The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Ella POV

“Shut up,” Alexander whispered.

I halted my steps abruptly, furrowing my brow. “What?”

Alexander shook his head, almost as if he hadn’t intended to say the words out loud. “Nothing,” he said. Beside him, Gabriel’s face reddened again. Alexander frowned. “Why did you pick that dress? You should change.”

I bristled involuntarily at his words. Maybe the old version of me would have scurried away and changed into something more suitable-who was I kidding, I would have never worn this to begin with-but not anymore.

“Oh, don’t be a prude,” I bit out. “I can wear what I want and you have no right to control me.”

With that, I brushed past him, moving to enter the banquet hall.

Alexander’s hand shot out, grabbing my arm. He pulled me back before I could reach the grand double doors.

I whirled on him, prepared to tell him where he could shove his comments about my outfit, but found myself surprised when he simply looped my arm through his elbow.

“You can’t go alone. We’re supposed to walk in together.”

Right. We did enter these sorts of events arm-in-arm every time.

But I knew that the moment we entered the banquet hall, Sophia would show up and cling to Alexander. And I knew he would keep his distance from me for the entire party, just like he always did, leaving me to mingle on my own and become a wallflower while all the other couples danced.

He wasn’t insisting on going in together because he actually cared about being by my side. This was just for appearances, like it always was, and I would be cast aside the moment I had served my purpose.

I abruptly pulled my arm away. “I don’t think that’s necessary. Everyone knows you hate me, anyway. What does it matter if we’re holding hands when we enter?”

Alexander’s green eyes shifted, a look of something that almost looked like pain flickering through them for the briefest of moments. It was gone so quickly I wasn’t sure if I had actually seen it, but it did leave me wondering…

Could it be that he was actually being insincere earlier and actually preferred when I was being more flirtatious?

on his arm again. I tried not to think about the sight of his bare muscles from earlier as I felt his bicep shift under my palm. “They’ll be inspecting the pack for at least a month

rumors about your relationship,” Gabriel, who had regained some of his composure, chimed in from behind Alexander. “Trying

snorted, making both Alexander and Gabriel glance at each other

think Alexander would make an excellent Alpha King if he

as he

I did oblige and tighten my grip around Alexander’s arm. Gabriel opened the doors and we strode

Chapter 6

floor as a pianist played a lively tune. Candles flickered on every table, casting the room in a golden

during conversation

with Sophia’s

eyes briefly flicked

you, Luna?”

I would have opted for sparkling juice—a drink to hold so as not

I wanted something

a

drink. When I glanced at Alexander, I

“What?” I asked.

Just don’t get

returned and immediately took a long sip, never looking away from Alexander. Frustrated,

taller than me, slender, and sporting an expensive suit that was likely purchased using the money he’d earned from selling me to

My father.

hadn’t seen him in person for months, but he didn’t hug me or smile like a normal father might do. Rather, he took my wrist and pulled me slightly off to the

he began to remove his jacket to cover me up, I held my hand

flashed. “What has come over you?” He then gestured to the drink in my hand. “And you should know better than

to do everything in my power to make Alexander love me and want to have a family with me, but

an all-too-familiar voice chimed in. Sophia. She was wearing a feminine white gown that was perfectly tasteful with just a touch of sexiness, her

father. But when Gabriel stepped forward and reached for my drink, saying, “The Luna must have made a mistake when she ordered. I’ll go get her

drink away, a little liquid sloshing out over the rim. “I’m not a child,” I hissed. “And I’m not a broodmare. If I want a drink,

and Sophia went

(+13)

Chapter 6

us had expected me to snap like that-not even me. It was so far afield from my usual self that it had felt like someone else was speaking the words. And yet it felt