Chapter 206

Ella’s POV

The sun hadn’t even risen yet by the time I snuck out of Alexander’s room—our room—that morning. Alexander was just barely stirring when I reluctantly slipped out from under the warm blankets and disentangled myself from his arms.

“Don’t go,” he muttered into his pillow, grasping my wrist and pulling me back down with him. “Stay.”

Before I could answer, he began peppering openmouthed kisses along my neck and shoulder, sending that familiar heat stirring through my belly. I moaned softly at the sensation—the sensation I thought I might never get to feel again.

But I had to go, no matter how much I wanted to stay. Until this curse was broken, we couldn’t risk anyone seeing us together. If anyone saw us together, then they might start asking questions or looking into everything themselves, and if they did that, then there were people who would certainly figure out my identity.

They didn’t know it, but they would be sentencing themselves to death.

Just like the farmer. Just like Liam.

And just like Alexander.

My heart ached painfully at the reminder. Not only was Liam still in a coma in the hospital, but Alexander had found out my identity yesterday. It would only be a matter of time before he started showing symptoms, or perhaps an accident happened that would take him swiftly and decisively, and we still didn’t know where Margaret had gone with the artifacts.

I had to not think about it. It was the only way I could stay sane.

So despite my yearning to stay in bed with Alexander until Hell froze over, I reluctantly pulled myself away from him and padded over to the door.

He sat up, blankets pooling around his shirtless waist, red hair mussed from sleep.

“You’ll come back again tonight, right?” he asked softly.

The desperate hope in his voice made my chest crack all over again. I couldn’t say no to him. I couldn’t say no to myself. So I nodded and gave him a watery smile, and for a moment, I memorized the sight of him looking at me like that—and then I slipped out.

As I hurried down the hall, hearing the distant sounds of the house stirring for the first time, I couldn’t help but feel that this whole situation felt like a sordid love affair. It was depressing and exciting at the same time.

If circumstances had been different, if death hadn’t been on the line as the reason for our sneaking around, I might feel like the subject of a love story. But right now, I just felt a hollowness in my chest. I belonged in that room with Alexander, I belonged by his side, and yet fate had torn us apart.

For all I knew, it might tear us apart again.

That day, to keep myself occupied, I threw myself straight into my duties. After dressing in my typical gray Omega uniform—which felt even more like a costume now that Alexander knew who I truly was—I went about my usual routine with Lucien.

Wake him. Change him. Dress him. Feed him. Take him for a walk in the gardens, listening to the sound of the frost crunching underfoot and feeling oddly soothed by the cold early-winter air.

And then it was time for my twice-weekly meeting with Anya and the wedding planner.

I was surprised to enter the parlor and find Anya grinning over a stack of fabric swatches and mock centerpieces. She waved me over, scooching aside on the sofa to make room. The planner didn’t look up from her binder as I approached.

Little did she know that it was really my wedding to Alexander that we were planning for now.

“Stella, I was hoping you’d come today. What do you think of these?” She pointed at two bouquets—one of sunflowers, baby’s breath, and eucalyptus in a large glass vase, and another a sphere of crystals and rich red peonies.

The meaningful look Anya gave me as I tried to come up with an answer made my cheeks flush. She wasn’t asking just for my opinion; she was asking me to choose.

Because this was my wedding.

The very thought made my heart begin to pump wildly in my chest. Even when I had married Alexander before, it had been a mere formality. We’d said our vows in front of a witness and the priest, then signed our names on a marriage contract.

There had been no kiss. No beautiful dress. No celebration.

It hadn’t felt like a wedding at all.

This, however… This felt like a fresh start. A second chance.

I blushed even more furiously and pointed at the peonies. “I think that one is prettier. And more suitable for a winter wedding.”

Anya grinned. “I agree. Actually, now that you say that, maybe we should rework everything to match the theme better. Let’s start with the bridal bouquet.”

The wedding planner looked up, eyes briefly flickering with frustration before she schooled them. “Er—Luna, the wedding is set to happen within just a few weeks now. Are you sure you want to—”

“I want to rework everything. We can extend the date if we must,” Anya cut in.

The planner looked a bit chagrined, but didn’t complain. With that, we got to work. The plans took on an entirely different feeling as we spent the afternoon changing many of the small details to suit my tastes instead of Anya’s.

We changed the bridal bouquet to a deep, rich array of plum-colored roses and baby’s breath. We left the colors of the table linens the same, but added pops of blue and silver to complement the wintery theme. We adjusted the invitations, changing them from “You are cordially invited… Alpha Alexander and Luna Anya…” to simply stating “Come witness true love beneath the winter moon…”

Everything shifted that day as we worked. I felt myself unwittingly slipping back into my old role as Luna like a well-worn glove, and soon, I was returning to my old confidence in decision-making.

By the time we were finished for the day, the planner looked confused.

“Are you sure you’re happy with all of this, Luna?” she asked, looking at Anya. “You changed all of your initial plans… In fact, it seems you left many of the big decisions to the…” She glanced at me with a wrinkle in her nose. “...Nanny.”

My wolf bristled indignantly at the planner’s tone, but Anya nodded. “Of course I’m happy with it.”

The planner didn’t press further after that. Once we were alone, Anya turned toward me with that radiant smile of hers and threw her arms around my neck.

“This is so fun,” she whispered, giving me a squeeze.

I hugged her back, equal parts touched and surprised. “You don’t have to go to all this trouble, you know. After what I did…”

“You didn’t do anything except fall in love with your fated mate.” Anya pulled back, tears shimmering in her eyes. “I might not be interested in finding love myself, but I do love love. It makes me so happy to see you happy. And it seems like we’ll all get what we wanted in the end.”

I smiled wanly, brushing my thumb across her cheek. “My sweet girl,” I murmured, pulling her close again for another hug.

But no matter how touched I was for Anya’s kindness and selflessness, I couldn’t help but feel that pang of fear in my chest again.

I hoped that the curse wouldn’t take its toll before this happy day on the horizon.