The Sickened Luna's Last Chance novel Chapter 317

“Who cares? Who cares?” One of the maids snorted and pulled out her cell phone. I watched as she tapped on the phone screen a few times, then turned it so I could see. “Everyone in the territories cares!”

I leaned in to see what she’d pulled up, and my stomach dropped.

Indeed, half of the people in the packs had participated in a hashtag already: “#stellanightforluna“.

There were hundreds upon hundreds of posts under the hashtag already, all posting pictures of last night’s debacle and speculating on my so–called “love triangle” with Alexander and Anya.

“Now, I’m not saying this,” Darlene said, crossing her arms, “but some people are even saying that he should choose you instead. After your selflessness in the Luna Trial when you carried Anya like that, then swapping that beautiful dress with her last night so she wouldn’t have to wear the stained one, people think that you’re better Luna quality.”

I clenched my jaw so hard my teeth ached. “Well, it’s not a competition,” I said firmly. “Alpha Alexander and I have a purely professional relationship. I only ever entered the trial anyway to help Anya out.”

“Which is precisely why you’d make an amazing Luna,” someone pointed out. “You’re so selfless, Stella! Luna Ella herself would be proud. No only do you resemble her, but you share her kind and gentle spirit.”

I snapped my gaze to the person who said that and gave them a glare. Just then, Anya entered the room and everyone immediately returned to what they were doing before, acting as if they hadn’t just been gossipping about the whole situation.

“Stella.” Anya looked a little relieved when she saw me and walked over. “Are you busy?”

I shook my head, honestly grateful for the distraction, and grabbed Lucien’s warm bottle from the microwave before following Anya out of the room. We made our way down the corridor, toward one of the more private sitting rooms where I could feed Lucien and we would chat in peace.

“How did it go last night?” I asked, glancing at Anya.

Her cheeks flushed a slight shade of pink. “Alexander apologized profusely and admitted that he was mistaken about the mate bond; his wolf is really upset since Luna Ella is gone.” She sighed softly. “Of course, mistake or not, it’s still created quite the buzz, hasn’t it?”

She could say that again.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “This should be a joyous occasion for you, not tarnished by unnecessary drama.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s not anyone’s fault, really.”

I looked at Anya then and noticed that there were tears shimmering in her eyes despite her hopeful words, and my heart ached for her. My potential decision to leave the estate felt even more solid now. I loathed the idea of her reputation being permanently scarred by all of this, especially when she was only doing it to help her family.

Maybe it would be better if I left. I could keep my distance, avoid drama–it would be better for Alexander, Lucien, Anya, and even me. All of us.

1/2

Not that it made the thought any easier, of course.

“Still, you should be allowed to be happy about this,” I said.

“I am. Truly, I am.” Just then, Anya turned fully to face me and touched my arm. “Which is why, Stella, I have a question for you.”

“What is it?” I asked.

“Despite what others may think, I do see you as my closest friend and confidante–and a part of my family once I marry Alexander. That won’t change.” Her face broke into a sweet smile. “So, despite everything, I wanted to

ask…“

“Who cares? Who cares?” One of the maids snorted and pulled out her cell phone. I watched as she tapped on the phone screen a few times, then turned it so I could see. “Everyone in the territories cares!”

I leaned in to see what she’d pulled up, and my stomach dropped.

Indeed, half of the people in the packs had participated in a hashtag already: “#stellanightforluna“.

There were hundreds upon hundreds of posts under the hashtag already, all posting pictures of last night’s debacle and speculating on my so–called “love triangle” with Alexander and Anya.

“Now, I’m not saying this,” Darlene said, crossing her arms, “but some people are even saying that he should choose you instead. After your selflessness in the Luna Trial when you carried Anya like that, then swapping that beautiful dress with her last night so she wouldn’t have to wear the stained one, people think that you’re better Luna quality.”

I clenched my jaw so hard my teeth ached. “Well, it’s not a competition,” I said firmly. “Alpha Alexander and I have a purely professional relationship. I only ever entered the trial anyway to help Anya out.”

“Which is precisely why you’d make an amazing Luna,” someone pointed out. “You’re so selfless, Stella! Luna Ella herself would be proud. No only do you resemble her, but you share her kind and gentle spirit.”

I snapped my gaze to the person who said that and gave them a glare. Just then, Anya entered the room and everyone immediately returned to what they were doing before, acting as if they hadn’t just been gossipping about the whole situation.

“Stella.” Anya looked a little relieved when she saw me and walked over. “Are you busy?”

I shook my head, honestly grateful for the distraction, and grabbed Lucien’s warm bottle from the microwave before following Anya out of the room. We made our way down the corridor, toward one of the more private sitting rooms where I could feed Lucien and we would chat in peace.

“How did it go last night?” I asked, glancing at Anya.

Her cheeks flushed a slight shade of pink. “Alexander apologized profusely and admitted that he was mistaken about the mate bond; his wolf is really upset since Luna Ella is gone.” She sighed softly. “Of course, mistake or not, it’s still created quite the buzz, hasn’t it?”

She could say that again.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “This should be a joyous occasion for you, not tarnished by unnecessary drama.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s not anyone’s fault, really.”

I looked at Anya then and noticed that there were tears shimmering in her eyes despite her hopeful words, and my heart ached for her. My potential decision to leave the estate felt even more solid now. I loathed the idea of her reputation being permanently scarred by all of this, especially when she was only doing it to help her family.

Maybe it would be better if I left. I could keep my distance, avoid drama–it would be better for Alexander, Lucien, Anya, and even me. All of us.

1/2

Not that it made the thought any easier, of course.

“Still, you should be allowed to be happy about this,” I said.

“I am. Truly, I am.” Just then, Anya turned fully to face me and touched my arm. “Which is why, Stella, I have a question for you.”

“What is it?” I asked.

“Despite what others may think, I do see you as my closest friend and confidante–and a part of my family once I marry Alexander. That won’t change.” Her face broke into a sweet smile. “So, despite everything, I wanted to

ask…”

Her eyes softened as she watched Lucien suckle from his bottle, and then she took a deep breath and looked up

at me.

“Will you be my maid of honor at the wedding, Stella?”

2/2

Her eyes softened as she watched Lucien suckle from his bottle, and then she took a deep breath and looked up

at me.

“Will you be my maid of honor at the wedding, Stella?”

2/2