affairs of other realms without an invitation. If he did so, the repercussions would ripple across realities, threatening the delicate balance that kept their worlds intact.
"If you don't ask me," he murmured softly, "my hands are tied. You know that."
"Lucifer..." She swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking into her chest. "I can't—"
"You can," he insisted, his voice both steady and unyielding.
"You have a life here," she countered, her tone gaining strength as she met his gaze. "A life with the person you've longed for all this time. Don't throw it away for someone else's battles." Despite being human now, the authority in her voice was unmistakable, a fleeting echo of the goddess she once was. "So hear me clearly—this is my burden to bear, my people to protect. I don't need your help handling it."
Lucifer tilted his head, a shadow of a smile on his lips. "Better bring my knife back to me, or I'll—"
"—drag me back to Hell," she cut in, smiling despite herself. "I got it."
His laughter echoed softly through the empty halls. And with that, he turned, disappearing into the shadows, leaving Luna to walk farther and farther toward the gates—and closer to her fate.