Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 53

Chapter 52

Talia’s POV

I frown, my mind racing through possibilities. “Electra isn’t unreasonable. She wouldn’t confront Imema without

cause. And if Imema tried to kill herself

over a few harsh words, she wouldn’t have spent months entangled with a married

man.”

Richard’s voice is calm, measured- the voice of a Beta who’s spent years mediating chaos. “It’s possible I’m wrong. Maybe Electra had an emergency and couldn’t reach me. And… Aires might

hesitate to move against her. She’s your

friend.”

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I don’t respond to that. We both know it’s wishful thinking. If anything, being my friend makes Electra more vulnerable,

not less. Aires will see her as an extension

of me—and if Imema’s “suicide” can

be blamed on anyone, I’m the obvious puppet master.

I end the call and dial a number I haven’t

used in weeks.

It rings. Once. Twice. Three times.

“Mr. Perseus’s office.” The voice is cold, professional, devoid of warmth. Olivia. His secretary. “He’s just fallen asleep. If you have a message, I’ll relay it.”

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My voice is flat. “I need to speak with him directly.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t disturb him. He was with Ms. Volkov all night. He just settled. If it’s important, you can tell me.”

The absurdity of it nearly makes me laugh. I have to go through his secretary to reach my own husband–and she’s telling me his sleep matters more than my

call.

I hang up without another word.

***

The hospital is buzzing with its usual chaos. I’m heading for the elevator when a

Chapter 52

voice stops me.

“Luna Talia?”

I turn. Richard maddox approaches, his expression open, curious. Of all Aires’s friends, he’s always been the least infected by Imema’s poison.

“Beta Richard.” I pause. “I’m looking for

Aires. Is Imema…?”

“She’s stable. Out of danger.” He studies my face. “Is that why you’re here?”

“No. Aires took my friend. I need to know what he plans to do with her.”

His brow furrows slightly. “Are you

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certain it was the Alpha?”

“I think so.”

“Luna, if you trust me.” He leans against the wall, crossing his arms. “I need you to tell me exactly what happened.”

I outline the situation; Nick’s taunts, Electra’s disappearance, the convenient timing of Imema’s “suicide.” Richard listens without interrupting, his expression thoughtful.

୮

When I finish, he’s quiet for a moment. Then: “You could be right. But you could also be wrong. Electra might have gotten herself into trouble… or gone to ground for reasons of her own.” He holds up a 16:20

Chapter 52

hand as I start to speak. “If you march in there accusing the Alpha based on assumption, and you’re wrong… how do you face him afterward? What does that do to your position?”

I freeze. He’s right. I have no proof. Only patterns and probabilities.

Richard’s voice softens. “Go home. Let me

look into this. If the Alpha’s involved, I’ll find out. If he’s not, I’ll track down your friend. Either way, you’ll have answers.‘

I study him, searching for the angle. “Why would you help me?”

He hesitates, choosing words carefully. “I’ve known the Alpha since we were

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children. Helping you is helping him… whether he sees it that way or not.” A pause. “And… I’ve never trusted Imema. Her illness, her timing, her convenient collapses. It’s all too perfect.”

My eyes widen. “You see it too?”

“It’s a suspicion, nothing more.” He straightens. “But suspicions aren’t evidence. Which is why you need to let me handle this. I’ll find out what happened to your friend.”

لو

I nod slowly. “Mr. Maddock… thank you.”

He smiles with a genuine, warm expression. “If you’re going to rely on me for this, call me Richard. Not Beta, not 16:20

Chapter 52

Mr. Maddock. Just Richard.”

A small smile tugs at my lips. “Richard,

then.”

He’s everything Aires’s circle isn’t: kind without agenda, thoughtful without condescension. A gentleman in the truest

sense.

“Go home, Luna.” He repeats. “I’ll contact you as soon as I know something.”

I turn toward the exit, a sliver of hope flickering in my chest. For the first time in

months, someone in that world is on my

side.

Imema’s POV

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I open my eyes slowly, letting the fluorescent lights blur before focusing on the figure at my bedside. Aires. Of course, he stayed by my side.

My voice comes out weak, trembling with the effort of speaking after being silent for hours.

“You shouldn’t have saved me. That

woman… Ms. Perseus’s friend… she was

right. I’m dying anyway. I’m just dragging you down.”

r

His jaw tightens. “I’ve already had Electra detained. When you’re stronger, she’ll apologize.”

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I let my eyes fill with tears, turning my face slightly as if overcome with emotion. “Ms. Perseus needs you. I’m taking too much of your time. Please… go to her.”

He doesn’t move.

I press on, my voice dropping to a pained whisper. “Aires, I don’t think Ms. Perseus is entirely to blame for any of this. She’s been acting so strangely lately… perhaps someone has been influencing her. Poisoning her against you.”

୮

Let him chew on that. Let him wonder

who might be pulling strings behind the scenes. Capaldi, perhaps. That meddling child. The suspicion will grow, even if he doesn’t act on it immediately.

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I force a brave, trembling smile. “You should go. Don’t worry about me anymore. Mrs. Perseus already has too many misunderstandings about our relationship. I won’t make them worse.

He reaches out, his hand hovering near mine but not quite touching. “Recover. That’s an order. As for Electra… you’ll

have satisfaction with what I do with her.”

The door closes behind him.

I let the tears dry on my cheeks, my expression smoothing into something

colder.

Satisfaction. Yes. I’ll have that.

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