Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 113

Talia’s POV

The afternoon sun sat high over the courtyard when Della and I carried our tools to the rose garden. The beds had gone unchecked while I was in the hospital, so we started with the row that had the most dead blooms and weeds. Della constantly grumbled about how hot it was and how she should've never agreed to this.

“So,” Della said as she yanked out a weed, “is Leslie an old lady? Be honest. I keep picturing a tiny woman in ten shawls with a stick.”

“She is about our age,” I said. “A year older, maybe two. No shawls. No stick.”

Della lowered her shears. “You’re serious?”

“Very,” I said. I nudged mulch into place with my boot. “She does act like she's older. She has an authority about her. She speaks her mind freely. Probably because she knows she's the best at her job."

Della nodded. “That is not the healer I imagined.” Her face lit up with a smirk. “Introduce us. I want to meet her.”

“I will,” I said. “She plans to stay through the Sacrifice Ceremony, so you will have time.”

“Good. That makes this easier to ask," Della said as she yanked out another weed with a grunt before launching it into the mulch pile.

"To ask what?" I asked.

“Marco and I want to hold our mating ceremony after the ritual,” Della answered as she blushed.

"Okay and why would you need to ask for permission about that?" I asked.

“I worry Nolan might object," Della admitted.

Nolan was many things, but I didn't know him to be a liar at least not to me anyway. I can't see him going back on his word especially if it would negatively affect his relationship with Marco.

“He already approved your bond. If he gives his blessing, he will not block your ceremony. Set your date and send the notices," I reassured her.

“You think so?” she asked. “He can be strict.”

“He can,” I said. “He is also fair. If he has agreed, he will stand by it.”

Della picked up her shears again. “I needed to hear that.” She cut three spent blooms and dropped them into the bucket between us. “People say that he is cold and uncaring.”

“People say many things,” I said.

“He is not like the rumors,” she said. “He visited you while you were unconscious. More than once. And the transfusion, he made the decision to be the one to save you.”

I stopped moving. “Wait, what do you mean? Leslie said that his wolf was the strongest.”

Della paled and mumbled, "Shit."

"No, don't shut down on me now. Explain," I said.

“He told me not to tell you. He said it was not my place. But I think you should know," Della continued.

My chest tightened. “Then, tell me.”

“I overheard the conversation. It was either Nolan or Jason that could help you. Jason...Jason didn't volunteer. It was Nolan,” Della explained.

I thought I would feel pain from knowing that Jason once again did not fight for me, but I felt nothing. I felt my heart ache more so for Nolan. The fact that I was the daughter of his enemy and he still chose to save me meant something.

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