His Abandoned Luna Chapter 131

|| 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 cannot let you all pay since Miss Blackwood is dining with you,” she said, her tone respectful but firm.

I froze, my heart skipping a beat.

“Can we talk?” I said to the server, standing abruptly. She nodded, and we walked a short distance away from the table, out of earshot.

“You should know we’re not together anymore,” I said, my voice low.

“I know,” she replied, her gaze steady. “That wolf over there is your soulmate, right?”

“Then why are you…” I trailed off, my throat tightening.

“Because the Alpha said you are still our Luna. Hence, it is our responsibility to take care of you. But you don’t look very well. You didn’t eat much either. Are you okay?” she asked, her concern genuine.

“I’m fine,” I replied, swallowing the lump in my throat. I walked back to the table, forcing a smile. “It’s all good.”

“What was that all about?” Elias asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Nothing. Looks like the owner knows my dad,” I said, brushing it off.

Elara, ever the opportunist, seized the moment. “Lil, we were thinking of having a girls’ night. And we were hoping you could join us.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Shopping, movies, food,” Astrid added, her enthusiasm infectious.

“Sounds great, actually,” I replied, grateful for the distraction.

“You didn’t tell me anything about this,” Alexander said, turning to Madeline.

“Yeah, I did. Remember?” she said, poking him with her knee.

I couldn’t tell if they’d made this up on the spot, but I didn’t care. I needed time away from Elias, time to think, to breathe.

“Then I probably won’t be seeing you for dinner,” Elias said, his voice tinged with disappointment.

“Yeah, we can meet later,” I said, my smile tight.

Elara pulled me toward her car, and I glanced back to see Elias standing there, watching me with an unreadable expression.

“Let me know once you’re home, okay?” he called after me.

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

As we drove away, I leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes. The weight of Runa’s warning pressed down on me, a constant reminder that nothing was as it seemed. Elias, my supposed soulmate, might not be who I thought he was. And Alaric… Alaric was still out there, still a part of me, no matter how hard I tried to let go.

The road ahead was uncertain, fraught with danger and betrayal. But one thing was clear: I couldn’t trust anyone. Not even myself.

The drive to Astrid’s penthouse was quiet, save for Madeline’s constant chatter and giggles as she texted Alexander. She didn’t put her phone down for a single second, her fingers flying across the screen as she exchanged messages with her mate. I sat in the backseat, staring out the window, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The city lights blurred past, but I barely noticed them. My thoughts were elsewhere, tangled in a web of guilt, longing, and confusion.

Elara drove in silence, her eyes occasionally flicking to me in the rearview mirror. She knew something was wrong—she always did. Astrid, sitting in the passenger seat, hummed along to the radio, her voice soft and soothing. But even her presence couldn’t calm the storm raging inside me.

When we finally arrived at Astrid’s penthouse, the apartment felt like a warm hug. It was cozy and beautiful, with plush furniture, soft lighting, and the faint scent of vanilla and lavender in the air. It was a stark contrast to the cold, hollow feeling in my chest.

“So, what are we drinking?” Astrid asked as we settled on the couch, her tone light and cheerful.

“Later,” Elara said, her voice firm. “First things first.”

I glanced at her, my stomach tightening. “Huh?”

“Come on, Lilac. Out with it. What’s going on?” Elara asked, her eyes piercing as they locked onto mine.

“What do you mean?” I replied, feigning ignorance.

“Stop this crap and be out with it,” Astrid chimed in, her tone sharper now. “How about you start explaining why we got away with a free meal at one of the most expensive restaurants in the city?”

“And I don’t want to hear the ‘my-dad-knew-the-owner’ bullshit,” Elara added, crossing her arms.

I sighed, knowing there was no point in hiding it anymore.

“It’s Alaric’s,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Oh, Goddess,” Elara muttered, her eyes widening.

“Is that why you didn’t want to go in?” Astrid asked, her tone softening.

“Yeah,” I said, my throat tightening. “He introduced me as his Luna to his pack, and so… they still see me that way.”