Chapter 171: Under the stars

Alyssa had the time of her life throughout the entire ride with Dorian. With the Bentley’s convertible roof folded down, the cool wind whipped through her hair, injecting a thrilling surge of adrenaline straight into her veins.

Pop music blasted through the speakers, and Dorian didn’t relent on the accelerator. The car devoured the smooth highway, speeding past the main city until the skyline faded into the outskirts of the Northern territory.

The outskirts were serene and deserted, dominated by towering trees and dense forest.

As the sun began its slow dip below the horizon, Dorian veered off the road, guiding the Bentley into a large field covered in wild pasture and vibrant flowers.

He cut the engine, letting the purr of the vehicle fade into complete silence as he leaned back against his leather headrest. He turned his head to look at Alyssa, letting out a soft chuckle.

She looked flushed. Her cheeks were painted a rosy red, her bright eyes sparkling under the dying light. A mile-wide smile lit up her features, her chest heaving as she caught her breath after the intense rush. Her hair was completely disheveled, flying wild in every direction.

Dorian’s quiet chuckle expanded into a full, hearty laugh. The pure awe and exhilaration radiating from her warmed his heart to its core.

​"Are you alright?" he asked, his deep voice trembling with fond laughter as he reached across the console to tidy her hair.

"More than alright," she gasped breathlessly. "I’ve never been in a car moving that fast before. I literally felt like I was flying, though now my hair is a complete bird’s nest."

"You’re still stunning," he murmured softly, leaning over to cup her jaw and press a sweet kiss to her lips. "I never imagined a day would come where the sound of your laughter could rival the sweetest music."

Alyssa let out a soft laugh, playfully swatting at his arm. "You always say the most romantic things."

"Because I mean every single word," he said, his expression sobering into deep sincerity. "Every single day, I thank the Moon Goddess that she led me to you. Not just that night in the forest, but the first time in Iridian. I can’t imagine what my life would look like if I hadn’t found you."

"Aww, Dorian," Her smile faltered slightly as tears welled in her eyes. She reached up to stroke his cheek, her fingertips tracing the sharp line of his jaw down to his full lips. "I’m so glad I found you, too."

A comfortable silence settled over them. Dorian pressed a button on the illuminated dashboard, and both of their seats smoothly reclined back.

They lay side by side, gazing up at the sky. With the top down and dusk rapidly darkening the horizon, the moment felt ethereal, as if the universe had shrunk down to just the two of them.

Dorian laced his fingers through hers, bringing their joined hands up to his lips. For a long while, neither of them spoke a word; they simply basked in the peaceful stillness and the warmth of each other’s presence, watching the first stars pierce through the darkening sky above.

Eventually, Alyssa broke the silence, her voice dropping into a quiet murmur. "Things are going to change now, aren’t they?"

Dorian didn’t answer immediately. He didn’t pretend to misunderstand what she meant, either. He knew the weight resting on her mind.

"Maybe," he offered softly.

She turned her head on the headrest, looking over at his sharp side profile. "You don’t have to sugarcoat it for me, Dorian. I know everything will change the moment Wintercrest discovers I am a Hybrid."

"They don’t have to know yet."

"But they will eventually," she insisted. "It’s not a secret we can keep buried forever. A time will come when my powers will surge and I won’t be able to control them."

"Then you’ll learn to master them," Dorian said firmly. He turned his head to meet her gaze, his expression serious. "I will do whatever it takes to ensure you learn how to control it. And if Wintercrest eventually discovers that their Luna is a Hybrid, they will either accept it or leave my kingdom. No one will ever harm you, Alyssa. Over my dead body."

Alyssa exhaled a slow breath, turning her eyes back to the starry sky. "You know, there was a time where my life felt so peaceful with you, a time before I realized I wasn’t wolfless like everyone claimed. I didn’t have to be careful then. I could go anywhere without this constant lingering fear."

She turned back to lock eyes with him again, her gaze searching his. "Now, it’s completely different. Now I have to constantly restrain my emotions just to keep from losing control. I’m terrified of hurting someone... the way I hurt you."

"You didn’t hurt me intentionally," Dorian cut in smoothly. "That is why I hesitated to tell you. I didn’t want you feeling guilty for something you had no control over."

