Deep Down Part 4

As Luna’s lips brushed gently against his finger to drop a kiss, a shiver ran down Elliot’s spine with his heart pounding so violently that he was certain that if cancer didn’t take him, a heart attack would claim him first—and far sooner than he had ever anticipated. But Luna? She knew better. Death wasn’t in his immediate future.

Passing out, however? That was a distinct possibility. And if that happened, well, she had no doubt it would only work to her advantage.

She had everything planned out in her mind with every detail carefully laid in place.

And now, with fate handing her the perfect opportunity far sooner than she had anticipated, she wasn’t about to let it slip through her fingers. No, she was going to toy with him—just enough to make him squirm and just enough to make him realize, without a shadow of a doubt that exactly to whom his wild, mortal heart truly belonged.

"Elliot."

Luna’s voice was a smooth whisper as she called his name and drew him in effortlessly.

Before he could react, her arm wrapped securely around his slender, frail waist, pulling him even closer. His breath hitched, and his mind spiraled into a haze with his thoughts scattering like autumn leaves in the wind.

"Y... Y-yes...!" he stammered, his voice barely holding together and betraying just how easily he was slipping under the spell of her bold moves.

A soft, almost feline purr escaped Luna’s lips under her breath as she leaned in while her presence overwhelmed him.

Elliot, caught in the storm of his own nervousness and bashfulness, instinctively shut his eyes with his breath going uneven. She was so close now, close enough to breathe him in—his saccharine and intoxicating scent that stirred something primal within her. The urge to sink her fangs into the tender flesh of his neck was nearly irresistible, like a temptation that clawed at her control. But she wasn’t completely deranged—not yet. There were only rare moments when she let herself slip into that madness, and now was not one of them. She had to restrain herself and had to rein in the possessive nature threatening to take hold.

Things were progressing far faster with him than she had anticipated, yet even so, Luna couldn’t suppress the smirk of pleasure curling at her lips. The thrill of it all was simply too enticing. Though she knew she would have to adjust her initial plan of gradually drawing him to cozy up with her, but the change didn’t bother her in the slightest. If anything, it only made the game more exhilarating.

"Did you know… you look beautiful with tears in your eyes?" Luna’s voice was a velvety whisper as she trailed off with her lips grazing the delicate curve of his ear before she playfully nibbled at the helix. An aggressive shiver coursed through Elliot, and only then did he realize the faint glisten of unshed tears clinging to the corners of his eyes. His thoughts swirled in stupefaction while his mind searched for a reason amidst the haze of her touch as he restlessly wondered what was happening between them and… why was she doing this…?

Elliot flinched as Luna’s grip around his waist tightened with a silent yet undeniable claim.

Summoning what little courage he could muster, he finally forced his teary eyes open, determined to address the situation—only for Luna to lean back just in time before her gaze locked onto his. He found himself caught and utterly ensnared with his wavering eyes betraying his helplessness. He looked like a deer frozen in the hunter’s sights, as though every ounce of resistance had drained from his body, leaving him incapable of looking away.

"Why not leave your hand’s worries to me," she murmured with a teasing lilt in her tone, "and focus on enjoying the lunch I brought for you while it’s still warm?" Her fingers traced possessively along his waist before she added with a faint predatory smirk, "Now, we wouldn’t want you fainting or anything, right?"

Elliot had always been known for his obedience, but there was something about her eyes—those peculiar, mesmerizing eyes—that stripped him of even the slightest defiance. They held an unspoken command with an irresistible pull that made him more submissive than he had ever thought possible while surrendering to a force far beyond his comprehension.

Elliot slowly nodded with his gaze never breaking from hers as he remained captivated in the chilling depths of her ominous and cold eyes. Without hesitation, she intertwined her fingers with his injured hand with her touch deliberate yet calculated. When he failed to react, offering no resistance or any discomfort, a quiet satisfaction settled within her—she had succeeded. His focus had shifted just as she intended. Now, all that remained was to wrap his hand in a bandage and conceal the truth. He wouldn’t notice the miraculous healing of his palm… not until he was safely home that evening, at the very least.

