登入Nolan’s POVTalia waited until we were past the school gate."What does ‘Sleeping Beauty Queen’ mean?""A name people made up," I said."Who made it up?"I didn’t have a good answer for her. The twins walked ahead, and Nyla’s shoulders slumped. She obviously knew the name and didn’t want to talk about it.So I put on a face."Nyla." I crossed my arms and tried to sound serious. "Come back here and tell me what’s going on."She came back at half speed, and Elian stepped in front of his sister, as he always had."Am I in trouble?" Nyla asked."That depends on what you say. Where did that name come from?" It’s not hard to keep a straight face with a five-year-old, but it only works half the time.She looked at her shoes, then at her mother, and it came out in pieces."Some kids said we didn’t have a mom." Her voice got quiet. "One boy said the Queen died when we were born, and the adults just say she’s asleep so we don’t get upset."Talia made no sound at all beside me."And what did you
Nolan’s POVI waited until Talia was out of earshot before laughing, and even then I tried to keep it quiet."She’s different," Marco said."No," I said, sitting down at my desk. "She always used to leave the room like that whenever I brought up something she didn’t want to talk about. She’d just walk out mid-sentence and pretend she had something to do.”"Where did she sleep last night?" Marco asked."Our room,” I replied. "I’m staying in the guest room down the hall.”Marco frowned and said, “I’m sorry. I know that was difficult to accept.”"That was my decision, not hers. I want her to be comfortable and not feel pressured,” I explained.Marco considered that for a moment, his gaze softening. "I get it. It’s just… I saw what it did to you, all those years waiting. And now she’s here, you’re still holding back. Aren’t you scared she’ll never remember if you don’t push at all?"The question hit a sore spot because, of course, I was scared. I was terrified that Talia wouldn’t ever tru
Talia’s POVNolan let go of my face, and I jumped back so quickly I bumped into the desk.The guy standing in the doorway was already trying to leave."Marco," Nolan said. "Stay where you are."He stepped back in, staring at the floor. "Sorry. I should've knocked.""Nothing was happening," I said too fast and too loud, instantly embarrassed.They both looked at me. Nolan was two feet in front of me, his hands still half up, and I held onto my desk like it was going somewhere, and I heard how that sounded about a second too late.He was Nolan's second-in-command and Della's mate. Someone told me that yesterday. I couldn't remember anything else about him, which frustrated me."What did you come up for?" Nolan asked him."This." Marco reached into his jacket and took out an envelope. "It came up from the gate an hour ago. I nearly left it on your desk, and then I thought better of it."Nolan looked at the front of the envelope. His whole expression changed. Nolan looked suddenly hopeful
Talia’s POVThe first thing I noticed was that I liked it here.It felt strange. Every room looked like I had chosen it myself. The colors, the heavy curtains, the low furniture, and the reading chair in the sunny corner were all things I would pick. Even the hallways felt right. I waited for something to feel wrong, but everything fit.“Who decorated?” I asked, glancing around the room.“You chose the main rooms, the colors, where everything goes. You spent your first year here rearranging everything,” Nolan explained. “You said it was no longer a lonely bachelor’s pad.”“Was it?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.“Yes, you were right,” Nolan agreed, giving me a small smile.He led me out the back and into the rose garden. This was where I had hidden when I first woke up.“This too?” I asked, looking at the garden.“Yes,” Nolan confirmed, staying back and letting me walk ahead. "You once told me your father’s garden at Silverfang was the only place you could really think. You wanted to ma
Talia’s POVAfter breakfast, we walked to the border to say goodbye to everyone.The cars were packed and most of the Alphas had already said goodbye. I waited until Solon came over before I spoke.“I want to come with you.”Everything stopped."To Silverfang," I said, since nobody else spoke. "I missed his funeral. I think going to his grave might help me remember. Silverfang is the only place I can recall. All my other memories are blurred or gone. If my memories come back, it’ll be there."Solon looked at Leslie. “It wasn’t…it wasn’t like that, Talia. I don’t think…”“Then what happened to him? How did he die? Why does no one want to tell me?” I asked.“Not yet,” Solon said, then sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “You need to stay here in Bloodmoon.”“Why?”"Because you’re taking things too fast,” Solon replied. “I know you want to get your life back on track, but I’m worried about what will happen if you rush things. You need to take it slow and not overexert yourself.”“I’
Talia’s POVI opened my mouth, but no words came out.I couldn't tell a five-year-old the truth. I don't know your father. I just met him this morning. He's a stranger who's been kind to me, but I can't be alone in a room with him at night.Nolan got there first."Your mum's been asleep for a long time," he said. "She needs peace and quiet to get better. It's easier to rest when she's alone.""Oh," Nyla said.I nodded like it was obvious.Elian wasn't having it."But that's not fair," he said. "When I can't sleep, you lie down with me, and then I fall asleep.""That's different,” Nolan said."How is it different?" Elian asked. "She can't remember anything. If she's with you, maybe she'll remember sooner. You're her mate. That's how it works."He stood there looking up at me, waiting for me to agree with him, because he had worked it out and it was obvious and all I had to do was say yes."I still get bad headaches," I told him. "I need some time to get used to everything, and then we'







