The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 50

Ella

“You don’t have to fuss overlike this,” | protested as Lilith tucked another pillow behind my back. “I'm not

dying.”

Not yet, anyway. Technically. Sort of. Maybe that wasn’t the best way to put it.

Lilith had arrived bright and early with a suitcase full of my things-clothes, books, my favorite blanket from

home, even my vanilla-scented hand lotion. She'd been buzzing around my hospital room all morning, adjusting

the blinds, organizing the nightstand, and making sure | would be comfortable for my stay.

“Nonsense,” she said, smoothing down the blanket. “You need someone looking after you properly.”

“The nurses are doing just fine.”

Lilith scoffed. “Those nurses have twenty other patients. You need someone whose sole focus is you.”

Before | could argue further, she pulled out a container from the bag she’d brought. “I made your favorite,” she

said, popping off the lid to reveal homemade chicken soup. The scent immediately made my mouth water. “It's

still warm.”

My stomach growled in response. The hospital breakfast had been bland and unappetizing, and Lilith always

made the best chicken noodle soup when | wasn't feeling well.

“You didn’t have to do that,” | muttered.

“Lwanted to.” Lilith poured sinto a bowl and pulled up a chair beside my bed. Then, to my surprise, she

dipped a spoon into the soup and held it out to me. “Open up.”

! blinked. “I can feed myself, you know.”

“Humor an old woman, won't you?”

Feeling ridiculous but too touched to refuse, | opened my mouth and let Lilith feedthe soup. It was delicious,

as always-rich and hearty, with just the right amount of herbs and spices.

“Good?” Lilith asked, already dipping the spoon for another bite.

| nodded, swallowing. “Yes. But why are you doing all this? You're treatinglike I'm... Your daughter.”

Lilith’s shoulders tensed, and for a moment, she was silent. She had never mentioned having children of her

own, but whenever! asked, she would always change the subject. After a while, | had learned not to bring it up,

thinking that she'd perhaps had a bad experience in her past.

| thought | had hurt her by bringing it up now, but just as | was opening my mouth to apologize, she said, “You

are like a daughter to me, Ella. And | worry about you. | saw how your parents treated you at that party. I've seen

how you were raised. You never had a mother who doted on you or made sure you had what you needed. Your

parents haven't even cto check on you since you got

here”

1 winced. When she put it like that...

“I just want to give you the love and attention you deserve,” she murmured

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Something warm and tender blossomed in my chest at her words. No one had ever said anything like that to me

before. No one had ever put my needs first, had ever madefeel like | was worth the effort.

“Thank you,” | whispered, suddenly fighting back tears. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. It's just... new?

Lilith smiled and picked up the spoon again. “Well, get used to it. How, more soup?”

| nodded, unable to speak around the lump in my throat. As she continued to feed me, small spoonful by small

spoonful, | realized that this was what having a mother was supposed to feel like. Someone who took care of you.

Someone who put your needs above their own. Someone who loved you unconditionally.

If I had to die, at least | had experienced this. At least | wouldn't die without knowing what it felt like to be loved

like this.

“I could die happy if you were by my side.” The words slipped out of my mouth before | could stop them.

Lilith’s hand froze. “You're not going to die, Ella,” she said firmly, “I won't let that happen.”

“But the doctor said-"

“I know what the doctor said. But there are options, solutions-"

The door swung open, cutting her off. Liam walked in with a bouquet of daisies in hand.

“How's the patient today?” he asked. His smile faded as he took in our serious expressions. “Did | interrupt

something?”

“Just girl talk,” | said quickly, forcing a smile. “Are those for me?”

Liam nodded and set the daisies on the table next to Alexander's cherry blossoms. “Thought your room could

use scolor. Who brought these?”

“Alexander,” Lilith said before | could answer. Liam looked just as surprised as | was, and | simply shrugged.

Lilith stood, taking the now-empty soup bowl. “I'll go wash this out,” she said, then scurried out of the room,

Once she was gone, Liam took her vacated chair. “You look better today. How are you feeling?”

“Much better,” I lied. In truth, | felt like shit. My head was pounding, my limbs ached, and there was a hollow

feeling in my body that had nothing to do with hunger. But I didn’t want Liam to worry.

“Are they letting you out soon?”

| shrugged. “Dr. Evelyn wants to run a few more tests. Maybe tomorrow.”

Liam nodded, and for a few moments, he was silent, just fidgeting with the sleeve of his jacket. Then, finally:

“Listen, Ella, about what happened at the bar with Molly Thad no idea she felt that way about you. If I'd

known...”

“It's not your fault,” | assured him.

“still, | feel responsible. If she hadn't kissed you, maybe Alexander wouldn't have-"

“It's fine, Liam. Really.” | cut him off, not wanting to rehash the details of that night. “Water under the bridge.”

But even as | said it, my mind drifted back to the alley. To Alexander's lips on mine, his hands on my body, the

way he'd groaned when | touched him through his pants. It had been explosive and all-consuming everything I'd

fantasized about for years.

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My face heated at the memory. It had been a mistake, fueled by alcohol and jealousy and the fated mate bond.

But | couldn't fully regret it. Couldn't push away the memory of how it felt to be wanted, even if just for a

moment.

“If you're sure,” Liam said, pullingback to the present. “I just hate that it led to all this.” He gestured around

the hospital room.

“It didn’t. | was just tired and drunk. I'm fine now.”

Liam didn’t look convinced, but he nodded anyway. “Well, | brought you something else, too.” He reached into

his bag and pulled out a deck of cards. “Thought you might be bored.”

We spent the next few hours playing card games, with Lilith joining in when she returned. For a while, | managed

to forget about my condition, about Alexander, about everything except being with people who cared about me.

But as the day wore on and visiting hours cto an end, my thoughts kept circling back to the cherry blossoms

on my nightstand. To Alexander, who had cto seewhile | slept. Who had remembered my favorite

flowers.

| found myself staring at them more often than not, tracing the delicate pink petals with my eyes, wondering

what it meant that he’d brought them. Was it just a courtesy? A gesture of basic decency toward his sick wife? Or

was it something more?

It didn’t matter. He'd fulfilled his obligation by checking onand bringing a gift. | didn’t expect to see him

again anytsoon. He had a campaign to run, after all. A pack to lead. A Beta to punish for insubordination.

The last thing on his mind would be me. Maybe havingin the hospital would even make things easier for

both of us, because | meant it when | told Lilith that | was beyond the point of wanting him to markanymore.

Visiting hours ended at eight, and both Liam and Lilith reluctantly prepared to leave. Lilith had fought to stay

overnight, but hospital policy was strict: family only after hours. And despite our marriage, Alexander hadn't

listed himself as staying.

Once they were gone, | tried to sleep, but memories of the alley kept intruding. Alexander's mouth on mine. His

fingers between my legs. The way he'd looked atwhen | lifted my shirt. Like he was starving and | was a

feast.

What was so wrong withthat he couldn’t bring himself to do that tofor five years of marriage?

Groaning, | turned onto my side, trying to push the thoughts away. It was useless to dwell on them.

Just then, the door opened. | turned, expecting to see a nurse coming to check on me.

Instead, Alexander was standing in the doorway with a bag in his hand.

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