The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 23

Ella

The lawn went quiet. Alexander’s hand tightened on my lower back. I felt like I was going to be sick all over again as every onlooker and journalist fell silent, waiting for our answer.

But how were we supposed to answer that?

We weren’t actually sleeping together, let alone trying for a baby. We had only just begun to share a bedroom after years of marriage, and that was only out of necessity, not desire. The very thought of sleeping with my husband, an experience that every happy wife should have, just made my heart pound with anxiety and embarrassment.

But Alexander, always the politician, leaned toward the microphone without missing another beat.

*If you must know, we are actually trying for a baby,” he said confidently. The crowd murmured, glancing at one another.

“An heir to Ashclaw,” someone in the front row said, glancing over at me. “That would be a miracle at this point.”

I fought to keep my expression neutral even as my stomach turned in on itself. It wasn’t a miracle; it was just another fucking lie. How many more would we have to tell before this damn press conference was over?

The journalist scribbled something on her notepad, then looked back up at us. “But you’ve been married for five years,” she said, tilting her head. “Most fated mates conceive within the first year. Is there perhaps a… fertility issue on either end?”

My cheeks burned. This wasn’t just embarrassing–it was dangerous. In our world, a pack’s Alpha and Luna were expected to be strong, virile, and capable of producing heirs. If the pack thought we couldn’t have children, then they would question Alexander’s ability to lead Ashclaw.

And that wasn’t even including how it might impact his election.

Alexander’s fingers dug into my spine. “Well, these things simply take time, and we’ve only got so much energy,” he said with a light chuckle. “But we’re both young, so we’re in no rush.”

“But if you’re truly in love, as you claim to be,” the journalist prodded, “then why wait so long to start a family? It’s quite unusual, even for people of your

age.”

Another journalist raised his hand and stood before Gabriel could call on him. “There are rumors that you sleep in separate bedrooms. Is that true? is that why you haven’t been able to conceive?”

affection in public,” a woman near

just a political arrangement after all?

shouting over one another until it was one

Luna Ella actually

you consulted

of you having an affair? What about Lady Sophia, Alpha Alexander? You two

of calm composure, but up close like this I could see the faint lines that had

curtly. “Just because we don’t flaunt our

off questions, one after the other after

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Chapter 23

I might faint right there

all continued to stand, her armis nové folder across her chest. Her eyes were bulking into ti va she could see straight through my skull and into

for show?” a man near

that gens truly

were we

up at Alexander, who for once seemed at a

moment, I knew what I had to do. It was risky and potentially humiliating and might even backfire spectacularly. But it was the

them up–for now.

I could second–guess myself, I reached up and grabbed Alexander’s tie. His eyes widened in surprise as yanked him

then I threw my caution to the wind and kissed

Deeply. Desperately.

might give

times before, in the privacy of

Our first kiss.

wedding day–which was a small, private affair–we hadn’t kissed. We had simply signed our contract and slipped on our rings in

me to that tiny guest room on