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 pack’s

boiled.

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Chapter 36

present. Without him, you’re

I’d had at the

voice dropping to a dangerous 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

Beta, it’s my duty

straightened my spine. “But since you seem incapable of that, perhaps you need a reminder of exactly who

Voice since

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

silent until I give you permission

to open it again, but no sound came out.

act as my silent chaperone for the evening, since apparently it’s so important to you. And as my chaperone, you will

fury, but he remained

“Nod if you understand.”

moment of rigid resistance, Gabriel jerked

stairs, now dressed in a simple but elegant navy blue cocktail dress with her silver

she said, slightly out of breath. Then she noticed Gabriel’s thunderous

with a grin. “Gabriel has kindly offered to drive us to Stormhollow and act

glared at me but

back to Lilith, holding my arm out for her. “Shall we go,

to Stormhollow was long and silent. Gabriel white–knuckled the steering wheel the entire way, his jaw clenched so tight I thought

inconsequential things to fill the awkward silence, but she was silent and tense most of the time as

nostalgia 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

beautiful here,” Lilith remarked almost wistfully. “I’d almost

glance. “You’ve

she waved her hand dismissively.

it is a beautiful territory,” I said softly. “I used to run

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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 w born. Before I was forced to marry a fated mate who didn’t want

my one

didn’t say anything–just reached over and squeezed my hand. I held onto her fingers like a lifeline. We dayed the that, silent, until the car wound its way up the

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

back before I realized that cherry blossoms

a small crowd of paparazzi who had been waiting by the driveway surged forward,

Well, they would be sorely disappointed Perhaps Alexander would regret his decision to run to Sophia in

for us. We stepped out into the flashing lights,

kept 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

fault that he chose Sophia over me. I figured he could

chandeliers. Wooden parquet floors that still creaked in all the places I remembered. A sweeping staircase led to the upper

The moment we

thoughts. The Alpha’s daughter, returned at last. But where was her mate? Why had she come alone? And dear Goddess, what