His Abandoned Luna Chapter 168

|| Lilac’s POV ||

The walls of Alaric's house were closing in on me. A place once felt so lively now became my cage.

I paced the length of my borrowed bedroom for what felt like the hundredth time, my bare feet wearing grooves into the plush rug. The window was cracked open, letting in the crisp autumn air, but it did nothing to ease the fire burning in my chest.

No word from Elara.

Ezra's calls going unanswered.

Dad and mom kept insisting I stayed here!

The Alpha King election looming like a storm cloud.

And here I was. In a way, trapped.

A knock at the door. I didn't need to turn to know who it was. The scent of pine and earth wrapped me up and filled the room before he even spoke.

"Dove," he called my name

I whirled on him. "I'm leaving."

His stormy grey eyes darkened. "No."

"Not asking for permission." I grabbed my leather jacket from the bedpost, shoving my arms through the sleeves with jerky movements. "Either drive me back to my estate, or I'll walk."

Alaric stepped fully into the room, shutting the door behind him with a quiet click that felt far too final. "Dove, you need to be patient. You know we have a plan."

"Do I?" My laugh was sharp enough to draw blood. "Because from where I'm standing, I've been benched while the rest of you play some game I don't understand the rules to!"

His jaw tightened. "It's not that, dove. Trust me…"

"Don't." I held up a hand. "Don't tell me it's for my safety. Don't tell me to be patient. The election is in two weeks, Alaric. Kael is going to win, and then what? We just…."

"Enough." Alaric's voice was firm.

The word wasn't shouted, but it cracked through the room like a whip. Alaric crossed the distance between us in three strides, his hands coming up to frame my face. His touch was warm as always that somehow forced me to melt in him. His calloused fingers brushing my cheekbones.

"You think I don't know what's at stake?" His voice was low, rough. "You think I want to keep you caged?"

I swallowed hard. His scent enveloped me, earth and something wild, something that made the hollow place in my chest ache.

"Then let me help," I whispered.

For a long moment, he just looked at me. Then finally he spoke.

"I would have driven you back today either way."

The drive to my family's estate was silent, tension thick enough to choke on. Alaric's knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his gaze fixed stubbornly ahead. I stared out the window, watching the trees blur past.

What are you planning?

The thought gnawed at me. Alaric never gave in this easily.

The gates of the estate came into view, and I frowned. There were too many cars lining the driveway. Too many lights blazing in windows that should have been dark.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Alaric didn't answer. Just parked and stepped out, rounding the car to open my door with a quiet, "You'll see."

The front doors swung open before we reached them.

"Lilac! Sweetpea! You are back already?"

Mom stood in the doorway, resplendent in a gown of deep emerald, her smile wide enough to crinkle the corners of her eyes. Behind her, the foyer was decorated, flowers draped over every surface, ribbons of silver and black twining up the banister.

My stomach dropped.

"Mom? What's going on here!" I asked.

She grabbed my hands, pulling me inside. "Everything's ready! The guests will start arriving in an hour."

"Guests?" My voice sounded distant, like it was coming from someone else. "For what?"

Her smile turned knowing. "Your mating ceremony, of course! Tonight!"

The world tilted.

I turned slowly to face Alaric. His expression was unreadable.

"You knew."

It wasn't a question.

He didn't deny it.

My mother squeezed my hands. "Elias will be here soon. Oh, sweetheart, don't look so shocked! Your father told me you agreed…."

"I agreed to nothing." I wrenched free, backing away. "This is a mistake."

"Lilac… Dove…." Alaric started.

"No." My hands were shaking. "You don't get to Lilac me right now. You don't get to stand there and—and— don't you want me anymore, Alaric? How could you agree to this?"

“I love you more than anything, dove and trust me, the ceremony will never end well,” Alaric cupped my face as he spoke.

The words died as the full realization hit.

This wasn't just a trap for Elias.

It wasn't a cage for me.

I waited until we were alone, dragged Alaric into my father's study and shut the door with a slam that rattled the windows.

"Explain. Now."

He didn't flinch. "It's the only way."

"To do what? Humiliate me? Force me into some farce of a mating—" My voice was raising.

"To keep you alive!" Alaric replied.

The roar echoed off the walls. Alaric's chest heaved, his eyes blazing. "The rogues aren't just attacking, Lilac. They're organized. They're targeting you. And Elias—"

"Is working with them! Which you knew!" I finished his sentence.

"Yes!" He dragged a hand through his hair. "But we need proof. Something public. Something undeniable."

I stared at him, the pieces clicking together with horrible clarity.

"The ceremony," I whispered.

Alaric's nod was grim. "He'll slip up. They all will."

"And if he doesn't?" I questioned. My heart raced.

"Then we call it off." Alaric said casually.

The words should have comforted me. They didn't.

"You should have told me." I demanded.

His expression softened. "Would you have agreed?"

No.

I didn't say it. Didn't have to.

Alaric stepped closer, his hand lifting as if to touch me before he thought better of it. "I'm sorry."

The apology hung between us, heavy and inadequate.

Outside, the first of the guests began to arrive.