The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 248

Ella

A creak in the floorboards behindmadejerk my head up to find Alexander standing in the doorway,

looking atwith a strange expression.

| quickly wiped my eyes with the back of my hand and forced a smile, hoping he hadn't seencrying. “Alex-

Alpha Alexander. What do you need?”

Alexander stared atfor a moment longer, green eyes flickering with something | couldn't decipher, then let

out a sigh that made his shoulders sag. He looked even more exhausted than before.

“I...” He ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. “Nothing. I'm going mad, | think. This whole week has

been...”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but my heart ached for him nonetheless. Despite everything, he had still lost his

Luna and been left with a child all on his own. | couldn’t help but pity him for that.

“You should sit down,” | said, gesturing to the chair across from me. “You look like you haven't slept in days.”

“I haven't.” Alexander slumped into the chair. “I thought I'd be up for tonight's banquet, but all the mingling and

small talk and politics are making my lack of sleep catch up to me.”

| stood and propped Lucien on one hip. “Letmake you something. Warm milk with honey-it might help you

sleep later.”

“You don’t need to-"

“It's no trouble,” | said, pulling a mug from the cabinet. “Really.”

| warmed the milk on the stove, stirring in a generous spoonful of honey. The familiar ritual was soothing,

remindingof nights when Lilith had made the sdrink forduring my pregnancy when the nausea and

back pain bectoo much to handle.

Lucien had finished his bottle and was starting to drift off in my arms. | bounced him gently as | carried the mug

over to Alexander.

But as | went to hand him the cup, my foot caught on the leg of the chair, and | stumbled forward. | prioritized

my grip on Lucien, so the mug slipped from my hand, and hot milk splashed everywhere-across the table, onto

the floor, and all over Alexander's expensive black suit.

“Oh, Goddess,” | gasped once | realized what I'd done. “I'm so sorry, Alpha. I'm so sorry. Letclean it up.”

“Stella.” Alexander stood up slowly, milk still dripping from his shirt. “It’s fine.”

But | was already on my knees, dabbing at the spilled milk on the floor with a dish towel clutched in my shaking

hand. This couldn’t happen. | couldn't lose this job. | couldn't lose my chance to be near my son.

“Please, Alpha, I'm so clumsy, | don’t know what happened-"

“Stella.” Alexander's hand closed around my wrist and stopped my frantic cleaning. “Stop.”

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I looked up at him from where | was kneeling on the floor, still holding Lucien against my chest with one arm.

Alexander's green eyes were soft, not angry like I'd expected. He helpedto my feet with his hand still

wrapped around my wrist.

We stood there for a moment, close enough that | could smell his famillar scent of bourbon and woodfire smoke

beneath the sweet smell of spilled milk. Close enough that | could see the flecks of gold in his green eyes. Close

enough that if | leaned forward just a little...

My throat bobbed. This was dangerous territory.

| went to pull away, needing to put sspace between us, but Alexander held fast to my wrist. My eyes

widened as | looked up at him and saw recognition in his gaze.

“You look so much like her,” he whispered.

My stomach dropped. “Like who?” | asked. But of course | already knew the answer.

“My wife. Ella.” Alexander's grip on my wrist tightened slightly. “The resemblance is... uncanny. Are you related

to her somehow? Cousins, perhaps?”

| forced myself to meet his gaze, even though every instinct screamed atto look away. “No, Alpha. We're not

related.”

“Are you certain? The bone structure, the way you move...” Alexander tilted his head, studying me. “Even your

scent is similar.”

Panic clawed at my insides. If Alexander kept digging, kept asking questions, would he figure out the truth? And

if he did, what would happen to him? To Lucien?

“I'm certain,” | said firmly. “Speople just look alike, | suppose.”

Alexander stared atfor another long moment, then finally released my wrist. “I suppose they do.” He

stepped back and looked down at his ruined suit. “I should change before returning to the banquet.”

“Of course. Again, I'm so sorry about-"

“It's fine, Stella. Accidents happen.” Alexander paused at the door. “Bring Lucien back to the banquet hall in

fifteen minutes. It’s almost tfor the ceremony.”

After he left, | sank back into the chair, my legs suddenly too weak to support me. That had been too close. Much

too close.

Lucien stirred in my arms, and | looked down at his sweet face. One green eye, one blue, half and half of his

parents. “We have to be more careful, little one,” | whispered. “Your father is too smart for his own good.”

Fifteen minutes later, | slipped back into the banquet hall with Lucien in my arms. The crowd had gathered near

the front of the room, where a small platform had been set up. Alexander stood at the center, no longer wearing

his milk-stained suit. He'd changed into a fresh black jacket and tie, still looking every inch the powerful Alpha

King.

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“Thank you all for being here tonight,” Alexander began. “As you know, this has been a difficult tfor our

pack. We've lost someone very dear to us.”

A murmur went through the crowd. | spotted Sophia near the front, her eyes fixed on Alexander with an intensity

that made my skin crawl. | tried not to look at her.

“But tonight, we also celebrate new life,” Alexander continued. “Tonight, | nmy son, Lucien, as my heir and

future Alpha of Ashclaw.”

The room erupted into cheers and applause. | found myself smiling despite everything as Alexander took Lucien

and held him up. The cheers exploded further as he held Lucien for all to see.

“Lucien will be raised to serve this pack with honor and strength,” Alexander said. “To protect our people and

uphold our values. And when the tcomes, he will lead Ashclaw into the future.”

More applause. | wiped away a tear as | watched my son being formally recognized as the heir. Whatever else

happened, at least Lucien’s future was secure.

But then Sophia’s parents stepped forward, and my smile faded.

“Congratulations, Alexander,” John said. “The boy is strong. He'll make a fine Alpha.”

“Thank you.”

“However,” Helen added, “there is the matter of the pack’s future leadership structure. A young heir needs

guidance. He needs a Luna.”

“Ella was a wonderful Luna,” John continued. “But she’s gone now, and the pack needs stability. Lucien needs a

mother figure.”

“The council has expressed similar concerns,” another voice called out from the crowd. “An Alpha without a Luna

creates... complications.”

Alexander nodded. “I understand the concerns. And I've given this matter considerable thought.”

My stomach dropped as he turned to address the entire room. “Therefore, | am also announcing that Ashclaw.

will be hosting a Luna Trial to select my next Luna.”

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