The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 2

Ella POV

I burst into the spacious office, the scent of old books, mahogany, and leather immediately washing over me. But there were two other scents there, too: bourbon and woodfire smoke, the scent of Alexander, my mate and husband-for now. And something sweeter, floral.

Sophia.

I saw the whip of brunette hair first before I saw her pretty, foxen face. Sophia Oxford, daughter of the Alpha to Moonshine pack, which sat right above Stormhollow and Ashclaw.

Ironic that the three packs formed a triangle, because Sophia was always the other woman throughout my marriage that I couldn’t shake. Or was it the other way around?

She and Alexander had been friends long before I ever came into the picture; being from neighboring packs, they had gone to the same school together, and Sophia and Alexander had apparently been close friends for longer than anyone could remember.

There was even a moment in time when it was speculated that Sophia might be Alexander’s fated

mate.

Until I came into the picture and ruined everyone’s dreams. Including Sophia’s.

Even though Alexander and I got married, he always treated Sophia well-inviting her for banquets and balls, buying her birthday gifts, even sharing meals together when he couldn’t be bothered to do the same for me.

For a long time, I put up with his gentleness toward her; I told myself that they were childhood friends, that he had every right to be kind toward her even when she didn’t deserve it. Maybe a small part of myself even believed that if I didn’t complain about it, Alexander might finally soften toward me.

But he never did. Even when I was the perfect, obedient Luna every Alpha would dream of, even when she acted cruelly and unforgivably, he always chose her.

Sophia slowly turned to look at me from the plush armchair where she was perched. She had a tiny teacup and saucer delicately balanced in her manicured hands, and wore what looked like a brand- new dress in the prettiest pink I had ever seen.

I looked past her and at Alexander, who was sitting behind his desk, red hair haloed by the sun behind him. He stared blankly at me as I stopped abruptly in the center of the room, green eyes flicking over me like I was a stray cat that had just wandered in.

“Ella,” he said slowly, not bothering to hide the hint of disdain in his voice. “What are you doing here? I’m in the middle of a meeting.”

me. Once, it might have made me cower and scurry away with my proverbial tail between my legs. But not

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left for such

urgent I need to

to

toward Sophia. “She practically lives here. I’m sure you two can save your tea party for

Alexander’s brows shot up. Clearly, neither of them expected me to speak so bluntly -frankly, I hadn’t been expecting it, either. I’d only just discovered I was terminally ill a couple of hours ago and already I

a light voice, “Ella, darling, what do you need to say that

Friends? This was the same woman who turned her nose up at me every time

at her. My upper lip curled, although no fangs extended-not without

better discussed between husband and wife. Unless you’re implying that you are a

been so fair-skinned and slender and fucking perfect, like a little dove-coming up to clutch at the pearls around her throat. Tears instantly welled up in those big blue eyes of hers, although

suddenly said from behind me. He’d apparently been standing in the doorway this whole time, although I hadn’t noticed. “Should I escort Luna

refusing to look at anyone but Alexander. He was sitting stock-still, just blinking at me as if

eyes flicked over me again-but in a different way this time. There was

he had ever looked at me in

“Gabriel, please see

before.

couldn’t hide my surprise at

to her

with me,” Alexander said as his Beta moved toward Sophia. “We’ll resume our

Miss,” he said in a kind voice

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Chapter

was close behind them, I let out a breath I hadn’t

was short-lived, because Alexander barked, “No longer pretending to be the gentle Luna today, are you? You know Sophia is like a little sister to me, and I won’t stand for you to speak so