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 territory without

blood boiled.

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Chapter 36

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

dark and powerful surging through me. It was the same feeling I’d had at

you’ve forgotten yourself, Beta,” I said, my 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 time when my husband is too busy with his precious Sophia to

Beta, it’s my

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

Luna Voice since that day

in this moment, with rage burning through my

until I give you permission

snapped shut, his eyes widening in shock. He tried to open it again, but no sound came out. Panic flashed across his face as

drive me to Stormhollow,” I continued firmly. “You will act as my silent chaperone for the evening, since apparently it’s so important to you. And as my chaperone, you will not cause any scenes, nor will you disrespect me in

fury, but

“Nod if you understand.”

resistance,

back down the stairs, now dressed in a simple but elegant

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

kindly offered to drive us to

at me

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

Gabriel white–knuckled the steering wheel the

Lilith sat beside me in the backseat, occasionally chatting about inconsequential things to fill the awkward silence, but she was

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

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

a sidelong glance. “You’ve been to

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

“I used to

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TUUC, PA༠J ESS

Chapter 36

remarried Before my half brother w

my one year death

a lifeline. We dayed the that, silent, until the car wound its way up the long, tree lined driveway

glowing golden from within. The gardens weerd in full bloom even at nighttime, a

back before I realized that cherry blossoms smelled far sweeter

immediately a small crowd of paparazzi who had been waiting by the driveway surged forward, cameras flashing, hews of my return to Stormhollow after five years had

off specifically to catch me arriving with Alexander. Well, they would be sorely disappointed Perhaps Alexander would regret his decision to run to Sophia in the morning when

car door for us. We stepped out into the flashing lights, Lilith and I arm in

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

that he chose Sophia over me. I figured he

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

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

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