The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 30

Alexander

“You’re all over the internet,” Gabriel said, sliding his phone across my desk. “The happy couple out for lunch.”

I didn’t need to look at the photos. I’d lived through it just hours ago. Ella had fed me a pickle off her fork–a pickle and I had to eat it just to appease the fucking paparazzi, because if I didn’t, they would never believe our farce.

I didn’t even like pickles.

Instead of answering right away, I took another sip of bourbon, letting it burn a hot path down my throat. Gabriel and I were sitting in my office with only the fire to light the room and a half–empty bottle between us. It had been a long day.

“At least the stunt worked,” I said, refilling my glass. “The press seems to be buying it. And the people around us were giggling like a bunch of schoolchildren.”

Gabriel snorted. “It seems to be working a little too well, if you ask me. #AlphaLove Birds is trending.” He scrolled through more photos. “You do look… convincing, though.”

“That’s the point.”

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied me. “Just remember it’s all for show, Alex. You can’t afford to get caught up in this performanc

My jaw clenched. “I know what I’m doing.”

“I’m just saying, I’ve known you for a long time, and I’ve never seen you look at that Stormhollow bitch the way you did in these photos.”

My wolf surged forward so violently I nearly dropped my glass.

“Don’t call her that,” I blurted out, my teeth clenched so tight I thought I might shatter them.

Gabriel blinked, clearly taken aback. “What?”

repeated. I didn’t use my Alpha voice, not yet, but the urge was buzzing in my

at least for

involved in your parents‘ death. Since when do you

“Just watch yourself.”

mused, “I see. You’re getting too

saying you should show some

Gabriel held up his hands in surrender. “I’m sorry for disrespecting Luna

silence for a while, but could feet

long enough that he’d unfortunately developed an uncanny ability to see right through me sometimes. It was a blessing and

growled at me to put my Beta in his place, but I calmed him. Gabriel

and the act we were putting on was getting a little too cozy. It was bad enough that we were sharing a room, and now all I could think about was the sight of her hiking beside me earlier, the sheen on her

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08:37 Tue, 19 Aug

Chapter 30

root, “I have no intention of falling for Ella. This is all for show,

Stormhollow was behind your parents‘ murder,

all those years ago. I don’t intend to break

the rest of his drink and stood. “It’s been a long day. should head

and held it up, turning it in my fingers

there, smiling at me

making me see her everywhere, I reminded myself, setting aside the glass without taking a sip. It was merely a biological reaction and nothing more. I’d successfully resisted it

and stood, my head slightly fuzzy from the bourbon. It was late, and I needed sleep. I’d spent the afternoon patrolling the eastern border, then been dragged to that cafe for lunch, then spent hours

was making me overthink things, and alcohol was making me stupid

be asleep by now, just like everyone else in this house. And indeed, when I reached

scent hit me like a brick wall the moment I stepped inside my bedroom. Cherry blossoms and vanilla, sweet and intoxicating, filling every corner of

stronger

of my skin like he’d gone feral. He wanted me to mark her. To claim her. The force of it was so sudden and intense that I had to grip the doorframe