Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 319

Talia’s POV

The first set of green eyes broke from the line and came at me low, weaving quickly between the trees. I saw the rogue’s hunched form for an instant and managed to step half a pace back, preparing myself as he lunged the remaining distance toward me.

A howl split the forest.

From off to my right, its sound rose, long, high, and sharp. Instantly, every set of green eyes in the trees around me flicked toward the noise. The rogue about to land on me twisted its body mid-leap, claws skimming past where I’d stood, and turned aside. The eyes withdrew into the darkness in a coordinated sweep, vanishing together like a flock of birds wheeling as one. In seconds, the last shapes disappeared, and the forest behind me was empty.

I stood in the clearing, my heart pounding so hard it hurt. My breath came in shallow, uneven bursts, and I fought the urge to collapse to my knees.

I heard the crunch of approaching footsteps through the undergrowth, getting louder as someone drew closer to the clearing.

Nolan was walking toward me through the trees. For him to show up now, in this exact place, at this exact moment, was not a coincidence. Had he been following me all along? Or was someone else watching, reporting my every move back to him? The idea sent a cold chill down my spine.

‘Stay calm. We can talk our way out of this,’ my wolf reassured me.

“What are you doing here at midnight?” he asked coldly.

‘Don’t try to hide that we’re afraid. Use it. Bring up the rogues,’ my wolf suggested.

“There were rogues everywhere. We have to deal with them first,” I said, dodging his question.

“What rogues?” Nolan asked. “What are you talking about?”

I looked at Nolan as if he were crazy. “You did not hear the howl? You can’t smell them?”

“I heard you, not a howl. There are no rogues here. Patrols cleared the area before sundown. You’re imagining things,” Nolan responded.

“I’m not imagining things. They were here,” I stated firmly.

“Why are you this far from the house?” Nolan responded.

“I…I needed to go on a walk,” I replied.

“I thought you were tired,” Nolan said, taking a step toward me. My wolf bristled in me. This was it. I had acted too recklessly, and he was going to know I was on to him.

“Luna, there you are! I have been looking for you,” a voice called out.

I turned toward the voice. The man who came out of the trees wore the dark uniform of a household guard. He had an eye patch over his right eye. He stopped at the edge of the clearing and bowed to the imposter.

He turned and started walking back the way he had come. Robin fell in behind him, the way a guard would. I tucked my arms tight across my chest, hugging myself against the cold as I followed between them, feeling scraped raw and painfully exposed.

We walked through the trees for about a minute before I spoke again. “I really didn’t expect you here, Robin. Annie told me that you’d gone to the Moon Goddess. I thought you were dead,” I said, keeping my voice light.

Nolan spoke before Robin could. “Robin asked to join as a guard. He said the work suited him. The mad rogues are still moving. Annie is safer in the house with you, where Robin can look after us. He chose this.”

“I see. I am glad you are well, Robin.”

“Thank you, Luna.”

I walked the rest of the way back between them without speaking. The path back to the house was longer than the run out. By the time we cleared the trees and the kitchen garden came into view, I had a clearer picture of what I was working with than when I first tried to flee.

I had underestimated the imposter. There had to be people watching me that I could not see. If not for Robin, I’d already be dead.

Every moment I stayed here was another chance for him to discover that I knew the truth. I couldn’t let him mark me. I had to get out before tomorrow night. The only way that was going to happen was with help from the inside.

Robin was the place to start.