The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Ella

The following morning, I pulled out the napkin with Molly’s number and typed it into my phone. But as | began to

write a message to her, my fingers hesitated over the keyboard.

Was | really going to do this? Just text her out of the blue and ask to hang out? It felt so... normal. So much unlike

the sheltered life I'd been living all these years.

Fuck it, | thought. | was dying anyway, wasn’t I? Might as well live a little first.

“Hey Molly, it’s Ella. Had so much fun catching up last night. When are you free to hang out?”

| hit send before | could talk myself out of it. My phone pinged within two minutes.

“Tonight! I'm off work at 8. Ever been to The Howling Moon downtown? It’s karaoke night!”

| bit my lip. A bar. Karaoke. Two things I'd never experienced before. | thought back to the party at my parents’

house, when my cousin Tara had invitedout. I'd declined then, choosing to stay with Alexander instead.

Fat lot of good that did me.

Without second guessing myself, | told Molly | would meet her there at nine-thirty. After that, | spent most of the

day in a state of nervous anticipation. Liam was busy with council matters, so it would just be Molly and me.

What would I do? What would I drink? What would | wear?

By the teight o'clock rolled around, | found myself standing in front of my closet, hair already curled, makeup

done, trying to decide what to wear. | wasn’t sure if | had anything suitable for a place like The Howling Moon,

which was a dive

bar downtown.

0

My eyes landed on the black dress from the store-the one that had made Alexander's phone slip from his fingers.

No, too fancy for a bar. But maybe...

| pulled out a short black skirt I'd bought years ago but never had the courage to wear. Paired with a deep red

top that showed just enough cleavage to be daring, and sblack ankle boots I'd never worn, it might just

work.

| slipped into the outfit and studied myself in the mirror. | barely recognized myself. My eyes were lined with

black, my lips painted red, my curls wild and free. | looked confident, sexy.

Smiling faintly, | grabbed my purse and headed out, thankful that Alexander and Gabriel were nowhere to be

found. The last thing | needed was to explain where was going or who | was meeting.

The Howling Moon was located in a part of downtown | rarely visited. From the outside, it looked unassuming-a

simple brick building with a neon sign showing a wolf howling at a crescent moon. Music poured out every time

the door opened, along with bursts of laughter and chatter.

| stood on the sidewalk for a moment, heart pounding. Was | really doing this? Going to a bar alone? What if

someone recognized me? What if they thought | wasn’t behaving properly for a Luna?

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Chapter 44

“There you are!”

| turned to see Molly walking toward me, grinning widely. She was wearing ripped jeans and a cropped top that

showed off her toned stomach, and her blue hair was spiked up with gel.

“Damn, look at you!” She whistled, circling me. “The Luna’s got legs for days! Your mate let you out of the house

like that?”

| blushed, but couldn’t help but smile. “It's not too much?”

“Never too much.” Molly linked her arm through mine. “Ready to pop your bar cherry?”

The interior of The Howling Moon was dimly lit, with tables scattered around a small stage where a young and

very drunk male was currently butchering a pop song into a microphone. The air smelled like beer, sweat, and

fried food.

“First things first,” Molly declared, leadingto the bar, “we need to buy a round of drinks. Something strong to

get the night started. What do you like?”

| swallowed. “Honestly, I'm not sure. | really only ever drink at events, so it's normally champagne or wine. And |

only started doing that recently, because | was always told that a Luna should stay sober in public.”

Molly rolled her eyes. “Well, you're not a Luna tonight. Con. We'll find you something.”

The bartender, a tall man with tattoos covering his arms, smiled at us and leaned on the bar as we approached.

“What can | get you ladies?”

“My friend here has never been to a bar before,” Molly announced, causing the bartender’s eyebrows to shoot

up. “She needs to discover her go-to drink.”

“Is that right?” The bartender turned towith a grin. “Any preferences to start with? Sweet? Strong? Fruity?”

| shrugged helplessly. “I have no idea.”

