His Abandoned Luna Chapter 141

|| Lilac's POV ||

The first thing I registered was the warmth. It enveloped me like a cocoon, soft and steady, a stark contrast to the chaos that had become my life. My body felt heavy, my limbs tangled in something—no, someone. Alaric. His arms were wrapped around me, his chest rising and falling in a slow, rhythmic pattern. His scent, a mix of pine and something uniquely him, filled my senses, grounding me in the moment.

I groaned softly as my phone vibrated on the nightstand, the sound cutting through the quiet of the room. My hand fumbled for it, my eyes squinting against the dim light filtering through the curtains. Elara’s name flashed on the screen, and I hesitated, my heart skipping a beat.

Carefully, I tried to move, to slip out of Alaric’s embrace without waking him. But his grip tightened instinctively, pulling me back against his chest with a low, dissatisfied murmur. My breath hitched, and for a moment, I let myself sink into him, savoring the feeling of his warmth, his strength. But the phone kept vibrating, a persistent reminder of the world outside this room.

I sighed, finally picking up the call and pressing the phone to my ear. “Hey,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“Where are you?” Elara’s voice was sharp, her frustration palpable even through the phone.

I winced, glancing at Alaric’s peaceful face. He looked so calm, so unburdened in his sleep. I didn’t want to wake him, didn’t want to shatter this fragile moment. “Elara, please. Just this once,” I pleaded, my voice low.

“Lil, you have a soulmate now—who, by the way, has been asking me about you nonstop. You can’t just go hiding from him,” Elara said, her words tumbling out in a rush.

My heart sank, the weight of her words pressing down on me. She was right. Elias was my soulmate, and I’d been avoiding him, lying to him, hiding from him. And now, after last night… I swallowed hard, my stomach churning with guilt.

“No, I can’t,” Elara continued, her tone firm. “Lying to your parents is one thing. Lying to your mate is different. He’ll know.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. He’ll know. My mind raced, panic bubbling up inside me. I’d slept with Alaric—multiple times. Elias would feel it, wouldn’t he? The bond between soulmates was supposed to be unbreakable, undeniable. What if he already knew?

“Oh, calm down, Elara,” I heard Madeline’s voice in the background. “It’s already late, and besides, they haven’t slept together, which is a good thing.”

“Yeah, that’s a plus,” Elara sighed, her tone softening slightly.

“How do you know if we did it or not?” I asked, my voice tinged with confusion and a hint of defiance.

“Don’t tell me you did!” Elara yelled, her voice rising in alarm.

“This is bad. You’re coming to my place right now,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

“Okay,” I whispered, my voice trembling. I hung up the phone, my hands shaking as I set it back on the nightstand.

I turned to look at Alaric, his face still relaxed in sleep. My heart ached at the thought of leaving him, of stepping back into the world where I had to pretend everything was fine. But I couldn’t stay here. Not forever.

Gently, I reached out and brushed a strand of hair from his forehead, my fingers lingering on his skin. “Alaric,” I whispered, my voice soft but insistent.

He stirred, his eyes fluttering open. For a moment, he looked disoriented, but then his gaze focused on me, and a small smile tugged at his lips. “Dove,” he murmured, his voice rough with sleep.

“I have to go,” I said, my voice breaking. “Elara’s waiting for me.”

His smile faded, replaced by a look of sadness that made my chest tighten. “When can we meet again?” he asked, his voice low and filled with longing.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. The truth was, I didn’t know. Every moment with him felt like stolen time, a fragile bubble that could burst at any second.

I slipped out of bed, my body aching with the weight of what I was leaving behind. My dress was gone, crumpled somewhere on the floor, so I grabbed one of Alaric’s t-shirts, pulling it over my tights. The fabric was soft against my skin, and it carried his scent—a bittersweet reminder of what I was walking away from.

Alaric watched me silently, his eyes dark with unspoken emotions. He didn’t try to stop me, didn’t argue. He just stood, pulling on a pair of sweatpants before grabbing his keys. “I’ll drive you,” he said, his voice firm.

I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. We walked to his car in silence, the air between us heavy with everything we couldn’t say. He opened the door for me, his hand brushing against mine as I slid into the passenger seat. The touch sent a jolt through me, a reminder of the connection we couldn’t deny.

The drive to Elara’s place was quiet, the tension between us palpable. I stared out the window, my mind racing with thoughts of Elias, of the bond I was supposed to honor, of the life I was supposed to want. But all I could think about was Alaric—his touch, his scent, the way he made me feel alive in a way I hadn’t felt in months.

When we pulled up to Elara’s building, Alaric turned to me, his eyes searching mine.

“Dove,” he said, his voice soft but filled with emotion.

I leaned in, my lips brushing against his in a kiss that was both tender and desperate. It was a goodbye, a promise, a plea—all wrapped into one. When I pulled away, his hands lingered on my face, his thumb brushing away a tear I hadn’t realized had fallen.

“I’ll see you soon,” he whispered, though we both knew it wasn’t a promise he could keep.

I nodded, my heart breaking as I stepped out of the car. The cold air hit me like a slap, a stark contrast to the warmth of Alaric’s presence. I walked into the building, his scent still clinging to me, a bittersweet reminder of the love I couldn’t have.