The Luna Queen's Rebirth (Ellie and Dominic) novel Chapter 54

Ellie POV

After his little hunt, avoiding Dominic 24/7 became my new extracurricular activity.

The Healer Academy helped-different halls, different buildings, different air entirely. I could pretend the Management Wing didn’t even exist except for the faint smell of expensive cologne that still haunted certain hallways.

I stayed out of them.

And if I spotted Dominic in the distance broad shoulders, that stupid perfect posture, hair pushed back like he walked out of a magazine spread-I turned and walked the other way.

Fast.

I even started avoiding his Beta’s too. Marcus, Tyler, and Vivian. Duh.

But for some reason, Marcus would pop up a lot. Even called my name a few times. I just ran.

When would they get the hint?

Although, the Lucas made things easier. Easier in having a friend way. Sarah was across the campus now, which sucked, but I wasn’t alone.

Lucuas would show up in the evenings with extra notes for me to help in my test, energy drinks, or dramatic retellings of his terrible day, plopping across from me in the library like he owned the chair.

And we… got closer.

Not romantically.

Not like that.

But he was warm. And funny. And surprisingly good at rerouting my spirals when I was moments from throwing a medical textbook out a window.

It was nice.

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So when he slid into the seat beside me one afternoon, wearing that too-charming smile, I should’ye known trouble was coming.

“Ellie,” he said, flicking a pen between his fingers. “I require your assistance.”

“Hm. An future heir needing my help.” I tap my pencil with a smile. “So it’s probably bad. What will it be? asked warily. “Studying? Social sabotage? Smuggling medical supplies? All doable. I do owe you.”

He snorted. “Tempting, but no. Something bigger.”

“Define bigger.”

He leaned back, hands behind his head like he was about to break life-altering news.

“The Alpha Ball. I need a date.”

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Jbuked. “A date?”

“A partner,” he amended quickly. “Purely political. Also, purely fair. You owe me, remember?”

I crossed my arms. “Do I owe you that much though?”

“Oh please,” he laughed. “I got you into the Healer Academy, didn’t I? Also, I let you be my mark in front of the whole school. Even got on Dominic’s bad side for you. That’s gotta be worth a dance.”

I groaned. “Lucas. What makes you think I want to go to some fancy Alpha Ball where everyone judges my napkin placement and glares at me for breathing too loud?”

He gave me a look. The kind that said he knew I wasn’t actually saying no.

“Ellie,” he said softly, nudging my arm, “it’s fun. Really. It’ll be nice to show up with someone who doesn’t take the whole event so seriously.”

I rolled my eyes. “I can already feel Dominic staring at me from three buildings away.”

Lucas grinned. “Excellent. Free entertainment.”

A laugh burst out before I could stop it.

But after it faded, hesitation crept in. Part of me worried about how it would look. People were already whispering enough.

And Dominic… Even when he pretended not to look at me I felt the weight of it. He was still watching.

But another part of me-one that was finally learning to breathe again-knew I didn’t belong to anyone.

Least of all him.

Lucas leaned forward. “I’m not asking for romance,” he said easily. “Just company. And maybe someone who won’t let me get stuck talking to a crowd of fan girls.”

I snorted. “Fine. That’s actually a public service.’

“So you’ll come?”

I exhaled slowly, thinking of everything. I couldn’t hide forever. I was living my life.

“Yeah,” I said finally. “Okay. I’ll go with you.”

His grin went blinding.

୮

I should’ve known something was wrong the second Sarah burst into my room without knocking.

She practically body-checked the door open, eyes sparkling like she’d just uncovered state secrets.

,” she gasped, clutching her chest dramatically, “Get dressed. We’re going shopping!”

“Ellie,”

I blinked from my desk. “You broke my door…?”

She shrieked. Actually shrieked.

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“Dress shopping for the Alpha Ball, duh! Lucas told Ryan who told Mia who told me-YOU SAID YES!”

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