|| Lilac’s POV ||
The air was thick with the mingling scents of expensive perfumes and gourmet food, the atmosphere both luxurious and suffocating. We sat at the table, the tension palpable, our fake smiles plastered on like masks. The server had just poured us one of the most expensive wines on the menu, the deep red liquid swirling in the crystal glasses like liquid fire. I took a sip, the taste rich and bold, but it did little to ease the knot of unease in my stomach. “Thank you, Benson, for obliging the request,” Alpha King Darius said, his voice smooth and composed as he addressed my father. His golden eyes were sharp, his expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of something, guilt, perhaps, or regret, that I couldn’t quite place. “Not a problem,” Dad replied, his tone polite but clipped. He leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. “So, what did you want to talk about?” Luna Cassandra smiled, her warm eyes turning to me. “|| Lilac’s POV ||The room was silent, the weight of his words pressing down on me. I could feel the eyes of every alpha, luna, and noble in the restaurant on me, their whispers filling the air like a low hum. So this was their plan, I thought, my mind racing. To turn the tables in public, to force me into a corner."I will do anything you ask me of. I will even reject her, right now, right here," He slowly stood up.Kael’s eyes fell on Coco, who looked more frightened than ever. Her lips parted as if she wanted to speak, but no words came out.“Besides, once you are marked and mated, the bond with her will fade since they are not mated yet,” Alpha King Darius said, his tone matter-of-fact.I almost laughed. In my past life, the bond between Kael and Coco had never faded, even after I mated with him. They had already been together, their connection stronger than anyone realized. But this time, I wouldn’t make the same mistake."You have grow
|| Lilac’s POV ||The evening air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of blooming night jasmine as we stepped out of the restaurant. The soft hum of the city buzzed around us, but my mind was far from the present. My thoughts were tangled in the web of the Nightshades, their name echoing in my head like a haunting melody. The girl at the counter had said it so casually, as if it were nothing, but her words had struck a chord deep within me. “Your table will always be taken care of by the Nightshades.” Why? Why would anyone like them pay for us?Dad strode ahead, his broad shoulders cutting through the cool night air as he made his way to the car.I slid into the backseat, the leather cool against my skin, and waited for the others to join. Ezra, my strong-willed, almost-eighteen-year-old brother, hopped in beside me, his youthful face set in a scowl. He had been seething throughout the dinner, his fists clenched under the table as Kael spewed his nonsense. Ezra
|| Lilac's POV ||The rest of the ride home was the kind of quiet that presses against your eardrums. The sort where nobody wants to be the first to speak because then we'd have to admit how badly tonight went. I pressed my forehead against the cool window, watching streetlights blur past like fading stars.Kael's fake sincerity. Cassandra's razor-sharp smiles. And now the Nightshades playing fairy godmother? My fingers twisted in my dress fabric. None of this made sense.Our house looked different when we pulled up - the porch light too bright, the familiar red door suddenly foreign. Like coming home after a long trip to find all your furniture rearranged.Mom moved first, her keys jangling too loud in the silence. "I'll make sandwiches," she announced, already heading for the kitchen. That's Mom - when the world falls apart, she makes turkey on rye.Ezra collapsed onto the couch like his bones had dissolved. "I'm starving," he declared to the cei
|| Lilac's POV ||The night wore on quicker than I had realised. The fairy lights above us twinkled like stars, casting a soft, golden glow over the clearing. The air was filled with the scent of food, shrimp pasta and tiramisu, my absolute favorites. I had no idea how Alaric had found out about my preferences, but the moment he opened the picnic basket and the aroma wafted out, my stomach growled in anticipation.“Hungry, dove?” Alaric teased, his voice low and smooth as he handed me a plate. His eyes sparkled with mischief, and I couldn’t help but blush as I took it from him.“Starving,” I admitted, my cheeks heating up as I dug into the pasta. The first bite was heavenly, the flavors exploding on my tongue. I couldn’t help but let out a small moan of satisfaction, which only made Alaric’s smirk widen.“You’re adorable when you eat,” he said, his tone playful but his gaze intense. He leaned closer, his eyes dropping to my lips. “You’ve got a little some
|| Lilac’s POV ||I woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains and casting a warm glow over the room. For a moment, I just lay there, savoring the peacefulness of the moment. But then it hit me… how did I end up here? The last thing I remembered was being in the woods, by the river, with Alaric. The night had been magical, filled with laughter, stolen kisses, and a sense of belonging I hadn’t felt in a long time. But now, he was gone.I sat up, running a hand through my hair as I glanced around the room. His faint scent of pinewoods lingered in the air, a subtle reminder of his presence. My heart ached a little at his absence, but I pushed the feeling aside. Alaric had his own life, I barely knew him, and I couldn’t expect him to stay by my side all the time. Still, I couldn’t help but wish he were here.I freshened up quickly, the cool water from the sink helping to clear my mind. As I dragged my legs downstair
|| Lilac’s POV ||The days blurred together in a haze of ink-stained fingers and late-night study sessions. Dad’s office had become my refuge—the scent of old books and coffee grounding me as I poured over pack ledgers and border reports. Numbers, treaties, supply routes—things I’d never cared about in my past life now consumed me.Dad watched me with quiet pride, his usual stern expression softening whenever I asked a question."You're going cross-eyed, sweetpea," Dad murmured, nudging a steaming mug of cocoa toward me. The rich scent of chocolate cut through the musty smell of old parchment.I blinked, rubbing my temples. "Just trying to memorize the southern patrol routes." My voice came out hoarse from hours of silence.Dad's chair creaked as he leaned back, studying me with that quiet pride that made my throat tighten. "When did my little girl become so serious?"A smile tugged at my lips. "When I realized how much I didn't know."
