The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 38

Ella

“Where is Alexander?”

I wrenched my arm away, ignoring the sting of pain. “He had something come up at the last minute. I decided to come anyway.”

My father’s face darkened. “Without your Alpha? That’s incredibly irresponsible, Ella. If Alexander couldn’t make it, then you should have stayed home

“I was invited, too,” I reminded him. “My name was on the invitation. Not just his.”

“As Alexander’s mate,” he hissed. His eyes flicked down to my dress with disapproval. “And certainly not dressed like… that.”

I resisted the urge to cover myself. The black dress wasn’t even that revealing compared to what some of the other women were wearing tonight. But to my father, anything that showed I had a figure at all was “provocative.”

I glanced at Lilith, who was hovering awkwardly a few steps away. She looked unusually tense, her eyes darting nervously between my father and me. it seemed strange to see her so uncomfortable–Lilith was normally the picture of composure. That was why she was my rock.

My father’s nostrils flared. “Ella, go home.”

Up until recently, I would have followed my father’s orders. But not now. Not when I might only have months left to live.

“No.” I linked my arm through Lilith’s. “Come on, Lilith. Let’s get a drink.”

Without waiting for my father’s response, I led Lilith toward the bar set up on the far side of the ballroom with Gabriel trailing silently behind us.

“Are you sure this is wise?” Lilith whispered as we weaved through the crowd. “Your father seems upset.”

“He’ll be fine,” I replied with a shrug. “I’m not a child anymore. Maybe it’s about time he learns that.”

When we reached the bar, I ordered a glass of champagne for myself and one for Lilith. Gabriel morosely sipped a glass of whiskey.

As I surveyed the room, I spotted my half–brother, Brian, standing with a group of young men about his age. He was seventeen now, hadn’t seen him much since he was twelve.

almost a man. !

Champagne in hand, I made my way toward Brian. Despite everything, I had always tried to be a good half–sister to him. It wasn’t his fault that his mother hated me or that our father had always favored him.

Brian had grown tall, nearly as tall as our father now. His brown hair had clearly been styled earlier but he had run his hands through it carelessly, and the tie on his expensive suit was loose, a few buttons undone, suit jacket nowhere to be found.

show up without your husband in tow. What happened, did he finally realize what a mistake

made?”

snickered, and one of them looked me up

unabashedly on my chest. “Is that what all the Lunas are wearing these days, or

face heated, but not

coolly, looking the boy in the eye. “That’s

The boy’s smirk faltered.

really how you greet your sister after five years? Making jokes about

1/3

Chapter 38

“It was just”

he could finish, I reached up and pinched his ear, hard, the way I used to when he was being particularly bratty as a child.

“Ow! Ella, stop!”

still holding his ear.

Geez,

of his friends. “That’s better. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have more

stepmother across the room. They were both practically vibrating with fury now. I lifted my champagne in a mock toast and continued on

Is that

my name and found myself face to face with my cousin, Tara. My heart stuttered. Tara had made my high school years a living hell, mocking my clothes, my hair, my grades, anything she could find to tear me

an unpleasant exchange, but to my surprise, Tara

she exclaimed, pulling me into a hug. “You look amazing! That dress is absolutely

a moment, too stunned to respond. “Thanks,” I finally managed.

face. “Look, I know we weren’t exactly friends in

though you didn’t have many friends, you never seemed to care what

caught me off guard. Me, authentic? Pretty? That wasn’t how I remembered myself at all. I had been shy and awkward, always trying

how others

smile, “that was a long time

look at you! Confident, glowing, the kind of woman every woman

That means

still single but dating around. It was nice, talking to someone

after this snoozefest wraps up,” Tara finally said. “Just to a bar downtown for drinks,

my age did

“d gone

if I did die in a few months? I’d never have those

said before I could second–guess myself. “I’ve never actually been to a

to come. We’ll show