Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Talia’s POV

Viki clutched her swollen belly like a shield. “Jason, please,” she whimpered. “You have to save me. They’re treating me like a rogue. This is not healthy for our pup!”

Jason looked torn, his gaze flicking from Viki’s tear–streaked face to Solon, who stood stone–faced beside me. Just as Jason opened his mouth to speak, Solon spoke. “Is this how you allow her to slander others at will, Alpha Jason?”

“No, Prince Solon,” Jason muttered.

“Jason, I didn’t do anything. You have to believe me!” Viki sobbed.

“We heard everything, Viki. You’re not here because of Lady Talia. You’re here because you lied and slandered a royal guest,” Prince Solon stated.

Viki looked hopeless for a split second before she whirled on me. Her eyes were filled with hatred as she hissed, “You planned this! You set me up!”

Solon sneered at Viki’s audacity. “And it seems that you still don’t understand the severity of the situation.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself, Viki. You made that post all on your own. I didn’t tell you to slander me.”

“You knew I would be arrested, that’s why you taunted me at the banquet!” Viki argued.

“I did not taunt you. In fact, I told you to wait for Alpha Jason and you would be let into the banquet, but you didn’t want to hear the reason,” I clarified.

“No! No! This was your plan all along. You knew we would come and…”

“Just stop it, Viki,” I snapped, cutting her off. “When are you going to accept that this is the consequence of your actions? For the record, I had no idea you were arrested until Prince Solon notified me. Nor did I know Alpha Jason would be here tonight.”

Then Jason inhaled, his jaw clenched, as he dropped down onto one knee to kneel in front of me. “Please release her,” he said stiffly. “Viki just… acted out because she was provoked.”

I blinked, stunned. “Provoked?” I repeated. “When did I provoke her?”

His voice was low, almost ashamed. “You shouldn’t have worn that necklace in front of her. You knew it would upset her. The hormones got the best of her.”

I frowned as I looked at him in disappointment. Again, against all logic, Jason was choosing her over me. It was shameful.

“Am I supposed to believe that having a baby makes you a terrible person?” I asked.

Jason couldn’t even meet my eyes. The sight of him kneeling in front of me made something in me snap. Whatever was left of my feelings that I had for Jason had disappeared the moment he chose to excuse her cruelty. This was no longer the man I fell in love with.

Jason didn’t look powerful now. He looked small and desperate. I looked at Viki, who was now cowering in front of me. She made my life a living hell after Jason came back. I remembered all the hurtful words she said and all the hurtful things she did to me with glee in her eyes when she thought she had the upper hand.

‘She doesn’t deserve mercy,‘ my wolf growled.

Viki whimpered and dropped to her knees dramatically. “I didn’t mean it… I was just scared. You came back so suddenly, and I thought I was going to lose everything. I panicked.”

“See, she apologized. Let her out,” Jason said.

“That’s not enough, Jason,” I sighed.

Jason looked up at me, eyes filled with panic. “What do you mean it’s not enough? She apologized! What more do Viki’s been under pressure. The pack expects- you want?

“I was the Luna of Shadowclaw for three years, Jason! I know exactly what the pack expects. And unlike her, I didn’t attempt to ruin someone’s life and reputation,” I snapped.

“Talia, just, please, she won’t be able to handle a royal punishment,” Jason pleaded again.

“I’m not cruel Jason. I would never harm a pregnant woman,” I said. “Viki doesn’t have to be punished if she is willing to tell the truth and publicly apologize. Or she rots here until the baby is born and longer if I feel like it.”