The Sickened Luna's Last Chance novel Chapter 252

Alexander & Sophia

Alexander

I couldn’t sleep that night. The banquet had ended hours ago, but I was still in my office, nursing my third glass of bourbon. Maybe my fourth. I’d lost count by the time my head had grown fuzzy and the room had begun to spin.

Even still, I kept drinking long after I probably should have stopped. Dawn wasn’t far off, and yet my night was far from over.

Because Ella was dead. She was fucking dead, and I was hosting a Luna Trial to replace her like she’d never mattered at all.

The tug I’d felt on the mate bond earlier had nearly killed me. For one stupid moment, I’d thought… I’d thought that maybe she was alive somehow. Maybe there had been some mistake. Maybe she was coming back to me, spy

or not.

But it was just the nanny. Just some rogue who looked like my dead wife.

And then I had to go and fucking announce the Luna Trial that I never wanted.

“You’re thinking about her again,” Sophia suddenly said from the other side of the room. When she’d invited herself to drink with me, I’d been too lonely and exhausted to say no even though I really didn’t want to look at her tonight.

“I’m not thinking about anyone,” I replied, taking another swig.

“Liar.” Sophia stood and walked toward me, extending her hand. “Come on. Dance with me, Alex. Like we used to when we were younger.”

I didn’t want to, but before I could protest, she grabbed my hand and pulled me closer. I was too drunk to resist at first, so she managed to pull me into a stumbling waltz for a few long moments before I finally managed to push myself away from her grip and stagger over to the window.

Sophia sighed from behind me. “She’s not coming back, you know. And she was a spy. You saw the evidence.”

My jaw clenched. “I know.” I knew both of those things, but it didn’t make the grief I was feeling any less potent. “She was still my fated mate.”

“You can find another. A chosen mate bond will subdue the pain of the broken one that fate gave you. Besides, you never really wanted her, did you? It’ll be easy to find someone new. Someone better.”

But I did want Ella. I wanted Ella more than I should have. Even when I found out she’d signed that contract with her father, I still wanted her. Because I had begun to love her.

“It’s been a week, Sophia,” I finally said, not bothering to hide the bitterness in my voice.

“I know. But you can’t grieve forever.” Sophia’s hand moved to touch my arm. I hadn’t realized how close she was standing now. “You need someone who understands you. Someone who’s always been there for you.”

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Chapter 252

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Suddenly, Sophia gripped my arm and turned me to face her. Before I could react, she leaned up on her tiptoes as if to kiss me, but I shoved her back hard enough that she stumbled and nearly slammed into the wall.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I hissed. “If you want to be with me so badly, enter the Luna Trial like everyone else.”

The words were out before I could stop them. I immediately regretting being so harsh, but Sophia’s eyes went wide, and it wasn’t with hurt or anger. It was hope.

“You mean that?” she whispered.

I rolled my eyes and turned back to the window. “Take it however you will. Regardless, you should stop throwing yourself at a grieving widower and show some fucking respect for the dead.”

Sophia set her wine glass down on the desk. “So you want me to enter the Luna Trial. You’re serious.” Of course she wouldn’t comment on the other thing.