The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 36

Ella

1 froze on the staircase, my fingers curling tightly around the banister. “What do you mean

Alexander won’t be attending?”

Gabriel’s sneer deepened. “Sophia called. She needed him for something urgent.” He shrugged as if it were obvious. “So he decided not to go tonight”

A knife twisted in my chest. I should have known that even after everything, Alexander would drop it all the moment Sophia called to him, but it still hurt.

“I see,” I said evenly, descending the remaining steps. “I take it he couldn’t be bothered to tell me himself, so he sent his minion?”

“He’s busy.” Gabriel’s eyes flicked over my dress again. “Well, at least you won’t need to wear that dress now since you’re canceling”

“Who said I was canceling?”

Gabriel blinked. “You can’t possibly be planning to go alone.”

“And why not?” I grabbed my clutch from the entryway table. “My name was on the invitation too, you know. Not just Alexander’s.”

“It wouldn’t look right for the Luna to attend without her Alpha. Think of the impact it’ll have on his campaign.”

I almost laughed at that. As if Alexander gave a damn how it would “look” for either of us when he abandoned me for Sophia. As if he ever considered my feelings in any of this. It was just about how he looked at all times.

In the past, perhaps I would have simply nodded and retreated back upstairs. No, not “perhaps“-similar situations had happened before, and I had chosen to stay home.

I would have changed out of my dress, washed off my makeup, and spent the night alone while Alexander was off doing Goddess–knows–what with Sophia or anyone else whose company he preferred over mine.

I would have been the perfect, understanding Luna, sacrificing her own happiness for her Alpha’s.

But not tonight. Not anymore.

I was done letting Alexander dictate my life. I was done letting him make me miserable. I had put effort into getting ready for this party. I was looking forward to visiting my old home. And I wouldn’t let him ruin that for me.

“Lilith!” I called out, my voice echoing through the foyer. “Lilith, are you home?”

A moment later, Lilith appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dishcloth. “Yes? What is it?”

“Would you like to come to that party with me tonight? The one at Stormhollow?”

Lilith’s eyes widened, darting between me and Gabriel like a deer caught in headlights. “Oh! I… well, I’m not dressed for-”

“I don’t mind waiting for you to get changed,” I assured her. “Please? I’d really appreciate the company.”

Lilith hesitated for another moment, but then nodded. “Give me ten minutes to freshen up.”

She hurried upstairs, leaving me alone with Gabriel once more. His face had darkened with each passing second, and when I turned back to look at him noticed that his cheeks were trembling with rage.

ridiculous,” he hissed once we were alone again. “You can’t go parading around another

boiled. “Excuse

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Chapter 36

present. Without him, you’re just asking for trouble.

I’d had at the theater, when I’d finally stood up to him in front

whisper, “so let me clarify: what I wear is none of your business. Where ! go is none of your business. And what I do with my time when my husband is too busy with his

nostrils flared. “As Beta, it’s my duty

Beta, it’s your duty to show respect to your Luna.” I straightened my spine. “But since you seem incapable of that, perhaps you need a reminder of exactly who

my Luna Voice since that

in this moment, with rage burning through my veins like acid, I couldn’t hold

will be silent until

again, but no sound came out. Panic flashed

it’s so important to you. And as my chaperone, you will not cause any scenes,

fury, but he

“Nod if you understand.”

rigid resistance, Gabriel

back down the stairs, now dressed in a simple but elegant navy blue cocktail dress with

out of breath. Then

with a grin. “Gabriel has kindly offered to drive us to Stormhollow and act as our chaperone for the evening.

at me

and turned back to Lilith, holding my arm out for her.

Stormhollow was long and silent. Gabriel white–knuckled the steering wheel the entire way, his jaw clenched

occasionally chatting about inconsequential things to fill

washed over me. The landscape was achingly familiar–the rolling hills, the dense forests, the winding river that cut through the heart of the pack land. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed it until

beautiful here,” Lilith remarked

shot her a sidelong glance. “You’ve been to

she waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, you know. Just passing

I said softly. “I used to run through these woods as a child.

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TUUC, PA༠J ESS

Chapter 36

almost made me tear up. Those were the days before everything went to shit. Before my father remarried Before my half brother

my one year

hand. I held onto her fingers like a lifeline. We dayed the that, silent, until the car wound its way up the long, tree lined driveway that led to

stone and dark wood, tall windows glowing golden from within. The gardens weerd in full bloom even at nighttime, a riot of

back before I realized that cherry blossoms smelled far sweeter than

had been waiting by the driveway

many of them had been tipped off specifically to catch me arriving with Alexander. Well, they would be sorely disappointed Perhaps Alexander would

stepped out into the flashing lights, Lilith and I arm in arm, Gabriel trailing sullenly

my head high and my expression neutral as we made our way to the entrance. I didn’t bother answering any of the questions as to where my husband was. I also didn’t try to quell the

consequences. It wasn’t my fault that he chose Sophia over me. I figured he could see how his actions impacted his campaign and maybe, just maybe, he would learn his

so well as a child. Crystal chandeliers. Wooden parquet floors that still creaked in all

little to soothe my frayed nerves as we entered the main ballroom. The moment we stepped through the archway, a hush fell over the crowd. Heads turned,

hear their thoughts. The Alpha’s daughter, returned at last. But where was her mate? Why had