The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 17

Ella & Sophia

Ella

I had never attended the Spring Celebration before.

To think that all these years, I had avoided such a beautiful and lively festival… And now, in what could perhaps be my last year alive, I was finally attending for the very first time.

It broke my heart when I should have felt joyful.

The celebration was held in the neutral territory between packs. The forest known as Evergreen Glade was located smack dab in the center of the three main packs in the region-Ashclaw, Stormhollow, and Moonshine.

It was a beautiful forest filled with towering firs, cut through by a babbling brook that led to an impressive waterfall at the southern edge of the glade. I often enjoyed walking through the forest trails when I had nothing to do, or having picnics with Lilith by the brook.

Back before my wolf went dormant, I even enjoyed racing through the woods in wolf form, feeling the moss beneath my paws and the cool breeze in my fur.

I tried not to think about those memories, though. It hurt too much.

In spring, the forest was particularly spectacular; blossoming wild hydrangeas lining the forest clearing, the grass soft and green, the scent of pine and dewy earth mixing with the fresh food being sold by various vendors at the market.

Tonight, the center of the clearing would hold a bonfire to symbolize the burning away of the cold winter and the first sparks of spring. The large fire pit was already set up, piled high with kindling, logs, and even scrap wood. People would dance and drink and laugh until the sun came up in the morning.

I inhaled deeply, savoring the smells and sounds, as Alexander and I stepped into the clearing. The soft white skirt I’d picked out tangled around my legs in the cool breeze, and I pulled my light pink shawl-which Lilith had knitted for me for my birthday last year-a little closer around my shoulders.

Perfect weather for a final spring. I hoped it wouldn’t be my last, though.

“We should talk to Alpha Kristoff and Luna Maria,” Alexander said, pulling me out of my thoughts. He pointed toward a middle-aged Alpha and Luna standing near one of the concession stands. “They sent us a nice bouquet last month for the full moon, so we should say thank you.”

very hard—I’d always liked Luna Maria. She was a kind and intelligent woman who I had asked for political guidance on a few occasions, and her

me approaching and embraced me tightly. But when she pulled back just enough to look at me, she furrowed her

though I felt like I’d had the wind taken out of my sails lately. I couldn’t

I lied, still smiling. “How are you, Maria? How is little

chest out at the mention of their new grandson. He put his arm around his wife’s shoulders, both of them

rolled her eyes and nudged her husband with her elbow. “He’s not old enough for words yet, darling.

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don’t you think he would

silver-haired Alpha merely shrugged,

his usual neat suit for a simple

I saw movement over his shoulder and noticed two familiar faces working their way through the crowd. My father and my stepmother.

I

them to say hello first-always the doting daughter. But not today. I pretended not to see them, instead asking more questions about Maria and

voice cut through our conversation. “I wasn’t expecting to see

Margaret had never liked me, and my presence here at a more casual event likely chagrined her more than she had the guts to admit. She always cared deeply about whether I was being “good enough” for Alexander. Like the only thing I could do “right” was hide

“I’m also surprised to see you here, Ella. We’ve only ever

like these sorts of things,” Kristoff added. “Usually Alexander attends with his Beta and Sophia.” He grinned impishly. “Or maybe

slightly beside me, but I could see his mouth twitch a little

I could answer, “it’s simply in Ella’s sullen nature not to enjoy these types of lighthearted events. Let’s not

do whatever she could to

had seen on

past, I might have endured such barbs. But not anymore. When you’ve been given a year

about to speak when Alexander suddenly cleared his

fault,” Alexander said, and his admission took me by complete surprise. “I’ve always kept Ella busy with her Luna duties. Meanwhile, I would avoid my own and come to

that. I couldn’t tell if Alexander actually meant those words or if he

voice cut in, “Ella has always been