Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Talia’s POV

Consciousness returns in shards of pain and sound. A high, trembling whimper cuts through the ringing in my ears and the smell of burnt plastic.

“…Aires, you’re here… it was so scary… she didn’t even brake… I thought I’d never see you again…”

I force my eyes open. The world is tilted. Through the spider-webbed windshield, I see a familiar, broad back. Aires. He’s lifting a figure from the wreckage of the other car-a sleek, dark sedan now accordioned against a lamppost.

Imema. Of course.

She clings to him, sobbing, her face pale and perfect even streaked with tears. “I was so afraid…”

“It’s over. You’re safe,” he murmurs, his voice a low, soothing rumble I haven’t heard directed at me in years.

He doesn’t look toward my car. Not a glance. With Imema in his arms, he turns and begins to walk away, through the gathering crowd of onlookers.

new sound hisses. Then a soft whoomp. Orange light flickèfs29

Chapter 26

in my peripheral vision. Black smoke, thick and oily, billows from the crumpled hood of my car. The acrid stench of gasoline floods the cabin, burning my throat.

Panic, cold and sharp, cuts through the fog. I try to move. My left foot is trapped, pinned by twisted metal. A bolt of agony shoots up my leg.

Phone. I need a phone.

My hands tremble as I fumble in my pocket. My fingers close around the cool glass. The car groans. The flickering orange light grows brighter, hotter. Calling 911 is a death sentence. They’ll arrive to a charred husk.

There’s only one number that might bring someone fast enough. Someone who is already here…

My survival instinct is a ruthless, screaming voice in my head. It overrides pride, overrides hatred. I press the call button.

In the sudden, eerie clarity of adrenaline, my hearing sharpens. I hear it. Faint, but unmistakable. The distinctive, melodic ringtone I chose for him years ago. It’s coming from outside, fading with his steps.

He stopped.

My breath hitches. My palm is slick with cold sweat, making the

Chapter 26

phone slippery.

I stare through the cracked window, into the smoke, toward where he walked away. Please. Just this once. See me.

I hear Imema’s voice, weak and saintly. “It’s Talia… She must be ready to apologize. You should answer. Aeson needs his mother.” A fragile, self-sacrificing pause. “Don’t worry about me. I’m used to it. My time is short anyway.”

A longer pause. I can almost see his face, the conflict, the weight of her ‘generosity’ against my ‘stubbornness’.

Then, his voice, tight and resolved. “The hospital. Now.”

The faint ringtone cuts off. My call goes to voicemail.

The sound of his footsteps resumes, moving away, carrying her to safety.

r

The finality of it isn’t a surprise. It’s a confirmation. A truth so absolute it’s almost peaceful. My mind doesn’t break. It simply… empties. The frantic hammering of my heart slows. A heavy, silent darkness pulls me under before the flames can reach me.

me, dragging me back to the surface.

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Chapter 26

was that Imema Volkov? Alpha Perseus looked frantic…”

“So tragic they couldn’t be together. That wife of his is a piece of work, you know. Trapped him with a pup.”

“Did you see how he looked at her? Like she was the only person in the world. I know it’s wrong, but I’ll ship it.”

The murmuring stops as I stir. A nurse smiles down at me. “Ms. Perseus? You’re awake. How do you feel?”

“Dizzy,” I croak. My head throbs. My ankle is a distant, wrapped ache.

“You have a concussion, some lacerations, a sprain. We’d like to keep you for observation.” Her tone turns politely bureaucratic. “We’ll need a family member to handle the admission paperwork and fees.”

A family member…?

The image flashes, clear and cruel: Aires, walking away, Imema’s head on his shoulder.

A smile touches my cracked lips, but nothing about this situation is worth laughing at. How should I tell this lady that a stranger might have more concern and sympathy towards me than my actual family?

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Chapter 26

My family might not even have time to breathe while taking care of their precious Imema.

After a long moment of silence in the silent room, I reach for the phone on the bedside table. My fingers are steady as I make the decision to not call the man who left me to burn.

I dial a different number. It rings twice.

“Raymond Capaldi.” His voice is a calm, certain anchor in the void.

“It’s Talia,” I say, my voice quiet but clear. “I’m at City General Hospital. I need… I need a favor”

Aires’ POV

Past midnight when I finally push open the door to the dark, silent villa. The emptiness hits me like a physical blow

The master suite is pitch black. Before, a soft lamp would always glow on her side. She’d stir, her sleepy voice asking if I’d eaten, if I needed anything.

Now, just darkness and quiet.

I flick the switch. Harsh light floods the sterile, perfect room. It’s just a room. A furnished space. It feels hollow.

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<Chapter 28

“I didn’t know,” he says, the apology low, gruff.

A thin, wintry smile touches my lips. “Of course you didn’t

1. So you assumed my call was another nuisance. Another

drama. You hung up because…” I hold his gaze, letting him e absolute, unvarnished truth in mine. “Because in the archy of what matters, I have never ranked high enough to rant a second thought.”

Any explanation he might offer dies before it’s born. He just stands there, silenced by the brutal clarity of it.

I close my eyes for a second. When I open them, all vulnerability is gone, locked away. “State your business, Alpha.”

He seems to remember why he came. The purpose hardens his features again. “Did you intentionally collide with Imema?”

I lean back against the pillows, my body aching. “It was not a collision. It was a targeted strike. She drove into me.”

“Imema says your car sped out of nowhere and struck hers.”

I l

1. “So you believe her.”

mediately. “She has no motive to do such a

is my motive?” I fire back. “To martyr myself? To6:30

Chapter 28

add attempted murder to my list of fabulous accomplishments?”

He stares at me, his eyes like deep, frozen wells. “So. Did you do it intentionally?”

“No.”

The word hangs in the sterile silence between us. It’s a vast, empty space filled with everything unsaid, every broken trust.

Finally, he speaks, his voice cool and detached once more. “Rest. I will investigate this thoroughly.”

I watch him turn and leave. I don’t say a word. His ‘investigation’ isn’t for my exoneration. It’s to gather evidence. To see which story-the hysterical wife’s or the tragic saint’s- holds more weight. He didn’t believe me. He just chose, for now, not to condemn me on the spot.

Not long after he’s gone, my phone rings. Rafael.

“Talia? The news-are you hurt? How bad is it?” His voice is tight with a worry I haven’t earned.

ow?”

feeds. ‘Perseus Luna in Suspected Reckless cident.’ Are you alright?”

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“I’m fine. Minor injuries. Don’t worry about me.” He offers to help, but I know he can’t. His world is music, not media wars. His loyalty is a comfort, but it’s not a shield.

After the call, I close my eyes, thinking. Imema is confident. She’s prepared. She likely has ‘witnesses lined up. She risked her own life for this play. This isn’t going to be a simple case of conflicting stories. This is a carefully laid trap, and I’m the prey with a sprained ankle.

The headache behind my eyes throbs in time with my heartbeat.

A furious, heavy pounding shakes my door. Before I can answer, it flies open.

Nick storms in, his face purple with rage. Imema trails behind him, her bandaged wrist held delicately. The perfect victim and her rabid knight.

“You murderous bitch!” Nick screams, pointing a shaking finger. “You couldn’t wriggle out of the lake, so you try to run her down with

oice icy.

c whore!” He snatches the plastic water cup from e table and hurls it. I can’t dodge. Cold water splashes ay face and chest, soaking the hospital gown. “Aires will you in a cell this time! You’re finished!”

T

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