Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 32

Talia’s POV

I didn’t speak again until we were in the corridor, far enough where our father would not hear us. I grabbed Solon’s wrist to stop him as I couldn’t hold the questions in any longer.

“What is wrong with father?” I asked, keeping my voice low. “This is not a smart move.”

”I agree,” Solon exhaled and leaned against the wall. “Nolan is disrespectful, throws around baseless accusations, and is still able to do what he wants. If it was anyone else, they’d be in the dungeon or exiled.”

That was what scared me the most. Nolan was allowed to behave like a spoiled child for so long. How far would Father allow Nolan to go before he intervened?

“Then why does Father continue to tolerate him?” I asked. “Why let him sleep under our roof?” I needed a reason that made sense. Any reason other than because Father agreed to his request.

“There’s history between them,” Solon sighed.

“What kind of history?” I pressed.

“After Nolan’s father died in an ambush, our father offered to adopt him, bring him here to raise him but he refused,” Solon explained.

That surprised me. I opened my mouth to respond, but a flash of memory stopped me.

I had met Nolan after the tragedy.

I’d been six. It was the day Father brought Nolan to Silverfang. I didn’t know what was going on, but I remembered standing in the grand hall, holding Della’s hand when Nolan walked in.

Unlike before, Nolan didn’t offer a timid smile or bow politely. That day, he glared at my father. A boy barely taller than me, staring at the Alpha King without a trace of fear. Even then, even at that age, I sensed he was dangerous.

“I just remembered him now,” I said. “He was mad at father back then.”

“Yes, rude even,” Solon said. “I wanted to drag him out and beat him for it. Father did not have to offer him anything. He could have left the Elder Council to place him with a guardian. Yet father chose to respect Nolan’s will to go back to Dark Moon when he refused the adoption.”

“Why would Father do that?” I asked, my brows knitting.

“Because Father respected Nolan’s father. They were friends,” Solon explained. “After the ambush, Father blamed himself for not preventing it. He tried to make amends with Nolan but Nolan didn’t want anything to do with us. Nolan chose to rebuild Blood Moon on his own. He was just a boy with no allies and no resources and he made Blood Moon into a pack that is to be feared. He earned respect through force. That’s why father feels guilty. He sees the man Nolan became and blames himself.

“But it is not our father’s fault that Nolan’s father died,” I said.

“I know. There was an investigation and he was cleared. Everyone knew he wasn’t responsible, but guilt doesn’t care about that.”

“I believe Father does not act without a plan,” Solon replied.

“Do you think Nolan is here for revenge?” I asked, my stomach tightening.

Solon shrugged. “It seems plausible. He never moved on from his father’s death and never forgave us while we thrived and he struggled.”

“I don’t like this at all, Solon,” I said. “I am worried about what Nolan wants. I am worried about what Father will allow from him.”

“Your concern is valid, Talia,” Solon said, resting a hand on my shoulder. “I don’t like this either, but we don’t have a choice.”

“Then what do we do?” I asked, brows furrowed.

“We will keep an eye on him,” Solon stated. “You should stay away from Nolan. He’s dangerous. Don’t let him speak to you privately, and don’t react to anything he does. Avoid engaging him if you can.”

I nodded. “I’ll be careful.”

I wasn’t sure what Nolan wanted, but something told me I was going to find out sooner than I liked.