The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Ella

My father’s and Margaret’s faces both reddened at the same time.

“You didn’t tell me he was off eating when he should be socializing,” he whispered, turning toward my stepmother. Her mouth just worked uselessly. The damage had been done.

My father took Margaret by the arm, muttering some excuse or another, and the two of them hurried away. I watched them go with a satisfied feeling curling in my chest.

Socializing at events like this was paramount for people of our status; it was an opportunity to network, to get to know other Alphas and Lunas, and in the case of someone like my younger half-brother, who would one day inherit Stormhollow-it was a chance to him to build his name and maybe even meet his future Luna.

But Margaret, believing Brian could do no wrong, had let him run around doing whatever he wanted. If she had any real authority over me, she would have forced me to talk to each and every socialite in attendance, remember every name, even prepare greeting cards. But Brian…

“Liam,” Kristoff suddenly said, turning, “I didn’t expect to see you here today, either. Have you ever attended the Spring Market Celebration before?”

Liam shook his head. “No, I haven’t.”

Maria giggled. “That’s because your father is quite the workaholic. I assume he rubbed off on you in that regard.”

A muscle in Liam’s jaw jumped at the mention of his father, but he nodded. “It’s true.” He gestured to me with a smile. “That’s why I have wonderful friends like Ella. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be here at all.”

“How did you two meet?” Maria asked.

“In grade school,” Liam replied.

“Aww,” Maria cooed, beaming. “Childhood friendships are precious indeed. You two should hold onto each other—always cherish your connection.”

Alexander, prompted by something that felt an awful lot like jealousy, suddenly moved closer to me and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me flush against his side. The gesture was all too similar to the way he’d acted at the banquet, and although I expected it this time, it still took my breath away.

“Yes,” Alexander said, turning his gaze on Liam, “childhood friends. How sweet.”

Liam’s eyes guttered, but only for a moment. The tension was swiftly diffused as another Alpha and Luna duo approached and began commenting on Alexander’s and my relationship. To everyone else, we seemed like the sweet, loving couple who could do no wrong.

And Liam? Liam was just the childhood friend, the adorable third wheel in our relationship.

As the others were talking, I suddenly felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise. I flinched slightly, lifting my hand to run it across the nape of my neck, and turned slowly.

was when I saw

Sophia.

I muttered, nudging

1/4

Chapter 8

and growled at the sight of her.

I knew sending her home wasn’t much of a

way she was looking at me now… That cold glare, the way her upper lip curled faintly to reveal

It left me unsettled.

I should go and talk to her. But just as I was about to, she turned away and swiftly disappeared

disappearing into the

softly as I watched the dancers. The cup of warm wine in my hands was sweet and just a little. bitter, the perfect treat

me as he talked to his Beta. He didn’t ask

arrangement with my life intact, I would someday be one of the women dancing with

would make time for them. I would live

its warmth against my cool skin. I

I could be surrounded by life and love and happiness, even if it wasn’t

I

A scream.

“ROGUE!”

wine forgotten on the ground, bodies slamming into one another. I was jostled so hard I nearly collapsed, each wave of frightened people pushing

a wolf leap from the treeline. A rogue, its fur matted and patchy,

the crowd moved around me, I knew I had to act

my way back through the crowd. My heart stuttered as I saw the rogue stalking toward a

shouted, waving my

rogue snapped its head toward me, its gaze locking onto me. It

my feet, lowering my stance,

anymore. But I had been trained as a female warrior in Stormhollow long before

2/4

Chapter 8

docile Luna my dad and stepmother wanted me to be. It was my first passion,

in and day out, following them on their missions, learning how to not only fight as

all been taken from me when my father essentially sold me to Alexander. But

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255