His Abandoned Luna Chapter 178

|| Lilac’s POV ||

The forest blurred around me as I sprinted toward the packhouse, my bare feet slapping against the damp earth. Endora’s words echoed in my skull with every frantic heartbeat— pregnant, mate, curse, heir, throne. The afternoon sun filtered through the canopy, dappling the path ahead, but all I could see was Alaric’s face when I’d tell him.

Would his eyes light up with joy? Would his strong hands tremble as they touched my stomach to find the trace of a tiny heartbeat? Or would fear overtake him— fear of the curse, of the throne?

The packhouse loomed ahead, its stone walls cool against my palms as I braced myself, gasping for breath.

Just tell him.

But how?

‘Hey Alaric, guess what? We’re mates and I’m carrying your child— oh, and by the way, this breaks your centuries-old curse! But you just have to mark me.’’

I groaned, pressing my forehead against the door. This needed finesse. I exhaled before opening the door. My heart was pounding in my chest.

Alaric sat at his massive oak desk, the fading sunlight painting gold streaks across his furrowed brow as he scowled at some report. The moment I entered, his entire demeanor shifted— shoulders relaxing, lips curving into that rare, soft smile reserved only for me.

“Dove,” he murmured, setting aside the papers. “You’re back early from Endora’s. Is everything ok?”

I didn’t trust my voice. Instead, I crossed the room in three strides and climbed into his lap, my legs straddling his thighs, my arms looping around his neck. His warmth seeped into me, the familiar scent of pine and earth calming my racing thoughts. The spark ran through my skin and I stayed there for a second. Sk this was the magic everyone talked about! The one I always felt with him.

“You always want me to be your Luna, right?” The question came out breathier than I intended.

Alaric’s hands settled on my waist, his thumbs rubbing absent circles through the fabric of my dress.

“Yeah,” he said simply, as if it were the most obvious truth in the world.

“Then let’s do it.” I suggested.

His fingers stilled.

For a heartbeat, there was only silence. Then he shifted.

“Are you serious?” He pulled back just enough to search my face, his gaze darting between my eyes as if looking for some trick.

“Yes,” I whispered, tightening my grip around his neck. “I want to be your Luna.”

Alaric’s expression darkened. “What happened, dove?”

The question felt like a bucket of ice water.

“What? You don’t want me anymore?” I tried to pull away, but his grip turned iron.

“That’s not it.” His voice was rough, strained. “But this— after everything— Lilac, look at me.”

And I did.

“A lot is happening right now,” he continued, his thumb brushing my cheekbone. “Elias is still not talking. The rogues— this is not a good time to hold a ceremony. ”

“Then mark me. We don’t need a ceremony, we just need each other,” I interrupted, pressing closer.

His breath hitched.

“Alright,” he growled, eyes narrowing. “What’s happening? What are you hiding?”

So he could read me just like that! That was the bond, right? No secrets, only love and care of a lifetime. I felt so overwhelmed! And I knew it wasn’t the pregnancy hormone, it was him.

“Nothing,” I lied, unble to put together words. My pulse thundering where our bodies touched. I could barely breathe. “I just want us to be together.”

Once he marked me, he would know, hunter would know. Then it would be easier to explain.

“Is that so?” Alaric leaned in, his lips brushing the sensitive skin below my ear. His teeth grazed my pulse point— so close to where his mark would go— and I shuddered.

“As much as I want to,” he murmured against my throat, “I won’t.”

“Why?” The word came out as a whimper.

Alaric pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, his own blazing with something fierce.

“Because when I mark you,” he said slowly, deliberately, “I want to do it before the entire world. So everyone knows you’re mine, dove.”

His lips found my neck again, this time with a claiming pressure that left no doubt— he wasn’t rejecting me. He was waiting.

Okay, Lilac. Just tell him.

I opened my mouth to start but the door slammed open.

Marcus stood frozen in the doorway, his face rapidly paling as he took in our position. “Oh. Shit. Sorry, Alpha—”

I scrambled off Alaric’s lap, my cheeks burning.

Alaric didn’t move, his glare alone enough to make even his beta flinch. “What now?”

“Elias,” Marcus panted, wisely avoiding looking at me. “You need to come and see for yourself. It’s really urgent.”

Alaric was on his feet in an instant, his entire body coiled with lethal tension. He made it three steps toward the door before stopping abruptly, turning back to me.

“Are you coming?”

The question hung between us.

I glanced down at my stomach, where our pup— our future— was growing. I didn’t want the baby to be anywhere near dark shadows, anywhere near Elias.

“No,” I said softly. “You go.”

Alaric studied me for a long moment before closing the distance between us. His kiss against my temple was featherlight, his voice barely above a whisper. “Okay. Take care. I’ll be back soon.”

I caught his wrist before he could pull away. “Alaric.”

He paused.

“I love you.” I whispered.

The words hung in the air, fragile and weighty all at once.

Alaric’s eyes darkened, his fingers threading through my hair as he tilted my face up to his.

“I always love you more,” he murmured against my lips before kissing me deeply, thoroughly, as if trying to memorize the taste of me.

Then he was gone, the door clicking shut behind him, leaving me alone with the words I hadn’t said— and the life growing inside me that would change everything.