His Abandoned Luna Chapter 126

|| 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 concern, while my father gave me a reassuring smile.

“Good morning, sweetpea,” Mom said, her voice warm but tinged with worry.

“Morning, Mom,” I replied, forcing a smile.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Dad said, his tone gentle. “You found your soulmate. Everything will be great. Just give him a chance.”

Ezra chimed in, his voice filled with optimism. “Yeah, you found your soulmate! That’s a big deal. Everything’s going to be fine.”

I nodded, my throat tight. “Yeah… thanks.”

Mom reached out, her hand resting on mine. “I know it can be frightening, sweetpea. Starting a new life, especially after everything with Kael. But trust me, this is for the best.”

I forced another smile, but their words only made me feel worse. The Moon Goddess had asked me to find my soulmate, warning that my doom would follow if I didn’t. Shouldn’t I be relieved? Shouldn’t I be happy? Then why did I feel so… empty?

I took a seat at the table, picking at the pancake on my plate. I wasn’t hungry, but I forced myself to take a bite. The doorbell rang, and Dad stood up to answer it. A moment later, he returned, followed by Elias.

The faint scent of sage filled the room, and my stomach twisted. Elias stood in the doorway, his dirty blonde hair slightly disheveled and a nervous smile on his lips. He looked… hopeful. And it broke my heart.

“Good morning,” he said, his voice soft but filled with warmth. “Sorry for showing up unannounced, and this early. I’ll wait until you’re done.”

Mom waved him in, her smile welcoming. “No way! Please join us for breakfast. I’m sure we have plenty.”

Elias nodded, taking a seat beside me. I swallowed the bite of pancake in my mouth, my mind racing. What was I supposed to do? My mate was sitting right next to me, and I felt… nothing.

“Hey,” he said, his voice gentle.

“Hey,” I replied, my tone flat.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked, his eyes searching mine.

“Yeah,” I lied, my voice barely above a whisper.

He chuckled nervously, running a hand through his hair. “I know this is sudden, but I couldn’t stay away. My wolf is a bit… agitated.”

His eyes sparkled as he spoke, and I could sense his genuine happiness. Why couldn’t I feel the same? Why did his presence make me feel so… trapped?

“May I?” he asked suddenly, his thumb brushing the corner of my lip. A faint spark ran through my skin, but it was nothing compared to the fire I felt with Alaric. He leaned in closer, and for a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me. I couldn’t take it.

I moved my head promptly, my voice trembling. “Thank you.”

“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.”

Her words scared me more than I cared to admit. The thought of losing Runa, of losing myself, was unbearable. But the thought of losing Alaric… it was equally devastating.

“Come on, sweetpea,” Mom said, standing up and holding out her hand. “Let’s go back and give him a chance.”

I sighed, taking her hand and following her downstairs. As I entered the dining room, I heard Dad asking Elias about his work.

As I entered the room, I heard my father asking Elias, “Which unit are you in?”

“I’m with the classified troops,” Elias replied, his tone casual but proud.

My eyes widened. The classified troops were an elite group of warriors, handpicked by the Alpha King himself and trained in every type of combat. They were the best of the best, and Elias was one of them.

“Some days back, there was a rogue activity by the south border,” my father continued. “I heard a classified troop went in and killed almost three hundred rogues. Their entire hideout was wiped out. And the troop was led by Elias Brown.”

Elias chuckled, a sly smile playing on his lips. “Yes, sir.”

“Good job,” my father said, his tone filled with admiration.

“Thank you,” Elias replied, his eyes flicking to mine as I took my seat.

“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable,” Elias said, his voice soft but filled with sincerity.

“No, it’s not your fault,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. I wasn’t ready for this. I wasn’t ready to let go of Alaric. This man—this stranger—had nothing to do with the storm raging inside me.

“Can we talk, if that’s okay with you?” Elias asked, his eyes searching mine.

I stayed silent, my mind racing. What could I say? How could I explain the pain I was feeling?

“Or we can talk later,” Elias said, his tone gentle. “Maybe we can do lunch together.”

I remained silent, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t know what to say, what to do.

“No pressure,” Elias said, his smile fading as he looked at me. “I’ll wait until you’re ready.”

“Lilac,” my mother said, giving me a gentle nudge.

“No… no need. We can do lunch,” I replied, my voice trembling.

Elias’s face lit up like a Christmas tree, his smile wide and genuine. “Great! I’ll see you in a few hours, then?”

“Yeah,” I said, forcing a smile. But inside, my heart was breaking.