|| Lilac’s POV ||
Things had been better. The election preparations were moving forward, and Kael’s scandal had given us a much-needed boost. But Elias and I were still on shaky ground. His presence, once comforting, now felt suffocating. Every smile, every touch, every word felt like a reminder of the bond I couldn’t fully embrace. How was I supposed to be with him? How was I supposed to pretend everything was fine when my heart was still tangled in the past? I needed a break, and Elara, ever the perceptive friend, had arranged it. “We’re going for a girls’ day out,” she declared one morning, her tone leaving no room for argument. Astrid and I agreed, though Madeline was too busy to join. I didn’t mind. The fewer people, the better. I needed space to breathe, to think, to just be without the weight of expectations pressing down on me. I leaned back in my seat, staring out the window as Elara drove. The city blurred past, a mix of gray skies and muted colors that|| Lilac’s POV || The moment I stepped into Elara’s apartment, the weight of their stares hit me like a tidal wave. Elara, Madeline, Astrid, and Alexander— all four of them were there, their expressions a mix of worry, curiosity, and something else I couldn’t quite place. It was three in the morning, and the air was thick with tension. “Goddess, look at you,” Elara said, her voice a mix of concern and exasperation as she took in my disheveled appearance. I leaned against the door, my legs trembling beneath me. “I know it’s wrong, okay? I know I shouldn’t have. But I can’t. I can’t stay away from him. Being with Alaric doesn’t feel wrong,” I said, my voice breaking as the words spilled out. Elara didn’t hesitate. She crossed the room in two strides and pulled me into a tight hug. I clung to her, my fingers digging into her shoulders as I tried to steady myself. “I think you should sit down first. We need to tell you something,” Astrid said, her tone unus
|| Lilac's POV || The first thing I registered was the warmth. It enveloped me like a cocoon, soft and steady, a stark contrast to the chaos that had become my life. My body felt heavy, my limbs tangled in something—no, someone. Alaric. His arms were wrapped around me, his chest rising and falling in a slow, rhythmic pattern. His scent, a mix of pine and something uniquely him, filled my senses, grounding me in the moment. I groaned softly as my phone vibrated on the nightstand, the sound cutting through the quiet of the room. My hand fumbled for it, my eyes squinting against the dim light filtering through the curtains. Elara’s name flashed on the screen, and I hesitated, my heart skipping a beat. Carefully, I tried to move, to slip out of Alaric’s embrace without waking him. But his grip tightened instinctively, pulling me back against his chest with a low, dissatisfied murmur. My breath hitched, and for a moment, I let myself sink into him, savoring the feeling of
|| Lilac’s POV || His grip tightened on my ass as he pulled me closer. I could feel he was still hard. My eyes widened. His hand grabbed my neck, pulling me closer. The moment Alaric's lips met mine, the world around us dissolved into nothingness. His hands were everywhere, rough and desperate, as if he were trying to convince himself that I was real, that I was here. I clung to him, my fingers tangling in his hair, my body pressing against his as if I could erase the distance, the pain, the months of separation with just this-just us. He broke the kiss only to tear at my dress, the fabric ripping under his hands with a sound that sent a shiver down my spine. The cool air hit my skin, but it was nothing compared to the heat of his gaze as he took me in, his eyes dark with desire. My breath hitched as he exposed my breasts, his hands trembling as they cupped me, his thumbs brushing over my nipples until they hardened under his touch. "Alaric," I whispered, my voice tre
|| Lilac's POV || The tension between us had softened, replaced by a quiet, almost fragile calm. Alaric's voice broke the silence, his tone light but carrying an undercurrent of something deeper. "Hungry? Let's go back to my house. I'll cook." I smiled, a small, genuine one that felt foreign on my lips. "I don't think you're in any shape to cook," I teased, my eyes scanning his disheveled appearance. His hair was a mess, his clothes wrinkled, and there were dark circles under his eyes. He looked like he hadn't slept in weeks. "Yeah... I look bad, don't I?" he chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Probably should've taken a shower." "You should," I said, my tone playful but soft. "Though I'm not complaining about your scent. I love it." His eyes met mine, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. It felt normal to be here with him, as if the chaos of the past few weeks had never happened. As if we were just two people, sharing a quiet moment in t
|| Lilac’s POV || The drive to the Blood Moon Pack was tense, the silence in the car thick with unspoken words. Marcus sat in the driver's seat, his hands gripping the wheel tightly, his expression unreadable. I stared out the window, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. The closer we got, the heavier the weight in my chest became. I furrowed my brow as Marcus drove past Alaric's house, the familiar structure fading into the distance. "He doesn't live there anymore," Marcus said, his voice quiet but carrying an edge of sadness. "Did he move to the packhouse, then?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "No," Marcus replied, his tone grim. "He moved to his office." The words sent a chill down my spine. Alaric, the man who had once been so full of life and strength, was now living in his office, drowning in work and whatever demons haunted him. My heart ached at the thought, guilt gnawing at me like a relentless beast. When we arrived at the packhouse, I
|| Alaric’s POV || The office was a battlefield, papers strewn across the floor, the remnants of my rage scattered like debris. I threw the file on the ground, my voice a thunderous roar that echoed off the walls. "Is this how you do your job? Where are the details? Business doesn’t run itself!" The man in front of me flinched, his shoulders hunched as he mumbled an apology. "Sorry, Alpha." "Don’t mumble," I snapped, my patience hanging by a thread. "Go and get me the detailed financial report. In ten minutes." "Yes, Alpha," he stammered, scrambling out of the room like a frightened rabbit. Before I could catch my breath, Garry stepped in, his expression grim. "Alpha, the border is clear, but we still haven’t found much on the rogue incident." "Then what the hell are you doing here?" I growled, my hands clenching into fists. The thought of Cassandra, that damn bitch, orchestrating chaos from the shadows made my blood boil. "Find out the incident. I need