The Sickened Luna's Last Chance novel Chapter 343

Chapter 343

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, my voice heavy with regret. “It was a lapse in judgment. The full moon, the sudden surge of the mate bond… and I’ll admit, I’d had a few too many drinks. It won’t happen again, I promise.”

Anya’s shoulders sagged, the weight of disappointment settling over her like a shadow. She crossed the room slowly and sank into the chair beside me, her eyes searching mine. “That’s exactly what she said,” she whispered, “too.”

I swallowed hard, a sharp, unexpected pain twisting inside me. Stella said she loved me? But I didn’t love Stella—not even close. My heart belonged entirely to Ella. So why did the mere idea of Stella’s love make my chest flutter with a confusing excitement?

I shoved the thoughts down, burying them deep. I had to be rational. I couldn’t let one impulsive kiss, or the primal pull of a mate bond under the full moon, cloud my judgment. Taking a deep breath, I moved to kneel before Anya, gently taking her hands in mine. She glanced down at our joined fingers, then met my gaze again.

“Anya, the moment I see her again, I’m going to reject her,” I vowed, squeezing her hands lightly to emphasize my sincerity. “There won’t be any scandals while we’re married. I promised you a life of stability, not chaos—and I intend to keep that promise.”

A softness spread across Anya’s face. She slowly withdrew her hands and smoothed her skirt, her eyes distant. “I’m not sure you can,” she said quietly.

Her words hit me like a sudden stab to the chest. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve known since I was a child that romantic love wasn’t for me,” she explained with a shrug, as if sharing a long-held secret. “While the other kids were falling in love and playing at weddings, I found it all… exhausting.”

“That’s exactly why this arrangement will work for us,” I said, trying to sound certain. “I love Ella, and you want a marriage built on stability, nothing more.”

I didn’t know how to make sense of any of it. Or even how I was supposed to feel.

Just then, as if on cue, my phone rang, shattering the heavy silence. I frowned, surprised at the late hour—it was well past midnight. Anya sighed but nodded toward the phone. I answered, and my eyes widened as I heard the voice on the other end.

“It’s Liam,” I said, my voice tight as I ended the call. “His condition has worsened. I have to get to the hospital.”

“Go,” Anya said softly, offering me a sympathetic smile. “We can talk more another time.”

Without hesitation, I grabbed my coat and car keys, my heart pounding in my throat as I rushed out the door.