|| Lilac's POV ||
The capital was alive with energy, the streets bustling with people and the air filled with the hum of conversation and laughter. The sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the city as Elara and I made our way to the most exclusive mall in the heart of the capital. The building itself was a marvel of modern architecture, its glass façade reflecting the sunlight like a jewel. Inside, the mall was a labyrinth of luxury, with high-end boutiques and designer stores lining the polished floors.
I wasn’t unfamiliar with luxury, my family’s status as the Blackwoods meant I’d grown up surrounded by opulence, but today felt different. The weight of the upcoming alpha council meeting pressed on my shoulders, and the thought of dressing for it made me feel oddly out of place. Elara, on the other hand, seemed right at home, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she linked her arm through mine.
“Okay, we need to find something formal but not bo
|| Lilac's POV || Since our last hangout, things had taken a turn for the better—at least on the surface. Elara had stirred up a storm for Kael, and it was glorious. She didn’t have to do much, just leak a few carefully selected pictures of him and Coco, along with a scandalous video of Coco giving him a lap dance. The images went viral within hours, and the whispers of scandal followed Kael like a shadow. I smiled inwardly, a small, vindictive part of me reveling in his discomfort. Served him right. But while Kael’s reputation took a hit, our investigation into the Miracle Pills was far from over. I knew it would be dangerous, and I couldn’t let Elara shoulder the burden alone. She was fearless, but even she had her limits. So, I got dressed, ready to meet her and dive deeper into the mess we were unraveling. But as I reached for the door, my father’s voice stopped me in my tracks. “Where are you going?” he asked, his tone firm but not unkind. “I’m going to meet
|| Lilac's POV || Madeline was half-drunk, her cheeks flushed and her laughter louder than usual. Elara wasn’t far behind, her words slightly slurred but her wit as sharp as ever. Astrid and I were more restrained, nursing our drinks and enjoying the chaos without fully succumbing to it. It was the kind of night I needed—a distraction from the storm raging inside me. “So, when did it all start?” Madeline asked, her voice carrying a tipsy lilt as she leaned forward, her glass of wine sloshing precariously in her hand. “The night we went to the party after she broke off her engagement with Kael,” Elara smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. She was clearly enjoying this, her tone dripping with satisfaction. “That bastard deserved it,” Madeline declared, her voice loud and unapologetic. She took another sip of her wine, her eyes narrowing as if she were imagining Kael’s face in front of her. “What is she talking about?” Astrid asked, her brow furrowing as sh
|| Lilac’s POV || Elara’s eyes narrowed, and before I could stop her, she reached over and pulled down the collar of my dress, checking for a mark on my neck. “Did he mark you?” she demanded. “No,” I said, pushing her hand away. “It’s not like that.” “But now your mate is here,” Elara said, her voice firm. “So everything will slowly go away, Lilac.” “I don’t know that,” I replied, my voice trembling. Suddenly, Madeline giggled, her eyes glued to her phone. All of us turned to look at her, our expressions a mix of frustration and amusement. “Come on, Maddy. Put the phone down,” Astrid said, exasperated. “I can’t. I’m texting,” Madeline replied, her fingers still flying across the screen. They were so much in love. Why didn’t I feel the same for Elias? The thought gnawed at me, a constant reminder of the disconnect between what I was supposed to feel and what I actually did. “Madeline, we’re being serious here,” Astrid said, her tone s
|| Lilac's POV || The server appeared then, her presence a welcome distraction. “Do you want anything else? You’ve barely touched your food, Miss. We can bring you something else,” she said, her tone polite but tinged with worry. “Oh, I’m good. I just don’t have much of an appetite,” I said, my smile strained. She nodded and retreated, but not before casting another glance in my direction. “What’s up with her?” Elara asked, her eyes following the server. “She keeps checking on you like you’re the most esteemed guest here.” “I think that’s just for the tips,” Madeline said with a shrug. But only I knew the truth. It was because of Alaric. Because, to them, I was still his. The lunch dragged on, the conversation shifting to lighter topics, but I couldn’t shake the unease that had settled over me. When the meal finally ended, I felt a wave of relief. Alexander asked for the bill, but the server returned empty-handed. “I’m sorry, Alpha, but I
|| Lilac's POV ||Elias and Alexander exchanged polite handshakes, their conversation stiff and formal. Astrid and Elara arrived shortly after, their laughter cutting through the tension like a knife.“Sorry we’re late,” Astrid said, her cheeks flushed from the cold.“Look at you,” Elara teased, pulling me into a hug. “You’ve forgotten all about us after finding your mate. No texts, no calls, no meetups.”“A lot’s been happening,” I said, my smile strained.“And you need to tell us the entire story,” Astrid giggled, linking her arm with mine.We walked into the restaurant, the memories hitting me like a tidal wave. The server recognized me immediately, bowing slightly as we passed. Her eyes lingered on me, filled with a quiet respect that made my chest ache. She acted as if I were still their Luna—his Luna.As we sat down, the weight of it all pressed down on me, suffocating and inescapable. The past and the present collided, leaving
|| 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