His Abandoned Luna Chapter 170

|| Lilac’s POV ||

The projector's glow cast eerie shadows across the garden as the video played on. My breath caught in my throat when the woman in Elias's arms turned her face toward the camera— revealing Coco's unmistakable heart-shaped face, her raven hair splayed across Elias's bare chest like Serpents.

A collective gasp ripped through the crowd.

To my left, Alpha King Darius's knuckles whitened around his goblet, the gold bending under his grip. Luna Cassandra's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with horror. Kael stood frozen beside her, his face a mask of icy fury. And Coco— oh, dear little Coco, her already pale complexion turned ghostly, her fingers trembling where they clutched Kael's sleeve.

For a heartbeat, the world stopped.

Then chaos erupted.

"Stop this nonsense!" Elias roared, lunging toward Ezra to snatch the remote. His usually perfect golden hair was disheveled, his blue eyes wild. "What kind of joke is this?!"

Ezra held up his hands in mock surrender, though his smirk was anything but innocent. "I— I don't understand! I swear! This was supposed to be a montage of you and Lilac!"

I wanted to laugh! When did this punk grow such a good acting skill!

"How dare you drag my mate into this?!" Kael snarled, stepping forward, his massive frame trembling with barely contained rage.

Coco flinched beside him, her lower lip quivering.

Elara, ever the journalist, was already scrutinizing the footage on her phone.

"This clip is real," she announced coolly. "No edits. No tampering."

"Bullshit!" Kael's voice was a whip crack.

Elara didn't even blink.

"I'm a reporter, Kael. I know a fabricated video when I see one. And this?" She held up her phone, the damning evidence clear for all to see. "This is real."

The crowd murmured, their shock thickening the air like fog.

I finally found my voice.

"Enough! Elias." The name tasted like poison. "Explain this."

He turned to me, his expression pleading. "Lilac, love, you have to believe me— this is a setup!"

My chest ached, but not for the reason everyone assumed. Not because my heart was broken, but because history was repeating itself. Again. In my past life, Coco had stolen Kael from me. And now, it seemed, she'd stolen Elias too. Not that I mind, but still it hurt.

The irony was almost laughable.

Almost.

"Then, prove it," I whispered, my voice raw.

Elias stiffened. "How?"

Astrid stepped forward, her emerald eyes glinting. "Simple. We run the Blood Ritual."

Madeline nodded, already moving toward a small table where a golden bowl sat waiting.

"Under the full moon, you'll both give blood. If your souls have never been entangled, the blood will remain red in the sacred fire. If they have..." She trailed off meaningfully.

So this was their plan all along. Good grief!

Kael's growl rumbled through the clearing. "There’s no need for this. I trust my mate."

“But I want to see,” I spoke up.

"Silence!" Alpha Darius's voice boomed across the garden, silencing the murmurs instantly. "This is no trivial matter. Madeline, proceed."

Madeline bowed her head. "Yes, my king."

Two omegas built a fire in the center of the garden, the flames licking hungrily at the night air. The full moon's glow intensified, as if the goddess herself were leaning in to watch.

Elias eyed the golden bowl warily. "How do we know this ritual even works?"

My father stepped forward, his voice steady. "It's an ancient blessing from the Goddess herself. The blood does not lie."

"That’s true!"

"Goddess shows the way."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the gathered Alphas.

Madeline held the bowl out to Elias first. "What's wrong, Elias? If you're innocent, you have nothing to fear."

His jaw clenched, but he extended his hand. Madeline's dagger flashed, a quick slice across his palm. Blood dripped into the bowl, crimson against the gold.

Then she turned to Coco.

The petite blackhead shrank behind Kael, her eyes wide with terror.

"Coco," Madeline said gently, "there's nothing to be afraid of."

Kael's arm shot out, blocking her. "Don't touch her."

"Kael," Alpha Darius warned.

For a heartbeat, no one moved. Then, with a trembling hand, Coco stepped forward. Madeline pricked her finger, letting a single drop of blood fall into the bowl beside Elias's.

The crowd held its breath as Madeline lifted the bowl high, the moonlight catching the liquid inside.

"With the power bestowed upon me as Luna of the Silver Moon Pack," she intoned, her voice ringing clear, "I call upon the Goddess to reveal the truth!"

She tipped the bowl over the flames.

The fire roared, the blood sizzling as it hit the embers.

For a heartbeat, nothing.

Then the blood changed.

From crimson to deep, venomous purple.

The color of betrayal.

Elias's face went bone-white. Coco swayed on her feet, as if her knees buckled.

And the garden erupted into chaos that my family planned!