The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Ella POV

“Shut up,” Alexander whispered.

| halted my steps abruptly, furrowing my brow. “What?”

Alexander shook his head, almost as if he hadn't intended to say the words out loud. “Nothing,” he said. Beside

him, Gabriel's face reddened again. Alexander frowned. “Why did you pick that dress? You should change.”

| bristled involuntarily at his words. Maybe the old version ofwould have scurried away and changed into

something more suitable-who was | kidding, | would have never worn this to begin with-but not anymore.

“Oh, don’t be a prude,” | bit out. “I can wear what | want and you have no right to control me.”

With that, | brushed past him, moving to enter the banquet hall.

Alexander's hand shot out, grabbing my arm. He pulledback before | could reach the grand double doors.

| whirled on him, prepared to tell him where he could shove his comments about my outfit, but found myself

surprised when he simply looped my arm through his elbow.

“You can’t go alone. We're supposed to walk in together.”

Right. We did enter these sorts of events arm-in-arm every time.

But | knew that the moment we entered the banquet hall, Sophia would show up and cling to Alexander. And |

knew he would keep his distance fromfor the entire party, just like he always did, leavingto mingle on

my own and beca wallflower while all the other couples danced.

He wasn’t insisting on going in together because he actually cared about being by my side. This was just for

appearances, like it always was, and | would be cast aside the moment | had served my purpose.

| abruptly pulled my arm away. “I don’t think that’s necessary. Everyone knows you hate me, anyway. What does

it matter if we're holding hands when we enter?”

Alexander's green eyes shifted, a look of something that almost looked like pain flickering through them for the

briefest of moments. It was gone so quickly | wasn’t sure if | had actually seen it, but it did leavewondering...

Could it be that he was actually being insincere earlier and actually preferred when | was being more flirtatious?

“There will be guests from the Alpha Council Supervisory Board in attendance,” he said firmly, taking my hand

and placing it on his arm again. | tried not to think about the sight of his bare muscles from earlier as | felt his

bicep shift under my palm. “They'll be inspecting the pack for at least a month for all Alpha King candidates. We

have to give them a good impression.”

“Unless you're trying to spread negative rumors about your relationship,” Gabriel, who had regained sof his

composure, chimed in from behind Alexander. “Trying to ruin your Alpha’s chances at becoming the next Alpha

King.”

| snorted, making both Alexander and Gabriel glance at each other in surprise.

“Of course not,” | said smoothly. “I think Alexander would make an excellent Alpha King if he controls his subjects

half as

well as he controls me.”

Despite my obvious jab, | did oblige and tighten my grip around Alexander's arm. Gabriel opened the doors and

we strode inside, where the party was already in full swing.

Chapter 6

Well-dressed guests from all over milled around with drinks in hand, salready twirling on the dance floor as

a pianist played a lively tune. Candles flickered on every table, casting the room in a golden glow, and the air

smelled like alcohol, cigar smoke, and decadent food.

The party seemed a bit chaotic without my guidance-1 would have put smaller centerpieces on the tables so

guests could see each other better during conversation and | would have placed the dance floor closer to the

center of the room, facilitating more dancing and socializing, but it was surprisingly nice.

And at least | didn’t have to deal with Sophia’s nitpicking this time. Gabriel could deal with her instead.

As Alexander and | began making our way through the sea of guests, | gestured to a nearby waiter, who hurried

over. His eyes briefly flicked over my dress, a look of surprise crossing his face, but he bowed and said

respectfully, “What can | get for

you, Luna?”

Normally, | would have opted for sparkling juice—a drink to hold so as not to make the guests feel

uncomfortable, but nothing alcoholic.

But tonight, | wanted something stronger.

“Id like a dry martini, please.”

The waiter nodded and left to prepare my drink. When | glanced at Alexander, | noticed him looking at me.

“What?” | asked.

“Nothing. Just don’t get drunk tonight.”

“We'll see about that.” | took the drink from the waiter when he returned and immediately took a long sip, never

looking away from Alexander. Frustrated, he shook his head and looked away.

