Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 7

Alpha’s Discarded Luna

Chapter 7

Talia’s POV

Aeson pouts, his face set grimly with a stubborn belief in his righteousness.

“I saw Mommy push you, Imema! Don’t lie to protect her, it’s not fair.”

He turns his full attention to me, using my own lessons as a weapon. “You always told me if I do something wrong, I have to own up and make it right. Then where is your sense of accountability? Grown–ups don’t go back on their word!”

The irony tastes sour.

Wherever his fragile health was concerned, I made it the center of my whole world. But he barely required my help, or even my presence for his intellectual development.

At just five, he has gained fluency in five languages, and excels in debate. His tutors are constantly scrambling to figure out new ways to stimulate his mind.

Diana, my mother–in–law, always takes pride in his cleverness, which apparently reminds her of Aires as a pup.

Ana

now, that same sharp mind is turned against me, In defense

Chapter 7

of Imema. Alpha Aires is shielding her with his body, standing protectively in front of her.

Even though I stopped expecting anything from Aires long ago, Aeson’s loyalty to her still stings like a shard of glass. Every pup’s natural instinct is to be close to their mother, but Alas…!

Aeson, clinging to his father’s coat, is like a miniature guardian to Imema: the delicate, trembling center of their universe.

I lower myself slightly, bringing my eyes level with his.

“You’re right, Aeson. I did say that if you make a mistake, you must apologize. But…”

I straighten up, holding my chin high.

“I didn’t make a mistake. So why should I apologize?”

Aeson’s eyes pop out. He is not used to me ever going against his demands, no matter how unreasonable they may be.

“But I saw you push Imema!”

He insists, his voice rising with frustration.

I know it’s useless to argue against his belief, so I take another

route.

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“And? Who says pushing her means I was wrong?”

He blinks, his logical little mind stumbling. “But… Mommy, you said violence is never the answer. You said it’s bad, and-”

“I said it’s wrong to bully the weak,” I correct him with a calm tone, as if we’re discussing characters in a story.

“But I also told you never to let anyone trample over your boundaries. If someone keeps crossing them, again and again, you have every right to stand your ground.”

He stares at me, his mouth slightly agape. The concept that his suffering Imema might have been the invader and that my action could be an act of defense, not attack, is too complex for his black–and–white world.

He’s smart, but he’s barely five yet.

Before he can respond, another voice cuts in. “Aeson! You must not speak to your mother that way.”

All heads turn towards my right, just acknowledging Rafael’s

presence now.

He rises from his seat to stand beside me, and Aeson’s anger is overtaken by surprise. “Mr. Kinston?”

Angs reacts with suspicion first. “Kinston! What are you doing25

Chapter 7

here?”

As

my

childhood senior and my mother’s prodigal student, Aires has known of him for years… and has always disliked him too.

Rafael meets Aires’s gaze without flinching. “Alpha Aires, I never knew you were allowed to govern a pack with different rules while following completely different rules yourself. You can meet your childhood sweetheart every single day, but Talia cannot have a meal with the senior she’s known since she was a

child?”

The sarcasm is subtle, but effective.

Aires’s sharp features settle into a mask of cold authority. He ignores Rafael, turning his gaze to me with a laser focus. “Talia, I’m not engaging in this debate anymore. Come home, now.”

Home! He hasn’t even noticed that his home isn’t mine to share

r anymore.

His command is absolute, but I keep my eyes up, replying flatly.

“No. Since you and Imema interrupted our meal, Rafael and I aren’t finished eating yet.”

The temperature around us seems to drop.

Angs’s voice turns frigid. “Talia. I am telling you for the last 3:25

< Chapter 7

time. Come. Home. Now.”

He has gone beyond the point of anger.

It’s longer about a public scene, this is a battle of dominance, and he has all the odds in his favour.

If I defy him now, the consequences will be much more brutal than just silence.

A cold chill spreads through my chest, accompanied by the memory of a stormy night.

I remember kneeling on the cold marble with bruised, bleeding knees, tears mixing with the rainwater dripping from my hair,

hands shaking as I begged him to return my baby.

my

I remember his shadow looming over me as he asked calmly, Do you know what you did wrong?

r

my

At that moment, I had to choose between my pride and child. I remember apologizing for something I didn’t do, just to

hold

my six–month old son again.

He always knew my weakness, always knew how to make me yield even without using his Alpha powers.

The memory curls my lips into a silent, bitter smile.

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“No.”

“Are you certain about this, Talia?”

It’s not a question… it’s a final warning.

He thinks he holds all the power, because the small boy clinging to his side is my biggest vulnerability.

But he doesn’t know that after so many years, I have finally tallied all my losses and found out that I have nothing left to

lose.

“Do your worst, Alpha.”

Aires‘ POV

For the second time today, I watch her walk away from me.

She turns to the orphan, the one who should have been thrown out of the pack long ago, a decision I regret not making long ago.

Before he became too prestigious to be kicked out without scandal.

“Rafael, the air in here is foul. Let’s go somewhere else.”

There is no anger in her voice, as if she is just stating a simple

tyck

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Chapter 7

Kinston pauses, eyes flicking to me for a brief second before he nods.

“Of course.”

She doesn’t look at me, picking up her purse without hesitation or explanation, as if dismissing our presence entirely.

A sharp fury begins to settle in my chest. From beside me, Aeson’s small, stubborn voice rings out.

“Mommy! Are you going to leave without even saying sorry to

Imema?”

Her steps slow down for a heartbeat, and it’s the familiar moment where she usually turns around and softens her stance.

Instead, she pushes through the restaurant door and out into the night, with Kinston following in her wake.

I stare at the empty space where she was standing moments ago. My gaze follows her without permission, my wolf restless and irritated, unable to understand why she doesn’t respond to my pull.

Aeson stares after her too, his small face creased with confusion. “Dad…” he murmurs. “Mommy is-‘

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“Ah…!”

A soft gasp pulls my attention back. Imema sags against me, her eyes fluttering. “Ah…”

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