Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 72

Chapter 70

Talia’s POV

By the time this morning’s chaos finally ends, the afternoon

sun is shining through restaurant windows while I guide

Robin to a quiet booth. He’s been so brave, so steady… like a

small rock in a storm that should have drowned him.

“Robin.” I wait until he looks at me. “I’m so sorry you went

through that. You didn’t deserve any of it.”

He shakes his head, those big eyes earnest. “It’s okay, Ms.

Perseus. Really.” He hesitates, fingers fidgeting with the

menu. “Actually… Aeson doesn’t really hate you. Not like he

says. If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t be so upset about me spending time with you.”

I study his small face, searching for deception and finding

only sincerity. “Even after everything, you’re defending him.”

“Aeson’s not that bad.” Robin reaches across the table, his

small hand covering mine. “Ms. Perseus, please don’t be too

mad at him. And…” He glances around, lowering his voice to

a conspiratorial whisper. “Please don’t tell my dad about this. About the bruises or the fight or anything.”

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Surprise ripples through me. “Robin, your injuries-”

He waves it off with a bravery that breaks my heart.

“They’re not serious. They’ll heal in a few days. Boys get hurt

sometimes. My dad says we shouldn’t be delicate or cry

about every little bump. I don’t want to disappoint him.”

His eyes plead with me. “Will you keep it secret? Please?”

Guilt crashes over me like a wave. He’s lying, I can see it in the way his eyes dart away, in the too–quick smile. He’s

protecting me from guilt, from worry, from the impossible

position this puts me in.

And yet, even knowing he’s lying, even seeing through his brave facade, I feel myself leaning toward Aeson… my own

son, the one who hurt him.

Understanding hits me like a physical blow.

This is exactly what Aires and Aeson feel for Imema. This

irrational, undeniable pull toward someone you love, even

when they’re wrong, even when they’ve hurt others. Even when they don’t deserve your loyalty.

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I signal the waiter. We order children’s meals; his stomach

is stronger than Aeson’s, so there are fewer restrictions and

fewer reminders of the son who doesn’t want me.

Robin digs in with genuine appetite, his earlier tension

melting away.

I watch him eat, and make a silent promise to myself. No

more sacrificing the innocent for the undeserving.

Imema’s POV

I notice Aeson’s gaze first. He’s staring across the restaurant,

his small face twisted with an emotion I recognize

immediately as jealousy. Pure, unguarded jealousy.

I follow his line of sight.

Talia sits at a booth with that boy, Robin. They’re sharing a milkshake, two straws in one glass, laughing about

something. She wipes his mouth with a napkin, gentle and maternal. He looks up at her with shining eyes, full of adoration and dependence.

Like she’s his mother.

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Like she’s his.

A flicker of satisfaction runs through me. This is perfect.

I frown delicately, turning to Aires. “Aires, what exactly is the

relationship between Talia and that child? She seems to treat

him better than she treats Aeson.”

Aires looks over, finally noticing them. His expression doesn’t change, but I see the slight tightening of his jaw.

Aeson’s voice trembles with hurt and anger. “Dad, is Mom

going to choose that bad kid over me? Does she not want me

anymore?”

I crouch beside him, taking his small hand in mine. “Oh,

sweetheart, don’t say that. Talia is just temporarily confused.

That boy has tricked her somehow. You’re her son… she could

never abandon you.”

“But she took his side!” Aeson’s face flushes with

remembered fury. “She chose him over me! If she doesn’t

want me, I don’t want her either!”

I squeeze his hand gently, my voice soft and comforting. “It’s

alright. Even if she doesn’t want you, I’ll always be here. 4/7

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Always.”

He looks at me with those big eyes, and something in my chest shifts. Not guilt, never guilt but rather, satisfaction at

how easily he’s been turned.

Then his face crumples. “But you’ll only be here for six more months. Ms. Volkov, after you’re gone, who will love me

then?”

The words hit like a splash of cold water. Six months. Oh shit!

That’s my timeline, and my expiration date is getting nearer

as we talk.

I recover quickly, letting tears fill my eyes. “I don’t want to

leave you either, Aeson. The thought of not being here to watch you grow up…” I let the sentence trail off, choked with

emotion.

Aeson throws his arms around me. “I don’t want you to die!

Please don’t die, Ms. Volkov!”

Aires’s voice cuts through, calm and measured. “Nick has

connections. He knows someone… an alternative medicine

specialist. If we can locate him, he might be able to help.”

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I look up, hope flickering across my face. “Really? There’s

someone who could help?”

“Difficult to find,” Aires admits. “But Nick has people

searching. We’ll let you know if there’s news.”

I press a hand to my chest, playing the part of the grateful invalid. “If I could have more time–just enough to watch Aeson grow up a little longer–I’d die without regrets.”

Aires’s voice is quiet but certain. “You’ll be fine.”

We take our seats. Aeson orders a children’s meal, his

eyes sliding sideways to where Talia and Robin share their

milkshake.

“Ms. Volkov, I want a milkshake too.”

I smile. “Of course, sweetheart. Order whatever you like.”

Aires frowns. “You’re lactose intolerant. You can’t have that.”

Aeson’s face twists with petulant anger. “Mom never lets

me have anything. She says it’s bad for me. But look–she’s

drinking one with him. She lied to me. She just didn’t want me

to have fun.”

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I touch Aires’s arm lightly. “Aires, I’d like a milkshake too.

Order one–Aeson can have a few sips. A tiny amount won’t hurt.” I glance toward Talia’s table, a small smile playing on my lips. “Besides…”

B

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