77. Can't Love You

|| Lilac’s POV || The night of the Eclipse Ball arrived, and I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. The dress my mom had chosen was stunning— a deep wine red that brought out the gold in my eyes, the fabric hugging my curves in all the right places. My hair was styled in loose curls, and my makeup was subtle but elegant. I looked like a queen, but I didn’t feel like one. My heart was heavy, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. I had spent the past few days preparing for this night, but now that it was here, I felt unprepared. The thought of seeing Alaric again, of facing him after everything that had happened, made my chest ache. But I couldn’t let my feelings get in the way. Not tonight. I took a deep breath, smoothing down the fabric of my dress, and turned to leave the room. My parents were waiting for me downstairs, their expressions filled with pride and excitement. “You look beautiful, sweetpea,” Mom said, her eyes shining with tears. “Thanks, Mom,” I