Chapter 5

|| Lilac’s POV ||

The crown was happy. The crowd was ecstatic. Their cheers and applause echoed through the grand hall like a thunderous wave, their joy uncontainable as Kael led me to the center of the dance floor. His hand was warm against mine, his grip firm and possessive, as if he already owned me. The orchestra began to play, the melody soft and romantic, a tune meant to sweep me off my feet. But all I felt was a deep, gnawing resentment that clawed at my chest.

I hated this. I hated the way his eyes lingered on me, filled with a false adoration that made my skin crawl. I hated the way his hand rested on my waist, his touch burning through the fabric of my gown like a brand. I hated the way he smiled at me, as if this were some grand romantic gesture and not a calculated move to secure his place as the future Alpha King. Every step, every turn, every spin felt like a betrayal of myself, a surrender to a fate I wanted no part of.

How did I end up here again? I thought bitterly, my mind racing as I forced myself to follow his lead. I was given a second chance, a chance to change everything, and yet here I am, dancing with the man who destroyed me. The weight of my past life pressed down on me, the memories of betrayal and heartbreak flooding my mind. I could still see Coco’s smirk, the way she had looked at me as she drove the dagger into my parents’ hearts. I could still hear Kael’s cold, unfeeling voice as he denounced me, rejected me, and left me to die.

"You dance divinely, my princess," Kael whispered, his breath hot against my ear. A shiver of disgust ran down my spine.

"Practice makes perfect," I replied, struggling to keep my voice even. In my past life, I had years to perfect the art of pretending to enjoy your company.

The orchestra swelled, the violins reaching a crescendo that seemed to mirror the turmoil in my heart. Around us, couples twirled and spun, lost in the romance of the moment. Their faces were bright with joy, their laughter genuine. How I envied them their ignorance, their simple happiness.

The song seemed to drag on forever, each note a reminder of the life I had lost and the life I was being forced to relive. When it finally ended, I didn’t wait for Kael to release me. I pulled away, my smile strained as I excused myself and hurried out of the hall. The crowd’s applause followed me, their cheers fading into the distance as I stepped into the cool night air.

In my previous life, I had been naive, trusting. I had believed in love, in loyalty, in the goodness of others. That version of me had died a brutal death, her blood spilled on the cold marble floor of the very hall I had just fled. This time would be different. This time, I would be the one with thorns.

But it was hard to hold onto that resolve when the weight of my situation pressed down on me once more, the reality of my second chance sinking in. I couldn't walk the same path as before. I couldn't let myself be swept up in Kael's lies, in the promises he would never keep. I had to find a way to change things, to protect my family, to ensure that the horrors of my past life never came to pass. But how? How could I, a beta female with no real power, stand against the future Alpha King?

I wandered deeper into the garden, my thoughts a tangled mess of fear and determination. The exhaustion of the evening weighed heavily on me, my steps growing slower and more unsteady. My head spun, the world around me blurring as dizziness overtook me. I stumbled, my legs giving out beneath me, but before I could fall, a pair of strong arms caught me, steadying me with ease.

The scent of pinewoods filled my nose, earthy and grounding, a stark contrast to the floral sweetness of the garden. I looked up, my breath catching in my throat as my eyes met his. A pair of piercing grey, like storm clouds gathering on the horizon, filled with a quiet intensity that made my heart skip a beat. His face was sharp, his features carved with a rugged handsomeness that was both intimidating and captivating. This was Alaric. The forgotten piece of this kingdom.

I had heard the rumors, of course. Everyone had. They whispered through the halls like a ghostly echo, growing darker with each retelling.

Alaric’s mother had been the first mate of Alpha King Darius, a woman of striking beauty and formidable strength. She had been beloved by the pack, a Luna that inspired devotion and awe. But her life had been cut short in a tragedy no one dared to speak of openly. Some said illness had claimed her, others believed treachery had been involved, though no one ever pointed fingers. Not publicly, at least.

Her death had left a void in the castle, one that Darius had filled almost too quickly. Cassandra, the woman who would become the new Luna, had stepped into the role without hesitation, her delicate hands gripping the crown that once belonged to another. And just like that, Alaric had been cast aside, his presence fading into the shadows while Kael flourished under Cassandra’s reign.

They never called him a prince. He was the firstborn son of the Alpha King, yet his name was never spoken with reverence or admiration. Instead, it was whispered in hushed, fearful tones, a cautionary tale for those who dared to question the natural order.

"His soul is cursed," they said.

"His mate will die before she ever gets the chance to love him."

He was nothing like Kael, no golden child, no rising Alpha, no beacon of hope for the pack’s future. Where Kael was fire, burning bright and dazzling in his brilliance, Alaric was ice. A cold, creeping force, slipping through the cracks of the castle’s walls, lurking in places no one dared to look.

"Stay away from the king’s firstborn," the castle maids had warned in whispers, their hands clutching their aprons as if warding off some unseen force.

"His touch brings only death."

And yet, as I stood there, his hands still gripping my arms, I felt no fear. Only a strange, electric warmth that spread through me, igniting something deep within my chest. His touch was firm but gentle, his presence both calming and exhilarating. I couldn’t look away from his eyes, those stormy grey eyes that seemed to see straight through me, past the façade I had built, past the pain and the anger, to the core of who I was.

A spark ran through my skin where he touched me, a sensation so intense it left me breathless. I had never felt anything like it before, not with Kael, not with anyone. It was as if the world had shifted, as if the very air around us had changed. What was this feeling? This strange, overwhelming connection that seemed to pull me toward him, as if some unseen force had tied us together?

For a moment, neither of us moved. The garden was silent, the world around us fading away until it was just the two of us, standing there in the moonlight. My heart raced, my mind struggling to make sense of what I was feeling. But one thing was clear: this was different. This was real.

And it terrified me.