<b>Chapter </b><b>40 </b>


    E


    Time seemed to stop. Alexander wasn’t kissing me, but with his cheek pressed firmly against mine like this, our faces were so close that to everyone else,


    it must have looked like an intimate kiss.


    And despite theck of an actual kiss, being held like this in Alexander’s arms as he dipped me low made me feel like I was floating on clouds. His hand on my waist felt solid and secure. His breath was warm against my skin. His fingers gently dipping into the bare skin of my back felt both delicate and deliciously firm.


    For a brief, ridiculous moment, I felt like a princess in some fairy tale, swooped off her feet by a handsome prince who was about to carry her away to his


    castle.


    If only we were a real couple. If only this wasn’t all just for show. If only this were a real kiss.


    But it wasn’t real. None of it was real. And I was a fool for letting myself pretend, even for a second, that it might be.


    Alexander pulled me back up smoothly, still holding me close. By now, the photographers were going wild, cameras shing, moring to get <b>a </b>good shot of us together.


    “That should give them something to talk about,” Alexander murmured, his lips brushing my ear as he spoke. I could only manage a tiny nod in response, although I inwardly chided myself for being so touched by the gesture.


    For a little while, Alexander kept his arm around my waist as we moved through the crowd. Everywhere we went, people greeted us warmly, congratting Alexander on his campaign,plimenting my dress, saying how beautiful our rtionship was.


    I forced myself to smile and nod, to y the part of the adoring Luna.


    It was exhausting, even more so when I had to remind myself not to get toofortable with the beautiful illusion.


    Alexander yed his part well, too. Perhaps a little too well. Every time I looked at him, he had that same handsome, charming smile stered on his face–green eyes sparkling, creases around his mouth, sparkling white teeth.


    It was a smile that I had seen on only a few asions throughout our five years of marriage, one of those times being tonight when he told me he promised to stop paying my father.


    Would he actually keep true to his promise, though? I doubted it–he was likely just saying that to shut me up for the night–but if he did, I would be grateful. My father didn’t deserve the money. And it would help me get out of at least one bind that I was in.


    I just hoped it wouldn’t backfire spectacrly on me or Stormhollow atrge.


    Eventually, Alexander got pulled into a conversation with some other Alphas, and I took the opportunity to slip away for a moment of peace and quiet. I found a small alcove near the refreshment table and watched the party from a distance, sipping a fresh ss of champagne with Lilith.


    Neither of us spoke, although we didn’t need to. Lilith was strangely quiet, though, clutching her champagne flute like her life depended on it. I figured she was just not used to attending these sorts of parties and didn’t embarrass her by bringing it up. Besides, I appreciated the quiet.


    “There you are!”


    Pulled from my thoughts, <b>I </b>turned to find Tara approaching. She had her entourage behind her.


    “We’re heading out now,” she said, gesturing to the group of women with her. “Come with us! There’s this new club downtown that’s supposed to be amazing.”


    I hesitated, ncing toward Alexander. He was still deep in conversation with the Alpha, and it didn’t seem like they were going to finish anytime <b>soon</b>.


    Arge part of me really wanted to go. To experience a normal night out like any other woman my age. To dance andugh and forget about <b>contracts </b>


    <b>08:39 </b><b>Tue</b><b>, </b><b>19 </b><b>Aug </b>


    and divorces and only having one year to live.


    But Alexander was here now.


    Leaving with Tara would only fuel more gossip, more spection about our marriage, It wouldn’t help his campaign at <b>all</b>, and since he <b>had shown </b>up <b>for </b>me and defended me against my father, I couldn’t bring myself to hurt his image tonight.


    At least, that was the reason I told myself. But deep down, perhaps I just didn’t want to leave his side.


    “I think I’ll stay after all,” I said, offering Tara an apologetic smile. “But thanks for the invitation.”


    Tara’s face fell. “Seriously? Come on, E. Live a little before it’s toote.”


    Her words hit closer to home than she could possibly know. Before it’s toote. Before my wolf remained dormant too long.


    Before I died.


    For a moment, I almost changed my mind. But then I caught Alexander’s eye across the room. He was still talking to that Alpha, but he was ncing <b>at </b>me, green eyes almost seeming to sparkle beneath the light of the chandeliers.


    Something in his gaze made my resolve strengthen. Seeing that look in his eyes, his handsome form pressed into a well–tailored suit, red hair perfectly tousled, and that fucking smile…


    My wolf was still dormant, but I swore I could still feel her deep inside of me, pulling me toward him. I couldn’t bring myself to leave tonight.


    “Another time,” I said, turning back to Tara. “I just… I should stay with my husband tonight.”


    Tara sighed dramatically but nodded. “Fine, be boring. But I’m holding you <i>to </i>that ‘another time.” She kissed my cheek before bouncing off to her next adventure.


    I watched them leave, and a pang of regret unfurled in my chest. They looked so carefree, so… normal. A group of friends heading out for a night of fun.


    Would I ever experience that? Or would I die having never known what it was like to dance in a club, tough with friends until sunrise, to live without the weight of everyone else’s expectations on my shoulders?


    “E.”


    I stiffened at the sound of Margaret’s voice. My stepmother was gliding toward me, looking elegant as ever in her floor–length navy blue gown and a perfectly practiced smile on her face. Beside me, Lilith straightened, although she lowered her gaze.


    “You look lovely tonight,” Margaret said, stopping a few feet away. She didn’t even nce at Lilith. “That dress is… bold.”


    “Thank you,” I replied cautiously. Margaret had neverplimented me in my life. Not once. She was certainly being underhanded, or perhaps she wanted something from me.


    “I must say, I was surprised to see how attentive Alexander was being tonight.” She sipped her wine casually. “It seems your rtionship has truly improved since thest time we saw you.”


    I shrugged, not sure how to respond. Was this some kind of trap?


    “It’s good to see,” Margaret continued. <i>“</i><i>A </i>strong marriage is important for an Alpha and Luna.”


    “Right…”


    “I’m actually sending a little gift to your home<i>” </i>she said, leaning in. “Something to help… improve things even more between <b>you </b><b>two</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>


    I blinked,pletely taken by surprise. Margaret had never given me a gift in all the years I’d known her. Not <i>for </i>my birthday, not for <b>holidays</b><b>, </b><b>not </b><b>even </b>for my wedding.


    “A gift?”


    Margaret smiled. “Don’t look so surprised.”


    “That’s… very thoughtful of you,” I managed.


    “I promise it will improve your rtionship even more,” she said with a wink before walking away, leaving me standing there utterly confused


    Once she was gone, I turned to Lilith with my eyebrows raised. “What was that about?”


    Lilith seemed to be in some kind of trance. Her face had gone pale and her eyes were cold, which was a look I rarely saw on her except for when she <b>was </b>terrified or furious.


    She didn’t answer, and I frowned, touching her shoulder. “Lilith…?”


    Immediately, my friend snapped out of it. She whipped her head toward me as if she’d been pped and blinked several times before answering <b>“</b><b>Oh</b><b>, </b>um… Yes, very strange,” she said in a tight voice. “Very strange indeed.”


    I furrowed my brows, but by then, Alexander was returning. And the star couple of the evening had to perform, after all.


    The rest of the evening passed without a hitch. By the time Alexander finally announced we should leave, I was dead on my feet. For once, I was actually excited to climb into the bed we shared, even if we slept on the opposite edges of it like strangers.


    In fact, I was so exhausted that despite my best efforts, I felt myself drifting off as soon as Gabriel began to drive us home.


    Thest thing I remembered was letting my head drop sideways onto Alexander’s shoulder.