|| Lilac's POV ||The capital was alive with energy, the streets bustling with people and the air filled with the hum of conversation and laughter. The sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the city as Elara and I made our way to the most exclusive mall in the heart of the capital. The building itself was a marvel of modern architecture, its glass façade reflecting the sunlight like a jewel. Inside, the mall was a labyrinth of luxury, with high-end boutiques and designer stores lining the polished floors.I wasn’t unfamiliar with luxury, my family’s status as the Blackwoods meant I’d grown up surrounded by opulence, but today felt different. The weight of the upcoming alpha council meeting pressed on my shoulders, and the thought of dressing for it made me feel oddly out of place. Elara, on the other hand, seemed right at home, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she linked her arm through mine.“Okay, we need to find something formal but not bo
|| Lilac's POV ||I stood in front of the mirror, the soft fabric of the dress hugging my figure perfectly. The dress was stunning elegant, sophisticated, and exactly what I needed for the alpha council meeting. But the fact that it came from the Nightshades made my stomach twist. What connection did the Blackwoods have with them? Was there something hidden that my parents didn’t know about? Or worse, were they keeping something from me?I sighed, running my fingers over the delicate fabric. The Nightshades were a mystery, their motives unclear, and their sudden interest in my family was unsettling. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this than met the eye. But before I could spiral further into my thoughts, I felt a familiar presence in the room.Sure enough, when I turned around, there he was. Alaric.He stood at the edge of the room, by the window, his tall frame casting long shadows against the walls. The dim light danced across his sh
|| Lilac’s POV ||The day of the alpha council meeting arrived, and with it came a storm of emotions I wasn’t entirely prepared for. I woke up early, the weight of the day pressing heavily on my chest. The dress from the Nightshades hung in my closet, a reminder of the mysterious forces that seemed to be closing in around my family. I slipped it on, the fabric cool against my skin, and took a deep breath as I looked at myself in the mirror. Today was about more than just appearances it was about proving myself, protecting my family, and confronting the shadows that had been lurking in the corners of my life.Dad was waiting for me downstairs, his expression calm but his eyes sharp with focus. Ezra was already in the car, slouched in the back seat with his arms crossed. He looked upset, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by a sullen silence. I couldn’t blame him. Being spied on, having his every move documented, was enough to shake anyone. But today wasn’t the day for
|| Lilac’s POV || Dad and Mom turned their gazes to Ezra, and when they saw the pictures on the camera, their faces hardened. Dad’s sharp inhale was the only indication of his anger, while Mom’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Ezra, explain this,” Dad demanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. Ezra looked between us, his face a mixture of guilt and frustration. “Relax, you all. I just wanted to give Lilac a little surprise, okay? I know a lot has happened recently, and Lilac has been through so much. Though she smiles before us, I know it's hard on her. So I thought I’d get her the video games she used to play.” He turned to me, his eyes pleading. “I knew you liked them. I thought it would cheer you up. But the games are hard to find, so I met up with this guy I found on the internet.” He searched his pocket and threw a small box at me. It was the same box in the picture. “Here, you can look for yourself.” I caught it, my hands trembling, and slow
|| Lilac's POV ||I stood in front of the mirror, the soft fabric of the dress hugging my figure perfectly. The dress was stunning elegant, sophisticated, and exactly what I needed for the alpha council meeting. But the fact that it came from the Nightshades made my stomach twist. What connection did the Blackwoods have with them? Was there something hidden that my parents didn’t know about? Or worse, were they keeping something from me?I sighed, running my fingers over the delicate fabric. The Nightshades were a mystery, their motives unclear, and their sudden interest in my family was unsettling. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this than met the eye. But before I could spiral further into my thoughts, I felt a familiar presence in the room.Sure enough, when I turned around, there he was. Alaric.He stood at the edge of the room, by the window, his tall frame casting long shadows against the walls. The dim light danced across his sh
