#Chapter 171: Part of the Family

Ella’s POV Alexander had chosen Anya after all. I should have been relieved. Happy, even. This was exactly what I wanted—for Anya to win, to get the position and the resources to help her family, to become the Luna that this pack deserved. And yet it hurt so much worse than I’d expected it to, knowing that Alexander was going to marry another woman. After everything he’d told me during our date, I couldn’t help but miss him. I wanted to be the one to stand on that altar with him. I wanted to tell him I loved him, that I was right here, that I didn’t want to have to watch while he married another, even if his marriage to Anya was purely contractual. I wanted, more than anything, to tell him that I was alive. But I couldn’t. Because of this fucking curse. “Stella?” Anya’s face fell when she saw my ashen face. “Are you alright? I thought you’d be happy—” “I am happy,” I said quickly, forcing my face into what I hoped was a convincing smile.