The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 11

Ella POV

Alexander’s scent made my head spin this close, and for a brief second, I almost considered telling him whatever he wanted to know. Even with a dormant wolf, the mate bond urged me to reassure him that I wasn’t cheating on him. I had never even slept with a man before I met Alexander.

But I couldn’t tell him that. What if it would change his mind about the contract? What if he would decide not to divorce me in the end after all? I had to play my cards right.

“I met Liam in grade school,” I answered coolly, flipping over so my back was facing him. “We hit it off immediately.”

Technically, it was true. Liam and I had become friends quickly as children, like two old souls connecting with just one look.

Alexander just didn’t know that there was nothing more to it than friendship.

I heard him huff softly as he flopped back down onto his back on the other side of the bed.

“How long have you two been seeing each other?” he asked after another moment.

I bit my lip, hesitating, then gave him another half-truth: “We didn’t see each other for more than a decade. He went away when he was ten.”

“So it’s a recent thing, then. Your relationship.”

“I guess so.” I replied vaguely.

Alexander grunted, and I thought the probing questions would finally stop. But then he asked, “And what do you intend to do when our contract is up? Marry him?”

“Does that matter?” I blurted out. “You and I were never in love. In nine months, we’ll go our separate ways.”

“Just tell me.”

I sighed. “I don’t know. I guess we’ll run off into the sunset together.”

My vague answers didn’t seem to please Alexander. Over the next fifteen minutes, he asked more and more questions, all of which I answered as sparingly as I could.

Eventually, I grew too tired to keep answering. The last thing I heard before I finally drifted off to sleep was Alexander’s deep voice.

“Ella, is Liam planning on making you Luna of his pack?”

pulled me into his arms, his touch gentle as he held me close. His lips were soft as

my ear.

and tasting faintly of bourbon and peppermint. My body instantly

I slowly woke, like the sun kissing my skin. A gentle, familiar rhythm pounded against

ear: one-two, one-two, one-two.

my own pulse, not even one I had physically felt before, and yet it was so natural and familiar to me that I instantly knew it belonged to

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chest. His arms tightened almost

across the room, flinging the heavy curtains open. Sunlight bathed the room, blinding

wakey,” a female voice cooed. “Alex, it’s time

partially from surprise that she was here so early but also from the realization that we had moved closer together

instantly fled from the room and slammed the door behind her. I didn’t have a chance to pull away before Alexander was practically shoving me

breakfast together,” he said curtly as he crossed to the bathroom. “Wear

that, he was gone. I heard the shower turn on, and for a moment I just laid there, staring

felt so right, like a key

divorce was the only option

cardigan over a simple white cotton dress, perfect for today’s balmy spring weather. Liam and the rest of the Board were

Alexander and I

morning,” Alexander said smoothly, pulling my chair out for me-something

took my seat. “We wanted to thank you both for the accommodations. Personally,

avoided everyone’s gazes, busying myself instead with pouring a cup of coffee. I picked out some ripe strawberries and fresh melon slices, then reached for the plate of toast and butter

little far, and Liam, who was closer, handed it to me. Our fingers brushed as I took it, and I smiled up at

I jumped and looked over to see that Alexander had hit his knee on the underside

you alright,

and I still holding the same plate, Alexander morosely sipping his coffee, and Sophia

giggled, and said airily, “My husband didn’t sleep well last night. He gets so clumsy when

me a sidelong glance. I was glad that my tease had annoyed him just the right amount while also seeming to ease the tension at the table. Liam and the rest of the board chuckled, although Sophia just shook her head and began angrily

my free hand, “well, my wife keeps me up late running

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Chapter 1

the urge to point out that it was actually quite the opposite, if only because our little show of marital bliss seemed to have pleased the Board—and if I wanted to gain my freedom sooner, I couldn’t risk upsetting

a parcel of land from Stormhollow that has the perfect soil for growing wheat. This will allow us to grow more grain. Within six months, we’re hoping to roll out

that I even knew about that. Despite what he thought of me, I was a diligent Luna who paid attention to everything that went on. During the meetings he invited me to just