His Abandoned Luna Chapter 48

|| Lilac's POV ||

I moved a little. His arm was draped over me, his fingers lightly tracing patterns on my back. The steady rise and fall of his breathing was soothing, and for a moment, I allowed myself to bask in the warmth of his presence.

But then it hit me I was wearing his t-shirt. The realization made my cheeks flush with embarrassment. How had I ended up in his clothes? My mind raced, trying to piece together the events of the night before. Had we…? No, surely not. I would have remembered something like that. But the thought lingered, making my heart race.

I shifted slightly, my eyes drifting over Alaric’s half-naked form. His jawline was sharp, his stubble giving him a rugged, almost dangerous look. His chest was bare, the muscles defined and smooth, and I couldn’t help but admire the way the morning light played across his skin. He looked like a sculpture, perfectly carved and impossibly beautiful.

“Good morning, Dove,” Alaric’s voice broke the silence, low and gravelly with sleep. His eyes were still closed, but a small smile played on his lips.

I froze, my cheeks burning. Had he caught me staring?

“Like what you watch?” he added, his tone teasing.

I gasped, my embarrassment deepening. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze locking onto mine. There was a warmth in his eyes that made my heart skip a beat, but also a hint of amusement that made me want to hide under the covers.

Alaric stirred beside me, his arms tightening around me as if sensing my distress.

“Lilac?” he murmured, his voice thick with sleep. “What happened?”

I turned to him, my eyes meeting his in the dim light. “I… I had a dream,” I said, my voice trembling.

He frowned, his hand brushing against my cheek. “A bad one?”

I nodded, my throat tight with emotion. I couldn’t tell him about the Moon Goddess, about the weight of the destiny she had placed on my shoulders. It felt too heavy, too real, to share just yet. So, I simply nodded again, letting him draw his own conclusions.

Alaric’s expression softened, and he pulled me closer, his warmth enveloping me. “It’s all good, I am right here.”

His words were a balm to my frayed nerves, and I let myself sink into his embrace. But even as I did, the Goddess’s warning echoed in my mind. Time is running out. The urgency of her words pressed down on me, filling me with a sense of dread I couldn’t shake.

When I had come back, I had vowed to keep my family safe. That was my only goal, my only purpose. Finding a soulmate and ascending the throne had never been part of the plan. How had it come to this? How was I supposed to find my mate when my wolf, Runa, was dormant? The thought was overwhelming, and I felt a wave of frustration and helplessness wash over me.

My eyes drifted to Alaric, his face looked a bit worried. I thought we had something special. I thought we shared a bond, something deeper than just attraction. But he had never claimed me as his soulmate. Was it because he didn’t feel the same way? Or was it because fate had other plans for me? The thought made my chest ache, a dull pain that I couldn’t ignore.

I sighed, my heart heavy with disappointment. Why wasn’t it him? Why couldn’t he be the one chosen by the Goddess? The idea of leaving him, of walking away from what we had, hurt more than I cared to admit. What cruel game was fate playing with me?

I slowly sat up, the sheets pooling around my waist as I looked into Alaric’s eyes. My heart raced, my palms sweaty as I gathered the courage to ask the question that had been weighing on my mind. “Alaric, what are we?”

My voice was soft, barely above a whisper, but the words hung heavy in the air. My ears wanted to hear only one word 

mates

. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t that simple.

Alaric sat up beside me, his eyes searching mine. For a moment, he didn’t speak, and the silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken words. Then he reached out, his hand brushing against my cheek.

“We can be whatever you want us to be, princess,” he said, his voice warm and filled with affection.

But it wasn’t the answer I was looking for. My heart sank, the hope I had been clinging to slipping through my fingers. So, it was true then. He wasn’t the one chosen by the Goddess. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut, and I felt my eyes well up with tears.

Why did the thought of leaving him hurt so much? Why did the idea of walking away from what we had feel like tearing a piece of my soul away? I didn’t understand it, but the pain was real, raw, and overwhelming. It was worse than Kael’s betrayal.

I looked away, unable to meet his gaze any longer. My heart ached, the weight of my destiny pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket. I had to find my mate. I had to ascend the throne. But at what cost? Would I have to give up the one person who made me feel safe, who made me feel like I belonged?

Alaric reached out, his fingers gently tilting my chin up so that I was forced to look at him.

“Lilac,” he said, his voice soft but firm. “What’s the matter? Talk to me. I am right here.”

I wanted to believe him, to let his words soothe the ache in my chest. But the Goddess’s warning echoed in my mind, a constant reminder of the stakes. Time was running out, and I couldn’t afford to waste it on what-ifs and maybes.

I forced a smile, my heart breaking as I whispered, “Thank you, Alaric. I am fine.”

But deep down, I knew the truth. This was the end of my fairytale with him.