The Sickened Luna's Last Chance novel Chapter 55

Chapter 55

+25 BONUS

Chapter 55

“Fine,” Alexander finally said, leaning back in his chair. “I’ll play.”

Liam’s grin widened as he filled our glasses with wine. “Excellent. The rules are simple: think of the first person who comes to mind. Then we take turns asking questions to figure out who it is.”

“I’ll go first,” Liam offered, leaning back in his chair. “I’ve got someone in mind.”

“Is it a man or a woman?” I asked.

“A woman.”

“Is she younger than thirty?” Alexander asked.

Liam thought for a moment. “No. Drink.”

Alexander scowled but took a sip of his wine.

“Is she from Stormhollow?” I tried next.

“Yes.”

The game continued, with Liam answering our questions about this mystery woman from Stormhollow. As we narrowed it down, I began to suspect who it might be.

“Wait,” I said, laughing as it began to hit me. “Is it Mrs. Melbourne? Our old first grade teacher?”

Liam beamed. “The very same.”

I erupted into giggles. “Oh Goddess, she was the worst! She was so mean. Do you remember when she gave me lunch detention and made me spell out my name three hundred times because I forgot to put my last name on one of my papers?”

“Of course I remember,” Liam snorted. “Which was insane, because you were the only Ella in the entire school. It’s not like she didn’t know the paper was yours.”

I continued to laugh at the memory, so much so that tears began to come to my eyes. As I dabbed them away with my napkin, I glanced at Alexander, who was merely swirling his wine around in his glass with an unreadable expression on his face.

“That’s not fair,” Alexander finally said. “How could I have known it was her if I don’t know the woman?”

Liam hesitated, then nodded and picked up his wine glass, still chuckling slightly. “You’re right. I’ll drink to make up for it.” He took a large gulp before turning to Alexander. “Your turn. Think of someone.”

1/3

Chapter 55

+25 BONUS

Alexander’s gaze dropped to his wine for a moment before he nodded. “Fine. I’ve got someone.”

“Is it a man or a woman?” I asked.

“A woman.”

“Someone from Ashclaw?” Liam asked.

Alexander hesitated before answering. “No. Drink.” Liam grunted and took another big swig

of wine.

“Is she older than you?” I asked.

“No,” he replied, and I took a sip.

The questions continued, and with each vague answer Alexander gave, a sinking feeling grew in my stomach. Young woman not from Ashclaw. Alexander’s age. Someone he’d known for years. Someone he saw regularly.

There were two people who fit that description.

“Is it Sophia?” I asked.

Alexander didn’t answer immediately, which I took as confirmation. Of course it was Sophia. Of course his mind went straight to her.

Why did I ever think it could be me?

“My turn,” I said quickly, not wanting to dwell on the sting of realizing that even in a silly game, Alexander’s thoughts went to Sophia and not to me-his actual mate.

“Ready,” Liam said. “Man or woman?”

The first person who came to mind was Alexander. Despite everything, he was always my first thought. My knuckles turned white around my wine glass.

“Man,” I replied.

“Is he from Ashclaw?” Liam asked.

“Yes.”

The questions continued, and with each answer, became more obvious who I was thinking of. I tried to keep my answers light, as if that could somehow hide the bitterness I felt beneath

it all.

“How does this person make you feel when you look at them?” Liam finally asked, which was his fifth or sixth question.

I paused, thinking about how to answer. How did Alexander make me feel? Angry. Hurt.

2/3

Chapter 55

Confused. Longing. Frustrated. Drawn to him despite everything.

+25 BONUS

“Hardly anyone aggravates me as much as this one,” I finally said. “Sometimes I want to throw something at his head.”

Alexander’s eyes snapped up and met mine. The realization seemed to have started to hit him two questions ago, but now it seemed to fully sink in.

Without a word, he stood so abruptly that his chair scraped loudly against the floor, nearly making Liam—who was decently drunk by now-spill his wine. For a moment, he just stood there, looking down at me with that fucking blank expression on his face.

Then he turned and walked out of the room.

Liam and I sat in stunned silence for a moment.

“I think you hurt his feelings,” Liam finally said,

“I was just joking. I didn’t mean it like that.”

But even as I said it, I knew that wasn’t entirely true. I had meant it. Alexander did aggravate me. He did make me want to throw things sometimes. Often, I hated him.

And yet, somehow, beneath it all, I couldn’t help but feel bad for saying those things. As if a tiny part of me didn’t find joy in hurting my mate, no matter how cruel he had been to me.

After dinner, I made my way upstairs to our bedroom, rehearsing what I would say when I ran into Alexander. But when I pushed open the door the room was empty.

He didn’t come to bed all night.

Today’s Bonus Offer

GET IT NOW

9/3