The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 84

Ella

“Alexander, that’s incredible!”

I leapt to my feet, so overjoyed by the news that I couldn’t help myself. Before I knew what I was doing, my arms were around my neck, lips pressing a kiss against the stubble of his cheek.

Alexander froze, arms slightly spread out to the sides, and it was only then that I realized what I’d done.

The mate bond. My mental shields had briefly fallen, and without meaning to, I had flooded every ounce of my joy into Alexander’s own mind.

For a long, breathless moment, neither of us moved. Alexander’s face was completely unreadable, arms still splayed, and somehow, that was even worse than if he had simply shoved me away and gagged at the contact.

But then I felt it—that thrum of happiness that wasn’t my own. That pulse that belonged only to my mate as his own walls came down just a sliver. And beneath that joy was something else.

Something that made my wolf purr with satisfaction.

Slowly, Alexander’s hands came up to rest on my waist. The bond hummed to life between us, sharing our emotions back and forth in a loop. Spark tenderness. His happiness fed mine, which fed his, which fed mine, until I couldn’t figure out where his began and mine ended.

For a heartbeat, we just stood there like that, caught in the electric current of our connection. His gaze dropped to my lips, and I found myself lesang closer without even meaning to.

Maybe this time would be different. Maybe-

“Alpha, we need to discuss the upcoming election requirements.”

Gabriel’s flat voice cut through the moment, and Alexander’s walls slammed back into place, nearly making me collapse with the sudden loss of them.)

jerked back from Alexander, my face burning as the Beta stepped into the room with a folder clutched in his hands.

Alexander released me and smoothed down his shirt. “Perfect timing.”

I couldn’t sense any sarcasm in his voice, which indicated that he probably was glad that the Beta had interrupted before the bond took over completely. Just another not–so–pleasant reminder that despite being marked, Alexander would never want me like that.

Gabriel glanced at me, hesitating for a moment as if waiting for me to leave. But when I made no move to go anywhere, he reluctantly opened his folder. “The Alpha Council has scheduled a formal banquet for all the candidates advancing to the final phase. It’s in three days, black–tie required. All the major pack leaders will be attending, along with the media.”

“Alright. I’ll need a briefing on the other candidates,” Alexander said. “And a seating chart if they have one finalized.”

“Already prepared.” Gabriel handed him a thick packet. “There’s one other thing, though. Given Luna Ella’s… condition… Perhaps it would be wise for her to sit this one out. Pregnant females should be resting, not subjecting themselves to the stress of high–profile political events.”

The suggestion made me laugh out loud.

not

to the pregnancy.

my pregnancy is progressing normally, and I’m more than capable of attending a dinner

cameras, the

1/3

25 Aug QD

Chapter 84

authority.

in his eyes wasn’t lost on me. I held

and extracted a black credit card. “You’ll need something appropriate for the occasion,” he said, holding

for a moment, surprised. Alexander had never just the past, he

me

money

especially not for frivolous purchases

said, taking the

to the Beta. “You’ll

Luna

Ella

she wants to

several interesting expressions

on

had planned to

you stop by the

can be done tonight. Today, you’re a driver.”

but wonder what the errand was, and why it made Gabriel’s jaw

watching the Beta’s increasingly sour expression in the reare

first,” I told him cheerfully. “I want to see what they

were white on the steering wheel. “That’s

his reflection. “Alexander said not to worry

for the day. There was nothing Lilith enjoyed more than watching someone get their comeuppance, particularly when that someone had spent months treating me like an

boutique in the district. I tried on dozens of dresses, rejecting most of them for various reasons–too tight, too loose, wrong color, unflattering cut. Gabriel trailed behind us sullenly the entire time, clearly

it.

Every time Gabriel made a snide comment about price or suggested we move along, I found another dress to consider. When he pointed out

the window of a small, exclusive boutique called Seraphina’s when I stopped dead in

and black depending on how the light hit it. The neckline was an elegant sweetheart shape, the thin off–shoulder straps delicately beaded

was the exact kind

beside me. “Ella,

I meant it. Just looking