The Cursed Alpha's Fifth Luna

Chapter 71: I Never Said That

Rodrigo’s hand remained against the jug for a moment after she pulled hers away. Then he turned toward her fully, his eyes settling on her face.

Nina’s lips moved before she could stop herself.

"Sorry," she said quickly. "I didn’t know you were reaching for it—"

"Are you okay?"

The question caught her off guard.

She looked at him properly then, and the concern in his expression only made the heat in her cheeks spread faster. Her legs pulled together beneath the table while her fingers curled tightly against her lap.

"I’m fine," she replied softly.

His eyes stayed on her a second longer before they lowered slightly.

Nina stopped breathing.

Her heartbeat slammed hard against her chest, loud enough that she was suddenly sure he could hear it. The thought alone made her look away immediately.

Beside her, she heard the soft sound of water pouring into a glass.

Rodrigo slid the cup toward her.

"Drink."

Nina reached for it carefully, making sure their hands did not touch again this time. Even so, her fingers trembled slightly around the glass.

She drank quickly. She could still feel his gaze resting on her.

When she was done, she lowered the cup, placing it down too fast. Her cutlery slipped from her fingers as she reached for it, and it clattered loudly against the plate.

Nina cursed under her breath as she exhaled slowly, picked up the fork, and quietly returned to her food.

For a while, only the sound of plates and glasses filled the dining hall.

Then Rodrigo set his fork down.

"About last night..."

Nina’s shoulders stiffened. Her eyes lifted to his face, and her lips moved before she could catch herself.

"It was a mistake," she blurted out before he could continue. "I know, you... we don’t need to talk about it."

The words came too fast and without pausing.

Her grip tightened around the fork to stop her hands from shaking. The table became quiet. Not a single sound filled the dining room.

Nina held her breath and then slowly lifted her eyes to look at him. He was watching her, his brows drawn together in a frown.

"I never said that," he replied.

Nina blinked.

"What?" she asked, her mouth falling open in shock.

What was that supposed to mean?

Rodrigo held her stare for a long moment, his jaw tightening slightly before he looked back down at his plate and continued eating.

Nina sat there without moving.

The silence around them suddenly felt too thick.

Her throat went dry.

If it was not a mistake, then what was it?

There was no possible way...

Her eyes shifted toward him slowly.

He was eating calmly, not a single change in his expression.

Nina reached for the glass again and emptied the rest of the water in one swallow.

She remained quiet for the rest of the meal, barely feeling the taste of the food on her plate, her thoughts too tangled to settle properly. Every now and then, she could feel Rodrigo’s presence beside her so strongly that it became impossible to focus on anything else.

When he finally finished eating, he set his cutlery down and stood from the table.

Nina stayed seated as she waited for him to leave. She needed space to breathe and get her thoughts together.

She listened to the sound of his footsteps moving across the dining hall, and only when she heard them near the doorway did she finally let herself breathe properly.

Then suddenly, the footsteps stopped. Nina froze.

"Are you not coming?"

Her head whipped around toward him.

He stood near the doors, one hand resting against the frame as he looked back at her.

Why was he waiting for her?

Nina cursed internally as she forced herself up from the table.

"I’m coming," she replied quickly, and hurried toward him.

Rodrigo waited until she reached him before he turned and walked out.

Nina breathed out, following behind.

At first, she remained a step behind as usual, but after a few moments, he slowed his pace until they were walking side by side. ƒrēewebnovel.com

The realization made something warm spread through her chest.

Nina kept her eyes ahead, trying not to think too much about it. If she allowed herself to think, she would remember how much she shouldn’t want any of this, how much everything was wrong, and how much the look in his eyes would change if he found out who she really was.

So instead, she focused on the sound of their footsteps moving together through the halls.

"Where are we going?" she asked once they stepped outside the living quarters.

The evening sun had already begun sinking behind the mountains, covering the courtyard in soft orange light. A few pack members still lingered outside, but most were already returning indoors.

Rodrigo glanced at her briefly, his hands folded behind him.

"We have to practice."

Nina frowned immediately as she tilted her head toward him. "Practice what?"

"The Hunt is less than a month away." Rodrigo looked at her again, one brow lifting slightly. "Have you never attended one before?"

Nina blinked once before shaking her head.

"No. I was never taken to pack events."

Rodrigo nodded once. Silence resumed for a few seconds, then he continued.

"You can barely balance bowls," he said calmly. "Which means you also cannot dance."

