Dark Moon Rising

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Paralyzed And A Complete Mess

Crypta/Seraphina's Point of View

I found myself speechless and gripped by fear, an unusual sensation. The last thing I wanted was to discuss this matter with Adrian, especially at that precise moment. Certain things are best kept unspoken. What benefit would there be in revealing to Adrian my actions? How could I even begin to justify them? Yet, the Moon Goddess left me no option.

Adrian is one of my best friends. Our initial intention was to keep our relationship casual without any emotional attachment. Nevertheless, the situation escalated unexpectedly. I never should have taken his memories of what happened away. I hadn't trusted Adrian or myself enough to work through this. That says more about me than him. I acknowledge that I am solely responsible for this mistake. There is no one else to hold accountable.

Adrian sat quietly, his eyes locked on me until Rogue left. His face showed a mix of anger, disappointment, and frustration. Is there a single word that sums up all these feelings together? Whatever it is, that's Adrian's precise expression on his face now.

I don't know where to begin. This situation is a mess, Nyx groaned.

I suppose we should heed Argus's advice and be honest. Our attempts to deceive haven't brought us much success, I remarked to my wolf.

Adrian inquired sternly, "Have you tampered with my memories?"

Surprised, I met his gaze. I had used compulsion on him, a tactic I had resorted to many times before for self-preservation, yet no one had ever retained memories of it.

Adrian, with a look of disdain, rose to depart, remarking, "Your expression says it all."

I confessed softly, "I didn't want to lose you. I believed it was best for you not to recall."

"Why? Why was it in my best interest not to remember, Crypta? Help me understand," Adrian demanded.

"Our connection transcended mere physicality. It developed too swiftly and posed too great a risk. It's not a bond of mates, but I can't define it," I retorted.

"I find that hard to believe. You're always calculating in your actions. What compelled you to do this to me?" Adrian's voice dropped to a whisper, his pain and sense of betrayal evident on his handsome face.

"You want to know why? Are you sure about that?" I growled.

Adrian shifted, sat down again, and crossed his arms, creating an unintentional physical barrier. Without hesitation, I sat beside him and gently turned his face towards mine, locking eyes.

"Think back, Adrian. Recall everything, and then tell me I was wrong. Ever since we crossed that line, thoughts of you haven't left my mind. We've moved beyond friendship, and there's no going back," I hissed.

I shared each memory with Adrian, knowing it would forever change how he looked at the couch and me. I allowed him to view the moment in the shower from my perspective and his, emphasizing how our intimacy went beyond just physical connection.

Adrian's voice quivered as he uttered, "Crypta, what we shared was truly special. I'm struggling to understand why you would erase my memories."

In a whisper, he added, "I thought we were friends. I believed that you cared about me."

That shattered me. Tears of remorse, anguish, and exasperation welled in my eyes as I gazed at him in utter astonishment.

"I care about you deeply. But it's not a mate bond, and I have feelings for Eyrx, too. I don't want to lose you. I believed this was the best solution to resolve the situation!" I expressed with a glare.

Adrian asked shyly, "Do you have feelings for me?"

Nyx huffed. If we didn't know how brilliant Adrian is, I would consider him foolish. How could he not see this?

It's beyond me, I groaned.

"Adrian, you never knew my true name. You only saw the parts of me that I revealed. While caring for you, I question if I can love. The depth of Argus's and my pain is unknown to you. We have made sacrifices in our fight against the Collective. You and Rogue were my first genuine friends. If we continue to blur these boundaries, especially when I'm drawn to someone else besides you, I might lose you. I can't bear that," I said, my voice cracking as I turned away.

"I don't believe you wanted me to forget. You're not one to make careless errors, Crypta. You're precise to a fault. Spontaneous yet composed if such a combination exists. You gave me the impression that I was excelling at "Halo Wars," although we both know I'm not great at it," Adrian chuckled. "Besides, you let me remember how much I satisfied you."

"Why are you laughing?" I asked Adrian, feeling annoyed that he suddenly found the situation amusing.

He responded with a sly grin, pulling me into his lap, positioning me so I could face him, and tenderly moving my hair aside to kiss my neck gently.

"I dare you to love me, Seraphina," Adrian murmured in my ear, wrapped me in his arms, and held me close.

Surprised by his unexpected affection, my wolf and I found comfort in his embrace. He harbored no resentment towards me; my best friend was willing to explore our connection despite the uncertainties and my mixed emotions.

"What if this goes wrong, Adrian? I don't want to hurt you. You may have a mate. What happens then?" I whispered, still holding back.

"What if it is meant to feel this right between us, Seraphina? See how easy it is for me to call you by your true name and forgive you when you hurt me terribly? I care about you and realize you may have a mate, too. But, I feel like if we don't appreciate the gift of what we have right now, we'll regret it in ways you won't realize until it's too late."

"What exactly is this?" I asked, eager for some clarity. Having a definition would give me a sense of direction and some control, which I needed because I felt like I was falling fast.

"This is about two friends who deeply care for each other, feel a strong attraction, and are exploring their connection. It's not exclusive. We can both date other people. But if this ever feels uncomfortable, we'll discuss it and decide what to do next. No more mind control or erasing memories. That was incredible s*x! I don't want to forget a single moment of it!" Adrian grinned.

"So what happens now?" I asked, biting my lip as I could feel Adrian harden underneath me.

"What do you want to do, Seraphina?" Adrian inquired as his hands started to roam, and my hips rolled.

I wrapped my fingers in his hair, crashing my lips against Adrian. Now that I had let my guard down, my magnetic pull toward him was intense and consuming. I ran one hand down his muscular chest, straight down to his stomach and lower while pulling the hair on his head with the other. Adrian moaned as my hand rubbed his massive c**k before dipping my hands inside his shorts for better access. I took his erect member in my hand, sliding from the shaft to head and back again.

"I want you," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

Maybe it was because we knew it would be the last time we had the house to ourselves, but our clothes were removed with wild abandon. I pushed Adrian down on his back onto the couch and lay on top of him, grinding before slipping his giant c**k inside and rocking back and forth. As Adrian thrust into me hard and fast, I realized that the 'cowgirl' position was quickly becoming one of my favorites as we found our release together. This time, I didn't try and find a reason to get up and have things go back to 'normal' between the two of us. I eased myself off of Adrian and laid down on top of him as he wrapped his strong arms around me.

I like this feeling, Nyx murmured.

Me too, I replied to my wolf as I allowed myself to feel safe and unconditionally loved for the first time for who I was.