Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Talia’s POV

Sitting across from me, Rafael studies me with an intensity that’s familiar, yet feels like it belongs to another lifetime.

His gaze is steady, shadowed with concern.

“Have you really made up your mind, Talia? It’s going to be a long route ahead. You need a document personally signed by the alpha and materials from the werewolf court, just to begin.”

I run a finger along the cool edge of my water glass before giving a confident nod.

“I have. I can no longer put myself second in life. If you can support me, please tell me now-”

“Of course, I will! That’s not the problem, Talia…

He watches me, his dark eyes missing nothing.

“It’s the Alpha… he won’t like you being seen with me.”

The monster of anxiety rears its head again.

I remember the cold suspicion in Aires’s eyes, the way a single, offhand comment about Rafael’s loyalty had made me distance23

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myself from my oldest friend, my mentor’s son.

Guilt pricks at me.

“I don’t need his liking.” I look down at the white tablecloth. “Rafael, I’m… I’m sorry. For pulling away like that. It was-

“No.” He cuts me off, shaking his head.

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“You have nothing to apologize for. I failed. I promised your mother I would watch over you. I let you walk into that gilded

cage. I stood by W

you endured it.” A muscle ticks in his jaw. “That failure is mine, for letting you suffer alone.”

“It was my choice.” I whisper, “You don’t have to take responsibility for my mistake-”

A sound slices through my words, dripping from just behind my shoulder.

“Talia? What an unexpected surprise.”

I turn at the grating voice which I know too well.

Imema stands behind me in a spotless white dress, looking like a sacrificing virginal Goddess.

My mood plummets even further. What are the odds of being haunted by the same pest twice in one day?

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“Is there something you need, Imema?”

My voice comes out clipped. In contrast, her smile shines like a polished gem.

“Please, don’t be cross, Talia. I was just surprised that you are roaming out even though the Alpha so rarely comes home for dinner these days. Shouldn’t you be there, preparing your usual supper for him?”

Her voice is light and coated with a fake innocence that makes my teeth ache.

What a contrast she has managed to create between herself- the sweet blossom, and me being the thorny, neglectful wife.

But only I hear the gloating and provocation hidden behind her apparent concern.

I meet her gaze directly, refusing to play her game of subtlety.

“And why do you think he rarely comes home, Imema? Could it be because all his spare hours are occupied by you? Are you truly this oblivious, or are you just pretending to convince the crowd?”

A flicker of flustered panic crosses her face. She leaps forward, holding my hand and pressing it between her palms. Her fingers 3/8

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are cold. “Talia, please, you are misunderstanding-

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I yank my hand back, burned by her touch. “If you’re not pretending, then you’re simply stupid. You’re a grown woman, act like it.”

“Aah!”

With a sharp cry that echoes through the dining hall, she stumbles back in a graceful, slow–motion collapse that’s truly worthy of the stage.

I don’t move, just watch as a strong arm reaches out and intercepts her fall.

Alpha Aires has caught her just in time, keeping his hands firmly on her arms. “Imema! Are you alright?”

୮

She turns her face up to him, pale as moonlight, clutching his sleeve in her fist to stop her tears from spilling… as if she has been bullied and yet, she is struggling just to protect my image.

“Aires, I’m fine… it’s nothing. Talia didn’t mean it. Please, don’t be angry with her, okay?”

At last Aires’s gaze falls on me. His silver eyes are like frozen mercury, brows pulled together.

Walia. This kind of behaviour is absolutely unacceptable, and 23

Chapter 6

unexpected from you. Apologize to Imema.”

On hearing his voice, a cold numbness spreads through my chest while my body reacts to the Alpha’s call.

There was a time when I would rush to explain that it wasn’t me, begging him to please believe me or at least allow me to explain.

And every time, he would refuse to listen, just repeating the command, colder each time. And if I refused, the punishment was his silence.

While carrying the Luna status only in name, I would spend days feeling like a ghost in my own home. Eventually, even Aeson started to follow his lead and become silent and cold

towards me.

In the end, my spirit always broke. After choking out the words of apology, all I could do was swallow my pride like shattered glass.

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The taste of that humiliation rises in my throat like acidic bile.

“Why should I?” I sneer coldly, finding the strength to straighten my spine even after the force of his authority was crushing it into submission.

“Who do you think you are to demand anything of me?”

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Aires freezes with shock. “What did you say?”

I hold his gaze, “Do you know, it wasn’t ever your Alpha voice or status that made me follow your commands with urgency, it was my love for you. When I cared about you, your words carried significance. Now that I don’t, they are just noise to my ears. So tell me, Alpha! Why would I willingly listen to noise?”

For the first time, I see the impact of an Omega’s words. His shoulders jerk back instinctively; the first time, he is truly looking at me, not through me.

In all these years, I have been the gentle and caring wife, dutifully devoting all my time and energy to him, twisting and bending myself to fit his unpredictable schedules and moods.

Most importantly, I was the wife who never talked back.

And today, he is facing a Talia who has declared his authority null and void. A dark, restless irritation flares in his eyes, and just then, a small voice pipes up from behind Aires’s legs.

“Mommy?”

My heart, planning to betray me badly, gives a thud as Aeson steps into view, holding onto the edge of Aires’s coat.

His small face is solemn.

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“Mommy,” he repeats. “You told me if I do something wrong, I have to say sorry. So… if you hurt her, shouldn’t you say sorry too?”

He’s talking to me, but his worried eyes are locked on Imema.

And without meaning to, a memory wakes up just to stab my heart.

The four of us were out on a park outing last summer. Out of nowhere, Imema had swayed, lifting her hand to her forehead.

“The heat… or is it… my illness…”

Without letting her finish, Aires and Aeson had both lunged for her. In his rush, Aires’s elbow had caught me square in the chest, knocking the wind from me and sending me sprawling onto the gravel path.

What stung more was when the next morning, Aires had looked at my bandaged palm and elbow, and scolded me for being so careless and confused that I couldn’t take good care of his son, and would definitely fail to raise a capable Alpha.

A weak, hesitant sound pulls me from the memory.

“Aeson, sweetheart, no.” Imema shakes her head, tears rushing down her cheeks. She looks heartbreakingly fragile. “It wasn’t your mommy’s fault. I just lost my balance. It’s all because of3:23

Chapter 6

this… useless body of mine…”

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