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-

“”

that.” Liam’s smile was

did. Even if I never got to hug Liam again, I was just glad

to take Ella’s place, I think

My eyebrows shot up.

“Me?”

shot, but it’s nice to know that someone as kind and empathetic as you is running

planned to drop out as soon as possible. That Sophia, or someone else, might get the

gentle my spirit was these days. I’d spent weeks being bitter and angry about everything Alexander had done. About being forced into this trial, about watching him move on so quickly, about having to hide

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

the Alpha started

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

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Chapter 271

“That doesn’t seem like something

vulnerability. I don’t think Alexander actually wants to replace his dead wife. I think he’s doing what he has to do to keep

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 I could trust anything he