The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 2

Ella POV

| burst into the spacious office, the scent of old books, mahogany, and leather immediately washing over me. But

there were two other scents there, too: bourbon and woodfire smoke, the scent of Alexander, my mate and

husband-for now. And something sweeter, floral.

Sophia.

I saw the whip of brunette hair first before | saw her pretty, foxen face. Sophia Oxford, daughter of the Alpha to

Moonshine pack, which sat right above Stormhollow and Ashclaw.

Ironic that the three packs formed a triangle, because Sophia was always the other woman throughout my

marriage that | couldn’t shake. Or was it the other way around?

She and Alexander had been friends long before | ever cinto the picture; being from neighboring packs, they

had gone to the sschool together, and Sophia and Alexander had apparently been close friends for longer

than anyone could remember.

There was even a moment in twhen it was speculated that Sophia might be Alexander's fated

mate.

Until | cinto the picture and ruined everyone’s dreams. Including Sophia's.

Even though Alexander and | got married, he always treated Sophia well-inviting her for banquets and balls,

buying her birthday gifts, even sharing meals together when he couldn't be bothered to do the sfor me.

For a long time, | put up with his gentleness toward her; | told myself that they were childhood friends, that he

had every right to be kind toward her even when she didn’t deserve it. Maybe a small part of myself even

believed that if | didn’t complain about it, Alexander might finally soften toward me.

But he never did. Even when | was the perfect, obedient Luna every Alpha would dream of, even when she acted

cruelly and unforgivably, he always chose her.

Sophia slowly turned to look atfrom the plush armchair where she was perched. She had a tiny teacup and

saucer delicately balanced in her manicured hands, and wore what looked like a brand- new dress in the prettiest

pink | had ever seen.

| looked past her and at Alexander, who was sitting behind his desk, red hair haloed by the sun behind him. He

stared blankly atas | stopped abruptly in the center of the room, green eyes flicking overlike | was a

stray cat that had just wandered in.

“Ella,” he said slowly, not bothering to hide the hint of disdain in his voice. “What are you doing here? I'm in the

middle of a meeting.”

The irritation in his tone wasn’t lost on me. Once, it might have madecower and scurry away with my

proverbial tail between my legs. But not anymore. Not now that | was dying and had little

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tleft for such things.

“I have something urgent | need to discuss with you.”

“It will have to wait. I'm busy.”

| scoffed and gestured toward Sophia. “She practically lives here. I'm sure you two can save your tea party for

later.”

Sophia gasped. Alexander's brows shot up. Clearly, neither of them expectedto speak so bluntly -frankly, |

hadn't been expecting it, either. I'd only just discovered | was terminally ill a couple of hours ago and already |

was acting like a completely different person.

Sophia said in a light voice, “Ella, darling, what do you need to say that you can’t say in front of me? We're all

friends, after all.”

Friends? Friends? This was the swoman who turned her nose up atevery t| attempted to be friendly

toward her. We couldn't have been further from friends-more like strangers.

I slowly turned my head to look at her. My upper lip curled, although no fangs extended-not without my wolf. But

| tried to pour every ounce of distaste | could into that stare.

“Sthings, darling, are better discussed between husband and wife. Unless you're implying that you are a

third party in our relationship?”

Sophia gasped again, one delicate hand-she’d always been so fair-skinned and slender and fucking perfect, like a

little dove-coming up to clutch at the pearls around her throat. Tears instantly welled up in those big blue eyes of

hers, although | was certain they were fake. “Why, | never-"

“She’s gone crazy, Sir,” Beta Gabriel suddenly said from behind me. He'd apparently been standing in the

doorway this whole time, although | hadn't noticed. “Should | escort Luna Ella out?”

| clenched my jaw, refusing to look at anyone but Alexander. He was sitting stock-still, just blinking atas if in

surprise.

Then, those green eyes flicked overagain-but in a different way this time. There was something... assessing

about his gaze, as if he were seeingfor the first time.

| wasn’t sure if he had ever looked atin that way

Finally, he said, “Gabriel, please see Sophia out.”

before.

| couldn’t hide my surprise at that. Even Gabriel muttered, “Sir?”

Sophia shot to her feet. “Alex-"

“My... wife needs to speak with me,” Alexander said as his Beta moved toward Sophia. “We'll resour

discussion later, Sophia.”

Sophia looked displeased, but didn’t argue further as Gabriel gently took her by the elbow. “Right this way,

Miss,” he said in a kind voice that he'd never used on me. He led her out, and once the

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door was close behind them, | let out a breath | hadn't realized I'd been holding.

But my reprieve was short-lived, because Alexander barked, “No longer pretending to be the gentle Luna today,

are you? You know Sophia is like a little sister to me, and | won't stand for you to speak so harshly to her. Nor will

| allow you to make claims about infidelity.”

His tone madebristle internally, but | kept my expression neutral. | had no intention of explaining my reasons

behind the words I'd said to Sophia, and | had no intention of apologizing for them, either. | was tired of

apologies, tired of being quiet and sweet and never standing up for myself.

“My wolf has entered dormancy,” | said bluntly, clasping my hands behind my back. “You need to markin

order for it to return. If you don’t, | will die within a year.”

Alexander scoffed.

“Ah. Another one of your tricks, just like the ‘sweet, gentle Luna’ act. Letguess-you want to secure your

position as my Luna, give birth to my heir, by fabricating smade-up illness that forcesto mark you and

be intimate with you.”

Of course. After all my years of hard work, diligence, and perfection, he was so suspicious ofas to accuse me

of faking my illness in order to baby-trap him. | hadn't expected any different.

“There is another way,” | said, lifting my chin. “Divorce me, reject me, and my wolf will return

then.”

“No.”

Now that tookby surprise. Alexander hated me-there was no doubt about it. | expected him to jump at the

chance to divorcefor any reason. But he had refused immediately.

It had to be because an Alpha couldn't reject his mate for no reason. It could harm his reputation as an Alpha,

make him appear overly emotional and disloyal.

And | hadn't technically given him a reason to divorce me—I hadn't cheated or fought with him or done anything

other than becill and mildly infuriating.

“I'll be the one to publicly announce it,” | said. “I'll take the blame. It won't hurt your reputation.”

“No,” he repeated, rising from his chair.

At his full height, he practically towered over me, broad shoulders blocking out the sun streaming through the

window behind him. He smoothed down the front of his dark vest, subtly brocaded with gossamer black threads,

and narrowed his eyes dangerously.

“We are not getting a divorce.”

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