The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 31

Ella

Over the next few days, the cameras continued to follow us everywhere, documenting our every move. So Alexander and I continued our charade, playing the happy couple whenever we stepped outside the mansion.

I mostly just accompanied Alexander during his Alpha duties, smiling at his side during meetings, playing the role of a doting and loyal wife everywhere we went. To the outside world, we were the perfect Alpha and Luna duo, completely in love and utterly devoted to each other.

But the moment we would step inside the house, the act would drop. Within the walls of that mansion, we would always go right back to our usual pattern–distant and cold, sharing a bedroom only out of necessity.

One evening, after a particularly exhausting day of playing the doting wife, I found myself sitting alone at the dining table, picking at a plate of roast chicken and vegetables. Alexander had disappeared into his office the moment we’d returned home without even bothering to say goodbye.

“Dining alone again?”

I looked up to find Liam standing in the doorway with his hands in his pockets.

I stabbed a piece of broccoli with my fork. “As usual.” There was no point in lying anymore. Liam knew that our marriage was loveless. He didn’t know everything, but he knew enough. He had extended his stay and had seen plenty of tense moments to know that there was no real romance between us.

“Does he ever dine with you?” Liam asked.

I hesitated, then shrugged. “No. Not really.”

Something dark flashed across Liam’s face, although he quickly smoothed it away. Without asking permission, he pulled out the chair across from me and sat down. I watched as he reached for an empty plate from the stack at the center of the table and helped himself to some food from the serving

dishes.

“No one should eat alone,” he said simply.

A lump formed in my throat at that. How pathetic was I, getting emotional over someone merely sitting with me during a meal? But after five years of dining alone night after night, the company felt like a gift.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

Liam smiled warmly. “So, how was your day?”

I snorted and popped a piece of chicken into my mouth. “Oh, you know. Just another day in paradise.”

“I saw the pictures from your lunch date the other day. Very convincing.”

“Well, that’s the point, isn’t it?” I sighed, setting down my fork and reaching for my wine. “To be convincing.”

We fell into easy conversation after that, reminiscing about our childhood, sharing stories from the years we’d been apart. It felt good to laugh, to talk. without thinking about every word, to simply exist.

I was so engrossed in our conversation that I didn’t notice Alexander’s arrival until Liam’s eyes flicked to the doorway and his smile faded.

1 I turned to find Alexander standing there with a blank expression. But for a brief moment, something flashed in his eyes. If la would have thought it was jealousy.

now any better, I

Before I could speak, Alexander pulled out the chair at the head of the table and sat down, serving himself from the dishes.

The atmosphere instantly shifted. I froze as Alexander picked up his fork and began to eat. Liam’s fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around his wine glass.

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Chapter 31

except for the lunch date the other day, which wasn’t a terribly pleasant experience. And now here he was, dining with

every night.

to forget

sat there. And ate.

I pushed my food around my plate, my

Liam finally said, clearing his throat, “this is nice. The three of us, having

Alexander grunted in response.

Liam suddenly suggested.

eyebrow. “A game? What kind of

and the others have to guess who it is. And,” he added, reaching for the bottle of wine

childish,”

lose?” Liam challenged, already pouring wine

clenched. “I don’t

“Then prove it.”

neither man wanted to back down, their Alpha instincts kicking in at the same time like two switches being flipped at once. But

jealous? The idea seemed absurd, but the way he was looking at us made me wonder if I’d

at the end of the day, and I was his mate. It was likely just biology. I repeated that thought in my head

said, leaning back in his chair. “I’ll

our glasses with wine. “Excellent. The rules are simple: think of the first

offered, leaning back in his chair. “I’ve got someone

or a woman?”

“A woman.”

than

a moment.

a sip

Stormhollow?”

“Yes.”

answering our questions about this mystery woman from Stormhollow. As we narrowed it

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Chapter 31

it might be.

to hit me. “Is

“The very

and made me spell out my name three hundred times because I forgot to

remember,” Liam snorted. “Which was insane, because you were the only Ella in the

come to my eyes. As I dabbed them away with my napkin, I glanced at Alexander who was

finally said. “How could I have known it was her if

wine glass, still chuckling slightly. “You’re right. I’ll drink to

for a moment before he nodded. “Fine. I’ve got

it a man or a woman?”

“A woman.”

from Ashclaw?” Liam

grunted and took another

older than

replied, and I