The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 8

Ella POV

The new boy in class was strange, or so the other kids said.

They said that he was too quiet, that he stared for too long, that his interest in paper airplanes was too

obsessive. They said that he didn’t play with them on the playground because he would always ruin their games

with his weirdness.

And then the teacher seated him next to me, and | saw those big blue eyes and the way his face lit up when he

sawfolding a paper airplane underneath my desk, and | knew we were supposed to be good friends.

“It’s okay. They think I'm weird, too,” | said as we sat together in the big flower field out behind the school,

making daisy crowns. “The other kids don’t likebecause of what happened to my mom. They think I'm bad

luck.”

Liam tilted his head, a few soft golden curls falling into his eyes. “What happened to your mom?”

| shrugged. “I dunno. She died when | was a baby. But that was a long tago, and I’m a lot bigger now, so it

doesn’t bother me.”

He reached out and took my hand. “It’s okay if it does bother you.”

“Why?”

“Because we're best friends now, and friends are supposed to be there for each other when they're feeling sad.

That way, you can still feel sad but it’s not so lonely because we've got each other.”

Liam was right-we were best friends. Inseparable, even. We were practically attached at the hip all through

second, third, and fourth grade.

until his father, the Head Alpha of the Alpha Council Supervisory Board, sent him away.

| didn’t even get to say goodbye; Liam just stopped showing up to school, and when | asked our teacher where

he went, she said he went off to skind of special camp for ‘kids like him. And he wasn’t coming back.

I didn’t know what that meant until years later, when it finally hit me: his father, ashamed of Liam's shy nature

and too- inquisitive mind, sent him to the type of place where they hammer special kids into an ordinary mold.

His father wanted him to becthe Head Alpha of the Board.

And now he was.

Liam looked nothing like the young boy who had been taken fromall those years ago; he was charming and

outgoing, he smiled wide and initiated conversations and no longer wore the little paper plane charm necklace |

gave him when we were young.

But he was still Liam. My Liam.

And somehow, seeing him again made everything that was bad in my life slip away. Even when Alexander

suddenly pulledback to his side, his grip possessive around my waist, | couldn't help but smile.

“So now you're the Head of the Board,” | said. “How does it feel?”

Liam’s smile widened slightly. Maybe just a little too much. “My father is very proud.”

| blinked at that, wondering exactly what went on at that camp. But before | could ask, my father cut in, “Is that

little Liam?”

“In the flesh,” Liam replied, holding out his hand. “It's a pleasure to see you again, Richard.”

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“Why, | never...” My father shook his hand, tactfully leaving out the fact that the last the had seen Liam,

Liam had hardly been able to say hello to him. He then gestured to Alexander. “You know, Liam, given your

history with Ella, we'd be very grateful if you gave Alpha Alexander a good review for the upcoming election.”

My throat bobbed. Of course my father would try to use my reunion with an old friend I thought I'd never see

again to get what he wanted. And of course Alexander wouldn't stop him, because he was just as selfish.

| glanced at Liam, hoping my father hadn't just ruined everything. To my relief, Liam simply nodded. “I assure

you, I'll give Alpha Alexander an honest evaluation.”

Alexander tensed slightly. My father could only give a dry laugh as a response.

“Ella,” Liam suddenly said, turning toonce more, “how have you been all these years? I'd like to catch up.”

| opened my mouth to respond, but no words could come. What was | supposed to tell him? “Nice to see you

again, but I'm dying”? Or perhaps “The very man you're evaluating to run for Alpha King is refusing to mark or

divorce me, even if it kills

me”?

When | remained silent, just staring at Liam, | could see his eyes briefly shift from the new perfect mask he wore

back to the young, intuitive boy | had once known. Even after all these years, he could readlike a book.

Alexander tightened his grip on me. “We're doing well,” he cut in. Again with the we. Like it fucking meant

anything. “Ella is just under a lot of stress because we're under a lot of pressure to have an heir.”

| felt my pulse spike, heat crawling up my neck.

My father leaned in and clapped Alexander on the shoulder. “And that’s exactly why you're perfect for my

daughter,” he said. “Despite the stress, you remain by her side and offer her all the support she could possibly

need.”

| wanted to laugh. Or cry. | couldn't decide which.

Liam tilted his head in that familiar way. “Do you want to talk about it?” His voice was soft, and he wasn’t looking

at my father or my husband. He was looking at me.

A long moment passed, and the tension was palpable. | thought, for a moment, that | could ruin Alexander right

here and now-and potentially resolve my issue immediately.

But that was too simple, wasn’t it? Alexander might be even less inclined to listen to my wishes if | blurted

everything out and caused his downfall.

No, it was better to not make so much of a scene. Only little frustrations for now, just enough to piss him off but

not enough to make him lash out in the opposite way | was hoping for.

“Alexander is right,” | said, quickly recovering. “But we're fine. Aren't we, darling?” | turned to him and gave him

what | hoped was a loving look, even if it felt like | was wearing the smask Liam had been wearing all night.

Alexander stared atfor a moment as if trying to sense an ulterior motive, but when he found none for now,

he nodded

and relaxed somewhat.

Liam, however, didn’t seem particularly convinced. But he didn’t press the matter any further.

Thankfully, the rest of the banquet went by without a hitch. Since the Board was here, Alexander keptby his

side all night, his arm never leaving my waist. His possessiveness madefeel uneasy.

Everywhere he touched me, my skin felt hot and tingling.

And all the while, Sophia pouted in the corner with her arms folded. She never got her opportunity to hang off of

him.

By the tthe banquet cto an end and the guests had left, it was only the Board left. Alexander apparently

arranged

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Chapter

for them all to stay in the mansion for a while, and had set them up with their own individual rooms in the west

wing.

Not far from my room, actually.

As they were leaving, Liam stopped and offereda small smile-that knowing look still in his eyes.

“Since I'm staying here for a while, we should catch up,” he said.

I nodded. “I'd like that.” And | meant it.

But when Liam left and I turned to look at Alexander, his face had darkened.

“Alex!” Sophia suddenly cscurrying over and grabbed his arm, grinning like a fool. Now that everyone was

gone, he was no longer attached to me, so she had her chance. “The night is still young. Let's go have a drink

and chat!”

I rolled my eyes and turned to leave, genuinely not caring if they stayed up all night together. | just wanted to

take a hot shower and go to bed.

However, | froze when | heard Alexander's dismissive tone.

“No, Sophia. Not tonight.” | turned to see him staring directly at me. “Ella and | need to talk.”

Chapter

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