The sickened luna’s last chance

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?”

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“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.”

out a bitter laugh.

blinked. “What do

clear that he thinks I’m a manipulative liar. He’s not going

at a loose thread on the blanket. “He told Gabriel I was weak and pathetic and that

mark someone like me.”

sound right.” Liam frowned. “When I

Upset, even. Like he cared about what happened to

squashed that feeling so fast it almost physically

“Acting? Why would he-”

him for the election.” I finally met Liam’s eyes. “He can’t

not when

right things about wanting to help when he

intention of doing that.”

frown deepened. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, the bedroom door swung open without so much

Luna had company.” She set the linens down on the end of my bed

intention of being

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Chapter 65

get going,” Liam said, standing. He squeezed my

although I doubted there was much left to say. Liam was a good friend, but he didn’t

He never would.

sit up. The movement jostled my head, making me wince as

“Careful,” I muttered.

fragile lying there. Like you might break if I breathe on you

colorful words about where she could shove her observations. Instead, I just said

unceremoniously ripping the linens off even though I was still laying there. “Must be

I said slowly, warningly,

paused in her bustling, looking at me with those bright blue eyes. “I’m

disrespect.”

of her body, every fake smile, every word that came out of her mouth. She’d been doing this for days now–ensuring she was just polite enough that I

was certain that Alexander and Gabriel had put her up

careful,” I said, too tired to

nodded and moved to my vanity, where she began rearranging the bottles and jewelry boxes. I watched her nervously as she

to clean that area. I can take care of it myself

but it’s such a mess,” Sarah said. “Really, Luna, when was the last time you organized

fine the way

no, I insist.” Sarah picked up a crystal perfume bottle that had belonged 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 vanity looking

down. I told you to

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been going through.” Liam leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “Ella, why didn’t you

didn’t want

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

of the wallpaper like I hadn’t already

days. “I’m sorry.”

with you. I’m just… I

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

there. Alexander knows the truth now, and I think he really wants to help. He

out a bitter laugh. “That’s not

blinked. “What do

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

mark someone like me.”

he

so fast it

“Acting? Why would he-”

a heartless bastard who would let his mate die, not when there’s an Alpha

intention of doing that.”

deepened. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, the bedroom

on the end of my bed and looked like

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