The Sickened Luna's Last Chance - Chapter 84: Chapter 84

Ella
“Alexander, that’s incredible!”
I leapt to my feet, so overjoyed by the news that I couldn’t help myself. Before I knew what I was doing, my arms were around my neck, lips pressing a kiss against the stubble of his cheek.
Alexander froze, arms slightly spread out to the sides, and it was only then that I realized what I’d done.
The mate bond. My mental shields had briefly fallen, and without meaning to, I had flooded every ounce of my joy into Alexander’s own mind.
For a long, breathless moment, neither of us moved. Alexander’s face was completely unreadable, arms still splayed, and somehow, that was even worse than if he had simply shoved me away and gagged at the contact.
But then I felt it—that thrum of happiness that wasn’t my own. That pulse that belonged only to my mate as his own walls came down just a sliver. And beneath that joy was something else.
Something that made my wolf purr with satisfaction.
Slowly, Alexander’s hands came up to rest on my waist. The bond hummed to life between us, sharing our emotions back and forth in a loop. Shock, joy, tenderness. His happiness fed mine, which fed his, which fed mine, until I couldn’t figure out where his began and mine ended.
For a heartbeat, we just stood there like that, caught in the electric current of our connection. His gaze dropped to my lips, and I found myself leaning closer without even meaning to.
Maybe this time would be different. Maybe—
“Alpha, we need to discuss the upcoming election requirements.”
Gabriel’s flat voice cut through the moment, and Alexander’s walls slammed back into place, nearly making me collapse with the sudden loss of them. I jerked back from Alexander, my face burning as the Beta stepped into the room with a folder clutched in his hands.
Alexander released me and smoothed down his shirt. “Perfect timing.”
I couldn’t sense any sarcasm in his voice, which indicated that he probably was glad that the Beta had interrupted before the bond took over completely. Just another not-so-pleasant reminder that despite being marked, Alexander would never want me like that.
Gabriel glanced at me, hesitating for a moment as if waiting for me to leave. But when I made no move to go anywhere, he reluctantly opened his folder. “The Alpha Council has scheduled a formal banquet for all the candidates advancing to the final phase. It’s in three days, black-tie required. All the major pack leaders will be attending, along with the media.”
“Alright. I’ll need a briefing on the other candidates,” Alexander said. “And a seating chart if they have one finalized.”
“Already prepared.” Gabriel handed him a thick packet. “There’s one other thing, though. Given Luna Ella’s… condition… Perhaps it would be wise for her to sit this one out. Pregnant females should be resting, not subjecting themselves to the stress of high-profile political events.”
The suggestion made me laugh out loud.
“I’m pregnant, not dying, Gabriel.”
Gabriel’s jaw tightened. “Luna, with all due respect, the stress could be harmful to the pregnancy. These events can be quite intense, and since you only just recovered from your previous condition—”
“I’m going,” I cut him off. “I’m perfectly healthy, my pregnancy is progressing normally, and I’m more than capable of attending a dinner party.”
“But the cameras, the pressure—”
“Gabriel.” Alexander’s voice cut through the Beta’s protests with quiet authority. “My mate will be attending the banquet. End of discussion.”
Gabriel’s mouth snapped shut, although the quick blaze of fury in his eyes wasn’t lost on me. I held my ground and folded my arms across my chest.
Alexander pulled out his wallet and extracted a black credit card. “You’ll need something appropriate for the occasion,” he said, holding it out to me. “Get whatever you want. Don’t worry about the cost.”
I stared at the card for a moment, surprised. Alexander had never just handed me money before, especially not for frivolous purchases like dresses. In the past, he would just have pack stylists pick something out for me.
“Thank you,” I said, taking the card.
“Gabriel.” Alexander immediately turned to the Beta. “You’ll be driving Luna Ella today. Wherever she wants to go.”
Gabriel’s face went through several interesting expressions before settling on outrage. “Alpha, I had planned to review the candidate files and—”
“That can be done tonight. Today, you’re a driver.” Alexander’s slight smile was razor-sharp. “And make sure you stop by the jeweler. Pick up that thing we talked about.”
Jeweler? That thing they talked about? I couldn’t help but wonder what the errand was, and why it made Gabriel’s jaw tighten further, but before I could ask, Alexander was already on his way out.
Twenty minutes later, I was sitting in the back seat of Gabriel’s car with Lilith beside me, watching the Beta’s increasingly sour expression in the rearview mirror as I directed him to the shopping district.
“The boutique district first,” I told him cheerfully. “I want to see what they have at Evangeline’s.”
Gabriel’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel. “That’s the most expensive shop in the territory.”
“I know.” I smiled sweetly at his reflection. “Alexander said not to worry about cost.”
Lilith was trying not to laugh, I could tell. She’d been delighted when I’d asked her to come along, especially after I’d explained Gabriel’s new role for the day. There was nothing Lilith enjoyed more than watching someone get their comeuppance, particularly when that someone had spent months treating me like an inconvenience.
We spent the next two hours hitting every high-end boutique in the district. I tried on dozens of dresses, rejecting most of them for various reasons—too tight, too loose, wrong color, unflattering cut. Gabriel trailed behind us sullenly the entire time, clearly hoping I’d just pick something and be done with it.
But I was enjoying myself too much to rush. Every time Gabriel made a snide comment about price or suggested we move along, I found another dress to consider. When he pointed out that I’d already looked at “perfectly adequate options,” I reminded him that Alexander had specifically told me to get something I really liked.
We were walking past the window of a small, exclusive boutique called Seraphina’s when I stopped dead in my tracks.
The dress in the window was stunning. Midnight blue silk that seemed to shimmer between navy and black depending on how the light hit it. The neckline was an elegant sweetheart shape, the thin off-shoulder straps delicately beaded with pearls.
It was the exact kind of dress I wanted.
“Oh my,” Lilith breathed beside me. “Ella, that’s gorgeous.”
“It’s perfect,” I said, and I meant it. Just looking at it made me feel more confident.
“The price tag probably has more zeros than your phone number,” Gabriel muttered behind us.
I ignored him and headed for the door. “Let’s go try it on.”
Within minutes, I was standing in a fitting room, sliding into the most beautiful dress I’d ever worn. The silk felt like liquid against my skin, and when I looked in the mirror, I let out an audible gasp.
I looked… regal. Powerful. Like someone who belonged on the arm of a future Alpha King.
And the mark on my neck… It was on full display. As if the dress had simply been made to show it off.
I immediately decided to purchase the dress, and when I went up to the counter to pay, the number on the receipt made Gabriel’s eye twitch. But I ignored him and swiped Alexander’s car without hesitation.
“One more stop,” I announced as we loaded the garment bag into the car. “The jeweler.”
Gabriel went very still. “That’s not necessary. I can handle that errand later.”
“Alexander asked you to stop there today.” I slid into the back seat.
“I’m perfectly capable of running a simple errand without supervision—”
“I’m sure you are. But since we’re out anyway, we might as well take care of it now.”
Gabriel blanched. “But—”
“Goddess, Gabriel, it’s just an errand.” My nostrils flared, and without even meaning to, a shimmer of authority slipped into my voice. “Tell me what you’re supposed to pick up.”
The Beta’s shoulders tensed, eyes widening into saucers as my Luna Voice washed over him. The authority had become second nature to me now that my wolf had returned, and even the smallest ounce of power was irresistible to Gabriel.
Finally, he sighed, head drooping. “It was your locket. The one that got broken at the auction.”