Alyssa gently squeezed his hand. "You always make me believe everything is going to turn out fine, that being a Hybrid doesn’t change anything."

"Because it doesn’t, Alyssa. It changes nothing. You are already the perfect Luna for our people. And when it comes to your duties, even duties that might temporarily pull you away from Wintercrest, I know you will handle them with perfection."

"Would you still say those exact words if it turns out I am an Onyx Hybrid?"

Dorian’s jaw tightened, his eyes darkening at the mention of the name. Past memories tried to force their way to the surface; blood-soaked visions of the past war, but he ruthlessly shoved them back down.

He shifted his weight slightly on the reclined seat, staring intently into her eyes. "Listen to me very carefully, Alyssa. I give you my word, not just as your husband, but as your Alpha. If it turns out you carry Onyx blood, my love for you will never change. I will protect you with everything I have. I will keep you safe. And I will love you until my last breath."

Alyssa’s tears broke free as she heard the raw devotion in his voice. Her lips curved into a fragile smile. "Even though it was the Onyx who slaughtered your people?"

"That history has nothing to do with you," Dorian answered without a second of hesitation. "And besides, the Onyx were not the only cause of that war. The Hybrids and the soulless rogues were just as responsible."

A fleeting thought crossed his mind; about the Rogue King, Ragnar, and the suspicion that he had returned because of her presence. But just as before, he held back. He could be mistaken, and Ragnar might have no idea she even existed. There was no sense in burdening her heart with unneeded terror.

"So you really won’t hate me if I turn out to be part Onyx?" Alyssa whispered, searching his face.

"Never," Dorian said, shaking his head with fierce certainty. "I could never hate you. You have no idea of how deeply I love you, Alyssa. How much I worship you. Nothing in this world could ever make me hate you."

He leaned across the console and captured her lips in a deep kiss, sealing his promises against her mouth. When he finally pulled back, his thumb gently brushed away the tears lingering on her cheek.

"We will take this one day at a time," he murmured against her lips. "When the moment is right, we will reveal your Hybrid powers to everyone together."

Alyssa sniffed softly, her heart swelling as she nodded with a smile. "Okay."

Dorian smiled back, pressing another tender kiss to her lips before pulling back. But right in that second, a mischievous spark ignited in Alyssa’s blue eyes.

Without a word of warning, her fingers moved to the button of her trousers, unzipping them and wiggling out of them in one swift motion. Next, her hands flew to her shirt, unbuttoning it rapidly and tossing it into the back seat, leaving herself stripped down to just her lace bra and panties.

Dorian’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. "W–what are you doing?"

​"What does it look like?" she grinned wickedly, swinging one leg over the center console and straddling his lap right in the reclined driver’s seat. "I want to make love to you under the stars."

Dorian’s instincts ignited instantly. His hands reached down, yanking his hoodie over his head and tossing it aside before reaching up to unhook her bra and cup the soft swells of her breasts.

Alyssa arched her back deeply with a soft, shuddering moan, throwing her head back into the cool night air. She could feel the thick, rigid length of his erection pressing hard against her damp underwear, and she deliberately ground her moist core down against him.

"Alyssa..." Dorian choked out, his throat tight, his voice raspy with desire. "Fuck! I’m trying to go slow with you."

"I don’t need you to go slow," she whispered. Her hands were already tearing at his trousers, shoving the fabric down his thighs and releasing his cock.

Dorian let out a muffled curse as his hands snapped away from her breasts and clutched the soft flesh of her ass. He lifted her body slightly, pushed her panties to the side, and lowered her onto his cock with excruciating slowness.

"Goddamn," he rasped, groaning deeply at the tight heat as she took him in. She clamped firmly around his length, hot and slick, driving his control straight over the edge.

His hand landed on the curve of her ass in a hard spank, squeezing the soft flesh before he snapped his hips upward in a deep thrust.

"Oooh, yess, Dorian..." Alyssa cried out to the night sky, her body trembling violently from the intense sensation.

When he locked his grip on her waist and began thrusting upward at a relentless, steady pace–driving deep inside her with long, thick strokes–the rest of the world completely ceased to exist.

All that remained in that quiet field was the overwhelming rush of being filled, the sharp sting of his palm against her skin, and the wild, unfiltered ecstasy of being completely ravaged under the stars.