Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 110

Talia’s POV

Werewolves rarely get drunk. Our bodies burn through alcohol so fast that most of us can drink all night and still barely feel anything. I used to be the same, but everything was different now.

Two glasses of wine at dinner left me dizzy and my face hot. The room didn’t spin, but I could barely walk in a straight line. All my words came out slurred.

Solon noticed right away. “That’s it for you,” he said quietly, taking the glass from my hand before I could lift it again.

“I’m not a child,” I responded, reaching for the glass but he kept it out of reach.

“You’re done,” Solon stated and then gestured to the guards by the doorway. “See her to her room.”

“I don’t need babysitters. I can walk on my own,” I told him, though the words came out weakly.

“I know you don’t, but after what happened not too long ago,” he said. “I'd rather we be careful.”

“Good night then,” I pouted and left the dining hall with the guards. The guards followed just behind me, trying to give the feeling of walking alone.

When we crossed the courtyard, I saw Nolan walking toward the garden path. He was by himself. I slowed. The guards shifted to guide me inside, but I shook my head.

“I want some air,” I said. “Return to your posts.”

“Prince Solon said…” one of them began.

“I said I’m fine,” I snapped. “Follow orders. Just tell Prince Solon you sent me to my room.”

They hesitated for only a moment, and then they stepped back. I crossed the courtyard and followed the same path Nolan had taken.

The garden behind the east wing was quiet, unlike my rose garden. It was edged with hedges and stone benches. Lanterns cast steady light along the path, and the pond at the center reflected it, still and dark.

Nolan sat at one of the benches in front of the pond. He had one arm resting on his knee as he watched the water.

I stopped a few steps behind him. “Alpha Nolan.”

He turned his head, saw me, and then looked back at the water. “You should be resting.”

“I will, but I came to ask you something,” I muttered.

“Speak then.”

“Why did you save me with your blood?” I asked.

His scent hit me instantly. My body reacted before my thoughts caught up, the wine making it harder to ignore. I remembered his scent from the night in the library and how it made me feel.

“You shouldn’t have done that. You have no idea what you’ve done,” Nolan growled.

“Then you shouldn’t have lied,” I said. “You keep pretending that I don’t matter. And you know that isn’t true. Why are you lying?”

“I don’t owe you the answer you want,” he said flatly. “I did what was needed. That’s all.”

“You almost died,” I snapped. “You almost died, and I would have had to live with that. Do you think that would have been easy?”

“Go back to your room, Talia,” Nolan growled, stepping closer to me.

“No,” I said.

I grabbed his collar and pulled him down to me. I kissed him hard. Nolan remained still at first. For a second I thought he would push me away, but then his hand gripped the back of my neck and deepened the kiss. His other hand gripped my waist, pulling me flush against him. He kissed me as if he had been waiting for so long to do so.

The kiss triggered a memory of us in that library when my heat had consumed me. I remembered his mouth then. I remembered the word I had whispered that night.

Mate.