Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 193

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & NINETY THREE

Talia’s POV

“What is she doing here?” I demanded.

All of Clara’s confidence left her and her posture stiffened. She sat tray down with shaky hands. Clara then dropped to her knees.

“Princess, no, Luna Talia,” Clara said, her voice shaking. “I…I’m so sorry.” The words came out fast and desperate, as if she had been holding them back for a long time. “I never wanted to betray you. I swear I had no choice.”

The other omegas in the kitchen stopped what they were doing to watch. I grit my teeth. Was she acting vulnerable to gather sympathy?

“Get up,” Nolan ordered and Clara quickly got up. “No one is going to harm you. Tell Talia what you told me.”

Clara swallowed hard and looked at me as she wiped tears from her face. “Viki threatened me,” she said. “She said if I didn’t do exactly what she told me, she would kill me. I didn’t care at first until she threatened my family.”

My chest tightened. “And why didn’t you tell me when all this happened? I could’ve protected you.”

“How? Alpha Jason had stopped confiding in you. He only cared about Viki,” Clara answered. “I couldn’t risk Jason not believing you.”

Her words stung, but she was right. I was the only one delusional about Jason still loving me. Even though I understood her, it didn’t make me feel any better about her betraying me.

“She forced me to lie,” Clara continued. “She made me plant things, repeat stories, twist events so that everyone would doubt you. After that, she never stopped torturing me. She told me I should be grateful she let me live.”

“So, how did you end up at Bloodmoon?” I asked.

“I finally ran. I couldn’t take it anymore,” Clara said quietly, “I had nowhere to go. I wandered until I reached Bloodmoon’s border. The guards caught me, but Alpha Nolan saw that I wasn’t dangerous. He let me stay as a maid.”

Nolan nodded. “Her story was consistent after being interrogated multiple times. I believed her.”

I looked back at Clara. I could see the fear in her eyes as if she was reliving the trauma all over again.

‘We can forgive her. Make her prove herself,’ my wolf suggested.

“You will swear to me,” I said slowly, “that you will never betray me again. No matter who threatens you. No matter what they promise. Swear that you will report to me, no matter what.”

Clara nodded vigorously, “I swear it,” she said. “On my life, on my wolf.”

“Understand this clearly, Clara, I forgive you, but that doesn’t mean I trust you. You will have to earn back my trust.”

“I understand,” Clara replied at once. Only time would tell if Clara was telling the truth or not.

Nolan turned to her. “You will serve Talia now,” he said. “With loyalty.”

“Yes, Alpha,” Clara said.

He left us then, explaining he needed to return to his meetings. When he was gone, I released a breath I had not realized I was holding.

After breakfast, I asked Clara to show me around the pack grounds. Della joined us, explaining that Marco was still tied up with Nolan and the senior members.

Maggie remained composed. “I am only enforcing what has always been in place.”

“And who are you to enforce anything?” Della growled.

“You need to put her in her place,’ my wolf urged.

I watched Maggie silently and placed a hand on Della’s shoulder. “We will leave,” I said calmly.

Della turned toward me in surprise, but I met her gaze and shook my head slightly. This was not the moment.

Maggie smirked in satisfaction for a brief moment before going back to her calm façade. “Thank you for understanding, Miss Talia.” Her emphasis on my name was another jab, but I wasn’t going to take the bait.

As we walked away, Della reached out through our mind link. “She does not like you,” she said quietly.

“I know,” I replied.

“And you’re just going to allow her to talk to you like that?” Della asked.

“No, but this wasn’t the place to deal with her,” I replied.

“You should tell Nolan before this gets out of hand,” Della suggested.

“Don’t worry. I plan to,” I said.