The Sickened Luna's Last Chance novel Chapter 326

Chapter 326

Ella’s POV

The storm had broken by the following morning, leaving behind cool mist settling over the distant hills and a chilly breeze blowing through the treetops. The last of the autumn leaves had nearly fallen, promising an early and long winter.

I had taken Lucien out into the gardens for some fresh air, and as I paced the familiar pebbled paths, I found myself instinctively moving toward my favorite cherry tree. I hadn’t even noticed that I’d arrived, so absorbed was I in humming to Lucien, until I looked down from his smiling face to see the stone bench covered in wet leaves.

I let out a soft sigh, brushing the leaves away and taking a seat. Lucien cooed, his mouth in a cute little ‘o‘, and reached up at the barren branches with grubby little hands.

“This tree is much nicer in the springtime,” I murmured, bouncing him in my arms. “You’ll see soon enough. Maybe it’ll be your favorite place one day, just as it was mine.”

Truthfully, the thought of Lucien growing up to love this spot without me made tears spring to my eyes. I was still set on leaving once Anya and Alexander got married, assuming I couldn’t break the curse–which was becoming more and more likely by the day.

Last night’s excursion to the archives had proved fruitless. I’d found nothing of note; just some old pack documents outlining the lives of people I already knew. Certainly nothing about potential black magic users in my family.

Suddenly, Alexander rounded the corner to my little alcove. His hair was windswept, cheeks red from the morning chill as if he’d been out running. The moment he saw me, his eyes narrowed.

“We need to talk,” he said by way of greeting, storming over to me. He didn’t look at all like the soft, kind man who had wrapped a blanket around my shoulders last night; he looked furious.

“About what?” I asked.

“About what you were really doing at the Stormhollow archives yesterday.”

“I don’t know what you mean. I told you what I was researching.”

“Cut the crap, Stella.” Alexander stepped closer, green eyes flashing dangerously. “I went to the library last night. The librarian told me exactly what section you spent your day in, and I found the documents you took out. Tell me why you were researching my late wife’s family.

My stomach dropped. I was frustrated that Alexander had mistrusted me enough to track my movements like that, but mostly terrified. Terrified that he had figured out the truth–or was about to–and would become condemned, just like the others.

My hands trembled. Lucien, oblivious, blew a spit bubble and clutched at my necklace as I adjusted him in my arms. Unbeknownst to him, my mind was racing and so was my heart. I couldn’t come up with an excuse this time. No matter how much I tried, the words simply wouldn’t seem to come.

“Were you lying about your identity?” Alexander’s voice got quieter, more dangerous. “Is that why Hunter couldn’t find anything concrete about your past?”

“You… You looked into my past?” I whispered.

“Of course I did. You’re alone with my son half the time. I wanted to trust you, but now I’m not sure if I can; first you show up with no history to speak of, then you’re deliberately researching my late wife’s family in the middle of a storm? What is your angle, Stella? Are you a stalker of some kind? Or do you have another ulterior motive?”

My mouth went dry. Goddess, how badly I just wanted to tell him everything–but I couldn’t. All I could do was sit there like an idiot, incapable of coming up with a good reason for it.

1/3

Perhaps my separation from Lucien would come sooner than I expected once Alexander fired me and banished me from the pack.

“I asked her to do it.”

Both Alexander and I whipped around to find Lilith standing in the garden entrance. She looked calm, composed, nothing like the panic that was tearing through my chest.

“Lilith?” Alexander’s eyebrows drew together in confusion.

“I asked Stella to research the Eden and Grove families for me.” Lilith stepped into the space and smoothed down her apron. It’s a personal matter.”

Alexander’s jaw tightened. “Personal or not, I need to know.”

Lilith’s eyes met mine briefly before she turned back to Alexander. “I’m Ella’s mother’s half–sister. We were separated when we were infants, and I never got the chance to reconnect with that side of my family. When Ella died…” She paused, as if gathering herself. “I realized I’d lost my only link to them.”