The Sickened Luna's Last Chance novel Chapter 80

Chapter 80

+25 BONUS

Chapter 80

Ella

The following morning, I pulled out the napkin with Molly’s number and typed it into my phone. But as I began to write a message to her, my fingers hesitated over the keyboard.

Was I really going to do this? Just text her out of the blue and ask to hang out? It felt so… normal. So much unlike the sheltered life I’d been living all these years.

Fuck it, I thought. I was dying anyway, wasn’t I? Might as well live a little first.

“Hey Molly, it’s Ella. Had so much fun catching up last night. When are you free to hang out?”

I hit send before I could talk myself out of it. My phone pinged within two minutes.

“Tonight! I’m off work at 8. Ever been to The Howling Moon downtown? It’s karaoke night!”

I bit my lip. A bar. Karaoke. Two things I’d never experienced before. I thought back to the party at my parents’ house, when my cousin Tara had invited me out. I’d declined then, choosing to stay with Alexander instead.

Fat lot of good that did me.

Without second guessing myself, I told Molly I would meet her there at nine-thirty. After that, I spent most of the day in a state of nervous anticipation. Liam was busy with council matters, so it would just be Molly and me. What would I do? What would I drink? What would I wear?

By the time eight o’clock rolled around, I found myself standing in front of my closet, hair already curled, makeup done, trying to decide what to wear. I wasn’t sure if I had anything suitable for a place like The Howling Moon, which was a dive bar downtown.

My eyes landed on the black dress from the store the one that had made Alexander’s phone slip from his fingers.

No, too fancy for a bar. But maybe…

I pulled out a short black skirt I’d bought years ago but never had the courage to wear. Paired with a deep red top that showed just enough cleavage to be daring, and some black ankle boots I’d never worn, it might just work.

I slipped into the outfit and studied myself in the mirror. I barely recognized myself. My eyes were lined with black, my lips painted red, my curls wild and free, I looked confident, sexy.

Smiling faintly, I grabbed my purse and headed out, thankful that Alexander and Gabriel were nowhere to be found. The last thing I needed was to explain where I was going or who I was meeting.

The Howling Moon was located in a part of downtown I rarely visited. From the outside, it

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Chapter 80

+25 BONUS

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looked unassuming a simple brick building with a neon sign showing a wolf howling at a crescent moon. Music poured out every time the door opened, along with bursts of laughter

and chatter.

I stood on the sidewalk for a moment, heart pounding. Was I really doing this? Going to a bar alone? What if someone recognized me? What if they thought I wasn’t behaving properly for a Luna?

“There you are!”

I turned to see Molly walking toward me, grinning widely. She was wearing ripped jeans and a cropped top that showed off her toned stomach, and her blue hair was spiked up with gel.

“Damn, look at you!” She whistled, circling me. “The Luna’s got legs for days! Your mate let you out of the house like that?”

I blushed, but couldn’t help but smile. “It’s not too much?”

“Never too much.” Molly linked her arm through mine. “Ready to pop your bar cherry?”

The interior of The Howling Moon was dimly lit, with tables scattered around a small stage where a young and very drunk male was currently butchering a pop song into a microphone. The air smelled like beer, sweat, and fried food.

“First things first,” Molly declared, leading me to the bar, “we need to buy a round of drinks. Something strong to get the night started. What do you like?”

I swallowed. “Honestly, I’m not sure. I really only ever drink at events, so it’s normally champagne or wine. And I only started doing that recently, because I was always told that a Luna should stay sober in public.”

Molly rolled her eyes. “Well, you’re not a Luna tonight. Come on. We’ll find you something.”

The bartender, a tall man with tattoos covering his arms, smiled at us and leaned on the bar as we approached. “What can I get you ladies?”

“My friend here has never been to a bar before,” Molly announced, causing the bartender’s eyebrows to shoot up. “She needs to discover her go-to drink.”

“Is that right?” The bartender turned to me with a grin. “Any preferences to start with? Sweet? Strong? Fruity?”

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