The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 30

Alexander

“You're all over the internet,” Gabriel said, sliding his phone across my desk. “The happy couple out for lunch.”

| didn’t need to look at the photos. I'd lived through it just hours ago. Ella had feda pickle off her fork-a

pickle and | had to eat it just to appease the fucking paparazzi, because if | didn’t, they would never believe our

farce.

| didn’t even like pickles.

Instead of answering right away, | took another sip of bourbon, letting it burn a hot path down my throat. Gabriel

and | were sitting in my office with only the fire to light the room and a half-empty bottle between us. It had

been a long day.

“At least the stunt worked,” | said, refilling my glass. “The press seems to be buying it. And the people around us

were giggling like a bunch of schoolchildren.”

Gabriel snorted. “It seems to be working a little too well, if you ask me. #Alphalove Birds is trending.” He

scrolled through more photos. “You do look... convincing, though.”

“That's the point.”

Gabriel's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied me. “Just remember it’s all for show, Alex. You can’t afford to get

caught up in this performanc

My jaw clenched. “I know what I'm doing.”

“I'm just saying, I've known you for a long time, and I've never seen you look at that Stormhollow bitch the way

you did in these photos.”

My wolf surged forward so violently | nearly dropped my glass.

“Don’t call her that,” | blurted out, my teeth clenched so tight | thought | might shatter them.

Gabriel blinked, clearly taken aback. “What?”

“Don’t call her that,” | repeated. | didn’t use my Alpha voice, not yet, but the urge was buzzing in my throat like

a swarm of yellowjackets. “She's still your

Luna, at least for now.”

“Her pack was likely involved in your parents‘ death. Since when do you care what | call her?”

“Just watch yourself.”

Gabriel stared atfor a long moment. Then, shaking his head, he mused, “I see. You're getting too attached.

This is exactly what | was afraid of.”

“I'm not getting attached,” | growled. “I'm just saying you should show srespect to your Luna. Don’t forget

your place, Gabriel.”

“Fine.” Gabriel held up his hands in surrender. “I'm sorry for disrespecting Luna Ella. It won't happen again.”

| nodded and took another sip of bourbon to calm myself. The tension in the room slowly eased as we drank in

silence for a while, but could feet Gabriel's eyes onevery so often, watching, assessing, waiting to find a

crack in my facade.

He was my Beta, but also my friend. And we had known each other long enough that he’d unfortunately

developed an uncanny ability to see right throughsometimes. It was a blessing and a curse.

My wolf growled atto put my Beta in his place, but | calmed him. Gabriel was just drunk, and besides, he was

partially right.

Ella’s pack may have been behind my parents‘ deaths. | really couldn't afford to fall for her, and the act we were

putting on was getting a little too cozy. It was bad enough that we were sharing a room, and now all | could think

about was the sight of her hiking besideearlier, the sheen on her brow, the tears shimmering in her eyes as

she watched those bear cubs play...

1/3

08:37 Tue, 19 Aug

Chapter 30

“Look,” | finally said, shoving aside those images before they could take root, “I have no intention of falling for

Ella. This is all for show, just like agreed. In nine months, we'll go our separate ways.”

“Good.” Gabriel seemed to relax slightly. “Because if Stormhollow was behind your parents’ murder, and you end

up falling for their daughter.

“I won't,” | said firmly. “I made a vow all those years ago. | don’t intend to break it now.”

Gabriel studiedfor another moment, then nodded, seemingly satisfied. “Alright.” He downed the rest of his

drink and stood. “It’s been a long day. should head to bed.”

Once | was alone, | poured myself another glass of bourbon and held it up, turning it in my fingers in the firelight.

| hated that | saw her face there, smiling atin the amber liquid as it caught the light.

It was just the mate bond that was makingsee her everywhere, | reminded myself, setting aside the glass

without taking a sip. It was merely a biological reaction and nothing more. I'd successfully resisted it for five

years; | could manage another nine months.

| pushed the thoughts away and stood, my head slightly fuzzy from the bourbon. It was late, and | needed sleep.

I'd spent the afternoon patrolling the eastern border, then been dragged to that cafe for lunch, then spent hours

catching up on paperwork.

Exhaustion was makingoverthink things, and alcohol was makingstupid and vulnerable.

Shaking my head, | quietly made my way through the dark halls. Ella would already be asleep by now, just like

everyone else in this house. And indeed, when | reached the door, there was no sliver of light spilling out from

beneath. A blessing, to not have to talk to her when | entered.

But then Ella’s scent hitlike a brick wall the moment | stepped inside my bedroom. Cherry blossoms and

vanilla, sweet and intoxicating, filling every corner of the room.

It was getting stronger by the day.

My wolf surged forward, clawing at the inside of my skin like he'd gone feral. He wantedto mark her. To claim

her. The force of it was so sudden and intense that | had to grip the doorfrto hold myself back.

After a few moments of deep breathing, | managed to force my wolf back down and quietly moved toward the

bed, my eyes quickly adjusting to the darkness. Ella was indeed already asleep, curled up on her side facing

away from my half of the bed. She had been stuffing one of the pillows between us. lately like a barrier, and it

was there now.

As | approached, | could see the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the peaceful expression on her face. Without

her usual guard up, she looked younger, softer.

Beautiful.

The sight madesoften more than | wanted to.

She didn’t look like that around me. Now now, and not before. If she had lovedonce, then it was gone now,

replaced with a deep and weary sadness that | noticed every t| looked at her.

Little did she know just how badly | wanted to find the source of her sadness and crush it.

But | couldn't. Because for all | knew, she was a spy for her father.

After quickly getting ready for bed, | slid onto my side, and the pillow between us blocked out the sight of her

slender form. But even with that wall of feathers and fabric in the middle of us, | could feel the warmth radiating

from her body, could hear the soft sound of her breathing.

And that damn scent was overwhelming.

The urge to reach out and pull her againstwas almost unbearable. All | wanted to do was bury my face in her

hair, feel her heartbeat against mine, finally claim what had been mine all along.

08:37 Tue, 19 Aug

Chapter 30

Mate.

But | gritted my teeth and pulled the blanket up, covering my nose with it to block out sof her scent. It

didn’t help much the sheets themselves smelled like her now-but it was better than nothing.

This was going to be a long nine months.

AD

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