The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 11

Ella POV

Alexander's scent made my head spin this close, and for a brief second, | almost considered telling him whatever

he wanted to know. Even with a dormant wolf, the mate bond urgedto reassure him that | wasn’t cheating on

him. | had never even slept with a man before | met Alexander.

But | couldn't tell him that. What if it would change his mind about the contract? What if he would decide not to

divorcein the end after all? | had to play my cards right.

“I met Liam in grade school,” | answered coolly, flipping over so my back was facing him. “We hit it off

immediately.”

Technically, it was true. Liam and | had becfriends quickly as children, like two old souls connecting with just

one look.

Alexander just didn’t know that there was nothing more to it than friendship.

| heard him huff softly as he flopped back down onto his back on the other side of the bed.

“How long have you two been seeing each other?” he asked after another moment.

| bit my lip, hesitating, then gave him another half-truth: “We didn’t see each other for more than a decade. He

went away when he was ten.”

“So it’s a recent thing, then. Your relationship.”

“I guess so.” | replied vaguely.

Alexander grunted, and | thought the probing questions would finally stop. But then he asked, “And what do you

intend to do when our contract is up? Marry him?”

“Does that matter?” | blurted out. “You and | were never in love. In nine months, we'll go our separate ways.”

“Just tell me.”

| sighed. “I don’t know. | guess we'll run off into the sunset together.”

My vague answers didn’t seem to please Alexander. Over the next fifteen minutes, he asked more and more

questions, all of which I answered as sparingly as | could.

Eventually, | grew too tired to keep answering. The last thing | heard before I finally drifted off to sleep was

Alexander’s deep voice.

“Ella, is Liam planning on making you Luna of his pack?”

Someone pulledinto his arms, his touch gentle as he heldclose. His lips were soft as they brushed across

the shell of

my ear.

His lips met mine then, soft and sweet and tasting faintly of bourbon and peppermint. My body instantly melted

into his, and | clutched at his shirt, eager to taste more.

Tender warmth surroundedas | slowly woke, like the sun kissing my skin. A gentle, familiar rhythm pounded

against my

ear: one-two, one-two, one-two.

It was not my own pulse, not even one | had physically felt before, and yet it was so natural and familiar to me

that | instantly knew it belonged to my mate.

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| instinctually nuzzled down into the warmth of Alexander's bare chest. His arms tightened almost imperceptibly

around me, and everything felt peaceful and right.

Until the door swung open, and someone padded across the room, flinging the heavy curtains open. Sunlight

bathed the room, blinding me.

“Wakey wakey,” a female voice cooed. “Alex, it's tfor bre-”

Sophia halted abruptly when she saw Alexander and | tangled together in bed. | gasped, partially from surprise

that she was here so early but also from the realization that we had moved closer together during the night.

Sophia, clearly not wanting to see more, instantly fled from the room and slammed the door behind her. | didn’t

have a chance to pull away before Alexander was practically shovingoff of him and getting up.

“We should attend breakfast together,” he said curtly as he crossed to the bathroom. “Wear something nice.”

And just like that, he was gone. | heard the shower turn on, and for a moment | just laid there, staring at the

ceiling, my face hot with shand something else | hardly dared to name.

Waking up cuddling with my mate felt so right, like a key sliding perfectly into a lock.

But Alexander, as always, had been cold and distant. It was a bitter reminder that divorce was the only option to

save my life. He would never fall in love withand mark me.

A little while later, we headed down to the dining room together. | had picked out a sweet lilac cardigan over a

simple white cotton dress, perfect for today’s balmy spring weather. Liam and the rest of the Board were already

sitting at the table, sipping coffee and eating plates of fruit and omelets.

Sophia's face turned an alarming shade of red the moment Alexander and | entered the room together, and she

quickly looked away.

“Good morning,” Alexander said smoothly, pulling my chair out for me-something he had never done before. “I

hope you all slept well.”

Liam nodded and flasheda warm smile as | took my seat. “We wanted to thank you both for the

accommodations. Personally, | slept like a king.”

