Chapter 24 The Moon Garden
|| Lilac’s POV ||
The peach dress looked good–I’d give myself that much. Soft fabric, delicate embroidery, the kind of understated elegance that screamed “I didn’t try too hard” even though I’d spent an hour agonizing over it. The pearls were a nice touch–classic, regal. A Luna’s signature.
Too bad I wasn’t a Luna anymore. Which is ironic considering I wasn’t anymore.
I tugged at the straps, my reflection staring back with a frown. Why the hell did the Reventhorns want this dinner? The engagement was dead. The bond was ash. Kael had his precious mate now -what more could they possibly-
So why did this feel like walking into a gilded trap?
My phone buzzed on the dresser. Alaric’s name flashed on the screen, and my fingers hovered over it. I could call him. Should I?
“Lilac!” Mom’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. “We’re leaving!”
Right. No more stalling.
I grabbed my clutch, took one last steadying breath, and headed downstairs.
Mom met me at the bottom of the stairs, her fingers fluttering to straighten an already–perfect strand of my hair.
“Nervous?” she asked, too casually.
“Should I be?”
Dad appeared from the study, adjusting his cufflinks. “Just remember-
“-we’re not the ones who broke engagement without a cause,” Ezra finished for him, materializing from the kitchen with two stolen dinner rolls in his pocket. “They should be
nervous.”
Easier said than done. I knew everone was tensed. The car ride was suffocating.
Dad’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his usual calm replaced by something sharper. Mom had her ‘formal occasion‘ posture – spine straight, hands folded, face carefully blank. Ezra looked like he might actually chew through his seatbelt.
The silence was worse.
“Could you stop vibrating?” I elbowed my brother. “You’re making the whole car shake.”
Ezra’s glare could’ve melted steel. “What I want to know is why we’re playing nice with people who-”
Chapter 24 The Moon Garden
“Ezra.” Dad’s warning tone made the rearview mirror vibrate..
+B Pearls
Mom turned with that terrifying calm she used before explosions. “We walk in together. We’re civil. We leave with our dignity. Understood?”
I watched the city lights blur past. They’re going to parade her, you know. His… mate. The word tasted like ash.
Ezra’s growl filled the car. “I swear to the Moon Goddess if that smug bastard-”
“Then what?” I snapped. “Punch him inside one of the most high–end restaurants in the capital? That’ll help.
“What does that bastard want?” Ezra finally snarled, gripping the door handle like he wanted to rip it off.
Dad exhaled through his nose.
“We’ll find out soon enough.” His voice was calm, but the vein in his temple begged to differ.
I leaned forward. “Promise me something.”
Dad’s eyes flicked to me in the rearview mirror. “What is it, sweetpea?”
“No matter what happens- no lashing out. Not at Kael, not at the Reventhorns. We keep our cool.”
Ezra snorted, his eyes narrowing. “Oh yeah? And what if that b!tch of Kael’s shows up too? How will
you feel then?”
as!
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I tried to keep my emotions in check. “She’s his mate, Ezra. They might show up together. But even if they do, we can’t lose our cool. Remember, we’ll be in public, at a high–end restaurant. Many alphas and lunas will be there, and we can’t afford to lose face because of the Reventhorns.”
Ezra stared at me, his eyes wide with surprise. “Wow. When did you become so political?”
I rolled my eyes, though a small smile tugged at my lips. “I’m serious, Ez. This isn’t just about us. It’s about our family’s reputation.”
Dad glanced at me again, a faint smile playing on his lips. “You’ve grown up,” he said, his voice warm with pride.
“Eighteen does that to a person,” I deadpanned.
Ezra rolled his eyes, but the tension in his shoulders eased–just a fraction.
My phone buzzed. Alaric’s name.
“Dinner tonight? I know a place.”
Chapter 24 The Moon Garden
+8 Pearls
laughter, in the way his thumb traced circles on my wrist when he thought I wasn’t looking.
But I typed back: “Can’t. Family dinner with your Parents and lillte brother. Moon Garden.”
I hit send before I could second–guess it..
“And here I thought we were done with that chapter.” A reply came back quicker than I thought.
“Looks like you dear little brother isn’t done with me yet.” I typed in frustration.
“Need an out? Say the word.” Another text from him.
1 chewed my lip, typing quickly, “Not yet.”
The car slowed. Moon Garden loomed ahead–all glass and marble, lit up like a damn jewel box. Valets in crisp suits swarmed the entrance.
Moon Garden glittered like a gilded cage when we arrived. The valet’s smile didn’t reach his eyes as he opened my door.
“Welcome back, Mr Blackwood.”
Of course he knew my father. Everyone did. Specially after the broken engagement..
The interior was a blend of luxury and elegance, with crystal chandeliers casting a soft glow over the room. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries, their colors rich and vibrant. The air was filled with the soft hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses, the sound of laughter and music creating a lively atmosphere.
But it wasn’t the decor that made my pulse spike.
It was the people,
Alphas. Lunas. Royals from packs I’d only heard about in whispers. They lounged at their tables, sipping wine like this was just another Tuesday, but their eyes–sharp, assessing–tracked every new arrival.
My heart raced as I realized the significance of this gathering. This wasn’t just a family dinner.
This wasn’t a dinner.
It was a battlefield.
This was a show of power, a display of the Reventhorns‘ influence. And I was walking right into the middle of it, unarmed.
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