The Sickened Luna's Last Chance novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69

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Chapter 69

She shook her head ruefully. “I was awful to you, and I’m really sorry about that. You were always so pretty and smart, and even though you didn’t have many friends, you never seemed to care what anyone thought of you. You were jus… authentic, in a way I never knew how to be,”

Her words caught me off guard. Me, authentic? Petty? That wasn’t how I remembered myself at all. I had been shy and awkward, always trying to please everyone and failing miserably.

But maybe that wasn’t how others had seen me.

“Well,” I said, offering a small smile, “that was a long time ago.”

“It was.” Tara grinned. “And now look at you! Confident, glowing, the kind of woman every woman wants to be.”

“Thanks, Tara. That means a lot.”

We fell into easy conversation after that, catching up on the years we’d missed. Tara was working in marketing now, still single but dating around. It was nice, talking to someone my age about normal things, things that had nothing to do with pack politics or death sentences.

“So, a bunch of us are going out after this snoozefest wraps up,” Tara finally said. “Just to a bar downtown for drinks, maybe some dancing. You should come! It’ll be fun.”

I hesitated. Going out to a bar? Dancing? These were normal things that women my age did all the time, experiences I’d never had because I’d gone straight from my father’s control to Alexander’s.

And what if I did die in a few months? I’d never have those experiences at all.

“I’d love to,” I said before I could second-guess myself. “I’ve never actually been to a bar before.”

Tara’s eyes widened. “Seriously? Oh, then you definitely have to come. We’ll show you a good time, I promise!”

I grinned, already imagining a night of freedom drinks, dancing, laughter. Just one night to be young and carefree.

“What’s this I hear about going to a bar?”

My father’s voice cut through my fantasy. I turned to find him standing behind me.

“Uncle Richard,” Tara said politely. “I was just making plans to go out with Ella after-”

“I heard. Please excuse us, Tara.” My father put s hand on my shoulder. “I have to speak

with Ella.”

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Chapter 69

+25 BCNUS

Tara hesitated, no doubt noticing the tension, but what was she supposed to do when her Alpha was commanding her to leave? Finally, she nodded and slipped away.

As soon as she was out of earshot, my father grabbed my arm again, this time dragging me toward a small alcove off the main ballroom. I had to struggle to keep from spilling my champagne as I stumbled after him.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he hissed once we were alone and out of sight. ” You show up without your Alpha, dressed like that, drinking in public, and now you’re planning to go bar-hopping with Tara, of all people? Have you lost your mind?”

“I’m having a conversation with my cousin,” I said evenly. “And making plans with her, yes. I don’t see the problem.”

“The problem,” my father growled, “is that you’re acting like a slut. Your mate is nowhere to be found, you’re practically half-naked, and you’re planning to go out drinking with a girl who has slept with half the males in this territory.”

“Don’t you dare call me that. I’m an adult, and I can make my own decisions.”

“Not when those decisions reflect poorly on this family! You need to go home to Alexander right now, before you ruin everything we’ve worked so hard to build because you’re going through some belated rebellious phase.”

“We?” I laughed bitterly. “What exactly have you worked hard to build, Father? All you did was marry me off and take paychecks from my husband like I’m a prize mare.”

“I got you married to an Alpha from a prestigious pack, who, might I add, didn’t even want you from the get-go,” he spat. “I secured your future. And this is how you repay me? By acting like a common whore the moment his back is turned?”

“I’m not hurting anyone,” I ground out. “I’m just trying to live my life for once, instead of being controlled by you or Alexander or anyone else. And maybe if you hadn’t tried to dictate my every move since I was a child, I wouldn’t feel the need to suddenly experience life for the first time in my twenties! And who knows? Maybe I won’t go home to Alexander at all tonight!”

My father’s face twisted. “I didn’t raise a whore!” he snarled, his hand flying up to slap me.

I flinched, bracing for the impact, but it never came.

C

Instead, Alexander stepped between us and grabbed my father’s wrist.

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