36. Shadows & Secrets-I

|| 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 sharp features, illuminating the