Semua Bab Second Chance for the Barren Luna: Bab 61 - Bab 70

Nolan’s POVI didn’t answer Marco’s question. I walked past him back to my room. While I walked, I replayed every second of the encounter earlier in the garden. The way Jason clawed at Talia like a desperate animal, the way she fought him, and the way my own wolf nearly tore through me to intervene.I didn’t like how much I felt out of control. I didn’t like seeing Jason on Talia like that. The urge to hunt him down to teach him a lesson was almost unbearable.I slung my door open and sat down at my desk, rubbing my hand over my face. Marco followed me in and closed the door behind him. “Alpha, what’s going on?” he asked.“You should have told me,” I said coldly, not bothering to look up at him.Marco frowned. “Told you what?”“That Talia and Jason were mates once!” I snapped.His brows lifted slightly, and then laughed, “Wait. Hold on. Did it matter now?”“No. But you should tell me they were fated mates before,” I argued.“You said the alliance was the priority. That’s why I didn’t

Talia’s POVJason did not waste time and said, “Listen to me, Talia. Stay away from Nolan. He is ruthless. He did not come to Silverfang with good intentions.”“And you did? What were your intentions again?” I asked.“You’re defending him,” Jason said in surprise.“No, I am pointing out how ridiculous you sound,” I countered.Jason’s face became flushed. He tried to hold my gaze, then glanced away and forced a thin smile. “I came to make things right with you,” he said. “I’m trying to win you back.”I scoffed, “By forcibly marking me that day? Let’s be serious. You did not come here for me.”“Talia, believe me, I did,” Jason pleaded.“No, I remembered what you said. You came here for the Alpha King’s daughter. Let me guess. You plan to win the Hunting Rite and ask the Alpha King to allow you to marry the princess. Is that it?”Jason’s eyes widened in surprise before he composed himself. “Everything I do is for Shadowclaw,” he said quickly. “And for you. Yes, I put my pack first, but I

Talia’s POVThe week passed uneventfully. No Jason stalking me and no Nolan being condescending. Before I knew it, the night of Della’s party arrived. I walked into the hall with a wrapped box tucked under one arm and a bottle of Rosefall wine held carefully in my other hand. Convincing Father to part with one had been relatively easy.I could hear the music blasting before I reached the hall. Upbeat pop music pulsed through the speakers. Colored lights spun across the ceiling casting the room in shifting patterns of red, green, and gold. A group of younger pack members were already dancing.Della stood out among them. She looked radiant in her new gold dress. Della looked like a firefly on the dance floor as the light caught the sequins on her dress. She danced close to a young man who was equally intrigued and flustered by her attention.‘Della, ease up on him. I think you’ll give him a heart attack if you keep dancing like that with him,’ I teased Della through our mindlink.‘Where

Nolan’s POVHenry positioned himself in front of Jason. He raised one hand in a quiet signal of restraint.“Alpha Nolan,” he said, voice low and respectful. “I apologize for my Alpha. He has been drinking. I will take him out and make sure he does not return tonight.”Jason swayed behind him, jaw set like he had something to say. He stared at the floor rather than meet my eyes.I nodded once. “See that you do.”Henry gave a short nod back. He caught Jason by the arm and steered him toward the exit. Jason muttered something about being fine and tried to pull free, but his feet betrayed him. Guests pretended not to stare as they passed.Della moved to the front of the cake table and cleared her throat. “This cake will not go to waste. Everyone come get a slice,” she called. Her smile held, but when she turned toward me it faltered. Her gaze dropped to my arm. My blood had started to pool on the floor.“Talia,” she exclaimed, eyes still on my arm. “Please take him to the lounge and banda

Nolan’s POVI laughed, and that gave Jason what he wanted to hear without giving him anything at all. He thought he had scored a point. He thought I agreed that Talia was beneath the cost of an alliance. He had no idea that his words were the loudest kind of stupidity.‘You should rip his tongue out for insulting our mate,’ my wolf growled.‘In time. Be patient,’ I hushed him.“Fair point,” I finally said. “An alliance is worth more than a low-ranked she-wolf.”Jason’s smile grew wider. He stepped closer. “That is what I respect about you,” he said, laying it on thick. “You are a strategist. You know when to focus on the bigger picture. I have been thinking about that bigger picture lately. I guessed you were investigating your father’s death. Everyone knows you are not here for the scenery. I want to help.”I did not respond. ‘Maybe he’s smarter than we thought,’ Marco growled through our mindlink.‘Don’t be fooled. He is still an arrogant idiot,’ I responded.Jason took my silence a