His Abandoned Luna Chapter 74

|| Lilac’s POV ||

The night of the Eclipse Ball arrived, and I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. The dress my mom had chosen was stunning— a deep wine red that brought out the gold in my eyes, the fabric hugging my curves in all the right places. My hair was styled in loose curls, and my makeup was subtle but elegant. I looked like a queen, but I didn’t feel like one.

My heart was heavy, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. I had spent the past few days preparing for this night, but now that it was here, I felt unprepared. The thought of seeing Alaric again, of facing him after everything that had happened, made my chest ache. But I couldn’t let my feelings get in the way. Not tonight.

I took a deep breath, smoothing down the fabric of my dress, and turned to leave the room. My parents were waiting for me downstairs, their expressions filled with pride and excitement.

“You look beautiful, sweetpea,” Mom said, her eyes shining with tears.

“Thanks, Mom,” I said, forcing a smile.

Dad nodded, his expression serious but filled with warmth. “You’ll do great tonight, Lilac. Just be yourself.”

I nodded, though the words felt hollow. Be myself. But who was I anymore? The girl who had been reborn, the girl who had seen the future and was trying to change it? Or the girl who was hopelessly in love with a man who might not be her mate?

We arrived at the venue, the grand hall lit up with thousands of twinkling lights. The Eclipse was in full effect, the moon casting an eerie glow over the room. The air was filled with the scent of flowers and perfume, the sound of music and laughter echoing through the space.

I stepped inside, my heart pounding in my chest. The room was filled with people, their masks and gowns creating a sea of color and movement. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for Alaric, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, I saw Kael. He stood at the edge of the room, his expression cold and calculating as he watched the crowd. My blood ran cold, and I quickly looked away, my heart racing.

I needed to focus. I needed to find Alexander, to talk to him before Kael could. But as I made my way through the crowd, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched. I turned, my eyes scanning the room, and there he was.

Alaric.

He stood at the edge of the room, his grey eyes locked on mine. His expression was unreadable, but there was an intensity in his gaze that made my heart skip a beat. He was dressed in a black suit, the fabric hugging his broad shoulders and muscular frame. He looked like a king, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

Our eyes met, and the world around us faded away. It was just the two of us, the connection between us undeniable. But I couldn’t. For his sake, I had to delay my cursed fate. I turned away, breaking the bond, and looked for Alexander instead.

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|| Alaric’s POV ||

The night of the Eclipse Ball arrived, and I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of my suit. The black fabric hugged my frame perfectly, the silver accents catching the light. I looked every bit the Alpha, but my mind was elsewhere. My thoughts were consumed by her— Lilac. The way she had looked at me the last time we were together, the way she had pulled away, the way she had questioned our bond. It gnawed at me, a constant ache in my chest.

I ran a hand through my hair, the strands falling perfectly into place. My reflection stared back at me, the grey eyes that had seen too much, the scars that told stories I would never share. Tonight was important, not just for me, but for her. I had to see her, to talk to her, to make her understand that she was mine. That we were meant to be.

The drive to the venue was quiet, the weight of the night pressing down on me. The Eclipse was in full effect, the moon casting an eerie glow over the landscape. The grand hall was lit up with thousands of twinkling lights, the air filled with the scent of flowers and perfume. The sound of music and laughter echoed through the space, but it all felt distant, like a dream I couldn’t quite reach.

I stepped inside, my eyes scanning the crowd. The room was filled with people, their masks and gowns creating a sea of color and movement. But I wasn’t here for them. I was here for her.

And then, I saw her.

Lilac stood at the edge of the room, her gown shimmering under the light. Her hair was styled in loose curls, and her makeup was subtle but elegant. She looked like a queen, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

Our eyes met, and the world around us faded away. It was just the two of us, the connection between us undeniable. But then, she looked away, her expression hardening as she turned and disappeared into the crowd.

I watched her walk away, my heart aching with every step she took. She was mine, and yet she was slipping through my fingers. I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t.

I followed her through the crowd, my eyes never leaving her. She was searching for someone, her movements quick and purposeful. I didn’t know who she was looking for, but I knew I had to reach her before she found them.

“Lilac,” I called out, my voice low and filled with urgency.

She turned, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Alaric,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

I stepped closer, my hand reaching out to brush against her cheek.

“Why are you running from me?” I asked, my voice soft but filled with pain.

She looked away, her expression hardening.

“I’m not running,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Then why won’t you look at me?” I asked, my hand itching to cupping her chin and forcing her to meet my gaze, but I couldn’t. Too many wolves were watching.

Her eyes were filled with tears, and my heart ached at the sight.

“I can’t,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I can’t let myself love you.”

Her words broke my heart.

“Why?” I asked, my voice filled with desperation. “Why not? You can't you? Look at me, dove?”

She shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “Because if I do, I’ll lose everything. Everyone I love will suffer.”

I wanted to hug her, love her, kiss her. But not here, not right now. Hunter kept growling in my head to cage her in my arms, instead I held her hand tightly.

“You won’t lose anything,” I whispered, my voice filled with determination. “I’ll protect you. I’ll protect everyone you love. Just give me a chance.”

She looked up at me, her eyes filled with hope and fear.

“I want to believe you, Alaric, I wanted to buikc a life with you but I can't. I'm sorry,” she said, her voice trembling.

She slowly turned and walked away.