|| Lilac’s POV ||
I woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains and casting a warm glow over the room. For a moment, I just lay there, savoring the peacefulness of the moment. But then it hit me… how did I end up here? The last thing I remembered was being in the woods, by the river, with Alaric. The night had been magical, filled with laughter, stolen kisses, and a sense of belonging I hadn’t felt in a long time. But now, he was gone.
I sat up, running a hand through my hair as I glanced around the room. His faint scent of pinewoods lingered in the air, a subtle reminder of his presence. My heart ached a little at his absence, but I pushed the feeling aside. Alaric had his own life, I barely knew him, and I couldn’t expect him to stay by my side all the time. Still, I couldn’t help but wish he were here.
I freshened up quickly, the cool water from the sink helping to clear my mind. As I dragged my legs downstair
|| Lilac's POV ||The days passed in a blur, each one blending into the next like watercolors on a canvas. Elias was persistent, but never pushy. He was kind, gentle, and everything one could want in a soulmate. But he wasn’t Alaric. And that was the problem.I hadn’t seen Alaric in weeks, and the absence gnawed at me like a festering wound. Where was he? What was he doing? Would he look for another mate? The thought of him with someone else made my chest tighten, a sharp, stabbing pain that I couldn’t shake. Why did it hurt so much? Shouldn’t I be happy for him if he found someone else? Shouldn’t I be able to let go and move on? My mate was right there, standing in front of me, offering me everything I thought I wanted. But my heart—my traitorous, stubborn heart—remained with Alaric.What magic have you done to me, Alaric? I thought bitterly, staring out the window as the first light of dawn crept over the horizon. Everyone says a soulmate is a blessing. Then w
|| Lilac’s POV ||"And does your family live there too?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light.Elias’s expression darkened, and he looked away."No," he said simply.I frowned, sensing the shift in his mood."Oh, so where are they from?" I pressed, my curiosity piqued.He stopped walking and turned to face me, his eyes searching mine."Come with me," he said, his voice quiet but firm.We took a left, walking in silence for a few more minutes until we stopped in front of a small, weathered building. The sign above the door read Silver Moon Orphanage. My heart sank as I realized what this place was."This is where I grew up," Elias said, his voice tinged with sadness. "I don’t really remember my parents."I felt a pang of guilt for asking so casually, without thinking about
|| Lilac’s POV ||The restaurant was cozy, the kind of place where the walls were lined with faded photos of Italy, their edges curling with age. The scent of garlic and herbs hung heavy in the air, mingling with the faint hum of chatter and the clinking of cutlery. We sat by the window, the soft glow of the afternoon sun casting a warm, golden light over the table. It was picturesque, almost too perfect, and yet, I felt like an outsider in my own skin.Elias sat across from me, his presence calm and steady, his questions gentle, his tone warm. But every word felt like a struggle, my mind constantly drifting to Alaric. I tried to focus, to give Elias a chance, but the guilt and longing in my heart made it impossible. My wolf was still missing, and without her, I felt untethered, like a ship lost at sea. And yet, even in her absence, my thoughts were consumed by him—Alaric. His dark eyes, his quiet strength, the way he looked at me as if I were the only person in the wo
|| Lilac’s POV || I took a deep breath as I closed the door to my room, leaning against it for support. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one more overwhelming than the last. I had been given a second chance—a rebirth with a purpose. In my past life, I had never met Elias. Even if I had, I wouldn’t have remembered. My eyes had always been on Kael, and my heart had always broken every time he chose Coco over me. But that was in the past. Now, I wasn’t a competitor for Coco anymore. Or was I? Would she still scheme against me, even though she already had Kael? The thought made my stomach churn. My mind drifted to the visions from the Goddess. In our first meeting, she had asked me to find my mate and rise to the throne. But how could I rise to the throne if my soulmate was a warrior? Why would the Goddess envision him as the Alpha King? What good would it do? So many capable alphas were there. The questions swirled in my mind, each one more confusing than the last.
|| Lilac’s POV ||“I… I’m done,” I said, standing up abruptly. I couldn’t stay here. I couldn’t pretend everything was okay.Mom followed me upstairs, her footsteps soft but determined. She knocked on my door before stepping inside, her expression filled with concern.“Lilac, sweetpea,” she said, her voice gentle. “What’s wrong?”I sat on the edge of my bed, my hands trembling. “I don’t know. It’s just… too much to take.”Mom sat beside me, her hand resting on my shoulder. “I know it’s overwhelming, but you can’t shut him out. He’s your mate—a blessing from the Goddess.”“I know,” I replied, my voice filled with frustration.“You know, but you’re not understanding, Lilac,” Mom said, her tone firm but kind. “Only a few can find their fated mates—the other half of their soul. If you reject your fated one, your wolf will suffer. She’ll never feel whole. No matter how much you love someone else, everything will fade away before this bond.
|| Lilac’s POV || I woke up with a throbbing headache, the events of the previous night crashing down on me like a tidal wave. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions—confusion, pain, and a deep, aching longing for Alaric. I reached out to Runa immediately, desperate for some kind of reassurance, some kind of answer. But she was silent, her presence faint and unresponsive. I sighed, dragging myself out of bed and into the bathroom to freshen up. The cold water on my face did little to ease the tension in my chest. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my eyes hollow and my face pale. The bond with Elias felt like a chain, binding me to a fate I didn’t want. And Alaric… Alaric was gone, his absence a gaping wound in my soul. I made my way downstairs, the smell of pancakes and coffee filling the air. My family was already at the table, their voices cheerful and light. But the moment I stepped into the room, the atmosphere shifted. My mother’s eyes softened with concer