126. Howling Heart

|| Lilac’s POV || “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice gentle. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have approached you so suddenly,” he apologized, his tone sincere. I tried to steady myself, my hands gripping his arms for support. His scent was faint, a hint of sage that was pleasant but not alluring. It wasn’t like Alaric’s scent, which had always drawn me in like a moth to a flame. “I want to go home,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Of course. I’ll carry you,” he said, lifting me into his arms. I didn’t have the strength to fight or to walk or to process what was happening. I let him carry me, my eyes drifting to Alaric one last time before we left the hall. His expression was neutral, but I could feel the pain radiating from him, a silent ache that mirrored my own. As we walked away, I felt as though I was being pulled away from my soul, from the one person who truly mattered. Oh, Runa, I thought, my heart breaking. Why are you not here yet? ☆☆☆☆☆ || Alaric’s POV || The grand hall was ali