Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 297

Jason’s POV

Hope flashed across Talia's face when Leslie spoke, and I almost smiled. Seeing that tremor of hope, I was filled with a dark satisfaction. That was exactly what I wanted. I wanted her to feel just enough hope for her father that I could savor crushing it. Everything was still going according to plan.

Talia’s entrance said it all. She looked frantic, struggling to keep herself together. She was desperate. Something had gone wrong, and now she had no choice but to consider my demands.

I put the cork back in the vial and held it up between my fingers, watching her eyes follow it. Her jaw tightened and her lips pressed together. I pretended to drop it, just to catch that flicker of panic in her eyes. Her breath hitched, a small tremor showing her fear.

“That should clear me up as a traitor, right?” I asked.

Solon scoffed. “You have done nothing but murder since you were exiled. Do you really think you can bargain your way out of avoiding punishment for what you have done?”

“Their deaths are as much your fault as it is mine,” I retorted as I knew it had been Solon to put the bounty on my head. Talia wouldn’t have done such a thing. “If you had left me alone, they wouldn’t have died.”

“Do you hear yourself? Your bastard of a father was a murderer long before now, and you were an accomplice to it all,” Solon snapped.

I grit my teeth from snarling. How dare he bring up my father! “How many did the Alpha King murder, I wonder. Nolan was convinced that he was his father’s killer for so long. It is not like he’s innocent in all this. He…”

“Enough,” Talia interjected, cutting me off. “That is an entirely separate issue, Jason. You worked with rogues and killed innocent people.”

“Who can prove this?” I questioned. “All I did was get support when I was exiled. Now, I’m here with something that you need. I think it is a good exchange.”

“No, it is not,” Talia stated.

“Of course it does. I’m fixing my father’s wrongs,” I lied. “Your father needs this vial. I risked my life to bring it here. It will save him. Isn’t that enough to remove the bounty?”

"My father is not dying," Talia responded.

I laughed before I could stop myself. Her lie was so obvious it was almost funny. She hadn’t even tried to hide it. Her eyes were red, her face still streaked with tears. She hadn’t bothered to clean up before coming here.

“If you saw yourself right now, you’d realize how ridiculous you sound,” I said.

“As I said, my father is not dying,” Talia said firmly.

“Then, why do you need the potion? Come on, Talia. I think we’re past lying to each other. I’ve trusted you, even though these two did not. I’ve been honest with you from the very beginning. Couldn’t you give me the common courtesy to do the same?”

My wolf had stirred when Kent’s voice faded out of my mind. ‘Do not trust him. He could be lying to us.’

‘He has no reason to lie to us,’ I responded.

‘He has every reason to lie to us,’ my wolf countered. ‘He only swore his loyalty to save his life.’

‘Perhaps, but he is useful, and we need as many spies as possible for our plan,’ I told him.

Kent had promised loyalty to me back when the rogues almost took Doomfur. I didn’t trust him at first; men like him only swear loyalty to save themselves and will betray you if they get the chance. I was ready to treat him like any other Alpha that would act so cowardly by tearing his throat out.

Then I realized he was the wolfless Alpha. Kent’s father had beaten him for it his whole life, and I understood what that felt like. I knew what it was to have a father you could never please. That kind of pain could turn into loyalty if you handled it right, and I knew how. That morning was the first proof that sparing him had been the right call.

"Jason." Nolan's voice cut back in. "Your conditions."

I set the vial on the table between us, keeping one finger on it. As long as I held it, none of them could grab it without starting a fight they’d lose before I could tip it over.

"First, I will leave Silverfang safely tomorrow. No tails, and no ambushes. Second, the Alpha King clears my name publicly so every pack stands down. Once both are done, you get the potion."