The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 81

Ella

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I was lying on the examination table in a hospital gown with my feet up in the stirrups, staring at the ceiling tiles and trying to convince myself that this was the right thing to do. Dr. Evelyn said the procedure would be quick and relatively painless this early in the pregnancy. I could go home within a few hours, and it would be like it never happened.

Did I want that?

“Are you ready, Ella?” Dr. Evelyn asked as she pulled on a fresh pair of gloves.

I opened my mouth to say yes, but the word wouldn’t come out.

Instead, I found myself thinking about the tiny life growing inside of me. About the child who would have a perfect mixture of mine and Alexander’s features. About family dinners and bedtime stories and first steps

all the moments I would never get to experience.

“Ella?” Lilith squeezed my hand.

“I…” My throat felt tight, like I couldn’t breathe properly. “I can’t,” I whispered, and then louder, “I can’t do

this.”

I sat up abruptly, swinging my legs over the side of the examination table. The hospital gown was barely covering me, but I didn’t care. I had to get out of there.

“Ella, wait,” Dr. Evelyn called out as I stumbled toward the door. “We should talk about this-”

“Ella, dear, please,” Lilith added, but I was already pushing through the door and into the hallway.

I ran barefoot down the corridor, my hospital gown flapping behind me, completely ignoring the startled looks from the nurses and patients. All I could think about was getting away from that room, away from the

choice I’d almost made.

When I burst through the doors into the waiting room, I expected to find it empty except for maybe a few random patients. The last person I expected to see was Alexander, sitting in one of the chairs with his head

in his hands.

But there he was.

cried his name out like it was the one thing that could keep me tethered

my voice, and for a moment we just stared at

room.

myself across the room and into

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pulling me against his chest as I dissolved into tears. I buried my face

sobbed against his shirt. “I was lying there

arms tightening around me. “It’s okay.

don’t know what to

to meet his eyes. “I found the test. And the pamphlet.” His thumbs brushed away my tears, “I don’t want you to have an abortion. I

words sent a shock through my

mark you. Complete our bond properly. I want to give you the family

was almost painful. Maybe Alexander had finally realized he loved me. Maybe our night together had meant

of course,” Alexander continued, and my heart immediately sank. “It will need to be much

baby’s life, Alexander was thinking about

at least he didn’t hate me. At least he wanted to be responsible for

offering me a way to save the

I said without hesitation. “Yes, I

you sure? Once I mark you, there’s no going back.

the alternative–watching our child grow up knowing their father had rejected us both, or worse, not growing up at all because we had both died

“I’m sure.”

then looked around the waiting room. There were a few other people scattered throughout the space, but

hurt,” he warned, his hands moving

“I know.”

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and pressed his lips to the

he bit down.

struck by lightning. But it only lasted a second before it transformed into

snapped into place. Like a missing piece of myself had suddenly been returned. The hollow ache that had been

energy kept building, flooding through my system faster than I could process it. My vision