The sickened luna’s last chance

Ella

“What?” | sniffled, wiping at my nose with the back of my hand much to the chagrin of the nearby stylist, who

looked like she was about to have a conniption as she rushed over to dab fresh powder on it.

“The camp | was sent to had... methods. Harsh methods, but effective.” Something dark flickered across Liam's

face, and for a moment, | saw a hint of a man who had suffered deeply at the hands of others. “But | did learn a

few tricks for speaking under pressure.”

He looked around the room, his gaze landing on Lilith, who was arranging flowers in a vase nearby.

“Lilith!” he called. “Can you help us for a moment?”

Lilith set down her flowers and hurried over. “What is it, dear?”

“I need your help preparing Ella for the press conference,” Liam explained. “We're going to simulate the chaos

she'll experience out there

Lilith looked confused but nodded anyway. “Alright. What do you needto do?”

“I want you to be as distracting as possible,” Liam said. “Talk over me, walk around Ella, touch her shoulder, do

whatever you can to throw her off Meanwhile, I'll be hammering her with questions similar to what the journalists

might ask.”

Lilith’s eyes widened slightly, but she nodded again. “I see. Alright, | can do that.”

I swallowed hard. “Liam, | don’t think-"

“Trust me,” he said firmly. “This is how they trained me. When I first arrived at camp, | could barely speak to

anyone without having a panic attack-you know what | was like. The counselors weren't gentle with me, and I'll

of course be kinder to you. But sof their methods did help. Obviously.”

Liam was right; when | had last seen him, he was a meek and socially anxious young boy who could hardly string

twe words together with anyone except me. He was far different now; charming, outgoing, well-spoken.

The type of Alpha everyone expected him to be, even if his experiences had added a layer of darkness in

between the facade and the boy inside.

| sighed. “Okay. | don’t think we have enough tto make a difference at this point, but I'll give it a try.”

“Luna Ella,” Liam began, “can you tell us why you and Alpha Alexander kept your contract a secret from the

public?”

| opened my mouth to answer, but then Lilith started humming loudly, circling aroundand occasionally

poking my shoulder or arm. The sudden sensory overload made my mind go blank.

“I... um...” My throat closed up. “We didn’t intend to-"

“Is it true that your father received monthly payments as part of this arrangement?” Liam interrupted.

Lilith bumped intofrom behind, causingto stumble forward. “Sorry, dear!” she said, momentarily

breaking her character.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

“Answer my question, Luna Ella.”

“Yes, but-"

“And now you're both suddenly acting as if you love one another?” Liam cutoff. “What changed?”

| felt my face growing hot. Lilith was now walking in circles around me, her humming growing louder,

occasionally brushing against my arms or tugging

at my clothing. At one point, she even flicked the back of my head. I couldn't decide if | wanted to laugh or cry.

The whole situation felt ridiculous.

“Nothing changed, we just-" | stopped, shaking my head. “No, that’s not right. we-"

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Chapter 22

Lilith suddenly clapped her hands right by my ear and madejump.

“Goddess damn it!” | snapped. “How am | supposed to focus with all of this

“That's the point,” Liam said. “The press conference will be chaotic-cameras flashing, people shouting questions

over each other, inlcropéene i shoved in your face. You need to stay focused through all of it.”

“I can’t do this. I can't.”

“Try again,” Liam insisted. “Deep breaths. Focus on the question, not the distractions.”

We started over. Lilith resumed her harassment, and Liam fired off more questions. But the more we practiced,

the worse | felt. Each question seemed to tripup more, and Lilith’s distractions were drivingto the brink

of screaming.

“Luna Ella, is it true that you and Alpha Alexander are not in love?”

Lilith pokedin the ribs..

“1-we-that’s not-"

“Is there any truth to the rumors that your marriage is a sham and that you never intend to have children?”

| felt tears welling up in my eyes. This was impossible. | was going to make a complete fool of myself in front of

the press. | was going to ruin whatever chance Alexander had of becoming Alpha King, and then he’d hate me

even more, and-

A faint cough madesuddenly realize that the room had gone quiet. Looking up, | saw that a small crowd had

gathered around us.

Humiliation burned through me. I couldn’t even handle my own household staff scrutinizing me, let alone

hundreds of people.

“Enough.”

Alexander's deep voice cut through the room. The crowd parted as he stepped forward.