|| Lilac's POV ||The capital was alive with energy, the streets bustling with people and the air filled with the hum of conversation and laughter. The sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the city as Elara and I made our way to the most exclusive mall in the heart of the capital. The building itself was a marvel of modern architecture, its glass façade reflecting the sunlight like a jewel. Inside, the mall was a labyrinth of luxury, with high-end boutiques and designer stores lining the polished floors.I wasn’t unfamiliar with luxury, my family’s status as the Blackwoods meant I’d grown up surrounded by opulence, but today felt different. The weight of the upcoming alpha council meeting pressed on my shoulders, and the thought of dressing for it made me feel oddly out of place. Elara, on the other hand, seemed right at home, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she linked her arm through mine.“Okay, we need to find something formal but not bo
|| Lilac’s POV ||The days blurred together in a haze of ink-stained fingers and late-night study sessions. Dad’s office had become my refuge—the scent of old books and coffee grounding me as I poured over pack ledgers and border reports. Numbers, treaties, supply routes—things I’d never cared about in my past life now consumed me.Dad watched me with quiet pride, his usual stern expression softening whenever I asked a question."You're going cross-eyed, sweetpea," Dad murmured, nudging a steaming mug of cocoa toward me. The rich scent of chocolate cut through the musty smell of old parchment.I blinked, rubbing my temples. "Just trying to memorize the southern patrol routes." My voice came out hoarse from hours of silence.Dad's chair creaked as he leaned back, studying me with that quiet pride that made my throat tighten. "When did my little girl become so serious?"A smile tugged at my lips. "When I realized how much I didn't know."
|| Lilac’s POV ||I woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains and casting a warm glow over the room. For a moment, I just lay there, savoring the peacefulness of the moment. But then it hit me… how did I end up here? The last thing I remembered was being in the woods, by the river, with Alaric. The night had been magical, filled with laughter, stolen kisses, and a sense of belonging I hadn’t felt in a long time. But now, he was gone.I sat up, running a hand through my hair as I glanced around the room. His faint scent of pinewoods lingered in the air, a subtle reminder of his presence. My heart ached a little at his absence, but I pushed the feeling aside. Alaric had his own life, I barely knew him, and I couldn’t expect him to stay by my side all the time. Still, I couldn’t help but wish he were here.I freshened up quickly, the cool water from the sink helping to clear my mind. As I dragged my legs downstair
|| Lilac's POV ||The night wore on quicker than I had realised. The fairy lights above us twinkled like stars, casting a soft, golden glow over the clearing. The air was filled with the scent of food, shrimp pasta and tiramisu, my absolute favorites. I had no idea how Alaric had found out about my preferences, but the moment he opened the picnic basket and the aroma wafted out, my stomach growled in anticipation.“Hungry, dove?” Alaric teased, his voice low and smooth as he handed me a plate. His eyes sparkled with mischief, and I couldn’t help but blush as I took it from him.“Starving,” I admitted, my cheeks heating up as I dug into the pasta. The first bite was heavenly, the flavors exploding on my tongue. I couldn’t help but let out a small moan of satisfaction, which only made Alaric’s smirk widen.“You’re adorable when you eat,” he said, his tone playful but his gaze intense. He leaned closer, his eyes dropping to my lips. “You’ve got a little some
|| Lilac's POV ||The rest of the ride home was the kind of quiet that presses against your eardrums. The sort where nobody wants to be the first to speak because then we'd have to admit how badly tonight went. I pressed my forehead against the cool window, watching streetlights blur past like fading stars.Kael's fake sincerity. Cassandra's razor-sharp smiles. And now the Nightshades playing fairy godmother? My fingers twisted in my dress fabric. None of this made sense.Our house looked different when we pulled up - the porch light too bright, the familiar red door suddenly foreign. Like coming home after a long trip to find all your furniture rearranged.Mom moved first, her keys jangling too loud in the silence. "I'll make sandwiches," she announced, already heading for the kitchen. That's Mom - when the world falls apart, she makes turkey on rye.Ezra collapsed onto the couch like his bones had dissolved. "I'm starving," he declared to the cei
|| Lilac’s POV ||The evening air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of blooming night jasmine as we stepped out of the restaurant. The soft hum of the city buzzed around us, but my mind was far from the present. My thoughts were tangled in the web of the Nightshades, their name echoing in my head like a haunting melody. The girl at the counter had said it so casually, as if it were nothing, but her words had struck a chord deep within me. “Your table will always be taken care of by the Nightshades.” Why? Why would anyone like them pay for us?Dad strode ahead, his broad shoulders cutting through the cool night air as he made his way to the car.I slid into the backseat, the leather cool against my skin, and waited for the others to join. Ezra, my strong-willed, almost-eighteen-year-old brother, hopped in beside me, his youthful face set in a scowl. He had been seething throughout the dinner, his fists clenched under the table as Kael spewed his nonsense. Ezra