Nina’s mouth fell open.

She turned to him immediately, ready to argue, but nothing came out because, unfortunately, he was right.

Rodrigo looked ahead again, though she caught the faint lift at the corner of his mouth.

Nina frowned harder.

"I can dance," she muttered under her breath.

"Now, can you?"

Her expression darkened while Rodrigo’s amusement deepened slightly.

Nina turned her face away at once, lips pressing into a pout as she continued walking beside him.

A quiet chuckle escaped him when he saw the look on her face. "Don’t worry, I’ll teach you," he said, and Nina’s eyes lowered to her feet, her lips curving slightly.

They entered the east wing and continued through a long hallway until Rodrigo stopped before a large set of double doors.

He pushed them open.

Nina slowed immediately as she stepped inside.

The hall was enormous.

Long curtains framed the tall windows while polished floors stretched beneath soft golden lights hanging from above. She had never entered this part of the estate before.

Rodrigo walked farther inside, his footsteps echoing lightly through the room as he crossed toward an old music box resting near the wall.

A moment later, soft music filled the hall.

Nina stood near the entrance watching him.

Rodrigo turned toward her and walked back slowly before stopping directly in front of her.

Then he stretched out his hand.

Nina stared at it for a second before slowly placing her hand in his.

The moment his fingers closed around hers, her heartbeat stumbled again.

Rodrigo stepped closer.

"Follow my lead," he said quietly.

Before she could prepare herself, his other hand settled against her waist.

Nina inhaled sharply.

His palm rested firmly against her side, warm even through the fabric of her dress, while her own free hand remained trapped in his.

"You’re stiff," Rodrigo murmured close to her ear. "Breathe."

Nina swallowed hard.

Her lashes fluttered as she looked everywhere but at him.

Rodrigo guided her slowly across the floor, leading the first few steps while the music drifted softly around them.

"Left," he said quietly.

Nina moved late.

Rodrigo steadied her immediately as she caught herself.

Nina inhaled. "Sorry," she said.

"Don’t worry, take your time," he said. "You just need to follow my lead."

Nina’s eyes lifted to his for the first time. He was already watching her. The grey in them was clear and soft, gazing down at her like she was something precious.

She dropped her gaze to his chest.

"Let’s go again," he said.

Nina tried to focus on the rhythm instead of the way his hand felt against her waist.

The scent of him surrounded her completely now.

Warm skin.

Cedar.

Something darker underneath.

Her fingers tightened unconsciously against his shoulder.

She missed another step.

"Focus," he whispered.

"I am focusing," Nina muttered as she tried to steady herself. His hand pulled her closer until she was against him, barely an inch of space between them. Her heart thudded against her chest. She couldn’t breathe.

His hand slid slightly higher against her back, and her breathing caught.

"Look at me," he said softly.

She hesitated before finally lifting her eyes to his.

"There," Rodrigo murmured. "Now follow my lead."

This time he moved slower.

Nina focused on the sound of the music and the steady pressure of his hand guiding her through each step. Gradually, her movements became smoother.

Still clumsy.

But smoother.

Rodrigo watched her carefully the entire time.

Whenever she missed a step, his hand tightened slightly against her waist before correcting her gently.

"Relax your shoulders."

Nina obeyed.

"Good."

The quiet praise made her chest tighten strangely.

As they continued moving across the hall, Nina slowly became less aware of the steps and more aware of everything else.

The warmth of his body close to hers.

The strength in his hand at her waist.

The roughness of his palm against her fingers.

The way his eyes stayed fixed on her whenever she looked up.

Her heartbeat had become impossible to ignore now.

By the time the music finally slowed to an end, neither of them moved away.

Rodrigo’s hand still rested against her back.

Nina’s fingers had curled tightly into the fabric near his shoulder at some point without her noticing.

The hall had gone completely quiet.

Slowly, Nina lifted her eyes to his face.

Her breath stopped.

The grey in his eyes was clearer this close, sharp and steady as he looked down at her without moving.

Nina’s fingers curled tighter instinctively.

For one long second, it felt like the rest of the world had disappeared around them, and then she watched his eyes drop.

To her lips.

She stilled. Every nerve inside her heightened at his gaze on her.

She was trembling, and Nina wished desperately that he couldn’t feel it.

He blinked softly, and she drew a slow breath, her eyes finding his mouth too.

In that moment, there was nothing else.

Except her undeniable and unquenchable thirst

For him.