His Abandoned Luna Chapter 193

|| Lilac’s POV ||

The grand hall fell into a hushed silence as Alpha King Darius rose from his throne, the ancient silver crown of the realm glinting under the chandeliers. Every eye followed his slow, deliberate steps toward the center of the dais where Alaric stood tall, regal, and utterly devastating in his Nightshade armor.

“Tonight,” Darius’s voice boomed through the hall, “we restore what was stolen centuries ago.”

A murmur rippled through the crowd. I caught Ezra’s wide-eyed stare from where he stood beside our parents, his new Royal Beta insignia gleaming on his chest.

Darius lifted a black-velvet pillow from a waiting attendant, revealing a crown unlike any I’d ever seen— twisted obsidian and silver, shaped like intertwined wolves, their eyes set with glowing moonstones.

“Kneel, Alpha of the Nightshades.”

The command sent a shiver down my spine. Alaric obeyed, dropping to one knee with a grace that spoke of both power and reverence. The chandelier cast flickering shadows across his masked face as Darius raised the crown high.

“By blood and bone,” the King intoned, “by moon and shadow, I return what was taken.” The crown hovered above Alaric’s head. “Do you swear to protect this realm, even at the cost of your life?”

Alaric’s voice was steel. “I swear on the Goddess.”

“Will you lead with justice, even when it demands mercy?” The king asked.

“I will.” Alaric replied.

Darius’s aged hands trembled slightly as he lowered the crown onto Alaric’s dark hair. “Then rise, our new Alpha King. The Nightshades Bloodline. Protector of the Realms. May the moon show you way in the darkest hours.”

The moment the crown touched him, the room seemed to shift. The torches flared brighter. The very air hummed with energy. And Alaric— goddess— Alaric seemed to grow even larger, his presence expanding until it filled every corner of the hall.

The crowd erupted into applause— some hesitant, others roaring. My hands clapped of their own accord, my heart pounding so loudly I barely heard Darius’s next words.

“Now,” the old king said, stepping back, “let us honor tradition. The first dance belongs to our new king.”

Alaric rose smoothly, his masked gaze sweeping the room before landing unerringly on me. A collective inhale echoed through the hall as he descended the dais, his long strides eating up the distance between us.

Alaric stopped before me, close enough. He extended a gloved hand.

“May I?”

The hall held its breath. The crowd parted like startled birds, whispers rising in his wake.

“Why her?”

“The Blackwood girl?”

“Everything seemed to be around her these days!”

“But he’s a Nightshade and she…”

I pushed away all the chatters, they were insignificant. And placed my hand in his, bowing slightly. “Of course, my King.”

The gasps were louder this time.

Alaric led me to the center of the dance floor, his grip firm yet gentle. The musicians struck up a waltz— something old and hauntingly beautiful.

“You look breathtaking, Dove,” he murmured, his thumb tracing circles on my waist.

I smiled up at him. “And you look every bit the king you are meant to be. I am proud of you, Alaric.”

His eyes darkened behind the mask. “How are you feeling? How is our pup?”

“Waiting for the show,” I teased.

A low growl vibrated in his chest as he pulled me closer, our bodies aligning perfectly. “Goddess, you smell divine,” he whispered, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “I don’t know how I’m holding back from kissing you right here.”

“Alaric,” I breathed his name like a prayer.

“Ready?” he muttered over my face.

I tilted my head, exposing the curve of my neck in silent answer. “I have always been yours.”

His arm tightened around me. Then his sharp canines pierced the tender skin of my neck.

A gasp tore from my lips, but the pain melted almost instantly into something hotter, deeper— pleasure so intense it stole my breath. Runa howled in triumph within me, our bond singing as Alaric’s mark seared into my flesh.

The music screeched to a halt.

The hall erupted.

“By the gods—”

“Did he just—”

“A mating mark? Now?!”

Alaric licked the wound clean, his tongue soothing the sting before pulling back to meet my dazed eyes. The crowd’s shock was a living thing, buzzing against my skin.

“See, this is how I wanted to claim you. When everyone is watching, every eyes are on you. And everyone knows who you belong to,” Alaric whispered against my neck, holding me even closer.

Then, he slowly pulled away, just enough to meet my eyes, and bowed slightly. He kised my knuckles and declared loud enough for everyone to hear, “My Queen. My Luna!”

Silence.

Then chaos.

Ezra’s chair clattered to the ground. My mother’s hands flew to her mouth. Dad was fuming in anger and disbelief that I let an unknown wolf mark me out of the blue. Elara’s gaze burned on my back. I knew I had to give her a long explanation. Marcus looked torn between cheering and drawing his claws.

But it was Alpha King Darius who spoke first, his voice cutting through the uproar:

“It seems the alpha King has chosen his Luna.”

And with those words, the world as we knew it changed forever.