Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 335

Talia’s POV

We said goodbye to Colin at the Moonbrook gate just as the sun was rising and headed home. The roads were empty, much to our surprise. We were nervous that the rogues would attack, but they did not appear. I didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing.

‘They slinked back to their master. The packs should be safe for a little while at least,’ my wolf said.

By the time we reached the Bloodmoon border, the sun was already going down behind the trees.

Walden was waiting for us at the gate. He was Nolan's Chief Warrior and had led the pack while we were away. As soon as the car stopped, he came over and opened my door before the driver could. He never said he was worried, but I could see it on his face.

"It is good to have you both back, Luna and Alpha. The pack has missed you both," Walden greeted.

"Thank you. It is good to be back, Walden," I said.

Nolan got out on the other side and walked over to join us.

"Report," Nolan said. "What did we miss?"

"Rogues have been testing the borders the whole time you were gone. They come at night, in groups of two or three, looking for weak spots, but they always pull back when the patrols show up. We haven't seen any mad wolves at all,” Walden explained. “There weren’t any other major incidents to report, Alpha.”

"Good. Thank you, Walden. I knew I could rely on you.”

"I kept the training schedule you set and pushed it even harder. Now we have more elite warriors than before, and I promoted a new second to lead the western drills. Her name is Arya. If you want to meet her tonight, I can call her in,” Walden added.

Nolan shook his head. "Not tonight. I need time to decompress. I will meet her when there is time."

"Understood."

We walked up to the pack house. The lights were on, the place was busy, and omegas greeted us enthusiastically. Some looked relieved, and others proud. Word must have spread about Jason.

Clara was waiting at the door of our private quarters. We saw her as we were halfway up the steps. Seeing her there, healthy and smiling, was the first thing that made me feel truly at home.

“Luna, you’re back!” she said excitedly.

“What am I, chopped liver?” Nolan muttered, and I chuckled.

Clara bowed to Nolan and said, “Of course you’re not, Alpha. The pack has full faith in you returning safely, but I prayed for you too, like I always do.”

Nolan blushed and turned away, not knowing what to say. I smiled, and then Clara took both my hands into hers. "Luna, I have prayed to the Moon Goddess every single day that you would come back to us safe, and the Moon Goddess listened to my prayers. How are you? Are you injured?”

“I am fine, Clara. Thank you for keeping everything running while we were gone. The house looks exactly the way it did when I left it,” I said.

"Tell me what you saw."

“What are you talking about?”

“You do know what I mean,” Nolan responded. "At the party. When we were dancing, you stepped on my foot, and then you wanted to leave.”

“I told you it was nothing,” I lied.

“You are the better dancer of the two of us by a wide margin. Something made you do it. I let it go that night because you were tired and you had been through a week I would not wish on anyone. But we are home now, and we are safe, and I want to know what you saw,” Nolan pressed.

"There was a figure. Outside the hall, under one of the trees past the lit part of the courtyard,” I admitted.

“What kind of figure?” Nolan asked.

“It was standing in the shadows under a tree, watching the party. It gave me a bad feeling the moment I saw it. When I looked again, it was gone,” I explained.

"And your wolf?"

"Whatever it was, she was sure it was not a wolf, and it didn’t mean us well.”