The sickened luna’s last chance

Ella

“What?” I sniffled, wiping at my nose with the back of my hand much to the chagrin of the nearby stylist, who looked like she was about to have a conniption as she rushed over to dab fresh powder on it.

“The camp I was sent to had… methods. Harsh methods, but effective.” Something dark flickered across Liam’s face, and for a moment, I saw a hint of a man who had suffered deeply at the hands of others. “But I did learn a few tricks for speaking under pressure.”

He looked around the room, his gaze landing on Lilith, who was arranging flowers in a vase nearby.

“Lilith!” he called. “Can you help us for a moment?”

Lilith set down her flowers and hurried over. “What is it, dear?”

“I need your help preparing Ella for the press conference,” Liam explained. “We’re going to simulate the chaos she’ll experience out there

Lilith looked confused but nodded anyway. “Alright. What do you need me to do?”

“I want you to be as distracting as possible,” Liam said. “Talk over me, walk around Ella, touch her shoulder, do whatever you can to throw her off Meanwhile, I’ll be hammering her with questions similar to what the journalists might ask.”

Lilith’s eyes widened slightly, but she nodded again. “I see. Alright, I can do that.”

I swallowed hard. “Liam, I don’t think-”

“Trust me,” he said firmly. “This is how they trained me. When I first arrived at camp, I could barely speak to anyone without having a panic attack–you know what I was like. The counselors weren’t gentle with me, and I’ll of course be kinder to you. But some of their methods did help. Obviously.”

Liam was right; when I had last seen him, he was a meek and socially anxious young boy who could hardly string twe words together with anyone except me. He was far different now; charming, outgoing, well–spoken.

The type of Alpha everyone expected him to be, even if his experiences had added a layer of darkness in between the facade and the boy inside.

I sighed. “Okay. I don’t think we have enough time to make a difference at this point, but I’ll give it a try.”

“Luna Ella,” Liam began, “can you tell us why you and Alpha Alexander kept your contract a secret from the public?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but then Lilith started humming loudly, circling around me and occasionally poking my shoulder or arm. The sudden sensory overload made my mind go blank.

“I… um…” My throat closed up. “We didn’t intend to-”

“Is it true that your father received monthly payments as part of this arrangement?” Liam interrupted.

Lilith bumped into me from behind, causing me to stumble forward. “Sorry, dear!” she said, momentarily breaking her character.

“Answer my question, Luna Ella.”

“Yes, but-”

if you love one another?” Liam cut me off. “What

circles around me, her humming growing

head. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to laugh or cry. The whole

I stopped, shaking my head. “No, that’s

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Chapter 22

suddenly clapped her hands right by my ear and

am I supposed to focus with

press conference will be chaotic–cameras flashing, people shouting questions over each other, inlcropéene i shoved in your face. You need to stay focused through all

do this. I

breaths. Focus on

and Liam fired off more questions. But the more we practiced, the worse I felt. Each question seemed

is it true that you and Alpha Alexander

me in the

“1–we–that’s not-”

any truth to the rumors that your marriage is a sham and that

welling up in my eyes. This was impossible. I was going to make a complete fool of myself in front of the press. I

suddenly realize that the room had gone quiet. Looking up, I saw that a small crowd had gathered around

burned through me. I couldn’t even handle my own household staff scrutinizing me, let alone hundreds of

“Enough.”

through the room. The crowd

crossed his face as he glanced at Liam. “You’re

trying to

know what you’re trying to do,” Alexander cut him off. “But that’s not what Ella needs. I know

“What

I could finish, Alexander moved beside me and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his side. The sudden contact made my breath catch in my throat. He was warm and solid, smelling like that scent

touch.

chest, and I couldn’t help but

Alexander said to Liam, his arm tightening around me. “Ask her

wrapped around me. Finally, he turned to me. “Luna Ella, why did you and Alpha Alexander decide to

But something strange happened. With Alexander’s arm around me, my mind suddenly

arrangement was private,” I said steadily. “We never intended to deceive the public, but some matters are personal, even for public

monthly payments

Chapter 22

of a larger arrangement between Ashclaw and Starmhollow, I answered smoothly: “Our packt have always bewn life, at

shoulder gently. Was that a silent sign of approval? It was ironic–the man who had

all he had done was put

for several more minutes, with Liam firing questions and me answering them Eventually,