MATED TO THE MOON ALPHAS

Chapter 34: GUILT

ELARA

What the hell was going on?

Who was this Sophia person that could make Hardin, the always-in-control, terrifying alpha, look like he was one second away from ripping the palace apart? Why did Jeremy suddenly act like he had any authority over him? And why did it feel like I had walked straight into a history I knew absolutely nothing about?

Everything was spiraling way too fast. So I did the one thing that came straight to my head, "You both should cut this drama right now!" I barked, my voice echoing down the hall.

Neither of them even glanced at me. As if my words disappeared into the air.

"I can take you to your brother," Jeremy continued, staring Hardin down, "but not Sophia. His Majesty’s orders."

"Can someone please tell me who Sophia is?" I demanded, frustration boiling over. "Because we can’t just stand here arguing about someone I don’t even know!" ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Jeremy finally turned to me, his expression tight. "That’s because you weren’t even supposed to be here, El. Do you realize how dangerous it is coming back with Hardin this late? Do you know what people will say if they see you two together?"

El.

The nickname hit me like a slap. One minute he was calling me Elara like I was a stranger, now he was calling me El like we were still... whatever we used to be.

"Oh wow," I shot back, crossing my arms. "Now we’re shifting blame? Where did all that concern come from?"

"That’s enough!" Hardin’s voice cracked through the hall like thunder.

The entire corridor went dead silent.

He stood there for a long moment, breathing hard, power still radiating off him in heavy waves. "I’m going to see my father."

"His Majesty wants me beside you—" Jeremy started.

Hardin didn’t even let him finish.

"I don’t care what he says. I’m seeing him. Alone." His voice cracked slightly, like he was half pleading, half commanding. "So please, for fuck’s sake, stay with Elara."

Stay with Elara?

Like I was some child who needed a babysitter? After everything that had just happened with this so called Sophia now he was suddenly worried about leaving me alone? And with Jeremy, of all people?

The confusion twisted painfully in my chest. One minute he was obsessed with the mysterious Sophia, the next he was acting like he cared what happened to me. I couldn’t keep up.

Jeremy looked like he wanted to argue. His jaw clenched, eyes flashing with clear frustration, but he held his tongue. He simply watched as Hardin turned sharply and stormed down the hall, his heavy footsteps echoing like thunder until he disappeared around the corner.

Leaving Jeremy and me standing there in heavy, suffocating silence.

I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, suddenly very aware of how disheveled I still looked, clothes thrown on in a rush, hair still slightly a mess, and the faint scent of Hardin still clinging to my skin. The awkwardness between us felt thicker than the tension in the hallway earlier.

Jeremy finally turned to face me fully. The silence stretched between us, long and painfully heavy, before he spoke. "Do you mind telling me why you’re here with Hardin?"

I inhaled sharply, trying to steady my racing heart. "Are you not defying the king’s orders by just letting him go like that?" I deflected, waving his question away.

"That’s not your concern. Just answer me."

I forced my gaze away from his. "Something happened. Nothing you should worry about."

The lie sat heavy on my tongue. There was no point hiding it from him, he’d find out eventually. But admitting I had almost slept with Hardin, that I had kissed him, touched him, begged him to take my clothes off... I couldn’t bring myself to say it. Not to Jeremy. Not to Jeremy. Not when the guilt was already clawing at my insides like sharp claws.

Especially not when I still had feelings for him. The one kiss we shared before everything went to hell still lingered in my mind. I had no idea what we even were anymore, but the guilt was already eating me alive.

Jeremy exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. His expression softened, but it wasn’t gentle, it was pained. His brows furrowed deeply, his eyes filled with a mix of worry, exhaustion, and something that looked a lot like hurt. The kind of look that made my stomach twist because I knew I was the cause of it. "Your father figured I helped hide you. He convinced the king to lock me in the dark room for days."

His voice was soft, but I could hear the buried frustration underneath. "All that time, I was losing my mind worrying about what happened to you while I was supposed to be thinking about my own mess. So yes, El, it is something I should worry about. Now would you just give me a straight answer while I’m still asking nicely?"

My heart did a painful triple flip in my chest.

I looked at him, really looked deeply, and that expression on his face nearly broke me. He looked genuinely worried. Tired. Like he had been through hell and still put me first. I didn’t deserve any of it. It hit me like a truck. Not after what I had done with Hardin tonight. Not after I had let myself get lost in the heat and the bond and the chaos. while Jeremy was locked away somewhere because of me.

The guilt crashed over me like a wave, thick and suffocating. I felt dirty. Disloyal. Like I had betrayed the one person who had always tried to protect me.

I didn’t even realize a tear had slipped from the corner of my eye until it was halfway down my cheek. I quickly turned away, wiping it furiously.

Before I could take another step, Jeremy closed the distance. His tall frame hovered over me, gently but firmly blocking my escape. The familiar warmth of him so close only made the guilt and ache in my chest burn hotter.

His fingers moved slowly under my chin to tilt it up, that’s when I saw it...