The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 12

Ella POV

“I should go.” Alexander said, standing abruptly. “Apologies, Alphas, but duty calls.”

The Alphas looked around at each other. “I'll give them a tour of the pack grounds while you're gone,” | said

quickly, not wanting them to sit around while we waited for Alexander to return.

The Board murmured in agreement. Liam especially looked pleased, and said, clapping his hands together, “That

sounds wonderful! We were hoping to have a chance to see the pack grounds today.”

| stood and looked at Alexander, who hesitated for a moment but finally nodded. Smiling. I walked over to him

and placed my hands on his shoulders. Before he could react, | swallowed my pride and leaned up on my tiptoes,

planting a kiss on his

cheek.

“I want to see you off,” | said gently, just loud enough for the others to hear.

Alexander stared atfor a moment, clearly surprised by my efforts. Neither of us seemed to expectto go

so far as to kiss him, but it seemed to hit its mark-because | heard the Board murmuring amongst themselves in

the background, a few words of praise going around.

Finally, Alexander nodded and looped his arm through mine. “Very well.” He turned to look at the Board. “Let's

all head to the barracks. You can start your tour there once | leave.”

As the Board stood and followed us out of the dining room. | caught Sophia's gaze one last time. She still stood

at the far end of the table, her fingers curled so tightly around the edge that | could see her nails digging into the

wood.

The hateful look in her eyes was almost startling in its intensity.

A few minutes later, we all stood in the center of the pack barracks.

It was a small but impressive fortress at the very end of the cast wing of the mansion. All of Ashclaw’s guards

and warriors trained and lived here. The air smelled like leather and sweat, and as the Board looked around at

the various racks of weapons and armor, | followed Alexander to the corner, where he was preparing to leave.

The leather armor squeaked as it stretched across his broad shoulders. Each joint and rivet seemed to only

emphasize his perfect physique, right down to his impressive leg muscles. Various straps and holsters adorned

his chest, arms, and legs, housing differently shaped knives.

One knife in particular caught my eye as he slipped it into a holster on his chest. It had an ornate silver handle

inlaid with a dark ruby the color of fresh blood, and when Alexander moved, it caught the light.

“Are you certain you can handle giving them a tour?” Alexander suddenly asked, low enough so only | could hear.

“We can save it for when | return instead.”

| snapped out of my reverie and shook my head. “I'm not an invalid, you know. | can handle giving the Board a

simple tour.”

Alexander grunted, but didn’t argue. “That was impressive earlier at breakfast. You speak well.”

| didn’t bother to hide the way I rolled my eyes. “You have so much faith in me.”

For the briefest moment, | thought | saw a look of shcross Alexander's green eyes, but it was quickly

masked with his usual coldness once more. He turned back toward the full-length mirror he was standing in front

of and adjusted his leathers one last time.

Without thinking. | moved forward to fix a loose strap along his shoulder. He didn’t pull away as | tightened it, but

| could feel his muscles tense beneath my fingers.

1/3

Chapter 2

Briefly, | recalled our compromising position from this morning-the warmth of his arms around me, the steady

thrum of his heartbeat beneath my ear, the way his red hair briefly caught the morning sunlight like a flame

when Sophia had thrown. open the curtains.

Five years. Five years we had been married, and we had only woken up together once. Five years, and this

morning was the very first t| had ever had the chance to have my husband's face be the first thing | saw

when | woke.

I hated to think about all of the missed moments, all of the wasted nights we could have spent together like a

normal couple. Or all of the days just like this one, when | could have seen him off to battle with a kiss.

When | could have waited for him until he returned, and we could have greeted each other with our arms thrown

around one another.

How sweet those moments could have been, if only he hadn't been so bitter toward me. Everything could have

been so much... simpler. Happier.

My hands lingered on his arm for a moment longer than necessary as | considered all of this.

| looked up at Alexander, meeting his gaze in the mirror. | couldn't stop myself from murmuring, “Be safe out

there, okay?”

Alexander huffed and turned around. “I'll be fine,” he said gruffly.

He brushed past me, lightly bumping my shoulder, and stormed off. | stood there for a long moment, my brief

moment of tenderness immediately replaced with frustration and resentment. What else did | expect?

“Prick,” | whispered..

Sophia POV

Sophia watched with a bitter feeling in her heart as Ella adjusted Alex's armor. The way her fingers lingered on

his arm, the way she looked at him... The way she had found them this morning, tangled together in bed in a

way they had never done before...

It frustrated Sophia beyond all belief.

For a long time, Sophia could handle the political marriage between Ella and Alex. She knew Alex didn’t love Ella,

that they were never intimate and were only married because they had to be, and it was comforting for Sophia.

It made her believe she had a chance.

But things seemed... different between them lately.

Sophia noticed the stolen glances, the way Alex was so possessive of Ella, the sudden affection between the two.

And after this morning, Sophia began to wonder: were they sleeping together now? How long would it be before

Alex gave in to the mate bond and fell for Ella? How long until they had an heir?

Sophia had to do something about it. She couldn’t bear to watch her one true love fall for this imposter. Alex was

meant to be with her, not Ella.

When Alex would return today, he would take Ella to the Spring Market Celebration-but it was their tradition. He

always went with Sophia. Always.

She couldn't give that up. She had to find a way to keep Ella from going.

As Ella and the Board gathered outside the barracks, Sophia followed. “Can | con the tour?” she asked

sweetly, managing a smile.

2/3

Ella glanced at her for a few moments, but Sophia maintained her smile. Finally, Ella nodded. “Of course. We'll

start in the packhouse.” She gestured around as she began the tour. “Our packhouse is where many of our pack

members live. Each apartment comes with at least one bedroom depending on family size, and there's a

communal kitchen and bathroom...”

Sophia trailed behind the group as the tour continued, not really listening while Ella spoke to the Board. She was

too busy thinking about how to keep her from going to the Spring Market Celebration.

Suddenly, as they left the long and narrow building out behind the mansion that housed the majority of the pack

members Sophia noticed something she rarely paid attention to the barn behind the packhouse where the

livestock was kept.

There was a second floor to the barn with a large door on the side where hay would be dropped into the pasture.

There was no railing or ledge. It likely wasn’t high enough to kill anyone, but Sophia wasn’t trying to kill Ella.

She just wanted to incapacitate her.

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