125. Mate

|| Lilac’s POV || I walked away from the group, my mind still racing. Ezra stood near the edge of the room, his eyes measuring everything, everyone. And then there stood Alaric, talking to a few other alphas. My eyes were drawn to Alaric, his presence like a magnet pulling me in. Runa shifted faintly in my mind, her presence growing stronger the closer I got to him. Was this because of him? My heart pounded, a mix of hope and fear swirling inside me. But before I could reach them, I felt a soft touch on my shoulder. “Forgive me, Miss,” a deep voice said. I turned to see a warrior standing there, his light blue eyes glistening under the chandelier’s glow. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his aura strong and commanding. But there was something about him that made my stomach twist. “Yes?” I asked, my voice calm despite the unease coiling in my chest. Before he could say anything, I heard Runa’s voice in my head, faint but clear. ‘Mate.’ My world stopped. Mate. The word echoed in my mind,