The sickened luna’s last chance

Ella

The morning light streaming through the bedroom windows was too bright, and my head was pounding worse than any hangover. I blinked slowly, trying to remember what had happened. Slowly, far too slowly, it

all came back to me.

The charity auction, Sophia destroying Lilith’s locket, the bracelet Alexander had given me, returning

home…

And then the moment that everything had gone black.

I tried to sit up, wincing as my body protested. Every muscle ached, and there was a dull throb behind my eyes that made me want to crawl back under the covers and sleep for another week.

“You’re awake.”

I turned toward the voice and found Gabriel sitting in the chair beside the bed, his arms crossed and that familiar disapproving expression on his face. Not exactly the person I’d been hoping to see when I first woke

up.

“Where’s Alexander?” I asked, my voice coming out as a croak. I reached up to touch the bandage on the

side of my head where I had hit the tiles and winced as a lance of pain shot through me.

“He had to leave this morning. Trade dispute with a neighboring pack. He’ll be gone for a few days.”

The disappointment hit me harder than I expected it to. Deep down, I’d been hoping Alexander would be

here when I woke up. Maybe sitting beside the bed like he had in the hospital, maybe even looking worried

about me. But of course he wasn’t. Of course he’d found something more important to do.

“Oh,” I managed. “Right.”

Gabriel leaned forward, and something in his expression made my blood run cold. There was something dark and predatory there, like a wolf licking its chops before it went in for the kill. “Ella, everyone knows

now.”

I stiffened. “Knows what?”

“Don’t play dumb. We all know about your so–called ‘condition“.” He maid air quotes with his fingers like the condition didn’t really exist. “Your little secret is out. Did you really think you could hide it forever, or did you hope we would all find out so you could finally get what you’ve always wanted?”

My heart jolted. No. No, no, no. No one was supposed to know about it. I had begged the doctor to keep it a secret. All I wanted was to get through the next few months and have Alexander reject me when it was all over. “Who told you?” I breathed.

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pathetic you really are.” Gabriel stood up, his figure blotting out the morning sunlight and

“What do you mean?”

to get his attention.” Gabriel’s eyes glittered with malice. “He said you were desperate and weak, and that he’d never

like individual knives in my heart, twisting and stabbing over and over. Alexander had said that? He’d

wasn’t faking anything,”

convenient that you suddenly develop this mysterious illness right when your marriage is failing. How convenient that the only

knows exactly what kind

fucking drowning. Had Alexander really said those things about me? Was he really so…

“He made that very clear. You’ll have to wait for the divorce like the contract says.

I’ll die,”

all know you’re

confusion in my gut. I wanted to use my Luna Voice, perhaps make him grovel at my feet for the way he was speaking to me…

fury.

out,” I said

“Excuse me?”

I turned my head away, “I don’t want to look at you

chuckled. “Ah, no Luna Voice this

just asking you to leave.

moment, I thought he might refuse just to

“Oh, before I forget. Alexander arranged for you to have some help during your… ‘recovery‘.

maid.”

someone in the hallway. A

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Chapter 63

every one of my insecurities come

no older than nineteen, with long brunette hair and bright blue eyes. Her figure was perfectly proportioned, and she moved into

She looked just like

taking care of you while you’re

smiled and curtsied, although her eyes remained locked on mine. “It’s a pleasure

she said my title made it sound like a joke. It didn’t take a genius to know that this wasn’t a maid to help me during my recovery, but someone to mock and belittle me.

get acquainted,” Gabriel said, and I could hear

with just Sarah and me in it. She stood by the door, staring at

finally said, “what do you

couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten anything. “Could you bring me some soup,

course.” Sarah’s smile was

fine. Thank