The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 61

Alexander

Something was wrong with Ella.

And | wasn’t just talking about the hospital visit. No, something was seriously, deeply wrong. Something far more

than exhaustion or a bug.

I'd noticed it throughout the evening, not just when she nearly collapsed into me, but all night. She looked drawn

and pale, her hands shook, and she thought I didn’t notice, but | saw the way she always reached out to hold

onto the wall or a table or something, anything, to keep herself upright.

| blamed myself.

It had only been two days since she’d been discharged from the hospital, and here | was dragging her to a

charity auction because it was good for my campaign and because | needed to show off that damn fake mating

mark.

What kind of husband did that make me?

The contractual kind, | reminded myself. But even so, | could have been more considerate. | should have let her

rest. | didn’t have to love Ella, but | definitely needed to make sure she didn’t die on my watch.

“Alexander?” Liam's voice pulledfrom my thoughts. We were standing in the parlor, and I'd been staring at

the fireplace for the past five minutes. “Are you alright?”

“Sorry. I'm fine. Just tired,” | said. “What did you want to discuss?”

“The in-pack evaluation is wrapping up. I'll probably be moving back to my own place within the week.”

| nodded. It made sense-Liam had been staying with us for over a month now, observing pack dynamics and my

leadership style as part of the official assessment process. | was a little relieved that he was leaving.

“I wanted to thank you,” Liam continued. “For your hospitality. | know havinghere hasn't exactly been

convenient, especially with everything else going on.”

| blinked, surprised.

“It... wasn’t a problem.”

Liam’s mouth twitched as if he didn’t believe me, but he nodded. “Well, | hope the evaluation goes well for you,”

he said. “You're a good Alpha, Alexander. Your pack is lucky to have you.”

The compliment caughtoff guard. We’d been circling each other like rivals for weeks, and yet he was

being kind. Thankingfor my “hospitality”. Complimenting my leadership. Hoping that | would make it through

the evaluation phase of the campaign.

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“Thank you,” | managed. “It’s, uh...” Dammit, why was | having such a hard tfinding the right words? “It

was a pleasure having you.”

Now, Liam was the one who looked surprised. His face broke into a smile, and for a moment, | saw what Ella

saw in him: a kind young Alpha who had once been her best friend.

“Perhaps we can... Grab a drink sometime,” he said.

“Perhaps.”

After Liam headed upstairs, | lingered in the parlor, pouring myself a bourbon and settling into one of the leather

chairs. The house was quiet except for the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner.

“Good news about Liam leaving,” Gabriel said, appearing in the doorway. “Finally.”

| looked up from my drink. “He’s not that bad.”

Gabriel snorted. “Maybe not, but it'll be good to have our privacy back. And Ella can move back to her own room

once he’s gone.”

The words made my shoulders tense, although I couldn't say why. Of course Ella would move back to her

own room. The only reason she’d started sleeping in mine was because having Liam in the house made it

necessary to maintain the illusion that we were a normal married couple.

And yet...

“Right,” | said, taking a sip of bourbon. “Back to normal.”

Gabriel seemed pleased. “No more pretending to be the loving couple. You'll be more comfortable without

her in your space.”

Her. As if she were... What? A stranger? An enemy?

I didn’t know what Ella was toanymore. Once, she had been all of the above and so much more. But lately,

the lines were blurring. Lately, | didn’t see a spy or the daughter of the people who had had my parents killed,

but instead a woman who had been roped into this life just as much as | had.

| also saw someone who was very sick and very tired.

After Gabriel left, | sat alone with my drink and tried to figure out why the thought of Ella moving back to her

room made my chest feel too tight to breathe.

It was ridiculous. We'd slept in separate rooms for five years before Liam arrived. | was used to having the

bed to myself, used to having my own space. Used to not lying awake listening to her breathing, or watching the

way the moonlight fell across her face when she slept.

Fuck.

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When had | started doing that? When had | started looking forward to the weight of her besidein bed, the

way she always slept curled on her side facing away from me, the soft little sounds she made when she

dreamed?

During her week in the hospital, I'd barely slept. | kept reaching for her in my sleep, only to find empty space

where she should have been. I'd told myself it was just habit, just my body adjusting to the change in routine.

But now, thinking about going back to sleeping alone while Ella was all the way on the opposite end of the

mansion in her old room... It felt wrong. Like losing something | hadn't realized | wanted to keep.

It was just the mate bond, though. That was what | told myself, at least.

After all, it was far easier to blbiology than to accept that it could be anything else.

I knocked back the rest of my bourbon and headed upstairs, trying to push the thoughts away. Ella probably

wanted her own space back anyway. The arrangement had been for show and nothing more. She’d never

indicated that she enjoyed sharing a bed with me.

The bedroom was dark when | entered, and | assumed Ella was already asleep. But when | glanced at the bed, it

was empty, the covers still perfectly made from this morning.

| then noticed the bathroom door cracked open, light spilling out from within. Curious, | walked over and

knocked. No answer.

“Ella?” | pushed the door open.

And | stopped dead when | saw her laying there.

She was crumpled on the floor beside the vanity, unconscious, her face pale as death against the cold marble

tiles. For a second, | couldn't move, couldn't breathe. She looked so small lying there, so fragile.

Then, reality crashed into me. My wolf howled, my heart pounded, my entire body suddenly becfilled

with adrenaline.

Mate.

My mate was unconscious on the fucking bathroom floor while | had been drinking bourbon downstairs!

“Ella!” | dropped to my knees beside her, pressing my fingers to her neck. Her pulse was weak but there,

and she was breathing, but she wouldn't wake up no matter how much I shook her or called her name.

Panic clawed atas | scooped her up in my arms, surprised by how light she felt, and carried her to the

bed. Her head lolled as | gently laid her on the bed then fumbled for my phone.

“Con, Ella,” | whispered, frantically dialing for help. “Wake up.”

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But she didn’t wake. She didn’t even stir when | called the emergency line. Didn't stir when Gabriel ran into the

room, asking what was happening. Didn't even twitch when Lilith barreled in soon after him, crying out and

throwing herself onto the bed.

She was still unconscious when Dr. Evelyn finally arrived twenty minutes later.

“What happened?” the doctor asked, setting her medical bag on the nightstand.

“I found her unconscious in the bathroom. She's been tired all evening, nearly fainted twice at the charity

auction we attended. | should have brought her hearlier.”

Dr. Evelyn's face paled. She exchanged a look with Lilith that | couldn't quite decipher.

Then, she turned towardand gestured to the door.

“Alpha Alexander, I'm going to have to ask you to step out of the room.”

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Chapter 62

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