|| Lilac’s POV ||
The room was a storm of whispers and murmurs, the tension so thick it felt like the air itself was holding its breath. Kael’s smug confidence had shattered, his face pale and his jaw clenched as he tried to process the turn of events. I stood tall, my heart pounding but my expression calm, as I addressed the room once more. “The question still remains,” I said, my voice cutting through the noise like a blade, “how did the future Alpha King get his hands on these pictures? My brother is from the Royal Beta family, and he is a minor. I don’t understand why he was being monitored in the first place.” Dad stood beside me, his presence made a stronger impression. “Yes, what is the meaning of this, Alpha King?” he demanded, his voice firm and filled with authority. “Why would anyone tail my son? Our family has pledged loyalty to the throne for generations. Our ancestors were appointed by the Nightshades themselves. Why would it come to this?” The|| 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
|| 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 drive to the meeting place was quiet, the silence between us heavy with unspoken words. We arrived at the restaurant, a sleek, modern place with floor-to-ceiling windows and a view of the city skyline. Astrid was already there, seated at a table near the window, her expression tense. “Well, they’re not coming,” Astrid said as we sat down, her tone frustrated. “Apparently, they have a new council member joining today, so they had to do some last-minute rescheduling.” “Great,” Elara huffed, rolling her eyes. “Just what we needed.” Astrid turned to me, her gaze critical. “You really need a makeover, Lil,” she said, her tone blunt. “Well, she had another mate situation,” Elara replied, launching into an explanation of the previous night’s events. I sat there in silence, my eyes fixed on the window as I tuned out their conversation. My mind was elsewhere, tangled in thoughts of Elias and the mess I’d made of things. But then, my
|| Lilac’s POV || The night had been long and restless, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Elias was leaving for the border today, and while a part of me felt relieved, another part was tangled in guilt and confusion. I didn’t know what to do, how to feel, or even how to process the mess my life had become. I stayed up late, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts racing in circles until exhaustion finally pulled me into a fitful sleep. When I woke, it was to the sound of Elara’s voice, sharp and insistent. “Hey, how come you’re still sleeping?” she asked, her tone a mix of concern and exasperation. I blinked, disoriented, as I sat up in bed. The sunlight streaming through the windows was too bright, too cheerful for the storm brewing inside me. “Elara, what are you doing here? What time is it?” I asked, my voice groggy. “It’s half past noon. What happened? We were supposed to meet yesterday. No call, no messages,” Elara said, her hands on her hip
|| Lilac's POV ||Soon enough, the doorbell rang, and Elias was there, standing on the threshold with a hesitant smile. “Hey, going somewhere?” he asked, his eyes scanning my outfit. “Yeah. We’re going for a walk,” I replied, my voice tight. Elias nodded, though I could see the disappointment in his eyes. He didn’t say anything, just fell into step beside me as we walked toward the river. The air was crisp, the kind of cold that bites at your skin but clears your mind. The riverbank was quiet, the water reflecting the pale winter sky. We sat down on a weathered bench, the silence between us heavy and unspoken. “You’re leaving?” I asked finally, breaking the silence. “Yeah, in a few days,” he said, his voice calm but tinged with sadness. I felt a strange mix of relief and guilt. Relief that I wouldn’t have to see him every day, guilt that I felt that way at all. What kind of person am I? I thought, my chest tightening. “Dad told me. Why didn’