A faint and sharp glint reflected in Luna’s eyes as she guided him toward the piano stool with her movements smooth, and effortless. Without resistance, Elliot allowed himself to be seated while his mind was still spinning from everything that had transpired between them.

As she crouched before him and wrapped a bandage around his injured hand with practiced ease, he didn’t even think to question where it had come from. The thought never crossed his mind—he was too lost, too dazed, and drowning in the overwhelming sensations that still clung to him. His heart pounded so wildly against his ribs with a frantic and untamed rhythm he desperately willed to quiet, afraid that if it grew any louder then, Luna would hear just how hopelessly she affected him.

Luna settled beside him before gently placing the packed lunch tray onto his lap. With a voice smooth as silk, she called his name with her tone carrying both patience and quiet dominating insistence.

"Elliot?" Her steely gaze lingered on him, as she softly demanded, "You need to start eating."

At that moment, Elliot was jolted from the tangled web of thoughts swirling in his mind—thoughts of what was happening and, more importantly, why it was happening at all. Blinking himself back to the present, he hesitantly reached for the tray with his fingers brushing against its edges as he pulled it closer. His gaze fell upon the neatly packed lunch that was visible through the thin layer of transparent wrapping. The moment he took in its contents, his eyes widened slightly as a flicker of surprise broke through the haze of his previous confusion.

Inside the neatly packed tray lay a carefully arranged meal—succulent pieces of chicken, small cubes of cheese, perfectly boiled eggs, and a vibrant, freshly cooked salad. Alongside them sat an assortment of fresh fruits, a serving of refried beans with smooth, creamy mashed potatoes, and two tender pieces of fish. Every detail of the meal seemed meticulously chosen and resembled a custom-prepared order tailored specifically for a patient battling stomach cancer.

Elliot couldn’t quite explain why, but warmth stirred in his chest.

Perhaps it was because he had always carried the quiet burden of worrying about meals around others with the constant need to be mindful of what he ate. But with Luna… that concern seemed to vanish just as dissolving like mist in the morning sun.

It felt almost surreal as if she had been sent by fate—no, by heaven itself—to watch over him, like an unexpected friend.

Luna asked with her voice laced with quiet understanding, "What’s wrong? You don’t like it?" she asked, though she already knew exactly what was running through his mind.

Her gaze lingered on him while his fingers tightened slightly around the edges of the box as if anchoring himself in the moment while she waited for his response.

A small smile tugged at Elliot’s lips—faded and almost timid, yet nowhere near enough to reflect the warmth blossoming inside him.

Despite the lingering heat that still burned across his cheeks, neck, ears, and even his hands from earlier, he turned to Luna with his gaze softening into crescents as he met hers.

Shaking his head gently, he offered her a warmer smile with his voice carrying quiet sincerity as he spoke, “No… it’s the opposite, actually,” he admitted, “I love it. Thank you for the meal, Luna. I’ll make sure to enjoy every last bite of it.”

Luna watched him with her expression as enigmatic as ever, yet beneath that expressionless gaze, a quiet curiosity stirred. How could someone find such profound happiness in a simple gesture of friendship? It was almost baffling—how a single act of kindness could make him glow with such warmth as if it were the very thing he had longed for all along.

Warmth…?

It was… odd, truly.

Perhaps she was mistaken.

After all, warmth was an unfamiliar concept to her—something she had never truly felt or understood. Maybe she had misread his gratitude and perceived it as something far greater than it was, simply because she had never known what it was like to be appreciated. No one had ever acknowledged her efforts before, let alone cherished them. So maybe, just maybe, she was wrong about this feeling.

Then again, she had never done anything for anyone before—not once in her entire life.

So rather than dwell on the unfamiliar feeling, she chose to brush it aside. With a quiet resolve, she reached out and ruffled his hair as a ‘welcome’ gesture brief yet oddly natural. Elliot, seemingly comforted by the touch, turned his attention to the meal before him and took small, careful bites from each portion, savoring the warmth of the food just as much as the moment itself.

Then, without warning—an impulse so unlike her—it slipped from her lips. Perhaps, at times, adapting one’s instincts was necessary to grasp something greater.