The bartender chuckled. “Tell you what. I'll make you ssamples. On the house. It's not every day we get to

introduce someone to the wonderful world of cocktails.”

Over the next thirty minutes, | tried more drinks than I could count. Sburned my throat, others were

sickeningly sweet, and a few madecough and sputter.

“That was disgusting,” | gasped after trying something called a Rusty Nail.

Molly laughed, patting my back. “Yeah, that one’s not for beginners.”

But then the bartender slid a bright blue cocktail in front of me. “Try this one. Blue Hawaiian. Coconut rum, blue

liqueur, and pineapple juice.”

| took a wary sip, expecting the worst, but felt my eyes widen as the cocktail slid down my throat. It was sweet

but not too sweet, with a tropical flavor that madefeel like | had made it to my bucket list oceanside

destination after all. “Oh my Goddess. This is amazing.”

“Looks like we found a winner,” the bartender said with a wink.

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Chapter 44

Three Blue Hawaiians later, | was giggling at everything Molly said and everything outside the bar seemed to no

longer exist. The space had filled up, and the karaoke had shifted from awful to hilariously awful, with everyone

cheering and clapping regardless of talent.

“So,” Molly said, leaning in close, “how’s married life treating you? Really?”

The alcohol in my system lowered my inhibitions, and before | knew it, | was spilling everything-how cold

Alexander had been for years, how we slept on opposite sides of the bed like strangers, how he never touched

me.

“We've been married for five years,” | slurred, swirling my straw in my fourth drink, “and he’s never... you know.

We've

never...”

Molly's eyes widened. “Wait, are you saying you're still a virgin?”

| nodded miserably, heat flooding my cheeks. “Pathetic, right? I'm twenty-two years old, married, and I've never

been touched by any man. Not even my own husband.”

“That's not pathetic,” Molly said softly. She reached over and took my hand, giving it a squeeze. Her fingers were

soft and warm. “That's fucking sad. He's your fated mate, for Goddess’ sake.”

“Yeah, well, fate has a sick sense of humor.”

“If | were your mate,” she said softly, her green eyes holding mine as her thumb stroked across my knuckles, “I

would never make you feel so alone.”

Something warm unfurled in my chest at her words. Molly leaned forward slightly, her warm breath fanning

across my

face.

Suddenly, Molly’s nwas called over the speakers. “Looks like I'm up!” She grinned, then tugged at my hand.

“Csing with me.”

| jerked back. “What? No way. | can’t sing in front of all these people.”

“Yes, you can.” Molly pulledto my feet. “It’s a rite of passage. Everyone has to embarrass themselves at

least once during karaoke night.”

“I don’t even know what song you picked!”

“Trust me, you know it.” She winked and quite literally draggedtoward the stage.

The opening notes of the song Molly picked, a classic pop song from about thirty years ago, started blaring

through the speakers, and Molly thrust a microphone into my hand. My heart pounded so hard | thought it might

burst through my

ribs.

The first verse came, and Molly nudged me. Terrified, | lifted the mic to my lips and began to sing quietly.

“Louder!” someone shouted from the crowd.

| closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and let go of my inhibitions. If | was going to embarrass myself, | might as

well do it properly.

08:06 Thu ( Aud

Chapter 44

The second verse came, and 1 belted it out, surprising myself with the power in my voice, Molly cheered,

dancing beside me, and suddenly | was dancing too, hips swaying to the beat, hair flying around my face.

It felt fucking amazing. Liberating. Like a piece of myself | never knew existed was finally breaking free.

By the chorus, | was jumping up and down, screaming the lyrics at the top of my lungs, not caring who heard or

saw. For the first tin forever, | wasn’t Luna Ella, the perfect, proper wife of Alpha Alexander. | was just Ella, a

woman having fun

with her friend.

The crowd was cheering us on, seven singing along, and as | scanned their faces, laughing, | felt truly alive.

But then my eyes locked onto a figure who had just stepped into the bar, and my heart stopped. Alexander's

gaze met mine from across the space.

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