Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 64

Chapter 62

Talia’s POV

Imema’s hysteria subsides the moment she sees Aires. Her

wild, darting eyes focus, clarity returning like fog burning off

water. She lunges into his arms, sobbing against his chest.

“Aires, they’re so scary! They want to lock me in a dark room!

Please don’t let them take me! I can’t go back there!”

His arms close around her automatically, instinctually. “Don’t

be afraid. I’m here. No one’s taking you anywhere.”

The words hit me like physical blows. How many times have

I needed someone to say that to me? How many nights did I

lie awake, hoping he’d appear, promising protection?

She looks up at him, tear–streaked and trembling. “You

promise? You’ll really protect me?”

“Yes.” His voice is soft, gentle–a tone I’ve rarely heard

directed at me. “I promise.”

She clings tighter. “Aires, I don’t want to stay here. Please, take me away.”

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“Okay. Let’s go.”

Electra snaps. I see the moment her restraint breaks. “Aires! Are you seriously going to coddle another woman like this

right in front of your wife?”

He looks up, as if noticing our presence for the first time. His eyes find mine–standing quietly, watching the performance.

Something flickers there, but I can’t name it.

The officers recover their professionalism. “Ms. Volkov is

suspected of kidnapping. We need her to cooperate with our

investigation.”

Aires’s voice shifts, cool and authoritative. “As you can see,

her mental state is unstable. She’s in no condition to be

questioned.”

The officers exchange glances. Mental health cases are

complicated.

Bruno arrives, papers in hand. “Ms. Volkov is under active psychiatric treatment for severe depression and anxiety.

Here’s her medical evaluation.”

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Of course. Of course there’s paperwork. Of course she’s

prepared.

The officers read, frown, concede. “In that case, we’ll need

her guardian to provide a statement instead.”

Aires nods to Bruno. “Take her back to her room.”

Imema’s panic returns instantly. “No! Aires, don’t leave me! I’m scared–please stay!”

He gently tries to disengage. “Go rest. I’ll visit later.”

“No!” Her voice rises, hysterical again. “The dark room—

they’ll hurt me–whips and chains–Aires, please don’t go!”

I watch, fascinated despite myself. This is masterful. Completely unhinged, yet perfectly calculated.

“I’ll be fine,” he assures her.

But she’s beyond reason now, clutching him with

supernatural strength. “Take me instead! Aires is innocent!

Please, just take me–leave him alone!”

The officers have seen enough. “Mr. Perseus, we’ll go now.

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Please come by the station when you can to provide your

statement.”

They retreat quickly, escaping the madwoman’s screams.

I follow them out.

Aires’s hand closes around my wrist. “Where are you going?”

I look at him like he’s a stranger. Which, at this point, he might as well be. “I called the police. As the complainant, I

need to cooperate with their investigation.”

He hesitates, wanting to say something. But not here. Not

now.

Bruno leads Imema away, still crying, still pleading. Electra

rolls her eyes dramatically and exits, done with the whole

circus.

The door closes. We’re alone.

The silence stretches. I have nothing to say to him.

Finally, he speaks. “How did you find Electra?”

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A cold smile touches my lips. “Even Richard couldn’t track

her down with all his resources. How could a powerless housewife like me possibly manage that without help?”

“When did you find out?”

“If I told you Imema told me, would you believe it?”

His brow furrows. “Did she?”

I hold his gaze. “Don’t believe me?”

He hesitates. Just long enough. “She wouldn’t have told you

that.”

“So I’m lying. Framing her. Again.” It’s not a question.

“Maybe you misunderstood-”

“Misunderstood?” I cut him off, voice sharp. “Why is it always

misunderstanding with her? Never with anyone else. Just her. Always her.”

He’s quiet for a long moment. Then: “My mother once

had her kidnapped. To force us apart. She has severe claustrophobia because of it. I can’t ignore that. But I swear-

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there’s nothing between us.”

I laugh. It’s not a nice sound. “You’ve been staying out

every night. With her. And you expect me to believe there’s nothing?” I shake my head. “You say that like I’m supposed to buy it.”

His expression hardens. “Are you accusing me of lying?”

I don’t answer. Don’t need to.

His eyes drop to my cheek–the scabbed cut from his

mother’s bottle. Something in his face softens, almost

imperceptibly.

“Do you have evidence? Real evidence–that Imema took

Electra?”

I pull out my phone. Show him the messages. Every text, every threat, every taunt.

He scrolls through them, face unreadable. Finally: “This

number isn’t hers. No one claims to be her in these

messages. You can’t prove these came from Imema.”

“Who else knew you had Electra?” I demand. “Who else 6/7

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would know to contact me about her? Who else would

meet me at a café the very next day to discuss her

disappearance?”

He looks up sharply. “She met with you?”

“Yes. In person. At the café in the city center. The day after

Electra vanished.”

“Are you certain it was her?”

“Am I certain?” I stare at him. “Yes, Aires. I know what Imema

looks like. I know her voice. I know her manipulative smile. It

was her.”

He holds my gaze for a long moment. Then nods slowly.

“Alright. I’ll look into it.”

Such simple words, such a small concession… but the fact that he even says them feels like a beginning of something different.

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