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.

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

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

Ella.

just watch from the sidelines, waiting for the moment that

could finally be

slowly stepped out from behind the tree and cleared her throat. Liam, not expecting her to be there, whirled around. In the dim light, his blue eyes took on the ethereal glow of

1/3

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

shrugged and said, “We want the same thing: for those two

combine our

scoffed. “You want me to do your dirty work? I’m

never tried to

have minded if you did, though.” Liam turned on his heel. “I’m

watched Liam begin to stalk away, but she knew she hadn’t

smile.

needs to get hurt.

footsteps faltered. For a moment, he stood there frozen, his shoulders tense and his hands curling and uncurling at his

turned to look at

Liam

marriage was a contract

suspicions, but Sophia had confirmed them last night. She told him that Ella and Alexander had signed a contract just before their wedding, stipulating that their marriage would be purely

and a promise that Ella couldn’t be the one to

Ella was so adamant about staying in that loveless marriage. She couldn’t leave. That brute wouldn’t

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

Alpha?” Gabriel asked coolly, stepping in the way just as Liam

Liam lifted his chin. “I spoke to Alpha Alexander last night. Told him we need to have a discussion. He should

within the office. The Beta

entered. He snapped the book shut and smiled charmingly, gesturing

Please take a seat. What did you want

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