The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 16

Ella & Liam

Ella

I staggered under the weight of the pile of clothes in my arms, nearly stumbling over my own two feet as I carried it down the corridor. It was a long journey from the west wing to Alexander’s bedroom, but I had refused help from the servants, insisting on doing it myself.

Truthfully, I just didn’t want to admit that without my wolf, I was far weaker than I once was. My arms were already tired and my legs felt like they might give out just from two trips carrying clothes like this.

I was just rounding a corner, the pile of clothes blocking my line of sight, when I suddenly bumped into something. My feet stumbled on a trailing scarf, and before I knew it, the clothes were cascading around me as my arms windmilled out to the sides.

Someone caught me before I could hit the floor.

“You keep falling today, don’t you?”

I looked up to see Liam staring down at me. He gently set me upright, his hands lingering on my shoulders for a moment.

“Are you alright, Ella?” he asked, his eyes searching my face.

My cheeks reddened, but I quickly nodded and began gathering the clothes. “I’m fine. Just a bit tired, that’s all.”

Liam stooped and helped me gather the items. His face flushed as he held up a silky negligee, which I quickly snatched away and hid amongst the pile.

“What is all of this?” he asked. “I saw you carrying more clothes earlier. Are you moving rooms or something?”

I hesitated. How could I tell Liam that I was moving things from my real bedroom, which was a mere guest suite located in the west wing, to Alexander’s room-the room I hadn’t set foot in until a few days ago?

Finally, I managed, “I had some of my clothes stored in a room in the west wing. I’m sorting through stuff.”

Liam, however, looked entirely unconvinced. He stood, holding a bundle of clothes, and leveled me with that knowing gaze of his. “I think it’s time you tell me the truth, Ella.”

I bit my lip, suppressing a sigh. Damn him and his uncanny ability to see right through me. That camp his father had sent him to as a kid hadn’t erased that part of him, it seemed.

“Alright,” I finally sighed, glancing around. “But not here.”

a small reading room on the second floor that overlooked the courtyard below. Buttery sunlight spilled across the soft furniture, illuminating dust motes that were lazily floating through

I was holding and gestured for Liam to sit. He hesitated,

the chair and gestured for

I wanted to tell Liam everything; he was my best friend when we were kids, and although we hadn’t seen each other in over a decade, he still meant so

him.

1/3

I settled on a

said. “Alexander and I… We have been sleeping in separate rooms for a while now. It’s only recently that we started sharing a

“Is he mistreating

what to say. Mistreating me? Alexander was certainly cold

the edge of the armchair across from Liam. From this angle, the sun haloed his golden hair. “It’s just… a complicated situation. It’s hard to love someone who you feel obligated

in the same way it did earlier outside the barn.

my chest hurt. Yes, we didn’t

from Alexander than I thought he was. Far more. I had married a man who didn’t love me just so my father could siphon

grasped my hands in his. His eyes never

At least for a good,

complicated,” I finally said, staring down at our joined hands.

me, searching for a lie. But this time, I wasn’t lying. Not really. It was an incredibly complex situation,

a moment. “If he’s cruel to you, or

I met my

must be going on

“I’m fine.”

Liam sighed softly. “Ella…”

I was fucking exhausted. “It’s tiring, always bending over backwards for someone

leave him,

He wouldn’t understand, and besides… With Alexander’s election coming up, I couldn’t risk

maybe he would pull out of the contract and refuse

would go against our contract, but it wasn’t a risk

election

using you to win the election. Meanwhile,

“It’s not like that…”

2/3