The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 73

Alexander & Ella

Alexander

Ella’s scent hitlike a freight train the moment | pulled her into my arms.

Cherry and vanilla-but stronger now. The fear that had been threading through it was already beginning to fade,

replaced by something else. Something that made my wolf go wild.

“Mark her,” he growled. “She's ours. She's right here. Mark her now.”

The urge was so strong that | nearly gave in. Every instinct | had was screaming atto sink my teeth into the

delicate curve of her neck, to finally complete the bond that should have been sealed years ago. My canines

actually extended somewhat, their sharp points pressing against my lower lip.

But | forced my canines to retract. No, | would not mark her. Especially not here and now, in the middle of an

abandoned barn in the woods, a dead body going cold beside us, and sirens blaring in the distance.

“Alexander?” Ella’s voice was muffled against my shoulder. “Is he really dead?”

I glanced at the crumpled body of her attacker, his neck twisted at an unnatural angle. Blood had pooled

beneath him, dark and thick in the flashlight’s beam.

“Yes. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

She shuddered and pressed closer against me. Her scent had begun to fade, which cas both a relief and a

disappointment. The loss of it felt like a warm blanket had been ripped from me, but it also made my wolf

calm.

The police arrived shortly after that. | managed to extract myself from Ella long enough to handle everything,

coordinating with the officers and explaining what had happened. Gabriel showed up at spoint, along with

what seemed like half of the territory's law enforcement.

While the police taped off the crscene, | watched the paramedics work, noting the cuts on Ella’s arms, the

bruises forming on her skin. She looked so small sitting there in the back of the ambulance, her dress

torn and dirty, her hair tangled with leaves and debris.

“We need to take her to the hospital for observation,” one of the paramedics said. “She's showing signs of being

drugged, and we should run stests-"

“No.” Ella’s voice was stronger now, more like herself. “I'm not going to the hospital. I've spent enough time

there lately.”

“Ella,” | started, but she cutoff with a raised hand.

11:36 Sat, 23 Aug O

Chapter 73

“I'm fine, Alexander. | just want to go home.”

The paramedic looked between us. “Luna, given what you've been through-

“I said I'm fine.” She lifted her chin and shotan imploring glance. “I want to go home.”

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| studied her face, noting the stubborn set of her jaw. She was scared of hospitals right now, | realized. After

everything that had happened with her condition, she associated them with being sick and helpless. She

wanted to feel safe, not like a patient.

“Alright,” | finally said. “We'll go home. But | don’t want you to leave my sight tonight. Not for a second.”

A flush crept up her neck at my words. | hadn't meant them to sound suggestive, but there was something

about the way she looked atthat made my wolf purr with satisfaction.

Ella

Back at the mansion, Alexander insisted on carryinginside despite my protests. | was perfectly capable

of walking, even if my legs were still a little unsteady from whatever that monster had put in my drink. But

Alexander wouldn't hear of it, scoopingup in his arms like | weighed nothing.

| had to admit that it felt good to be held like this. Safe. Protected.

In our bedroom, he setdown gently on the edge of the bed and knelt in front of me, examining the cuts

and scrapes on my arms and legs. His touch was gentle as he turned my wrists to check where the duct tape had

been, then probed gently at the bruise on my shoulder.

“These need to be cleaned,” he said, frowning at a particularly nasty scratch that ran from my elbow to my

wrist. “And you need to get out of these clothes.”

| looked down at my ruined dress, which was torn and stained with dirt and blood. The sight of it madefeel

sick. “I can manage-

“No, you can’t.” Alexander's voice was firm but not unkind. “Ella, you're shaking. You just went through a

near-death experience. Lettake care of you.”

Something about the way he said he wanted to take care ofmade my heart leap with an emotion | dared not

name. But from a practical side of things, he was right. My hands were trembling so badly | could barely

pick anything up, and every t| tried to stand, the room spun slightly.

“I need a bath,” | muttered.

“I'll run one for you.”

