The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Ella

The restaurant was packed with the elite of Ashclaw. Every table was filled with pack members in their finest

clothes, all pretending not to stare at us even though | knew they were all glancing at us out of the corners of

their eyes. | could practically feel their eyes burning holes into my neck as we made our way to our table.

Alexander pulled out my chair with a flourish, leaning close to whisper in my ear, “Smile. Everyone's watching.”

| plastered on my best Luna smile, the one I'd perfected over five years of pretending. Lately, it felt like even

more of a mask that was too tight, stretching and cracking across the scowl | was wearing underneath.

As we settled into our seats, | couldn't help but compare this charade to our chess games in the hospital. Those

moments had been surprisingly... real. Alexander's smile had been radiant, his laughter like music to

my ears.

Nothing at all like this. Nothing at all like the fake smiles and false loving looks we wore now.

Strangely, looking back at the days when we had put on our act before my visit to the hospital, it had been so

much easier. It was still difficult, but not nearly as painful as this. Almost as if those rare moments of happiness

in the hospital had maderealize all the more exactly what | was missing.

The waiter appeared with menus a moment later. His eyes immediately flitted to my neck, where the fake mark

was still on prominent display. “Good evening, Alpha, Luna. May | say, it's an honor to serve you both tonight.”

As the waiter poured our wine, his gaze kept flicking down to my mark. | knew he was dying to say something.

The whole tri-pack area was buzzing with the news by now. They were all wondering why | hadn’t been seen with

a mark in five years, only to suddenly step out in public with one the very sday the media leak had

happened.

“Your mark,” he finally blurted out, then immediately flushed. “I'm sorry, Luna. That was inappropriate.”

This was my cue. Alexander and | had rehearsed what | should say if anyone mentioned the mark. | took a

small sip of wine and smiled shyly.

“It's alright,” | said softly. “I've always been a bit... embarrassed by it. That's why | covered it with makeup for so

long. But I've realized now that all those pictures cout that it was silly. It's nothing to be ashamed

of”

The waiter’s face melted into a warm smile. “Not at all, Luna! It's beautiful. A mark is evidence of mates

loving one another. It’s the most natural thing in the world.”

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Chapter 57

| glanced at Alexander, who was watchingwith an expression that would appear absolutely adoring to

anyone watching. Anyone except me. “Yes,” | agreed, turning back to the waiter. “I see that now.”

“Well, I think it's wonderful that you're showing it proudly,” the waiter said, beaming at us. “You two are such an

inspiration. The perfect Alpha and Luna pair.”

| thanked him, maintaining my smile until he left to give us a moment with the menus. If only he knew the truth,

| thought bitterly. If only he knew that the “perfect pair” was a complete and utter fucking sham.

“You did well,” Alexander murmured once the waiter was out of earshot. “Very convincing.”

“I've had years of practice,” | replied without looking up from my menu.

Dinner dragged on interminably. Alexander and | made small talk, discussing safe topics like the weather and

pack events, always with a layer of artificiality that madewant to scream. Occasionally, he might reach

across the table to take my hand, or brush a strand of hair from my face-little gestures of affection that were

entirely for the benefit of our audience and not at all for me.

And yet, each the touched me, my traitorous body responded, heart quickening, skin warming. And each

time, | hated myself for it.

This wasn’t real. None of it was real. Alexander didn’t love me, didn’t want me. He was only usingto salvage

his reputation so his campaign could go on without a hitch. And | was only going along with it because | needed

him to rejecteventually if | wanted to live.

By the twe finished dessert, my face was sore from smiling and my head was throbbing from the strain of

maintaining the facade. All | wanted was to go home, wash off this fake mark, and collapse into bed for about a

week straight.

Alexander must have noticed my fatigue because he signaled for the check earlier than | expected. “You look

tired,” he said, and for once, it seemed like he meant it.

“I am,” Tadmitted. “It's been a long week.” | hadn't even had a full day at hafter being discharged from the

hospital before we had to do this. But we had to act quickly before the media shitstorm got worse, after all.

The drive hwas mercifully silent. Alexander didn’t try to continue our performance, for which | was grateful.

| leaned my head back against the headrest and shut my eyes for most of the ride, too tired to keep them open

for long.

When we finally arrived home, | kicked off my heels the moment we stepped through the door.

“I'm going to take a bath and then go to bed,” | said, already heading for the stairs.

Alexander nodded. “I'll be in my office for a while. | have semails to answer.”

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Upstairs, | peeled off my dress and removed my jewelry, leaving them in a pile on the floor. I'd deal with them

tomorrow. Right now, all | wanted was the comfort of hot water to soothe my aching muscles.

I ran the bath as hot as | could stand it, adding a generous amount of cherry vanilla bath oil that Lilith had given