The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 282

Chapter 282

Ella’s POV

+25 BONUS

When they announced that Anya and | had placed in the top three, | couldn't help the smile that broke across my

face. Anya whirled towardand threw her arms around my neck once we stepped into the corridor, squealing.

“We did it, Stella! Well, you did it. You looked so beautiful in your dress-

19

“No.” | pulled back and pinched her cheek. | thought | caught a glimpse of Alexander standing off to the side, but

when | looked over, he was gone. “You're the one who made the beautiful dress. Not only that, but you got all

those custom orders and even a promotion offer from the Alpha. You should be proud.”

Anya’s smile was infectious as she bounded off to speak to Hunter about her potential promotion. | was so busy

watching her go that | didn’t notice Liam walking up tountil he said, “How about that drink?”

| turned to Liam and felt my heart soar. | knew | should have said no, but without thinking, | nodded and replied,

“That would be nice.”

| only realized what | had done after Liam started smiling and guidingtoward the exit with his hand on my

lower back. I'd been riding so high on today’s success and Anya’s happiness that | hadn't even thought twice

about going out with Liam.

| would just have to be careful, that was all.

We headed to the bar together, making small talk about the charity event and the Luna Trial. Liam toldabout

his work with the Alpha Council, traveling between territories to mediate disputes and oversee pack governance.

| told him about taking care of Lucien, keeping the details vague enough that | wouldn't accidentally reveal

anything about the curse.

Finally, we arrived at the dive bar downtown. We found a booth in the corner and ordered our drinks, listening as

a musician played the piano and sang near the front of the establishment.

“So,” Liam said once the bartender had delivered our drinks, “tellmore about yourself. | feel like | barely

know anything about you, and yet... you remindso much of Ella.”

| stiffened, and Liam's face paled. “I'm sorry if that’s weird. | know you're your own person and everything.”

Right... About that... If only he knew.

“It's fine,” | said, forcing a smile. “I know Ella and | shared some... physical similarities.”

“But | actually do want to hear about you,” Liam said.

But “talking about myself” meant more lying, and | feared | would say too much; so | tried to keep the

conversation like and focused on topics like books and movies, not personal information.

And yet, as the drinks flowed, no matter how much | tried to steer the conversation away from myself, it didn’t

work. The alcohol loosened my tongue and madeslip into that easy camaraderie we used to share. Maybe |

would occasionally squeal like | used to about shared interests, or make a joke that I'd made a hundred times

before as a kid.

It was so stupidly easy to forget that | wasn’t supposed to be Ella right now. That | wasn’t supposed to know the

boy who had been my best friend in the entire world as a child.

“This is so weird,” he slurred after we'd ordered our third round. “I feel like I've known you forever. Like we're old

friends catching up instead of two people who just met a few weeks ago.”

My chest ached. “Maybe we were friends in a past life or something,” | joked. Liam didn’t laugh.

“Maybe.” Liam's eyes met mine, full of meaning and tenderness.

Oh no...

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Chapter 282

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| knew that look. Hed given it tobefore on a few occasions-back when he first reentered my life and

declared his love for

me.

Sold flames never fully died out, | supposed. Especially not when those old flames were buried six feet

under and a new one just happened to flicker to life in the eyes of someone who resembled her far too much for

comfort.

| cleared my throat and stood, suddenly feeling my chest constrict painfully as a tide of emotion threatened to

overwhelm me. | needed sait.

“I'll be right back,” I said, forcing a smile. “Just going to use the restroom.”

Liam nodded and leaned back in his seat, and | hurried away. There were two drunk girls crying in the bathroom

when | arrived, but they left soon after that, leavingalone in there.

| took a deep breath and leaned against the sink, steadying myself. One too many drinks was makingsway

slightly, and when | looked into the mirror, my face blurred.

And for a moment, just a moment, | didn’t see Stella. | saw Ella. | saw my old hair, my old eyes, my old face, my

old body.

| saw the woman that Liam saw.

Tears blurred my vision, and | had to look away before | grew too attached. Ella was dead-that old version of me

was gone, whether anyone wanted her to be or not.

And although my friend was sitting just outside that door, thinking he had a second chance at love with the

woman who looked like her, that was all | was.

A woman who looked like her.

Not her.

| wanted to slap Liam and tell him to pull his head out of his ass. | wanted to tell him that we were just friends,

that he wasn't hitting on my lookalike, but me. | wanted to laugh with him and tell him all the sold jokes |

used to and help him find another woman to love, not the ghost of the girl he once fell for.

But | couldn't say any of it. | could only watch like my life was a movie.

“I made a mistake coming here,” | whispered, rinsing my hands in the sink and drying them with a paper towel.

“I'm going to make an excuse and go home.”

And | was just about to do just that.

But the moment | burst out into the hallway, | slammed directly into Liam's sturdy form.

“There you are,” he slurred, the scent of whiskey strong on his breath. “You were taking so long, | thought you

ditched me.”

“Liam-"

“ . wy: 2

Stella, | like you,” Liam was saying.

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we've known each other for years...

If only he knew. If only he knew!

“Please. Letkiss you.”

| froze as Liam dipped his head,

gently pressing my He agajsspne

wall behing mectist ken form

stalled in front of me, lips so close

they were almost touching mine. The

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the latest chapter there!

If we kissed... | feared that he would never recover from the heartbreak this time.

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Chapter 282

+25 BONUS

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He'd always loved me, always

wanted me, even when | broke Ris,

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heart the first ipae Aridhow Ella's

IRBs here, sharing a

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connection with him that couldn't be

explained. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

If we kissed, I'd have to break his heart all over again.

Maybe that was why | said it.

Or maybe it was just the alcohol blurring my judgment.

But either way, before | could stop myself, | pressed my hands against his chest and blurted out, “Liam, don’t!

It’s me-Ella!”