His Abandoned Luna Chapter 129

|| 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 why does it feel like a curse?

Runa was still missing, too. No matter how much I called for her, I could barely sense her presence. It was like she had vanished into the ether, leaving me untethered and vulnerable. And that was another fear that haunted me. What if Elias and I had to complete the mating bond? What if he found out about Runa? I was supposed to restore her strength once we mated, but would Elias understand that? I knew Alaric would have. Hell, he already knew, and he never questioned me, not even once.

My mind kept comparing Elias to Alaric, and I hated myself for it. Was it because Alaric was an alpha? Did I really care more for him because of his power and status? I’d heard that she-wolves were naturally drawn to alphas, their strength and dominance radiating an irresistible allure. But Elias wasn’t weak. Far from it. His wolf was larger than most, his presence commanding in its own right. And yet, he wasn’t Alaric.

Elias had brought up his lack of lineage a few times, his voice tinged with insecurity. “I’m just a normal werewolf,” he’d say, his eyes searching mine for reassurance. “No background, no family. I know I’m not what you expected.”

His words made me suspicious. What if he was connected to the Nightshades? My father and the Alpha King had both mentioned how Elias’s wolf was unusually large, speculating that he might have alpha blood in his veins. But proving it wasn’t easy, and Elias himself seemed indifferent to the idea.

I’d tried to broach the topic of the Nightshades with him a few times, but he knew only what everyone else did—or perhaps less, since he claimed he never cared much for pack politics.

What should I do? I thought, pacing my room as the morning light grew brighter. What can I do?

The election was drawing closer, and Kael and Coco were everywhere—on the news, in the papers, their faces plastered across the city. They were doing better than I’d expected, their campaign gaining momentum with each passing day. Kael was redeeming himself in the eyes of the public, spinning the story of our broken engagement as a twist of fate.

“It was the Goddess’s will,” he’d say, his voice dripping with false humility. “Lilac found her true mate at our Luna ceremony. It was meant to be.”

The lies made my blood boil, but there was little I could do to counter them. I hadn’t been much help to Alexander lately, either. My mind was too scattered, my heart too heavy. But today, I was determined to change that. Alexander and Madeline had invited me—no, us—to lunch. They wanted to meet Elias, to see the man who had supposedly stolen my heart.

I sighed as I got ready, my reflection in the mirror staring back at me with hollow eyes. I looked tired, the weight of my thoughts etched into every line of my face. When Elias arrived at my doorstep, I forced a smile, the guilt twisting in my gut like a knife.

“Hey,” I said, my voice softer than I intended.

“Hello, love,” he replied, leaning in to kiss my cheek. He handed me a bouquet of flowers, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the grayness I felt inside.

“Oh, thanks,” I said, forcing another smile. Why does it have to be him? I thought, my heart aching. Goddess, help me.

We drove in silence, the tension between us thick and unspoken. The restaurant Alexander had chosen was in the heart of the capital, its elegant facade a familiar sight. My stomach dropped as we pulled up to the curb. It was Alaric’s restaurant—the same one he’d taken me to for lunch weeks ago. The memories came flooding back, unbidden and unwelcome. The way he’d looked at me, the way his voice had softened when he spoke, the way his hand had brushed against mine. It had been heavenly, and now it was a ghost that haunted me.

As we stepped out of the car, my eyes met Alexander and Madeline’s. They were waiting for us at the entrance, their smiles warm but tinged with curiosity.

“Do we have to be here?” I asked, my voice tight. “Can’t we go somewhere else?”

“First, hello to you too,” Madeline said, her tone teasing but with an edge of concern.

“Sorry,” I muttered, forcing a smile. “Hi.”

“Second,” Madeline continued, “Astrid and I were dying to try this place. They’re always super booked. Alexander pulled some strings to get us in.”

“I didn’t know this place was so popular,” I said, my heart sinking as I remembered how Alaric had booked the entire restaurant for us.

“Well, you look… unexpected,” Madeline said, pulling me into a hug.

“Am I?” I asked, my smile nervous.