Alexander looked pleased. | avoided everyone's gazes, busying myself instead with pouring a cup of coffee. |

picked out sripe strawberries and fresh melon slices, then reached for the plate of toast and butter in the

center of the table.

The plate was a little far, and Liam, who was closer, handed it to me. Our fingers brushed as | took it, and |

smiled up at my friend. “Thank you.”

Beside me, | heard a bang. | jumped and looked over to see that Alexander had hit his knee on the underside of

the table, causing sof his coffee to slosh out over the rim of his mug.

“Ouch. Are you alright, Alpha?” Liam asked.

Alexander merely grunted in response. | noticed that the rest of the Board was staring at us now-Liam and | still

holding the splate, Alexander morosely sipping his coffee, and Sophia blushing furiously at the other end of

the table.

Not wanting to raise any eyebrows, | took the plate, giggled, and said airily, “My husband didn’t sleep well last

night. He gets so clumsy when he’s tired, don’t you, dear?”

Alexander straightened somewhat and shota sidelong glance. | was glad that my tease had annoyed him

just the right amount while also seeming to ease the tension at the table. Liam and the rest of the board

chuckled, although Sophia just shook her head and began angrily cutting her omelet.

“Yes,” Alexander went on, reaching over to grasp my free hand, “well, my wife keepsup late running her

mouth.”

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Chapter 1

| resisted the urge to point out that it was actually quite the opposite, if only because our little show of marital

bliss seemed to have pleased the Board—and if | wanted to gain my freedom sooner, | couldn't risk upsetting

them.

So instead, | said warmly, addressing the Board now, “We were actually up late discussing pack affairs. Recently,

Ashclaw has been gifted a parcel of land from Stormhollow that has the perfect soil for growing wheat. This will

allow us to grow more grain. Within six months, we're hoping to roll out a program providing free bread to every

pack member-ensuring everyone, regardless of financial status, gets to eat.”

Alexander stiffened, likely surprised that | even knew about that. Despite what he thought of me, | was a diligent

Luna who paid attention to everything that went on. During the meetings he invitedto just for appearances, |

was always taking

notes.

“How would that work?” one of the Board members asked.

“Every bakery in Ashclaw would receive a certain amount of flour from the grain each month,” | replied. “The

bakeries would then give out free loaves made from the flour, and if they met their quota, they would receive a

small stipend to compensate.”

The Alphas all looked at each other, nodding and murmuring their praise. Liam grinned. “That's the Ella |

remember! This is an excellent idea, and I'm sure it will help your people immensely.”

| smiled, looking at Alexander. He still looked a little shocked, as if he hadn't expectedto know so much

about the program, but nodded encouragingly. Something about the gesture made my chest warm.

Just then, Sophia cleared her throat.

“Well, | hate to cut this short, but the Spring Market Celebration is today,” she said, pushing her chair back and

standing. “Alex and | usually go together-are you ready to go?”

I'd almost forgotten that every year, Sophia and Alexander went to the Spring Market Celebration together-the

annual celebration of the arrival of spring, held in the neutral forest territory between packs.

Many packs would set up stalls, selling everything from fresh fruit to handmade wares. At night, there would be a

bonfire and dancing on the sacred ground as a show of camaraderie between packs.

Sophia and Alexander never invited me.

“Of course,” Alexander said. “We'll go soon.”

Liam, always sharp, snapped his gaze to me. “You're not going, Ella?”

I quickly replied, “Oh, I'm not really interested in it. I don’t usually go.”

Liam blinked. “Well, you should cwith me. I've never been, but it sounds fun.”

| was just about to reply when Alexander's hand suddenly shot out, wrapping around mine with such force |

almost winced. “I'll take you, Ella.” He glanced at Liam. “We can meet Liam there.”

For a moment, Alexander and Liam just stared at each other. Liam seemed to be scrutinizing Alexander, but

Alexander just held his gaze calmly, seemingly unbothered despite the tension in the air.

Just then, the dining room doors opened, and Gabriel entered, looking slightly out of breath as if he had run here.

“Alpha Alexander,” he said quickly, “a pack of rogues has been spotted at the border.”

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Chapter 2

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