The Sickened Luna's Last Chance novel Chapter 312

Ella’s POV

I found Anya sitting on one of the benches in the garden with her face buried in her hands, red and cold feathers scattered around her like fallen leaves. The sound of her soft sobs made tears burn in my own eyes.

The last thing I ever wanted was to see her, of all people, cry. Not Anya, the sweet and kind girl who only ever wanted to help her family. The girl who had become one of my closest friends when I had felt lonelier than ever.

“Anya.” I sat down beside her and placed a gentle hand on her back. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know he was going to do that, and I assure you, I don’t want it.”

She lifted her head, causing my heart to crack even further. Her mascara was running down her cheeks in dark tracks, her tears washing away the powder that had briefly covered the handprint that was still spreading across one side of her face.

“It’s not your fault, Stella,” she managed between hiccups. “I don’t blame you.”

Her kindness just turned my anguish into fury. My hands fisted in my lap, crinkling the silky fabric of my stained dress. “I told him not to choose me. I specifically told him to choose you instead, but he didn’t listen. He never fucking listens.”

Anya wiped her nose with the back of her hand and shook her head. “Stop it, Stella. This was for the best, anyway. I would never have made as good a Luna as you.”

I pulled back in surprise. “What?”

“Look at you.” Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks as she gestured at me. “You’re strong and confident and you didn’t even flinch when you wore that stained dress out on stage. You’re so selfless, staying in the trial just for me, even carrying me through an entire capture the flag game on your back. You’re beautiful and graceful and everyone respects you, even though you’re an Omega like me.”

“Anya, no-”

“It’s true.” She sniffled and pulled her knees up to her chest. “Everyone was rooting for you this whole time. I’m just a scared little girl who can’t even stand up to the other servants. I only made it this far because of you. If you hadn’t been there to protect me, I would have dropped out weeks ago.”

My jaw clenched. She was being so hard on herself, and it wasn’t fair. She had so many incredible qualities that she just couldn’t see right now because she was hurting.

“You’re wrong,” I said firmly. “You’re kind and selfless and you put your family before everything else. You made that beautiful dress with your own hands in a single night, losing sleep when you should have been resting for the ceremony. You have more talent in your little finger than most people have in their entire body.”

Anya blinked at me through her tears.

“You’re brave, too,” I continued. “It took courage to compete in this trial even when the others tried to stop you.”

“But I’m not strong like you—”

1/2

“Strength isn’t just about standing up to Alphas or carrying people on your back.” I tucked a short red curl behind her ear. “Sometimes strength is about keeping a smile on your face even when it’s hard. That’s something I’m still learning to do.”

Anya’s lower lip trembled.

“Besides,” I said with a wry chuckle, “being a Luna isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Trust me, I know what it’s like. It’s lonely and exhausting and everyone watches your every move, waiting for you to mess up. Half the pack gossips behind your back, and the other half thinks you’re not good enough for the position.”

Anya’s brow furrowed. “How do you know what it’s like to be a Luna?”