“Alexander, | can-"

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Chapter 73

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“No.” He was already moving toward the bathroom. “I’m not leaving you alone, remember? That includes when

you're bathing.”

Heat flooded my cheeks. “You can’t be serious.”

“Completely serious.” He turned on the water, adjusting the temperature. “You're injured and drugged and

traumatized. I'm not taking any chances.”

“But | can’t... You can’t just...” | struggled to find the words. The idea of Alexander seeingnaked and

vulnerable in the bath-again-made my heart race for reasons that had nothing to do with fear.

“Ella.” He turned to face me, and there was something in his green eyes that made my breath catch. “I've seen

you naked before, remember? We're even.”

The reference to that night in the bathtub weeks ago made my face burn even hotter, but | couldn’t deny the

logic. Still, this felt different. More intimate somehow.

“Fine,” | finally murmured, looking away as if that would somehow hide the crimson flush to my face. “But you

have to promise not to look.”

“| promise to be a perfect gentleman.”

That didn’t makefeel any better.

But when | tried to stand up to undress, my legs gave out completely. Alexander caughtbefore | could hit the

floor, his strong arms wrapping around my waist.

“Okay,” | breathed, suddenly understanding just how much | needed his help. “Okay.”

Alexander was true to his word about being a gentleman. He helpedout of my ruined dress and into the

warm bath with his eyes carefully averted, then knelt beside the tub and picked up the hair comb.

The hot water felt like heaven against my battered skin. | sank into it with a sigh, letting it wash away the dirt

and fear and the lingering scent of that horrible man.

I shut my eyes and felt his gentle fingers in my hair, working out the twigs and leaves that had gotten tangled

there during my desperate flight through the forest. His touch was incredibly soft, and before | could stop it, a

soft moan of enjoyment slipped out of me.

My eyes shot open, and | clapped my hand over my mouth. “That wasn't-"

“Shh,” Alexander cutoff, still working at my hair. “Just enjoy it.”

My heart thrummed, but | did as he ordered. | shut my eyes and leaned back against the tub again. Warm

water poured over my scalp, and the scent of cherry and vanilla washed overas he began to gently wash

my hair with shampoo.

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11:36 Sat, 23 Aug

Chapter 73

“I'm fine, Alexander. | just want to go home.”

The paramedic looked between us. “Luna, given what you've been through-"

“I said I'm fine.” She lifted her chin and shotan imploring glance. “I want to go home.”

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+33

| studied her face, noting the stubborn set of her jaw. She was scared of hospitals right now, | realized. After

everything that had happened with her condition, she associated them with being sick and helpless. She wanted

to feel safe, not like a patient.

“Alright,” | finally said. “We'll go home. But | don’t want you to leave my sight tonight. Not for a second.”

A flush crept up her neck at my words. | hadn't meant them to sound suggestive, but there was something

about the way she looked atthat made my wolf purr with satisfaction.

Ella

Back at the mansion, Alexander insisted on carryinginside despite my protests. | was perfectly capable

of walking, even if my legs were still a little unsteady from whatever that monster had put in my drink. But

Alexander wouldn't hear of it, scoopingup in his arms like | weighed nothing.

| had to admit that it felt good to be held like this. Safe. Protected.

In our bedroom, he setdown gently on the edge of the bed and knelt in front of me, examining the cuts

and scrapes on my arms and legs. His touch was gentle as he turned my wrists to check where the duct tape

had been, then probed gently at the bruise on my shoulder.

“These need to be cleaned,” he said, frowning at a particularly nasty scratch that ran from my elbow to my wrist.

“And you need to get out of these clothes.”

| looked down at my ruined dress, which was torn and stained with dirt and blood. The sight of it made me

feel sick. “I can manage-"

“No, you can’t.” Alexander's voice was firm but not unkind. “Ella, you're shaking. You just went through a near-

death experience. Lettake care of you.”

