The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 19

Sophia & Liam

Sophia

Sophia stumbled, gasping, into the forest. Hot tears of pure rage streamed down her cheeks as she leaned against a tree, pressing her palms so hard against the trunk that the bark bit into her skin.

Humiliated. That was what she was now.

She had spent the better part of the evening scouring the glade, searching for a stray rogue. When she finally lured the beast back to the festival, she thought everything would go as planned.

The rogue had Ella’s scent-Sophia had made sure of that when she had stolen one of Ella’s gloves from the house and waved it in the rogue’s face. He should have attacked her, only her, and for a moment, it had seemed like it might work.

But then Ella had leapt onto the beast like some kind of warrior princess, distracting it until her two knights in shining armor could come save her.

And all Sophia had gotten out of it was a burnt dress-from having been knocked too close to the bonfire by the surging crowd.

In the distance, Sophia could hear the sounds of the party continuing. People cheered, toasted their beautiful, perfect Luna.

Sophia clenched her jaw so hard she thought her teeth might crack. She yanked that stupid, bloody shawl from around her waist and stomped it into the ground, savoring the sound of it squelching into the mud.

Stupid. This was all fucking stupid.

Just then, Sophia’s wolf perked up. A sound came from the nearby forest-twigs snapping underfoot.

Sophia quickly hid behind a nearby tree, carefully peering around it to see a male form stride past and stop a few feet away. She recognized him immediately. Liam.

For a moment she just watched him as he paced the small clearing, dragging his hand through his hair over and over again. He was muttering something under his breath, and when he turned, the moonlight casting a pale silver glow upon his face, Sophia could see his mouth twisted into a grimace.

He was angry.

Sophia tilted her head, considering him for a moment. She knew Liam and Ella had some kind of history together; perhaps one even romantic in nature, although it was probably one-sided.

had happened in the past, though, one thing was clear: Liam was

bargain, they could work together. Sophia knew that Ella and Alex’s marriage was a contract. Perhaps, if Sophia revealed this

Ella.

She wouldn’t have to do much. She could just watch from the sidelines, waiting for the moment that Alex would finally come

could finally be

whirled around.

1/3

said, taking a step back. “You led that rogue here, didn’t you? Just as you pushed Ella

nor deny it. She just shrugged and said, “We

should combine our

to do your dirty work? I’m not an attempted murderer like

never tried to

wouldn’t have minded if you did, though.” Liam turned

hadn’t sunk her claws

smile.

get hurt. And we’ll both get what we want-you can have

frozen, his shoulders tense and his hands curling and uncurling

turned

Liam

was

had confirmed them last night. She told him that Ella and Alexander had signed

a promise that Ella couldn’t be

about staying in that loveless marriage. She

the festival, Liam went straight to Alexander’s office. His Beta, Gabriel,

Gabriel asked coolly, stepping in the way just as Liam was

“I spoke to Alpha Alexander last night. Told him

him in, Gabriel,” Alexander’s muffled voice came from within the office. The

window, poring over a ledger in his hands, when Liam entered. He snapped the book shut and smiled charmingly,

Liam. Please take a seat. What did you want

his wolf’s fangs. He’d already had his suspicions that this bastard was abusing Ella. Now, to find out that he