The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 45

Alexander

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I never went to bars. Even before my parents died, I had been focused on my future as Alpha, on learning everything I needed to know to lead the pack. There was never time for drinking or partying or anything else that might distract me from my duties, and besides, it wasn’t becoming for an Alpha to be in a place like this.

But after Ella had gone out with Liam, I had decided to take up Gabriel on his offer. Why should she go out whenever or with whomever she wanted while I was sitting at home, alone?

“One drink,” I told Gabriel as we pulled up to The Howling Moon. “That’s it.”

Gabriel smirked, turning off the engine. “Sure, Alpha. Just one.”

Thad been to this place once before, years ago, when I’d first taken my place as Alpha and had to deal with a huge bar fight that had broken out because of one of my warriors. It hadn’t changed much–still smelled like stale beer and cheap cologne, still had that tacky neon sign out front.

Gabriel pushed open the door, and I followed him inside, immediately hit by a wall of noise. Some song was blasting through speakers, and the place was packed with wolves from our pack and a few others, drinking and laughing and-

I froze as my gaze landed on the small stage at the back of the bar.

Ella.

My mate was dancing and singing with a blue–haired woman I’d never seen before. Her hips were swaying to the beat, her hair was wild around her face, and her cheeks were flushed pink as if she’d had about five drinks or more.

And her voice. Goddess, her voice was beautiful. She was hitting every note perfectly as she belted out the lyrics to some old pop song. I’d never heard her sing before. I never even knew she could.

For a moment, I just stood there, unable to move, unable to look away. She looked so different from the quiet, composed Luna I’d married. So free. So

alive.

Then her eyes met mine across the bar, and her smile vanished. She turned away quickly, focusing back on the song, but her body language had changed. Stiffened. Like she didn’t want me to see her like this.

didn’t want to

on my

from Ella and nodded, following Gabriel to the bar. My wolf was bristling inside of me, angry and jealous. What the hell was Ella doing here? And who

leaned toward me.

knew it. Ella had every right to go

here, without me, dressed like that, dancing and singing like a fucking goddess,

in front of us. “First that lingerie, now this.” He gestured toward the stage, where Ella and

away from the scene and took a long swig of my whiskey.“She’s allowed to

course she is. But you have to admit, it’s suspicious. The sudden interest in going out, in dressing differently…” Gabriel lowered his voice. “She could still be working with her father, you know,

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Chapter 45

had the same suspicions, didn’t I? It was why I’d kept my distance for five years. Why

But lately…

think that’s what this is,” I

the perfect Luna?” He shook his head. “People don’t change that fast, Alexander. Not without a reason. If she’s not trying to get in your head,

That woman…

Ella had feelings for Liam? Was it

a table on the other side of the bar. Their heads were bent close together as they talked.

a distraction,” Gabriel suggested, signaling the bartender for another round even though I’d told him

my upper lip pull back in a snarl. The mere thought of touching another woman when my mate

for her, they’re not good for you.

more than they should have. I knocked back my

right about one thing: I needed

kept drifting

“Another round?” Gabriel asked.

the distraction. Before I knew it, one drink had turned into three, then

Gabriel shifted the conversation to other topics: sports, his most recent hookups, pack gossip. I nodded along as he

I first arrived. It was like she was

She could do whatever she wanted. Go wherever she wanted. Be with whoever