The sickened luna’s last chance

+25 BONUS

Chapter 271

We stood there in awkward silence for a moment. I couldn’t help but notice how tired Liam looked. There were dark circles under his eyes that hadn’t been there before, and his shoulders were sagging under an invisible weight.

Goddess, I wanted nothing more than to put my arms around him and hold him.

And I did.

I didn’t even think about it—it just happened. Without thinking, I stepped forward and embraced

him.

Liam stiffened under my touch, but relaxed after a moment and hugged me back. For the briefest second, I let myself lean into him, let myself feel his warmth and smell his subtle cologne.

But then I realized what I was doing, and I pulled back, suddenly embarrassed.

“Sorry,” I said. “You just looked sad, so I thought-

“”

needed that.” Liam’s smile was wistful but warm. “It

but I really did. Even if

if anyone were to take Ella’s place, I think

My eyebrows shot up.

“Me?”

not by a long shot, but it’s nice to know that someone as

I planned to drop out as soon as possible. That Sophia, or someone else,

and angry about everything Alexander had done. About being forced into this trial, about watching him move on so quickly,

to keep from saying something I’d regret. But one question burned at the tip of my

Alpha started looking for a new Luna very

Alexander’s been very closed off since Ella’s death. I’ve tried reaching out a few times, but…” He shrugged. “He’s grieving. I understand

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Chapter 271

I bit out. “That doesn’t seem

I’m being honest, I suspect he’s being forced into it. An unmated Alpha King is a vulnerability. I don’t think Alexander actually wants to replace his dead wife. I think he’s doing what

clenched. Was that really the case? Until I heard it from Alexander’s mouth, I wasn’t sure if I could trust it. Even then… I wasn’t sure if