CHAPTER 6- Painful Decision

Lilian sat curled up on the edge of her small bed, her shoulders trembling as sobs wracked her body. The room was dim, lit only by the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the window. It was quiet, save for the sound of her muffled cries, but to Lilian, it felt as though the weight of the entire world pressed down on her.

She felt utterly alone, as if the walls were closing in on her. Everything she had hoped for—everything she had dreamed of—had slipped through her fingers like sand. The pain of Morgan’s rejection still burned in her chest, and Samantha’s cruel words echoed in her mind, twisting the knife deeper with each passing second.

Suddenly, there was a gentle knock at the door, and without waiting for an answer, Aurora entered the room. She moved quietly, her soft footsteps barely audible on the floor. Seeing Lilian’s tear-streaked face, her heart ached for the girl she had raised as her own.

Aurora approached the bed and sat down beside Lilian, wrapping her arms around her trembling form. "Dear, please don’t cry," she whispered soothingly, gently stroking Lilian’s hair. "You need to be strong. You’ve always been strong, Lilian. I know this is hard, but you can’t let it break you."

Lilian buried her face in Aurora’s shoulder, allowing the older woman’s comforting presence to momentarily soothe the pain. But even as she clung to Aurora, the hurt was still there, deep and raw.

"How can I be strong, Mom?" Lilian sobbed. "Everyone hates me. They don’t want me to be Morgan’s Luna. His parents—especially his mother—they think I’m cursed. They don’t see me as anything but a burden to this pack. And now… now Samantha’s carrying his child. It’s over. Everything is over."

Aurora’s eyes softened with sympathy, but she shook her head gently. "It’s not over, Lilian. Not unless you give up. I know you’re hurting, but you love Morgan, don’t you?"

Lilian pulled away slightly, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. She hesitated, her voice shaky as she spoke. "Yes, I love him, but… but how can I fight for him when he rejected me? When his family doesn’t want me? How could I possibly stand a chance against Samantha, with her perfect bloodline and… and now the baby?"

Aurora cupped Lilian’s tear-streaked face, forcing her to meet her gaze. "Listen to me, Lilian," she said firmly but kindly. "There’s no harm in trying. You have to fight for what you believe in—for what you want. You can’t let other people’s opinions control your life, especially not Morgan’s parents or Samantha. You are his true mate, and that bond means something. It’s the will of the Moon Goddess."

Lilian’s lips quivered, fresh tears threatening to spill over. "But what if it’s not enough? What if he never accepts me?"

Aurora sighed softly and brushed a strand of hair behind Lilian’s ear. "You won’t know unless you try, dear. You need to talk to him. Tell him how you feel. Tell him what’s in your heart, and let him see the truth. Sometimes people make mistakes, and sometimes they need a little push to see what’s right in front of them. But you have to be brave enough to take that step."

Lilian looked down at her trembling hands, her mind spinning with doubt and fear. The idea of confronting Morgan—of pouring out her heart to him—felt terrifying. What if he rejected her again? What if he laughed in her face? Or worse, what if he didn’t care at all?

But a part of her—small and fragile—wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance. Maybe if she could reach him, if she could show him how much she loved him, he would remember their bond. The bond that the Moon Goddess had given them.

"But what if he’s already chosen Samantha?" Lilian whispered, her voice barely audible.

Aurora’s grip on her shoulders tightened slightly. "Then at least you’ll know you tried. At least you’ll know you didn’t give up without a fight. You are stronger than you think, Lilian. You’ve survived so much already. You can survive this too."

Lilian closed her eyes, drawing in a shaky breath as she tried to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside her. Aurora’s words, though comforting, didn’t erase the fear, but they gave her a glimmer of hope. And right now, even a glimmer was enough.

She opened her eyes and looked at Aurora, her voice steadier than before. "I’ll talk to him," she whispered. "I’ll tell him how I feel. But… I’m scared, Mom. I’m scared of what he’ll say."

Aurora smiled gently, her eyes filled with warmth and pride. "Courage isn’t the absence of fear, dear. It’s doing what’s right, even when you’re scared. And no matter what happens, remember that you are worthy of love, Lilian. Don’t let anyone make you feel otherwise."

With that, Aurora pulled Lilian into another embrace, holding her tightly as the young woman gathered the strength she needed to face the one person who had the power to both break and heal her heart.

Lilian finally gathered the courage to confront Morgan. She had been rehearsing this conversation in her mind for days, her heart heavy with uncertainty and fear, but tonight, under the pale glow of the moon, she knew it was now or never. She needed to speak to him, to fight for the bond they shared—one that had been destined by the Moon Goddess herself.

She found him in the garden of the villa, standing by the edge of the rose bushes, deep in thought. His broad shoulders were tense, and the faint glow of the moonlight cast a shadow across his handsome face. He seemed lost, burdened by the weight of responsibility and the choices he had made. But as soon as her soft voice broke through the silence, calling his name, he turned to face her.

"Alpha Morgan," she said quietly, her voice trembling slightly but filled with resolve.

Morgan's eyes widened at the sight of her. He had always been struck by her beauty, but tonight, she looked almost ethereal. The moonlight bathed her in a soft glow, illuminating her long, dark hair that cascaded down her back like silk. Her innocent face, framed by delicate features, held a mixture of vulnerability and strength. For a moment, he was frozen, unable to tear his gaze away from her. His heart raced in his chest, betraying the cold exterior he had tried to maintain.

Lilian took a step closer, her hands trembling slightly, though she fought to keep her emotions in check. "You don't have to marry Samantha," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I am your mate. We are destined to be together."

Morgan's face darkened as the words left her lips. His jaw tightened, and he averted his gaze, clearly conflicted. The truth was, he had known it all along. From the moment he had first laid eyes on her, something inside him had stirred—a deep, primal connection that went beyond attraction. But he had fought against it, letting his pride and his family's expectations cloud his judgment.

"Samantha... she’s pregnant," Morgan finally spoke, his voice low and strained, as if the weight of those words was suffocating him.

Lilian’s heart clenched painfully at the mention of Samantha. She already knew, but hearing it from Morgan’s lips felt like a dagger to her chest. Still, she refused to give up. She had come too far to back down now.

"But you don’t love her, do you?" Lilian's voice wavered, tears brimming in her eyes as she took another step toward him. "You know in your heart that you don’t love her. What we have, Morgan, it’s real. It’s stronger than anything else. The Moon Goddess chose us for a reason."

Morgan let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He looked away, his eyes focused on the darkened horizon. "Lilian, it’s not that simple. Samantha is pregnant with my child. I have a responsibility—"

"A responsibility?" Lilian interrupted, her voice trembling with the emotions she could no longer hold back. "What about our bond, Morgan? What about me? I’ve loved you for so long, and I’ve waited for the day you would see me, truly see me. And now, when you finally realize we’re mates, you’re telling me that it doesn’t matter because of Samantha’s child?"

Morgan winced at the raw pain in her voice. He hated himself in that moment, hated the decisions he had made that led them here. But he also couldn’t deny the truth. He did feel something for Lilian, something powerful that had been haunting him ever since that night they shared. But there was so much at stake now, so much more than just their feelings.

"I never wanted things to end up this way," he muttered, his voice thick with regret. "I never meant to hurt you, Lilian. But we can't be together."

"Why? Because I have a cursed bloodline?" Lilian's voice cracked, tears welling up in her eyes. The pain in her voice was a physical thing, as if every word ripped through her. Morgan was stunned, his face a mask of confusion and something that looked suspiciously like regret. He remained silent, and that silence was deafening. It was enough for Lilian to understand that his rejection was final. He wouldn't accept her.