Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 307

Nolan’s POV

Marco did not hesitate. He reached out and grabbed Kent firmly by the arm, ready to drag him toward the exit. Kent jerked his arm free with a quick twist. He shoved Marco backward, then turned sharply to face me, his eyes blazing with anger.

"You do not get to make that call. Solon is the Alpha King, not you,” Kent growled. “You are disrespecting him by deciding what happens to me without his word!"

My wolf bristled, hackles rising with a low growl as Kent defied my order. Still, he was right. I did not really have the right to decide his fate, even if I was sure Solon would not challenge me.

"Stand down, Marco. My apologies. I acted rashly."

That was not true. I had been thinking about it for the past hour, ever since the Harvest Gathering. Letting Kent think he had the upper hand did not cost me anything.

"Marrying the Alpha King's daughter does not make you superior to me, Nolan. We are both Alphas. You do not get to order my exile because you do not like my suggestions,” Kent growled.

"I see nothing wrong with what Nolan decided,” Solon said from behind me.

"Then you are a pitiful Alpha King. Your father at least had the courtesy of running things himself,” Kent shot back.

The room went deathly still, charged with silent, simmering hostility. All eyes locked on Kent. I could feel anger prickling over my skin and, through the mate bond, Talia’s fury burned like a wildfire in my mind.

"Aren’t you being a hypocrite?” Talia sneered.

“What did you say to me?” Kent questioned with narrowed eyes.

“You have been operating with malicious intent since the Harvest Gathering. Your alliance with Jason has disgraced your father. Philip would be ashamed of what you have become,” Talia responded.

Kent's face twisted as raw emotion broke through what he had been hiding for the past two days. The careful look he wore during the apology, the Harvest Gathering, and the funeral vanished, replaced by fury.

"Don’t you dare say his name! Everyone in this room has looked down on me since I was a child for being wolfless. Just like my father did,” Kent snapped.

"Alpha Philip was never like that. I saw the way Philip spoke about you when you were not in the room. He defended you to anyone who said a word against you. He praised you to my father more than once,” Solon said.

“Praise me? Bullshit!” Kent bitterly laughed. “He beat me like I was a dog on the street!”

“Yes, he was strict with you. He was strict with everyone. He was an Alpha, and that was his way. But he did not despise you. He protected you,” Solon countered.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. You weren’t there every day. Of course, he would show his good side with you. He used to make me sit at the far end of the table at meals so he would not have to see me. So, I made sure he’d never eat again!”

Kent’s last words seemed to slip out before he realized it. I saw the realization cross his face a moment later. He closed his mouth quickly, his eyes darting to the door. But two warriors were already standing in front of it, blocking his only way out.

I turned to Solon. "How do you want to handle him?"

"Your call, Alpha Nolan."

I looked at Marco. "Take him to the wall. Push him out to the mad rogues.”

Marco grabbed Kent’s arm firmly. Kent struggled, twisting and pulling to get free, but another warrior stepped in to help hold him. Together, they kept Kent in place as he yelled, “You can’t do this to me!” Panic rose in his voice.

Alpha Landon stepped forward with curiosity. "Will the mad rogues spare him?”

"He is dead meat,” Leslie said as she entered the hall. The color drained from Kent’s face. She walked around Marco and the warrior holding Kent. Della followed behind her.

“The mad rogues are loyal to the Rogue King by blood. They only spare those who carry the Rogue King's blood. Jason wears a red pendant containing the Rogue King's blood. Alpha Kent has nothing like it. If he goes outside, he dies."

“No! No! Let me go!” Kent screamed in terror as Marco, with the help of another warrior, marched him out. The door closed behind them with a heavy thud, the latch dropping loudly into place, echoing in the now quiet place.

We waited in silence. I heard someone breathing heavily near the back. It was one of the Lunas trying to stay calm. Henry stared at the floor. Colin had not moved from his spot.

A few minutes later, Kent’s scream broke the silence from beyond the wall. It was raw and full of terror, starting high and ending suddenly, cut off mid-breath.