The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 61

Alexander

Something was wrong with Ella.

And I wasn’t just talking about the hospital visit. No, something was seriously, deeply wrong. Something far more than exhaustion or a bug.

I’d noticed it throughout the evening, not just when she nearly collapsed into me, but all night. She looked drawn and pale, her hands shook, and she thought I didn’t notice, but I saw the way she always reached out to hold onto the wall or a table or something, anything, to keep herself upright.

I blamed myself.

It had only been two days since she’d been discharged from the hospital, and here I was dragging her to a charity auction because it was good for my campaign and because I needed to show off that damn fake mating mark.

What kind of husband did that make me?

The contractual kind, I reminded myself. But even so, I could have been more considerate. I should have let her rest. I didn’t have to love Ella, but I definitely needed to make sure she didn’t die on my watch.

“Alexander?” Liam’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. We were standing in the parlor, and I’d been staring at the fireplace for the past five minutes. “Are you alright?”

“Sorry. I’m fine. Just tired,” I said. “What did you want to discuss?”

“The in–pack evaluation is wrapping up. I’ll probably be moving back to my own place within the week.”

I nodded. It made sense–Liam had been staying with us for over a month now, observing pack dynamics and my leadership style as part of the official assessment process. I was a little relieved that he was leaving.

“I wanted to thank you,” Liam continued. “For your hospitality. I know having me here hasn’t exactly been convenient, especially with everything else going on.”

I blinked, surprised.

“It… wasn’t a problem.”

Liam’s mouth twitched as if he didn’t believe me, but he nodded. “Well, I hope the evaluation goes well for you,” he said. “You’re a good Alpha, Alexander. Your pack is lucky to have you.”

The compliment caught me off guard. We’d been circling each other like rivals for weeks, and yet he was

being kind. Thanking me for my “hospitality“. Complimenting my leadership. Hoping that I would make it through the evaluation phase of the campaign.

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Chapter 61

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Dammit, why was I having such a hard time finding

a pleasure having

broke into a

kind young Alpha who had once been her

we can… Grab a

“Perhaps.”

headed upstairs, I lingered in the parlor, pouring myself a bourbon and settling into one of the leather chairs. The house was quiet except for the ticking of the grandfather

news about Liam leaving,” Gabriel said, appearing in the doorway.

looked up from my drink. “He’s

back. And Ella can move

words made my shoulders tense, although I couldn’t say why. Of course Ella would move back

The only reason she’d started sleeping in mine was because having

to maintain the illusion that we

And yet…

a sip

more pretending to be the

her in your space.”

she were… What? A stranger?

Ella was to me anymore. Once, she had been all of the above and so much more. But lately, the lines were blurring. Lately, I didn’t see a spy or the daughter of the people who had had my parents killed, but instead a woman who had

someone who was

and tried to figure out why the thought of Ella moving

separate rooms for five years before Liam

to having my own space. Used to not lying awake listening to her breathing, or watching the way the moonlight

Fuck.

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པ་་་ ་་་་་་་

Chapter 61

started doing that? When had I started looking forward to the weight of her beside me in bed, the way she

dreamed?

her week in the hospital, I’d barely slept. I kept reaching for her in my sleep, only to find empty space where she should have been. I’d told myself it was just habit, just my body adjusting to

opposite end of the mansion in her

mate bond, though. That was what I

biology than to accept that it

and headed upstairs, trying to push the thoughts away. Ella probably wanted her own space back anyway. The arrangement had been for

asleep. But when I glanced at

noticed the bathroom door cracked open, light spilling out from within. Curious, I walked

knocked. No answer.

pushed the door

stopped dead when I saw her

crumpled on the floor beside the vanity, unconscious, her face pale as death against the cold marble tiles. For a second, I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. She looked

me. My wolf howled, my heart