Chapter 12 Interrupted Engagement
|| Lilac’s POV ||
The grand hall was breathtaking–crystal chandeliers glowing overhead, crimson velvet drapes adding a royal touch, and tables piled high with fancy food and champagne. The air smelled like expensive perfume and roasted meat, rich and overwhelming.
Every important alpha and noble in the country had come for the engagement ceremony. Laughter and clinking glasses filled the room, but I felt completely out of place–like a puppet in a show I never signed up for.
I stood near the edge, my heart pounding, and caught my reflection in a gilded mirror. The girl
with staring back at me looked like a stranger. My ivory silk dress was elegant, my hair pinned up tiny pearls, every detail perfect. I looked like a future Luna. But I didn’t feel like one.
Mom stood beside me, her emerald–green gown shimmering, her eyes bright with pride.
“You look beautiful, sweetpea,” she whispered, squeezing my arm. “Are you ready?”
I forced a smile. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
She gave me a reassuring look, “This is your moment, Lilac. Enjoy it.”
But it wasn’t my moment. It was Kael’s. And I was just playing my part.
The music started, soft and sweet. Mom looped her arm through mine, steadying me as we walked down the aisle. Heads turned, eyes watching. My chest tightened, but I kept my face blank, my steps measured.
The stage was covered in rose petals. Kael stood at the center, dressed in a sharp black suit, looking every bit the future Alpha King. His golden eyes locked onto me, smug and satisfied. Beside him, Luna Cassandra and Alpha King Darius smiled approvingly.
When I reached him, Kael took my hand, kissing it with a smirk.
“You look stunning, Lilac,” he said, voice smooth. “The most beautiful woman in the kingdom.”
I swallowed back the bitterness. “Thank you, Kael.”
His grip tightened just a little–a silent reminder.
This wasn’t a celebration.
It was a funeral.
The herald stepped forward, his voice booming with authority as he addressed the assembled guests. “Ladies and gentlemen, honored elders, and esteemed allies, we gather here today beneath the watchful eyes of our ancestors to witness a sacred union, one that will shape the future of our kingdom. This engagement is more than just a promise of love; it is a declaration of
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A roar of applause erupted through the grand hall, a sea of faces watching with expectation and joy. The flickering glow of a hundred lights bathed the marble floors in golden light, and the banners of our kingdom swayed gently in the breeze. My fingers trembled slightly in Kael’s firm grip, but I forced myself to remain still. My heart thundered against my ribs. This was it. The moment that would change my life forever. The moment that would seal my fate.
The heavy sound of footsteps echoed as Alpha King Darius stepped forward, commanding the attention of the entire hall. His presence made the crowd fall silent.
“Today,” he declared, his gaze sweeping across the gathered nobility and warriors, “marks a turning point in our history. The union of my son, Kael, and the remarkable lineage from royal beta family, Lilac Blackwood, is not just a merging of two souls, but of two legacies, two forces, bound together by duty and destiny. Through their bond, our kingdom will stand stronger, unshaken by the trials of the past, and prepared for the triumphs of the future.”
He turned then, his gaze locking onto mine. A moment passed between us, heavy with meaning, and the steel in his eyes softened ever so slightly. “Lilac,” he said, his voice lower now, laced with something akin to admiration. “Your intelligence, your resilience, your grace and you loyalty towards the throne have not only won the respect of our people but have earned you a place among our leaders. You have stood by Kael, unwavering for years.”
A lump formed in my throat, but I swallowed it down, keeping my chin high. The room seemed to fade away for a moment, leaving only the weight of his words pressing down on me.
“Today,” he continued, “we welcome you not just as Kael’s mate, but as the future queen of this kingdom. May your union be one of trust and devotion. May it be blessed with prosperity, strength, and an unbreakable bond that will weather every storm.”
The crowd erupted into cheers once more, but I barely heard them. The moment stretched endlessly, my thoughts a whirlwind of emotion. Duty. Legacy. Fate. Love. Was this truly my destiny? Or was I merely playing the role assigned to me?
Kael squeezed my hand, and I turned to him. His golden eyes, filled with certainty, searched mine.
Then he turned to me, his eyes filled with a warmth that made my skin crawl.
“Lilac,” he began, his voice steady and confident.
“From the moment I met you, I knew you were special. You are strong, intelligent, and beautiful, and I am honored to have you by my side as my future Luna. I promise to cherish you, to protect you, and to love you for the rest of my days.”
The crowd erupted into applause, their cheers and whistles filling the air. I forced another smile, my heart pounding in my chest. This was it. The moment of truth.
Kael reached into his pocket, pulling out a ring that sparkled in the light. He held it up, his eyes locking onto mine as he prepared to slide it onto my finger. But before he could, a commotion at the back of the hall caught everyone’s attention.
A woman hurst through the doors her movements frantic and unsteady She was dressed in
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forward, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she cried out for help.
“Please! Someone help mel”
The room fell silent, the crowd turning to stare at the woman in shock. I felt a flicker of satisfaction as I recognized her. Coco. The woman who had destroyed my life in my past. The woman who had been Kael’s soul mate.
Kael froze, his eyes widening as he stared at the woman. His grip on my hand tightened, his expression a mixture of shock and disbelief. “Coco,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
I felt a smirk tug at the corners of my lips, though I kept my expression carefully neutral. The show had started. And this time, I was in control.
Coco stumbled forward, her eyes wide with fear and desperation. “Please,” she begged, her voice trembling. “I need help. They’re after me.”
The grand hall, once a scene of opulence and celebration, had descended into chaos. The air was thick with tension, the murmurs of the crowd rising like a storm as they tried to make sense of the scene unfolding before them. Kael stood frozen, his golden eyes locked on Coco as she collapsed to the floor, her body trembling with exhaustion. Her tattered clothes clung to her frail frame, her face streaked with dirt and tears, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. She looked like a damsel in distress, a stark contrast to the elegance and grandeur of the engagement ceremony.
Luna Cassandra and Alpha King Darius exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions a mixture of shock and concern. The king’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. Luna Cassandra’s hands trembled slightly, her usual composure slipping as she stared at her son, who seemed to have forgotten the world around him.
I stepped forward, my voice calm and steady as I addressed the crowd. “Please, someone help her,” I said, my tone filled with feigned concern. “She’s clearly in distress.”
The crowd sprang into action, several nobles rushing forward to assist Coco.
But Kael remained rooted to the spot, his expression a mixture of shock and something else, something I couldn’t quite place. It was as if the world had narrowed down to just him and Coco, the rest of us mere shadows in the background.
I turned to him, my voice soft but firm. “Kael,” I said, my tone filled with concern. “Are you okay?”
He blinked, his gaze shifting to me as if he had forgotten I was there. “I… I don’t know,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I need to… I need to see her.”
I nodded, my expression carefully neutral. “Of course,” I said, my tone filled with understanding. “Go to her.”