“This isn’t helping,” he said. A flash of irritation crossed his face as he glanced at Liam. “You're just making her

more anxious.”

Liam stiffened. “I'm trying to prepare her for-"

“I know what you're trying to do,” Alexander cut him off. “But that’s not what Ella needs. | know what she

needs.”

| blinked. “What do you-"

Before | could finish, Alexander moved besideand wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pullingagainst

his side. The sudden contact made my breath catch in my throat. He was warm and solid, smelling like that scent

I knew so well, and despite everything, my body instantly responded to his

touch.

My heart hammered in my chest, and | couldn't help but lean into him a little.

“Try again,” Alexander said to Liam, his arm tightening around me. “Ask her another question.”

Liam hesitated for a moment, his eyes flicking to the spot where Alexander's arm was wrapped around me.

Finally, he turned to me. “Luna Ella, why did you and Alpha Alexander decide to keep your contractual marriage

a secret?”

| opened my mouth, expecting to stumble over my words again. But something strange happened. With

Alexander's arm around me, my mind suddenly went quiet. The chaos aroundseemed to fade away, and |

could focus on the question.

“Our arrangement was private,” | said steadily. “We never intended to deceive the public, but smatters are

personal, even for public figures like us.

“And the monthly payments to your father?”

Chapter 22

“Are part of a larger arrangement between Ashclaw and Starmhollow, | answered smoothly: “Our packt have

always bewn life, at the support was meant to strengthen that alliance.”

Alexander’s hand squeezed my shoulder gently. Was that a silent sign of approval? It was ironic-the man who

had causedso muste pain wi one helpingthrough this.

And all he had done was put his arm around me.

We continued like that for several more minutes, with Liam firing questions andanswering them Eventually,

Gabriel cleared his throat.

“It’s time. The press is ready.”

My stomach twisted nervously, but Alexander's arm remained aroundas we made our way toward the exit.

Just before we stepped through the doors, he leaned down to whisper in my ear..

“Just like we practiced. I'll be right beside you the whole time.”

His breath against my skin sent a shiver down my spine.

The moment we stepped onto the front steps, camera flashes exploded in our faces. The front lawn was packed

with journalists, all shouting questions over each other before we even reached the podium.

If I had been alone, | would have frozen on the spot. But Alexander kept his arm firmly around me, just as he

promised. | looked out over the sea of faces and inhaled deeply. His scent washed over me, calming me.

Gabriel stepped up to the microphone first, introducing us and asking for order. Then it was Alexander's turn.

“Thank you all for coming,” he began. “I'm sure you've all seen the recent articles about my marriage to Luna

Ella. I'd like to address those reports directly.”

He went on to explain that yes, our marriage had begun as an arrangement between packs; but the alliance had

brought to both Ashclaw and Stormhollow, emphasizing that it wasn’t one-sided or inappropriate.

)

Of course, he left out the... personal details. Like not sleeping in the sroom for years and never acting like

man and wife behind closed doors.

When it was my turn to speak, | stepped up to the microphone, surprised by how calm I felt. Alexander's hand

remained firmly resting on my lower back.

“When | first married Alpha Alexander, it was out of duty to my pack,” | said. “But over time, it becdeeper.

We were strangers at first, but the years allowed us to get to know each other.”

The lie tasted strange on my tongue, but | continued anyway.

“We are fated mates. And while our relationship may have had an unconventional beginning, we have grown

fonder and closer over time.”

“So the contract was real, but you've since fallen in love?” one reporter asked.

“Yes,” Alexander replied without hesitation. “Sometimes fate works in mysterious ways.”

| tried not to look surprised at that. Love. It was certainly not a concept that had ever been a part of our

marriage, and | knew it was just a lie, but the way he said it felt all too real.

The lie was so convincing that for a moment, | almost believed it myself. | could almost imagine a world where

Alexander and | had truly fallen in love, where our fated mate bond had overcthe barriers between us.

But it was just a fantasy. In nine months, we would go our separate ways. That was the plan. That was what |

wanted. It was the only way | would survive this, because there was no way he was ever actually going to love

me.

Just then, Gabriel pointed to a woman in the front row who had her hand raised.

Chapter 22

The journalist wood, her pen fraised over her noterad to write you re o in le she asked any havent pay that de

hoy s

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