33. A New Dawn

|| Lilac’s POV || I woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains and casting a warm glow over the room. For a moment, I just lay there, savoring the peacefulness of the moment. But then it hit me… how did I end up here? The last thing I remembered was being in the woods, by the river, with Alaric. The night had been magical, filled with laughter, stolen kisses, and a sense of belonging I hadn’t felt in a long time. But now, he was gone. I sat up, running a hand through my hair as I glanced around the room. His faint scent of pinewoods lingered in the air, a subtle reminder of his presence. My heart ached a little at his absence, but I pushed the feeling aside. Alaric had his own life, I barely knew him, and I couldn’t expect him to stay by my side all the time. Still, I couldn’t help but wish he were here. I freshened up quickly, the cool water from the sink helping to clear my mind. As I dragged my legs downstairs, the sound of voices r