Chapter 23 A Dinner–2
|| Lilac’s POV ||
In my past, for a fleeting moment, I had believed I was living in that fairy tale.
Kael had stood before me, a vision of power and devotion, his golden eyes filled with something I had foolishly thought was love. His voice had been steady as he vowed to cherish me forever, hist hands warm as they cradled mine. I had let myself be swept away, believing that this moment, this love, was mine to keep.
But then she had arrived.
Coco.
Her presence was like a storm cloud blotting out the sun, an omen of something dark lurking beneath the surface of my perfect day. She moved through the crowd with quiet confidence, her delicate frame wrapped in a soft peach dress that made her look even more innocent, more fragile. But I knew better. I saw beyond the demure smile, beyond the carefully placed vulnerability in her wide eyes.
I should have known then, should have trusted the instinct that screamed at me the moment she stopped before me.
The entire ballroom had fallen silent.
The moment stretched between us, taut and suffocating. My grip on my bouquet tightened, my knuckles turning white. She was too close. Her honeyed scent filled my nose, making my stomach
twist.
“Congratulations, she had said, her voice soft, just loud enough for those nearby to hear. She offered me a glass of champagne, her fingers trembling slightly, as if she was overwhelmed by
emotion.
I hesitated.
Then, before I could even take the glass, she moved.
A sharp gasp tore through the room as the golden liquid splashed onto my pristine wedding gown, soaking through the intricate lace and staining the delicate silk. I flinched, the coolness of it shocking against my skin, but it was nothing compared to the heat of anger that flared in my
chest.
For a fraction of a second, our eyes met. She stepped close mumbling sorry, trying to fix my
dress.
And then she fell out if no where, as if something pushed her away. Or maybe someone did!
Not gracefully, not in a way that could be mistaken for an accident. No, she collapsed with deliberate precision, her knees buckling as she crumpled to the ground, her body coiling inward
Chapter 23 A Dinner–2
wide, trembling eyes.
“Please Luna, please, spare me…. I didn’t mean to… please… she screamed.
The silence shattered.
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The room crupted into whispers, the low murmur of gossip spreading like wildfire. I could hear the hushed accusations, the disbelief, the judgment..
“Did you see that?”
“She didn’t even flinch!”
“She pushed her, didn’t she?”
“Poor Coco… an omega shouldn’t have to endure this.”
My breath caught in my throat, my pulse hammering as I turned to Kael.
But he was no longer looking at me.
His golden eyes had already shifted to her.
His hands clenched at his sides, his expression unreadable, but I knew that look. The same look he had once reserved for me, the quiet protectiveness, the flicker of concern, the way his entire body seemed to lean toward her.
“I didn’t do anything,” I’d protested. Kael remained silent.
“Don’t lie. You know she is weak. Why do you have to pick on her?” His voice had dismissed my pleas.
“Please trust me. She fell on her own,” I added.
“Stop causing a scene. You are my Luna. Act like one,” he scolded me. The entire hall heard him. I was his Luna, but what about him? Did he ever act like my Alpha, my mate or my husband?
Something inside me cracked.
I had stood there, frozen in place, my wedding gown ruined, my dignity stripped away, as the man I had just sworn my life to moved past me, past his own bride, to kneel beside her.
The weight of that moment crushed me, searing itself into my memory like a scar that would never fade.
And now, the thought of returning to the Moon Garden made my stomach churn.
Because that place was not a dream anymore.
It was a gravevard of the love I had once believed in.
12:07 PM d
Chapter 23 A Dinner–2
D
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prominent restaurants in the kingdom, a place where alphas and lunas gathered to dine and discuss pack affairs. If Kael had chosen that location, it wasn’t just a coincidence. He was planning something, and I needed to figure out what.
My mind raced as I tried to piece together his motives. What was he planning? The story had changed, and I had lost my upper hand to the known factors. Should I go? Should I call for help? Alaric’s name came to mind, but I hesitated. Would it be the right step? I didn’t know, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was walking into a trap.
“Mom,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. “I’ll go.”
She looked at me, her expression filled with concern. “Are you sure, sweetpea? You don’t have to.”
I nodded, my resolve hardening. “I’m sure. If they’re planning something, I need to be there to see it.”
My mom sighed, her hand resting on mine. “Alright. But if anything feels off, we leave. Not questions asked.”
I smiled, though it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Deal.”
As she left the room, I leaned back against the pillows, my mind racing. The Moon Garden. Kael.
Coco. Alaric. The pieces of the puzzle were scattered, and I didn’t know how they fit together. But one thing was certain, I needed to be ready for what to come.
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