His Abandoned Luna Chapter 43

|| Lilac’s POV ||

The hum of the car’s engine filled the silence as we drove away from the house, the city lights fading into the distance. My mind, however, slowly filled up with multiple thoughts which were anything but quiet. I tried to push it aside and focus on Alaric, but it was too late.

“Okay, what’s bothering you?” Alaric’s stern voice cut through my thoughts, making me jump.

“Nothing,” I replied quickly, my voice a little too high-pitched to be convincing.

“It’s not nothing. You were fine just a second ago. Don’t lie, Dove,” he said, his tone firm but not unkind. He glanced at me briefly before turning his attention back to the road.

I sighed, knowing there was no point in hiding it. “Well, a lot has happened lately,” I admitted, my voice soft.

“And?” he prompted, raising an eyebrow.

“There’s been an incident I didn’t tell you about,” I said, hesitating for a moment before continuing. “Unexpectedly, the Nightshades covered our bill at Moon Garden. And then again in the mall the other day.”

Alaric’s expression didn’t change, but I could see the gears turning in his head. “Dad said we have no connection with them. Why would they be so generous?” I asked, my voice tinged with frustration.

“Well, is it really that worrisome?” Alaric asked, his tone casual as he glanced at me again.

“What do you mean?” I asked, my eyebrows creasing in confusion.

“Don’t girls like this kind of situation? Free food at a high-end restaurant, free shopping?” he said, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

I stared at him, my mouth hanging open in disbelief. “Are you being serious? Of course not!” I snapped, my frustration bubbling over. “Besides, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. We’ll have to pay them back one way or another. I just know it!”

Alaric chuckled, the sound low and warm. “Are you really that worried? What I’ve heard is that the Nightshades aren’t that cringy.”

I frowned, his words catching me off guard. What was wrong with him? Was he defending them? Wait Luna Aria had some connections with the Nightshades. Rumors said she helped the Alpha King secure their votes. Did Alaric know them somehow?

“Why are you defending them?” I asked, my eyes narrowing as I studied his face. “Are you related to them or something?”

Alaric raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. “And what brought you to this fantastic conclusion?”

I hesitated, unsure if I should bring up his family. But the words spilled out before I could stop them. “Well… the rumors are there that Luna Aria secured the vote of confidence from the Nightshades for the Alpha King. And since she was your mother… I thought…” I trailed off, the awkwardness of the situation hitting me like a ton of bricks.

It was a sensitive topic. Luna Aria had died when Alaric was young, and his childhood had been far from easy after the Alpha King brought home a stepmother. We had never spoken about his family, and I wasn’t sure how he felt about it.

“I see,” Alaric said, his voice quiet. I could see a flicker of sadness in his eyes, and it made my chest ache.

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, my voice filled with regret. “I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“No, don’t be,” he replied, his tone softening. “But as you said, those are just rumors.” He gave me a small smile, but the tension in the car was palpable.

We sat in silence for a while, the weight of the conversation hanging heavy in the air. I had made things awkward, and I hated it. I wanted to fix it, to bring back the easy banter we usually shared, but I didn’t know how.

“Can I ask you something?” I said finally, breaking the silence.

“Anything,” Alaric replied, his voice warm and reassuring.

“Why didn’t you ever stand for the election?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me. “You’re also the Alpha King’s lineage, and honestly, you might end up being a better king than Kael.”

Alaric chuckled, the sound low and rich. “Why would I want to be the king?” he asked, his tone light but his eyes serious.

“Well, you’d be the supreme ruler of the country,” I said, as if it were obvious.

“And where does that leave me?” he countered, his gaze fixed on the road.

“Sorry?” I asked, confused.

“I would have a lot of burdens,” he explained, his voice tinged with something I couldn’t quite place. “Everything I do would be under public scrutiny. My mate and children would be forced to wear masks all the time in public. What kind of life is that?”

I stared at him, my mind reeling. It had never occurred to me that he might not want to be king. “You don’t want to be the king?” I gasped, my voice filled with disbelief.

“Of course not,” he said, a smirk tugging at his lips. “If I were the king, I could never have sneaked into your room like I do.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, the tension in the car easing slightly. He had a point. Alaric was a carefree soul, and I admired that about him.

“Don’t tell me you’re already regretting letting my brother go,” he teased, his smirk widening.

“No, I’m not,” I said, my voice firm.

“Tell me, Dove,” he said, his tone turning serious. “Do you want to be the queen? Is that important to you?”

The question caught me off guard, and I hesitated for a moment. In my past life, being queen had brought me nothing but pain and betrayal. I didn’t want anything to do with the throne anymore.

“No, never,” I replied, my voice steady.

Alaric nodded, his expression softening. “Good,” he said, his voice filled with relief.

“So, if you don’t like dining out and shopping, what are your preferences?” Alaric asked, his tone light and teasing.

“Well, I’d prefer Mom’s cooking, probably,” I said, a small smile tugging at my lips.

“Anything specific?” he asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

“Anything and everything,” I replied, my smile widening.

Without warning, Alaric turned the car around, heading in a completely different direction. I glanced at him, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“You’ll see,” he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he winked at me.