The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 89

Ella & Sophia

Ella

“Alexander, Ella.” Sophia stopped a respectful distance away and bowed her head. “I know this is awkward, but I wanted to explain why I’m here.”

Alexander’s arm stayed firmly around my waist. The tension in his body took me completely by surrse; I knew he’d had a falling out with her and her family after what had happened, but he looked positively thunderous.

“I told you he cares more than you think,” my wolf hummed, which I quickly silenced with a very crude mental gesture.

“My distant cousin is running in the election,” Sophia said quickly. “I’m here to see him.” She looked directly at me, and the remorse in her eyes surprised me even more than Alexander’s fury. “I’m not here to cause trouble. I promise.”

I studied her face, searching for any sign of deception. She certainly looked sincere enough, but that meant nothing when it came to Sophia.

“Ella,” Sophia continued, “I owe you an apology. For everything. Whatever my parents did to you, I know you didn’t deserve it.”

Right. Place the blame on her parents.

Sophia might be standing here playing the innocent little girl who had nothing to do with her parents‘ crimes, but I knew better. She and her family had intentionally orchestrated my kidnapping. They’d tried to kill me. And now she wanted me to believe she was sorry?

Bullshit.

But I wasn’t about to let her see that I knew the truth. Not here, not tonight, with all these people watching and cameras recording our every

“Thank you,” I simply said. I wouldn’t accept the apology.

Sophia’s shoulders sagged, although I wasn’t sure if it was relief or disappointment. Her gaze slid over to Alexander’s, but his eyes remained hard as two

emeralds.

He said nothing.

a silent dismissal, and to her credit, Sophia took the hint. She

voice slid through the bond. “She and her family

hide the disappointment I felt that the punishment

his head. “Do

spoil this evening. This was my first night out as an expecting mother, my first chance to play

managers. Everyone wanted to congratulate us on the pregnancy,

my part perfectly, smiling and chatting and letting people touch my flat tummy. I told the romantic stories

catching up to me. Playing the part of a doting wife was starting to drag me down, and constantly seeing Sophia

Alphas from the northern territory coalition,

1/3

Chapter 89

to sit at. He didn’t seen to

I tried to fight it, but tre comfortable chair and the dim lighting in

I knew it, I

dimly aware of the sounds of the party continuing around

a warm hand slip into mine, fingers intertwining with my

Alexander said

after hours of political schmoozing. His tie was loosened slightly,

green eyes that made my breath catch. Gentle and

surged between us without warning, flooding me with all kinds of dangerous emotions that felt too big for my body. In my half–asleep state, with my defenses down and my heart open, I didn’t think about contracts or

just acted on

the passion and longing I’d been trying to hide for months He made a surprised sound against my lips but didn’t pull away. Instead, his free hand came up to cup my face as he kissed

the world disappeared. There was only Alexander and me and the

him on my tongue and the feeling of taking

Sophia

room as Alex kissed

her want

were in

that their relationship was just for show. That Alexander was only playing his part for the cameras and the

that kiss… there was nothing fake or temporary about that