Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 189

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & EIGHTY NINE

Talia’s POV

We arrived at the Bloodmoon Pack just before dusk, and the welcome started before I even stepped out of the car. Warriors lined the path to the pack house in neat rows. They bowed as we drove by. The people behind them leaned forward to see who Alpha Nolan had brought home.

“Are you ready?” Nolan asked as he parked the car.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I replied.

“Don’t worry, they’re going to love you,” Nolan said.

Nolan stepped out of the car and I could hear the cheers from the pack. Bloodmoon clearly loved Nolan and were happy to see him. Nolan opened the door for me and I stepped out.

The crowd erupted again.

“Welcome to Bloodmoon!”

The greetings were loud and respectful, and I returned them with a calm smile and a wave. Everyone was excited to see us except for one person, a young woman in the middle.

She stood near the front. She wore a simple brown dress. Her black hair was pulled back into a tight bun. When she first saw Nolan, her face lit up with excitement, and she began pushing through the crowd to get closer.

As she approached, she saw Nolan open the passenger door and take my hand as I stepped out. Her smile faltered as her eyes darted from me to him and then to the matching rings on our hands. She frowned before she forced a smile back onto her face.

Who was this woman?

My wolf paced within me and said, ‘Someone who expected our mate to return alone.’

“Bloodmoon, I want to introduce you to Talia,” Nolan announced. The crowd immediately went silent to listen. “She is the Alpha King’s daughter, my mate, and the Bloodmoon Pack’s Luna.”

Cheers broke out around us. People clapped, wolves howled, and several older women smiled in a way that looked almost relieved. I held Nolan’s hand and nodded once, accepting the welcome while trying not to be irritated by this woman’s stiff expression.

‘She does not matter. Nolan chose us. He accepted us,’ my wolf advised and I agreed.

I was here because the Moon Goddess had bound Nolan and me together, and I was taking on the role of Luna, I had nothing to prove. Even so, I could not ignore the way the woman watched Nolan, and then had the nerve to look at me like I was a nuisance.

“That is a pity,” I said. “I hope it heals quickly.”

“Maggie, you need to be more careful,” Nolan told her.

Maggie’s smile faltered a little as if she expected Nolan to react more caring to her injury. “I just wanted to surprise you, Alpha,” Maggie said as she pouted. Her sugary sweet voice made my skin crawl.

Nolan’s arm slipped around my waist, pulling me closer, and he gave her a nod, “Thanks for thinking of me, but go get it treated before it gets infected.”

“I will, Alpha,” Maggie promised.

Nolan’s hand tightened on my waist, and he leaned down to murmur, “Come on. I will show you our room. I bet you will love it.”

I nodded and followed him. As we walked to the pack house, I felt as if there were eyes on my back. I looked back and Maggie was still standing where we left her.

Maggie’s eyes met mine. The fake smile was now gone. Her expression was flat and cold as she glared back at me.

‘Be careful with her,’ my wolf warned. ‘She hates us.’