The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 65

The days blurred together after Alexander returned from his trip. I spent most of my time in bed, sleeping fitfully or staring out the window at the garden below. The bandage on my head had been replaced with a smaller one, but the headaches were still pretty persistent.

Alexander barely spoke to me anymore. He would come to bed late, long after I’d pretended to fall asleep, and he would leave early in the morning before I woke up. When we did cross paths, we would just exchange angry glares and then go our separate ways.

It was better this way. Easier.

33

I didn’t have to pretend anymore that there might be something between us. Didn’t have to wonder if those moments in the hospital or the way he’d looked at me for those brief seconds meant anything.

Gabriel had made it crystal clear what Alexander really thought of me: weak, manipulative, pathetic. He

didn’t care if I died. He only cared about himself.

I hated him.

The cherry blossom bracelet was still somewhere behind the dresser where I’d thrown it. I could have asked

Sarah to retrieve it, but I didn’t want to see it again. Didn’t want another reminder of how stupid I’d been to

think Alexander might actually care.

On the fourth day, there was a soft knock on the bedroom door. I expected it to be Lilith with soup or Sarah

with her fake sweetness, but instead, Liam poked his head around the door.

“Hey,” he said gently. “Mind if I come in?”

“Of course.” I struggled to sit up straighter, smoothing down my hair. I probably looked like hell.

Liam entered and closed the door behind him, then pulled the chair closer to the bed and sat down. His

face was serious.

“How are you feeling?”

“Fine,” I said automatically.

“Ella.” He gave me that knowing look that he’d always been too damn good at. “How are you really feeling?”

I sighed and let my shoulders sag. “Like shit. But what else is new?”

“I talked to Alexander.”

My stomach clenched. “About what?”

1/4

11:32 Sat, 23 Aug –

Chapter 65

63%

“About your condition. About what you’ve been going through.” Liam leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “Ella, why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

“Because I didn’t want anyone’s pity.”

“It’s not pity. It’s concern. From people who care about you.” Liam’s voice was gentle but there was an edge of frustration there. “You’ve been suffering alone for months. You could have died, and none of us would have known why.”

I looked away, focusing on the pattern of the wallpaper like I hadn’t already counted every line over the past

days. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. I’m not angry with you. I’m just… I wish you’d trusted me enough to tell me.”

“I know. I should have.” The words felt hollow in my mouth. What was the point of rehashing it now? “But it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Of course it matters. Ella, you need to hang in there. Alexander knows the truth now, and I think he really

wants to help. He might mark you soon, and then all your problems will be solved.”

let out a bitter laugh. “That’s

blinked. “What

Alexander made it very clear that he thinks I’m a manipulative liar. He’s not going to mark me.”

told Gabriel I was weak and pathetic

mark someone like me.”

Liam frowned. “When I told him about your condition, he seemed

Upset, even. Like he cared about

my heart flutter, but I squashed that feeling so fast it almost physically

“Acting? Why would he-”

finally met

his mate die, not when

all the right things

intention of doing that.”

something, but before he could, the bedroom door swung open without so much as a

didn’t realize the Luna had company.” She set the linens down on the end of my bed

she had no intention of being

2/4

23 Aug

Chapter 65

standing. He squeezed my hand gently. “We’ll

although I doubted there was much left to

He never would.

hastily moved to fluff my pillows before I could even sit up. The movement jostled my head, making me wince as pain shot through my skull where I’d slammed it on the tiles the other

“Careful,” I muttered.

fragile lying there. Like you might break if

would have involved several colorful words about where she could shove her observations. Instead, I just said flatly, “I’m recovering from a head

the linens off even though I was still laying

said slowly, warningly, “I

with those bright blue eyes. “I’m sorry, Luna. I

disrespect.”

mouth. She’d been doing this for

was certain that Alexander and Gabriel had

too tired to make a bigger deal

to my vanity, where she began rearranging the bottles and jewelry boxes. I watched her nervously as she handled my things, some of which were delicate or had sentimental

I can take care of it myself when I’m feeling

a mess,” Sarah said. “Really, Luna, when was the last time you organized any of this? It’s like a tornado went through

the way

to my grandmother, sniffed it, then wrinkled her nose at the scent. “A Luna should have higher standards. What would people think if they saw your

“Put that down. I

3/4

11:32 Sat, 23 Aug

Chapter 65

63%

what you’ve been going through.” Liam leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “Ella, why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you

didn’t

voice was gentle but there was an edge of frustration there. “You’ve been suffering alone for months. You could have died, and none of us

like I hadn’t

days. “I’m sorry.”

you. I’m just… I wish you’d trusted

I should have.” The words felt hollow in my mouth. What was the point of rehashing it now? “But

matters. Ella, you need to hang in there. Alexander knows the truth now, and I think he really wants to help. He might mark you soon, and then all your

bitter

blinked. “What do

I picked at a loose thread on the blanket. “He told Gabriel I was weak

mark someone like me.”

I told him about your condition, he

my heart flutter, but I squashed that feeling so fast

“Acting? Why would he-”

still evaluating him for the election.” I finally met Liam’s eyes. “He can’t look like a heartless bastard who would let his mate die, not when there’s an

intention of doing that.”

before he could, the bedroom door

on the end of my bed and looked like she had no intention of being the one to

2/4

Sat 28 Auy

63%

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255