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?

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 for all Alpha King candidates. We have to give

rumors about your relationship,” Gabriel, who had regained some of his composure, chimed

both Alexander and Gabriel glance at

make an excellent

as he controls

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

Chapter 6

all over milled around with drinks in hand, some already twirling on the dance floor as a pianist played a lively tune. Candles flickered on every

seemed a bit chaotic without my guidance-I would have put smaller centerpieces on the tables so guests could see each other better during conversation and I would have placed the dance floor closer to the center

with Sophia’s nitpicking this time. Gabriel could deal with her

making our way through the sea of guests, I gestured to a nearby waiter, who hurried over. His eyes briefly flicked over my dress, a look of surprise crossing his face, but he

you, Luna?”

so as not to make the guests feel

tonight, I wanted something

a dry martini,

When I glanced at Alexander,

“What?” I asked.

Just don’t get

waiter when he returned and immediately took a long sip, never looking away from Alexander. Frustrated, he shook

expensive suit that was likely purchased using the money he’d earned from selling me to

My father.

didn’t hug me or smile like a normal father might do. Rather, he took my wrist and pulled me slightly off to the side. “What are you wearing, Ella?” he hissed. “This sort of dress

began to remove his jacket to cover me up, I held my hand up to stop him. “I’m fine. I can wear

“What has come over you?” He then gestured to the drink in my hand. “And you should know better than to drink alcohol when you’re actively trying

I used to do everything in my power to make Alexander

was perfectly tasteful with just a touch of sexiness, her brunette hair pulled back into an intricate updo. “Well, I suppose Luna

reached for my drink, saying, “The Luna must have made a mistake when she ordered. I’ll go get her something more

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

Gabriel, and Sophia went

(+13)

Chapter 6

so far afield from my usual self that it had felt like someone else was