His Abandoned Luna Chapter 53

|| Lilac's POV ||

The dinner table was warm and inviting. The scent of baked fish and freshly baked bread filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of herbs from the garden outside. It was a rare moment of peace, one I had been craving after the chaos of the past few weeks. But as I sat there, picking at my food, I could feel the weight of my parents’ gazes on me. They had something to say, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to hear it.

“Sweetpea,” mom began, her voice soft but filled with a quiet determination. “Your father and I were talking about Alexander.”

I looked up, my fork pausing mid-air.

“Alexander?” I repeated, my voice cautious.

“Yes,” dad chimed in, his tone warm but firm. “He’s a remarkable young man. Soon, he’ll take over Silver Moon, and from what we’ve heard, he’s going to make an excellent Alpha.”

I nodded slowly, my mind racing. I knew where this was going, and I wasn’t sure I liked it.

“Silver Moon is the strongest pack in the region,” Mom continued, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. “They have wealth, protection, and influence. You’d be safe there, Lilac. Alexander would take good care of you.”

I set my fork down, my appetite suddenly gone.

“Mom, Dad,” I said, my voice steady but tinged with frustration. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I’m not interested in Alexander. Not like that.”

Ezra, who had been quietly devouring his meal, looked up with a smirk. “What’s wrong, sis? Not into tall, dark, and brooding? Or is it the whole ‘future Alpha’ thing that’s turning you off?”

I shot him a glare, but he just grinned, clearly enjoying himself.

“Very funny, Ezra,” I muttered.

“I’m just saying,” he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Alexander’s got it all— looks, power, money. What more could you want?”

“A soulmate,” I said firmly, my voice cutting through the lighthearted banter. The room fell silent, and I could feel the weight of my words settling over the table.

My parents exchanged a glance, their expressions softening.

“Sweetpea,” Mom said gently, reaching across the table to take my hand. “We understand. After everything with Kael, it’s natural that you’d want to find your true mate. But… finding a soulmate isn’t easy. It’s next to impossible.”

“And even if you do find them,” Dad added, his voice filled with concern, “there’s a chance they’ve already taken a chosen mate and consummated the bond. If that’s the case, you’ll never be able to claim them as your own.”

I felt a lump form in my throat, their words hitting me harder than I expected. I had been so focused on my missing wolf, on the Moon Goddess’s prophecy, that I hadn’t considered this possibility. What if my soulmate was already taken? What if I was destined to be alone?

“I know it’s hard, sweetpea,” Mom said, her voice filled with sympathy. “But we just want you to be safe and happy. Alexander is a good man. He could give you the life you deserve.”

I shook my head, my heart aching with the weight of their words.

“I don’t want a life with someone just because it’s safe or convenient,” I said, my voice trembling. “I want a life with someone who’s meant for me. Someone I’m meant for. I don’t want to settle for less.”

The room fell silent again, the only sound the soft clinking of Ezra’s fork against his plate. I could feel the tension in the air, the unspoken worry in my parents’ eyes. They wanted what was best for me, but they didn’t understand. They couldn’t.

After dinner, I retreated to my room, my mind racing with thoughts I couldn’t escape. My parents’ words echoed in my head, adding to the already heavy burden I was carrying. Finding a soulmate was like finding a needle in a haystack, and the chances were slim. But even if I did find him, how would I know? My wolf was dormant, her presence faint and elusive. Without her, I had no way of recognizing my true mate.

I sat on the edge of my bed, my hands trembling as I buried my face in them. What was I supposed to do? Where was I supposed to look? The Moon Goddess had given me a second chance, but she hadn’t given me a map. I was lost, adrift in a sea of uncertainty, and I didn’t know how to find my way.

A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.

“Come in,” I called, my voice barely above a whisper.

The door creaked open, and Ezra poked his head in.

“Hey,” he said, his tone uncharacteristically gentle. “Can I come in?”

I nodded, and he slipped inside, closing the door behind him. He sat down beside me, his presence a small comfort in the storm of my emotions.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice soft.

I shook my head, tears welling up in my eyes.

“Yeah,” I said, my voice breaking. “I... I am just a bit tired, Ez.”

Ezra wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. “Hey, don’t talk like that,” he said, his voice firm but kind. “I know you are not okay and that's fine. You don’t have to play grown up all the time, okay?"

"I honestly don’t know what to do...." I sighed.

"You’re Lilac Blackwood. You’re strong, smart, and stubborn as hell. If you want to find your soulmate then be it.” He smiled.

I let out a shaky laugh, wiping the tears from my cheeks. “Thanks, Ez,” I said, my voice filled with gratitude.

When did this little chimp have grown up?

“But seriously,” he added, his tone lightening, “if you’re not into Alexander, that’s fine. But don’t shut yourself off from other possibilities, okay? You never know what might happen.”

I nodded, his words giving me a small glimmer of hope. Maybe he was right. Maybe I didn’t have to have all the answers right now. Maybe I just had to keep moving forward, one step at a time.

As I lay in bed that night, my mind still racing, I thought about Alaric. He had been there for me in ways no one else had, and I couldn’t deny the connection I felt with him. But he wasn't my mate. Just another choice I couldn’t afford to make? When I asked him what I were to him, he didn’t say mate. But he claimed me to be his, in a weird but good possessive way. Maybe I should have asked him if we were mates? But won't he raise concerns if we were? He would find out about my wolf!

I didn’t know. But as I closed my eyes, I made myself a promise. I wouldn’t give up. Not on finding my soulmate, not on my wolf, and not on myself. The road ahead was uncertain, but I would face it head-on, no matter what.