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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“It’s, uh…” Dammit, why was I having such a hard time finding the right words?

a pleasure having

broke into a smile, and for a moment, I saw

a kind young Alpha who had once

we can… Grab a

“Perhaps.”

Liam 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

leaving,” Gabriel

from my drink. “He’s not that

it’ll be good to have our privacy back. And Ella

say why. Of course Ella would

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

maintain the illusion that

And yet…

sip of bourbon.

be the loving couple. You’ll be

her in your space.”

if she were… What? A stranger?

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

also saw someone who was very sick and very

my drink and tried to figure out why the

rooms for five years before

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

Fuck.

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པ་་་ ་་་་་་་

Chapter 61

to the weight of her beside me in bed, the way she always slept curled on her side facing away from me, the soft little sounds she made when

dreamed?

to find empty space where she

about going back to sleeping alone while Ella was all the way on the opposite end of the mansion in her old room… It felt wrong. Like losing something I hadn’t realized I wanted

That was what I told myself, at

it was far easier to blame biology

space

when I glanced at the bed, it was empty,

cracked open, light spilling out

knocked. No answer.

pushed the door

dead when I saw her

death against the cold marble tiles. For a second, I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. She looked so small lying

wolf howled, my