His Abandoned Luna Chapter 73

|| Lilac's POV ||

The days passed in a blur, each one heavier than the last. I stayed in my room, the curtains drawn, the world outside feeling distant and unimportant. My thoughts were a tangled mess, my heart torn between the life I wanted and the destiny I feared. Alaric’s words echoed in my mind, his possessiveness, his declaration that I was his. But the Moon Goddess’s vision loomed over me, a constant reminder of the stakes. If I didn’t find my mate, everyone I loved would suffer. My parents, Ezra, Elara… and Alaric. The thought was unbearable, but so was the idea of defying fate.

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the floor, when the door creaked open. My mom stepped in, her presence warm and comforting. She carried a tray of snacks, the scent of freshly baked cookies filling the room.

“Hey, sweetpea,” she said, her voice soft and filled with concern. “I brought you some snacks.”

I forced a smile, though it felt brittle on my lips. “Thanks, Mom.”

She set the tray down on the bedside table and sat beside me, her hand brushing against my hair. “Lilac, I know the Wolf Ball was disappointing. But there’s no need to be sad over it.”

I sighed, my shoulders slumping. If only she knew. It wasn’t the ball that had left me feeling so hollow. It was me. My indecision, my fear, my inability to reconcile what I wanted with what I thought I needed.

“I’m fine, Mom,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

She frowned, her hand cupping my cheek. “Oh, baby, you don’t have to look strong for me.”

Her words were a balm to my aching heart, but they also made the guilt inside me swell. I wanted to tell her everything— about the Moon Goddess’s vision, about Alaric, about the fear that was eating me alive. But the words caught in my throat, and I just sat there, numb.

“Besides,” she added, her tone lightening, “the Wolf Ball was just the beginning.”

I looked up at her, curiosity flickering in my chest. “What do you mean?”

She smiled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Well, Alpha Asher has invited us to a party. And I’m sure it’s not just us he’s invited. Actually, he’s trying to find a good match for Alexander.”

My stomach churned at the mention of Alexander. The thought of another forced bond, another political alliance, made me feel sick.

“Mom, I told you… I don’t want to be in a forced bond anymore,” I said, my voice tinged with irritation.

She held up a hand, her expression calm but firm. “Well, hear me out. Since he’s invited a lot of potential families, many alphas and betas will be there too. It might be your chance to look for your mate.”

My eyes widened, her words sinking in. That was actually a good plan. But did I even want to look for my mate anymore? The thought of being with someone other than Alaric made my chest ache, but the fear of the future, of the destruction I had seen, held me back.

“Also,” Mom added, her tone conspiratorial now, “it will be an Eclipse that night. So I’m sure they’ll make a spectacle out of it.”

I gasped, my breath catching in my throat as the pieces finally fell into place.

The Eclipse Ball.

It had happened in my past life too.

My pulse pounded as memories resurfaced, clearer now than they had been before. This was the very night Kael had recommended Astrid Moonvale to Alexander. The Moonvale family was powerful— wealthy, politically influential, and deeply connected in the capital.

And Astrid…

Astrid and Alexander had mated that night.

It had been seen as a union of strength. Their bond had given Alexander an undeniable boost, solidifying his pack’s position in the political arena. But it hadn’t been long before he found his true mate— after he had already marked Astrid. The scandal that followed had sent shockwaves through the werewolf community, tainting his reputation and shaking his pack’s foundation.

And who had stepped in to clean up the mess?

Kael.

He had turned the scandal into an advantage, using it to his benefit, weaving his way into Alexander’s inner circle as a trusted ally and savior. Both the families were grateful to Kael. Their packs had grown closer. Their forces had merged. And when the election came, Alexander had stood by Kael’s side, ensuring his victory.

It had been a brilliant, ruthless political maneuver.

And it had been one of the reasons Kael had won.

A chill ran through me.

What if Kael got to play the matchmaker again?

What if he succeeded in securing Alexander’s support before I even had a chance to act?

What about my plan?

I had been carefully preparing to push Alexander toward running in the election himself— to challenge Kael, to be the leader our people truly needed. But if Kael succeeded tonight, if Alexander formed that bond with Astrid again, then I would lose my chance. He would never stand against Kael. He would be bound to him, just as he had been before.

And this time, I wouldn’t get another life to fix it.

I cursed myself, frustration and guilt bubbling up inside me. I had been so consumed by my sorrow, so caught up in my feelings for Alaric, that I had missed out on so many things. I should have been working harder, doing everything in my power to keep my family safe. Instead, I had been crying all day and night, wallowing in self-pity. I needed to slow down my doom before I could find it in my heart to look for a mate and learn to walk past Alaric somehow.

“But,” Mom said, her voice pulling me out of my thoughts, “there’s no pressure, sweetpea. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

I looked up at her, determination flickering in my chest.

“No, I want to go,” I said promptly.

Her eyes widened in surprise. “You do?”

I nodded, forcing a smile. “Yeah, it’s better to go out and mingle, no?”

Her face lit up, and she leaned in to kiss my forehead.

“Of course, sweetpea,” she said, her voice filled with warmth. “I’ll make sure you have the perfect dress.”

As she left the room, I felt a mix of emotions swirling inside me. The Eclipse Ball was my chance to change the course of events, to prevent Kael from gaining more power. But it was also a reminder of the choices I had to make, the sacrifices I had to consider.

I stood up, walking over to the window and pulling back the curtains. The sun was setting, the sky painted in hues of orange and pink. The world outside was beautiful, but it felt distant, like a dream I couldn’t quite reach.

I took a deep breath, my mind racing. The Eclipse Ball was in a few days, and I needed to be ready. I needed to be strong, to put aside my feelings for Alaric and focus on what needed to be done. But as I stood there, staring out at the horizon, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was strong enough.