The sickened luna’s last chance

Ella & Alexander

Ella

64%1

+33)

The charity auction was everything I’d expected it to be–packed with socialites who were all dressed to the nines, elegant white linens and crystal chandeliers, and tables full of auction items lining the walls.

Alexander and I had been making the rounds for about an hour, his hand never moving away from its position on my lower back as we moved from table to table, examining the various items up for bid.

A weekend getaway to the mountains. A vintage wine collection. A private dinner with a celebrity chef.

All of it felt hollow and meaningless when so many other couples were bidding on the more intimate options, and all the while I was wearing a fake mark and pretending to be madly in love with a man who could barely stand to touch me.

“Smile,” Alexander murmured in my ear as a photographer approached. “Look interested in the jewelry.”

I plastered on my Luna smile and leaned closer to examine a diamond tennis bracelet on the table in front

of me. The photographer snapped a few pictures, and I made sure to angle my neck so the fake mark was clearly visible.

Just another performance in our endless charade.

Once the photographer grew tired of us, we moved to the next table, where Alexander struck up a

conversation with another Alpha about some business deal while I perused a collection of rare antique

books. I was actually reading the spines, trying to find something that Lilith might like, when I felt something slam into me from behind.

I stumbled forward, catching myself against the edge of the table, but I felt something catch on the corner

and snap against my neck. The delicate chain of Lilith’s locket broke, and I watched in horror as the piece of jewelry fell to the floor.

“Oh my Goddess, I’m so sorry!”

I turned to find Sophia standing behind me. She was wearing a stunning red dress, and her blonde hair was

swept up into an elaborate style.

“I didn’t see you there,” she said. “How clumsy of me!”

Before I could react, she stepped forward as if to help, but her heel came down directly on Lilith’s locket with a sickening crunch.

“No!” I gasped, hand flying to my throat as I stared down at the necklace. The delicate engravings were

1/4

11:30 Sat, 23 Aug

Chapter 59

dented beyond repair, and

304%

history, crushed under the heel of Sophia’s shoe in the span

night.

dear, it’s completely ruined, isn’t it?” Sophia said airily. “What a shame. It

Quaint.

exactly what she’d done. This wasn’t an

+33

moment, I seriously considered slapping that smug expression right off her perfect face.

onlookers staring at us from behind their folding fans and glasses of champagne. Causing a scene at a charity auction wouldn’t help anyone, least of all me. It

happen,” I said quietly, clenching my hand into

tables around us. “Well, at least you’re surrounded by plenty of jewelry to replace

with.”

and stalked away, weaving through the crowd toward the

with Sophia anyway–he

mercifully empty when I reached it. I locked the door behind me and finally

fall.

was gone. The one real thing I had these days, the symbol of

destroyed.

the sink, trying to pull myself together. I had to go back out there, of course. People would begin to

up, the room suddenly tilted sideways. My knees went weak, and I had to grab the

before.

knuckles went white, waiting for the dizziness to pass. My reflection in the mirror looked pale and drawn,

spinning. I managed to steady myself, although my hands were still trembling. I splashed cold water on my face, careful not to ruin my makeup,

2/4

11:31 Sat, 23 Aug

Chapter 59

back on and returned

64%

33

Alexander

the broken pieces of the

to her; she’d said it was a family heirloom. Ella was so

picking it up.

the locket. “Take this to the best jewelry maker in the territory.

the damaged silver. “It’s pretty badly damaged, Alpha. Are you

I felt a muscle feather in my jaw, recalling the moment I had overheard earlier, when

well. I’ll take

“Good.”

the locket, I found myself wandering aimlessly through the auction displays, my mind spinning. I couldn’t

was too flashy for Ella’s tastes, but one piece caught my eye: a simple silver bracelet with a small charm in the shape of

impulse. Ella didn’t need more jewelry, and she certainly didn’t need gifts from me. Our relationship was contractual and temporary. I had