Luna's Pov
The first thing I became aware of was the dull ache coursing through my body. It was a heavy, all-encompassing pain, but beneath it was something else—a warmth wrapped around my hand, grounding me in a way I couldn't explain.
I blinked slowly, the harsh fluorescent lights above me stabbing at my eyes. It took a moment for my vision to adjust, for the blurry shapes around me to solidify into recognizable forms.
The sterile white walls, the steady beep of machines—it all came rushing back. The accident. The darkness.
And then, Alexander.
He sat beside my bed, his head bowed, his hand clutching mine as if letting go would mean losing me. His usually pristine suit was rumpled, his tie undone, and there were dark circles under his eyes. I had never seen him look so unguarded, so utterly vulnerable.
"Alexander," I croaked, my voice weak and scratchy.
His head shot up, and the relief that flooded his face was so overwhelming it left me breathless.
"Luna," he said, his voice hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken in days. He leaned forward, his free hand brushing a stray hair from my face. "You're awake."
I tried to speak again, but he shook his head, his thumb gently stroking the back of my hand. "Don't. Save your strength."
"Wh… what happened?" I managed to whisper.
"The accident," he said, his jaw tightening. "You were in surgery for hours. You…" He paused, as if the words were too painful to say. "You scared the hell out of me, Luna."
The raw emotion in his voice took me by surprise, and I found myself staring at him, searching for the cold, detached man I had come to know. But he wasn't there. Not now.
Instead, there was someone else—a man who looked at me as if I were the only thing keeping him grounded.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice trembling.
His brows furrowed. "Sorry? For what?"
"For worrying you."
He let out a soft, bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Don't apologize. None of this is your fault. If anyone's to blame, it's me."
His words hung heavy in the air, and I could see the guilt etched across his face.
"Alexander…"
Before I could say more, the door to the room swung open, and Ava rushed in. Her eyes widened when she saw me awake, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes.
"Luna!" she cried, hurrying to the other side of the bed. She took my free hand, squeezing it tightly as she looked me over. "God, I was so scared. Don't you ever do that to me again!"
I smiled weakly, the sight of her familiar face easing some of the tension in my chest. "I'll try my best."
Ava glanced at Alexander, her expression softening ever so slightly. "You should rest," she said to him. "You've been here the whole time."
"I'm fine," Alexander said curtly, but there was no bite in his tone.
"You look like you're about to collapse," Ava shot back. "Go. I'll stay with her."
Alexander hesitated, his gaze flicking back to me. For a moment, I thought he might argue, but then he nodded reluctantly.
"I'll be back soon," he said, his voice low. He leaned down, his lips brushing my forehead in a gesture so tender it left me stunned.
When he left the room, Ava turned to me, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity.
"What was that?" she asked, her brows raised.
"What was what?" I replied, though my cheeks heated at the memory of his touch.
"That," she said, gesturing toward the door. "Alexander Cole doesn't do… whatever that was. He doesn't get attached."
I looked away, unable to meet her gaze. "It's complicated."
"Complicated or not," Ava said softly, "he cares about you, Luna. I saw it in his eyes when I got here. He's barely left your side. That man was a wreck when you were in surgery. Whatever walls he's built around himself… they don't seem to exist when it comes to you."
Her words hit me like a wave, leaving me struggling to process what they meant. I wanted to believe her, to believe that Alexander's care for me went beyond the contract that bound us together. But the memory of his cold words, his declaration that I was just a toy, lingered in my mind like a shadow.
"I don't know," I admitted quietly. "He confuses me, Ava. One moment, he's cold and distant, and the next, he's…"
"Human?" Ava finished with a small smile.
I nodded. "Yeah. Human."
Ava sighed, brushing a hand through her hair. "Listen, I don't know what's going on between you two, and honestly, I'm not sure I want to. But I know one thing for sure—he cares about you more than he's willing to admit. And I think you care about him too."
I didn't answer, unsure of how to respond. Did I care about Alexander? The answer was complicated. Despite everything, I couldn't deny that he had become an integral part of my life, someone I couldn't stop thinking about even when I wanted to. But caring about him meant opening myself up to even more pain, and I wasn't sure I could survive that.
Ava squeezed my hand gently, pulling me from my thoughts. "For now, just focus on getting better, okay? The rest can wait."
I managed a small smile. "Okay."
Alexander's POV
I leaned against the wall outside Luna's room, staring blankly down the hospital corridor. My body ached with exhaustion, but I couldn't bring myself to leave entirely. Every time I tried, the image of her bruised and broken form would flash in my mind, and the guilt would drag me back.
"Alexander," a voice interrupted my thoughts.
I turned to see Ava standing in the doorway, her arms crossed as she studied me.
"She's awake," she said. "And she's going to be okay."
Relief swept over me, but Ava's expression stopped me from responding.
"What?" I asked.
"She doesn't know what to make of you," Ava said bluntly. "And honestly, neither do I. But I'll say this—if you hurt her again, Alexander, I won't just stand by and watch. She deserves more than whatever this arrangement is."
Her words stung, but I didn't argue. She was right. Luna deserved more than I had given her, more than the coldness I had used as a shield.
"I know," I said quietly.
Ava nodded, her gaze softening just slightly. "Then figure it out. Before it's too late."
As she walked away, I turned my attention back to the closed door of Luna's room. Ava's words echoed in my mind, and for the first time, I allowed myself to confront the truth I had been avoiding for weeks.
Luna had become more than just a contract, more than just a fleeting presence in my life. She was everything I never knew I needed, and the thought of losing her terrified me in a way I couldn't ignore.
I had spent so long running from my feelings, hiding behind my cold facade. But now, standing on the precipice of losing her, I realized something undeniable.
I didn't just care about Luna.
I loved her.