The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 29

Ella & Liam

Ella

Alexander stared at the pickle on my fork like it might be poisoned.

“Ella, why are you feedinga pickle?”

Without answering out loud, | glanced pointedly toward the photographer across the street. Understanding

crossed Alexander's face. With a barely perceptible sigh, he leaned forward and closed his mouth around my

fork, then pulled the bite of food away.

His ears reddened as he chewed and swallowed, clearly embarrassed by the display. | couldn't help but feel a

sense of smug satisfaction at seeing the mighty Alpha Alexander so flustered by something as simple as sharing

food-something that was normal for any couple to do.

“Well, would you look at that?”

| turned to see Lilith standing beside our table with a grocery bag in one hand and an amused smile on her face.

| might have said I'd never been so happy to see her in my life, but | was always happy to see her.

“Lilith,” | said, setting down my fork. “I didn’t know you were coming to town today, otherwise | would have

invited you out.”

“Just picking up a few things for supper. And don’t fret about me; | can see you two are having stto

yourselves.” She smiled atbefore turning to the tables around us. “Isn't it sweet? Five years together and

they're still feeding each other in public.”

A few nearby diners looked over, beaming at the sight of their Alpha and Luna sharing such an intimate moment.

An older woman at the next table sighed dreamily.

“So romantic,” she said to her companion. “And after all these years...”

Lilith nodded and patted my shoulder. “Our Luna is always trying to get him to eat healthier. Aren't you, dear?”

| played along, reaching over to straighten Alexander's collar. “Someone has to look after him. He was going to

eat nothing but a granola bar all day.”

A ripple of giggles and awws spread through the area around us. Even our waiter was smiling as he passed by

with a tray of drinks. As for Alexander, his ears were so red now | thought they might pop right off.

“Can | get you anything else?” the waiter asked. “Maybe share a dessert? The chocolate cake is excellent today.”

“No, thank you-" Alexander said quickly, but I cut in.

“Actually, that sounds perfect. One slice, two forks, please.”

The waiter grinned and hurried off. Alexander shota look, but I just smiled innocently. Lilith winked at me

before walking away.

Good old Lilith-always knowing exactly what to say and who to say it to. Her comments seemed like nothing, but

in reality, half the pack would be gushing about how their Alpha and Luna were spotted having a romantic lunch

in town by nightfall.

It was exactly what we needed right now.

Indeed, all around us, the atmosphere had shifted. Where before there had been curious stares and whispers,

now there were smiles and approving nods. People seemed happy to see us together to witness ssign of

affection between their Alpha and Luna after years of... well, nothing.

It was strange to think about. For five years, we'd lived separate lives under the sroof, rarely even seen

together except at formal events. The pack certainly noticed; | had heard the whispers, the gossip.

Very few people, especially within the halls of our mansion, really sawas their Luna because of it.

1/3

08:37

Tue, 19 Aug

Chapter 24

People like the staff at this restaurant might have likedwell enough, but that was just because cansé fere

often and always tipped unit i kimap knew they were just butteringup when they were being so nice to me,

and | didn’t mind, because | would happily take that over the vinte g’sheas und

whispers.

Now, thanks to one kiss and a single pickle, it seemed the tides were shifting. They were beginning to see our

relationship in a numai lent, and 197 extension, were beginning to seein a new lens.

If only they knew that it was all lake. But at least | could bask in it for a little while.

A few moments later, the waiter returned with a slice of chocolate cake that looked decadent enough to be a

meal on its own, topped with a suit of whipped cream and two bright red cherries. He set it between us along

with two forks.

Alexander looked at the cake, then at me. For a moment, | thought he might refuse to participate in this charade

any longer. But then, surprisingly, he picked up his fork.

“We might as well make it convincing,” he said, cutting off a small corner of the cake.

| nodded and picked up my own fork. “For the pack.”

“For the pack,” he echoed, and for just a moment, as our eyes met over the chocolate cake, | felt that faint tug in

my chest that was our mate bend. My heart rate spiked, and suddenly the space between us seemed to shrink.

It wasn’t real, | reminded myself. None of this was real. It was just an act to save face, to maintain our image, to

secure Alexander’s chance at becoming Alpha King.

But as | took a bite of the cake, watching Alexander do the same, | couldn't help but wonder what it would be like

if it was.

Liam

The pictures on Liam’s phone screen felt like a mockery.

Ella was feeding Alexander a bite of food. Alexander was leaning across the table toward her. The two of them

were even sharing a slice of chocolate

cake.

Liam tossed his phone onto the bed beside him, unable to look anymore. He'd known this was coming, of course.

Ella and Alexander had to put on a show for the public after the contract scandal.

But seeing it made his heart ache in a way he wasn’t prepared for. It wasn’t just jealousy, although that was a

part of it, but there was something else there, too.

He'd spent ten years thinking about Ella. Ten years in that miserable camp, enduring his “training,” transforming

from the shy, awkward boy Ella had known into the Alpha he was now,

And through it all, the memory of her smile had been his one comfort.

When he'd learned he was being sent to evaluate Ashclaw, that he'd finally see Ella again after all this time, it

had felt like fate. Like a chance to reconnect with the one person who had ever truly understood him.

But she was married. Liam could have lived with that if only she weren’t mated to a man who couldn't care less

about her.

And what hurt more was that even if her relationship with Alexander was just a contract, the way she looked at

him in those photos... There was something real there, at least on her side.

Liam had seen it from the moment he arrived at Ashclaw. The way Ella’s eyes followed Alexander across a room.

The way she tensed when Sophia approached him. The hurt that flashed across her face whenever Alexander

treated her poorly.

Now, with this charade forcing them to act like a loving couple in public, those feelings were bound to intensify.

Ella might think she wanted a divorce

Chapter 29

now, but how would she feel after weeks or months of pretending to be in love?

Would she still want to leave when the tcame? Or would she have fallen even deeper for a man who clearly

didn’t love her back?

The thought made Liam sick to his stomach. He'd returned to Ella’s life hoping to be there for her in the same

way he had been as children. And then haf seen how cold and distant Alexander was right away, and it had

ignited a protective fury in Liam that he hadn't stopped feeling since they were children.

For ten long years, Liam had dreamed of returning to her side so he could protect her the way he hadn't been

able to when they were children. And now that he was finally here, he could only watch as she set herself up for

even greater heartbreak.

The thought of seeing Ella be hurt was more than Liam could bear.

AD

Share to your friends