The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 75

Ella & Alexander

Ella

Golden sunlight was streaming through the bedroom windows when | woke, warming my bare skin where the

sheet had slipped down.

For a moment, | just laid there, smiling like a fool, my body pleasantly sore in places that had never ached

before. A wave of something that | could only describe as an aftershock of arousal rushed through me, starting

from my groin and radiating outward.

Instinctively, | reached out, expecting Alexander to be laying beside me. The last thing | remembered was his

warm body flush against mine before | had fallen into the sweetest sleep I'd had in years.

But my hand met cool, neatly made sheets.

| cracked my eyes open against the bright sunlight and saw that he was gone. And then the memories from last

night crushing back. First cthe pleasure of our first ttogether, but then came...

My hand flew to my throat.

Nothing was there. Just smooth, unmarked skin where his fangs should have left their claim.

The disappointment was immediate and intense. | pressed my palm against the spot where he should have

bitten me, where for one heart-stopping moment I'd been certain he was going to complete our bond. I'd tilted

my head back, offering myself to him completely, and he'd...

He'd pulled away.

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And now his side of the bed was empty and cold. He had left before I'd even woken, hadn't even bothered to

letknow he was leaving.

But of course he was gone. Why had | expected anything different? He'd gotten what he wanted from me- my

body, my virginity, probably my complete and utter surrender-and now he was back to hating me.

Oh, who was | kidding? He’d never stopped hating me. And last night had been a mistake, a moment of

weakness on my part. | had been so enthralled by my hero that | had forgotten he was still my enemy. For all |

knew, it was likely just a manipulation to keepsatisfied for the remainder of our contract so | wouldn't

try to pull out early.

What a lovesick fool | was.

Although | had to admit, my body did feel better today... Stronger. The intimacy we'd shared had clearly made

my condition improve, or so it seems. But whatever physical benefits | might have gained from our

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11:37 Sat, 23 Aug

Chapter 75

night together were overshadowed by the hollow ache of bitterness in my chest.

If Alexander wouldn't markafter what we’d shared last night, then he never would.

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Stupidly, I'd given him everything, and it still wasn’t enough. He still sawas the mate he never wanted. One

night of passion couldn't erase five years of hatred.

| curled into a ball under the covers, pulling the sheet over my head in shame. Goddess, how could | have been

so stupid? How could I have thought that sleeping with him would change anything between us?

Alexander had made his choice. He would rather watchdie than claimas his true mate.

Alexander

| was sitting in my office, trying to go over paperwork but not really able to focus on anything, when Gabriel

knocked and entered. His eyes immediately zeroed in on my neck, and narrowed when he spotted the dark

bruise Ella had left there with her mouth last night.

The Beta folded his arms. “Did you sleep with her?”

The question was blunt-typical Gabriel. | finally raised my eyes to meet his, keeping my expression neutral

despite the fact that my wolf was practically purring with satisfaction at the mere mention of Ella’s perfect body

beneath me.

“Yes.” There was no point in trying to hide it, especially not from a subordinate.

Gabriel's face went through several expressions before settling on panic. “Please tellyou didn’t mark her.”

The memory flashed through my mind for the millionth talready since I'd woken that morning. Ella had tilted

her head back just as we reached our peak together, exposing the elegant curve of her throat, and | had nearly

lost control.

For a moment, I'd been so close to sinking my teeth into her skin that | could taste her throat on my tongue

even now.

But I'd pulled back at the last second. Out of fear, perhaps, but also control. What if she was manipulating me

into marking her? She’d made it clear before that she didn’t wantto mark her, but maybe she changed her

mind.

Maybe her father made her change her mind. Maybe he forced his little spy to get closer to me.

Or maybe | was just a fucking coward.

“No,” | said flatly. “I didn’t mark her.”

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Chapter 75

Relief flooded Gabriel's features. “Good. That's good. For a moment there, | thought-"

“Gabriel.” | fixed him with a hard stare. “Instead of worrying about my personal life, why don’t you go summon

Sophia? | have questions about her car.”

Gabriel frowned. “You think it was stolen?”

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That was what | wanted to believe. That Sophia's car had been taken by srandom criminal, that she had

nothing to do with what happened to Ella. But deep in my gut, | knew better.

“Just bring her here,” | said curtly.

Gabriel nodded and left, although | could see the frustration in his eyes over my having slept with Ella last night.

The moment the door closed behind him, I let out a long breath and leaned back in my chair, passing my hand

over my rapidly heating face.

Ella had been so perfect last night. And the way she'd looked atwhen | was inside of her, like | was her whole

world... My wolf had been ecstatic, practically howling with joy at finally being with our mate. Even now, hours

later, | could barely keep the smile off my face.

Suddenly, another knock interrupted my thoughts. This tit was Liam who entered, and he looked furious.

“Where is she?” he demanded.

“Ella? She's upstairs, sleeping.”

“Is she alright? After what happened last night-"

“She's fine.” | leaned back in my chair and gestured to the chair Gabriel had vacated. “Do you want to take a

seat?”

He remained standing, arms crossed. “I'd rather not. | chere to tell you that this is your fault.”

“Excuse me?”

“Ella was kidnapped because she felt so isolated, so unwanted, that she accepted a drink from a stranger just to

feel normal for five minutes.” Liam’s anger was palpable. “If you hadn't spent five years pushing her away and

making her feel like she meant nothing to you, she never would have been in that situation.”

The accusation hit harder than | wanted to admit because there was truth in it. Ella had been starved for

affection. Of course she had been vulnerable to someone showing her attention.

“You're right,” | said quietly.

Liam blinked, clearly not expecting that response. “I... what?”

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Chapter 75

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“You're right. | pushed her away for years. | made her feel unwanted.” | stood up, walking to the window that

overlooked the garden. “And if Sophia was behind what happened last night, I'll make sure she pays for it.”

“Sophia?” Liam's anger shifted to confusion. “What does she have to do with this?”

“The kidnapper used her car. Either it was stolen, or...” | trailed off, not wanting to voice my suspicions out

loud.

Before Liam could answer, another knock at the door interrupted us. | rolled my eyes, wondering who else could

possibly be coming to bothertoday, but then Gabriel poked his head in. “Alpha, Sophia and her parents are

already here.”

My eyebrows shot up at that. Liam moved to leave, but | gestured for him to stay; | wanted him here for this.

Composing myself, | nodded to Gabriel. A moment later, Sophia entered with a gift basket in her hands, her

parents trailing behind her.

“Alex, we heard what happened to Ella and wanted to bring this-"

“Sit down,” | said, cutting her off. “We have much to discuss.”

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AD

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