Just then, a familiar form emerged from the crowd-not much taller than me, slender, and sporting an expensive

suit that was likely purchased using the money he'd earned from sellingto a man who hated me.

My father.

I hadn’t seen him in person for months, but he didn’t hugor smile like a normal father might do. Rather, he

took my wrist and pulledslightly off to the side. “What are you wearing, Ella?” he hissed. “This sort of dress

is hardly befitting a Luna.”

When he began to remove his jacket to coverup, | held my hand up to stop him. “I'm fine. | can wear

whatever | want.”

My father’s blue eyes flashed. “What has cover you?” He then gestured to the drink in my hand. “And you

should know better than to drink alcohol when you're actively trying to get pregnant.”

I almost laughed at that. Sure, | used to do everything in my power to make Alexander loveand want to have

a family with me, but now I just wanted to live.

“And such a strong drink, too,” an all-too-familiar voice chimed in. Sophia. She was wearing a feminine white

gown that was perfectly tasteful with just a touch of sexiness, her brunette hair pulled back into an intricate

updo. “Well, | suppose Luna Ella will finally be joining the adults tonight.”

| held back the urge to say something nasty in front of my father. But when Gabriel stepped forward and reached

for my drink, saying, “The Luna must have made a mistake when she ordered. I'll go get her something more

appropriate,” | snapped.

| yanked my drink away, a little liquid sloshing out over the rim. “I'm not a child,” I hissed. “And I'm not a

broodmare. If | want a drink, then I'll have a damn drink.”

My father, Gabriel, and Sophia went silent.

(+13)

Chapter 6

None of us had expectedto snap like that-not even me. It was so far afield from my usual self that it had felt

like someone else was speaking the words. And yet it felt so... Right.

For so long, | had watched everything that went into my body for the sake of not only having a perfect figure, but

also being a perfect incubator for a child that would likely never come.

| ate light. | exercised. | avoided alcohol. | had weekly facials, spent thousands on personal trainers, tried every

diet plan in the book, had even considered surgical options for a better face or body a few times despite never

having the guts to go through with it-and for what?

All I got in return was a death sentence and a husband who didn’t even care when his Beta and childhood friend

were infantilizingin my own home.

By now, several people had stopped talking and were watching the confrontation with wide eyes. My father’s jaw

worked. Gabriel just stared at me. Sophia looked like she had sucked on a lemon.

For a moment | considered running away and hiding in shame, but | knew if | did that, then | would be doing the

opposite of what Lilith toldto do, and | would be no closer to Alexander divorcing me.

| had to save my wolf. | had to save myself.

I had to live.

Calmly, | said, loud enough for the nearby onlookers to hear, “Are you three done tormenting me, or do | need to

throw a fit like the child you think | am?”

My father glanced nervously at Alexander and leaned in, dropping his voice to a whisper. “Be careful, Ella.”

“Or what?” | kept my voice even and clear. | wanted people to hear me. “Alexander will divorce me? Good; | hope

he does.”

Gasps rippled around me. My father looked like he'd been shot in the chest, and physically reached up, clasping

his hand over his heart. “Ella, watch what you say in public!”

| suppressed a little smile of satisfaction. Suddenly, Sophia said, “Alexander, see how she humiliates you? And

you really want this woman to be your wife? If she wants you to reject her so badly, then why not do it?”

Only then did I look at Alexander, and | was surprised by what | found. He looked furious, yes, but there was

more to it than

that.

There was that look of pain again. As if my words had struck him where it hurt the most.

| braced myself, waiting for him to finally reject me. | had finally given him a proper reason, what with all these

eyes on us- | had publicly humiliated him, aired our dirty laundry for everyone to see. He could easily do it and

no one would think worse of him for it.

Maybe | had succeeded. Maybe | would be okay after all.

But then, to my surprise, Alexander rushed forward and closed the distance between us in two long strides.

Before | could

+13)

Chapter

Share to your friends