Her gaze drifted toward the open window; the outside world bathed in a hushed whistling breeze as she finally spoke with her voice steady yet carrying an unfamiliar softness.

“Elliot, you don’t have to share anything you’re not comfortable with,” she murmured. “When I asked for your thoughts, it wasn’t to pry. It just meant that I’m here… whenever you need someone to share your burdens with.”

There it was.

That forceful and strong flutter of his heart—the very one that left him with lingering and unforgettable sensations.

Slowly and hesitantly, Elliot turned to her with his wide surprised eyes searching her devoid expression while being unsure of how to process what he had just heard. How did Luna know so much about him? How could she possibly understand the weight he carried—the burdens he longed to share yet always held back, afraid of becoming a burden himself?

It was as if she had peered straight into the depths of his soul and had unraveled the very thoughts he never dared to voice.

He had never realized it before, but deep down, he needed someone like Luna—someone to anchor him and keep him moving forward despite the looming uncertainty of the days ahead.

With every breath, he braced himself for the trials that awaited him and the relentless trepidation of a life cut short. Yet, if she chose to walk beside him then, the weight drowning him might not feel quite as suffocating.

Luna, in her own enigmatic way, had become the quiet force that kept him going in such a short time they shared- a force he never knew he needed.

Elliot remained speechless as he was currently caught in a haze of disbelief as he continued to stare at her, unable to form a response. Seeing his stunned expression, Luna leaned in without hesitation, closing the distance between them in a way that made his breath hitch.

Before he could react, she reached out and brushed her thumb against the corner of his lips, wiping away the remnants of mashed potatoes with ease that sent a shiver down his spine. But it was what she did next that truly unraveled him—bringing her thumb to her lips and then, she licked it clean with an unbothered grace, as if utterly unaware of the chaos she had just unleashed within him.

Elliot swallowed hard with his heart pounding like a drum against his ribs. There was no doubt left in his mind now—Luna would be the death of him.

Elliot fumbled over his words with his voice barely above a whisper as a fresh flush of warmth spread across his cheeks. “Umm… umm… what-what about you?” He asked hesitantly while his gaze flickered between Luna and the tray in his lap before he added, “Won’t you… have-have anything… for lunch?”

Luna barely thought before shaking her head slightly with her response coming without a second thought.

“No,” she said, her tone as composed as ever before continuing, “I’m not a lunch person.”

Elliot blinked, momentarily taken aback by her response. A hint of uncertainty laced his voice as he hesitantly asked, “Then… why did you… ask me for lunch… earlier?”

Luna met his gaze with a small, unreadable smile—one that seemed to be pretty but at the same time, empty.

Her answer came effortlessly, smooth yet laced with something almost teasing, “So that I could capture your sweet little attention.”

A sharp throb pulsed through Elliot’s head as his heart went feral once again in his chest. He wasn’t naïve—he knew she was flirting with him in her own way, and for someone with a frail state as him, it was simply too much to handle. His throat tightened, robbing him of his voice, so instead of attempting to respond, he merely gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, and surrendered to the overwhelming rush of emotions that left him breathless.

As Elliot quietly continued his meal, Luna found herself lost in thought with an unsettling realization creeping over her.

She was beginning to like him—far more than she had ever anticipated and planned. And deep down, she knew that this growing attachment would inevitably be his undoing.

She wasn’t just possessive; she was dangerously so, in ways that no one could possibly comprehend. Worse still, the true owner of her body—Lunasia—was both boundlessly obsessive and fiercely possessive over anything she deemed hers. If she claimed Elliot as truly belonging to her, then there would be no escape for him.

As a wolf—a fragmented yet undeniable part of Lunasia—Luna couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern about the course their relationship would take. Though she had no desire to harm him, the truth remained that nearly eighty percent of her thoughts aligned with Lunasia’s, an inevitability she couldn't ignore. And more specifically… she could finally see it now—Elliot locked away and bound in chains, serving as a possession she would never allow to slip from her grasp.

Though, deep within, they had both come to accept each other, perhaps—just perhaps—this was only the beginning of a tumultuous journey, one that would be nothing short of a wild and perilous descent into the unknown.

As it is said that not every love story follows the familiar path, unfolding like all the others before it...