Something about the way he said he wanted to take care ofmade my heart leap with an emotion | dared

not name. But from a practical side of things, he was right. My hands were trembling so badly | could barely

pick anything up, and every t| tried to stand, the room spun slightly.

“I need a bath,” | muttered.

“I'll run one for you.”

“Alexander, | can-"

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11:36 Sat, 23 Aug

Chapter 73

60%

“No.” He was already moving toward the bathroom. “I’m not leaving you alone, remember? That includes when

you're bathing.”

Heat flooded my cheeks. “You can’t be serious.”

+33

“Completely serious.” He turned on the water, adjusting the temperature. “You're injured and drugged and

traumatized. I'm not taking any chances.”

“But | can’t... You can’t just...” | struggled to find the words. The idea of Alexander seeingnaked and

vulnerable in the bath-again-made my heart race for reasons that had nothing to do with fear.

“Ella.” He turned to face me, and there was something in his green eyes that made my breath catch. “I've seen

you naked before, remember? We're even.”

The reference to that night in the bathtub weeks ago made my face burn even hotter, but | couldn’t deny the

logic. Still, this felt different. More intimate somehow.

“Fine,” | finally murmured, looking away as if that would somehow hide the crimson flush to my face. “But

you have to promise not to look.”

“| promise to be a perfect gentleman.”

That didn’t makefeel any better.

But when | tried to stand up to undress, my legs gave out completely. Alexander caughtbefore | could hit the

floor, his strong arms wrapping around my waist.

“Okay,” | breathed, suddenly understanding just how much | needed his help. “Okay.”

Alexander was true to his word about being a gentleman. He helpedout of my ruined dress and into the

warm bath with his eyes carefully averted, then knelt beside the tub and picked up the hair comb.

The hot water felt like heaven against my battered skin. | sank into it with a sigh, letting it wash away the

dirt and fear and the lingering scent of that horrible man.

+ shut my eyes and felt his gentle fingers in my hair, working out the twigs and leaves that had gotten tangled

there during my desperate flight through the forest. His touch was incredibly soft, and before | could stop it, a

soft moan of enjoyment slipped out of me.

My eyes shot open, and | clapped my hand over my mouth. “That wasn't-"

“Shh,” Alexander cutoff, still working at my hair. “Just enjoy it.”

My heart thrummed, but | did as he ordered. | shut my eyes and leaned back against the tub again. Warm water

poured over my scalp, and the scent of cherry and vanilla washed overas he began to gently wash

my hair with shampoo.

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11:36 Sat, 23 Aug

Chapter 73

60%

+33

For those moments, | forgot about everything else. The kidnapping, the fear, the fact that | was dying. There was

only Alexander's gentle touch and the warm water and the feeling of being completely, utterly safe for

the first tin months.

My wolf remained frustratingly silent, but somehow | felt better anyway. Stronger. But surely that was just in my

head.

When the water began to cool, Alexander helpedout and wrappedin a fluffy towel. He'd broughta

clean nightgown from the dresser, and he turned away while | dried off and slipped it on.

“Better?” he asked once | was dressed and dr

| nodded, suddenly exhausted. The adrenaline had worn off completely now, leavingfeeling deflated

like a balloon that lost its air.

Alexander seemed to sense my fatigue. He guidedback to the bed and pulled back the covers, waiting while

| climbed in. The sheets felt cool and soft against my skin, and | sank into the mattress with a soft groan of relief.

But when Alexander started to move toward the chair by the window, panic flared in my chest. | couldn't be

alone right now. | couldn’t close my eyes and risk seeing that man’s face, feeling his hands on me.

Without thinking, | reached out and grabbed Alexander's wrist.

“Stay,” | whispered. “Please. Hold me.”

Alexander went very still, just staring down at our joined hands.

| suddenly felt foolish, and quickly dropped his wrist as my cheeks turned crimson again. “Never mind. You

don’t have to-"

But before | could finish, Alexander gently lifted the covers and waved his hand. “Scooch over.”

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