Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 428

Arya’s POV

I made my way down to the dungeon while my mind raced. What was I going to say to Geoffrey? There was no way I could get him out of this mess without becoming an enemy of Bloodmoon.

‘There is nothing you can do,’ my wolf told me. ‘He has to accept the consequences of his actions, and so do you.’

Marco and Henry flanked the entrance. Henry’s arm was now patched, and he wouldn’t meet my gaze. Marco looked at me with suspicion. When I approached, Henry stepped forward, blocking my path with a gentle but firm hand.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked, searching my face for hesitation.

“I need to see him,” I replied. “Luna and Alpha already approved my request.”

Marco exchanged a look with Henry, then sighed. “Fine. You’re only getting 10 minutes.”

Marco’s keys rattled as he unlocked the door. The hinges groaned. The dungeon was cold and dark, lit only by a single torch on the wall. Geoffrey sat against the far wall, thick silver chains cutting into his wrists and ankles. Red burns marked his skin, but his face stayed calm.

Geoffrey looked up when he heard me. For a second, I saw the brother I remembered from childhood. Relief flickered in his eyes and he almost smiled. Then his face hardened again.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” he said

I knelt near him. “Of course I came.”

From outside, I heard Henry and Marco’s muffled voices, arguing over whether I should be left alone. Marco’s voice rose, but I ignored them, focusing on Geoffrey. “Tell me the truth. Did you really do this? Did you really work with rogues?”

Geoffrey met my gaze without flinching. “I allied with the rogues. I planned to kill Walden, and as you can see, I failed.”

“Why? Why would you do this?”

“Because power is all that matters. I’m not like the rest of you, content to wait for scraps. I was tired of being nothing. I had to keep climbing, even if it meant killing.”

“Is that all we were to you?” I asked. “Just a means to climb?”

Geoffrey shook his head. “No. You were the only one I wished would understand, but I was careless. I underestimated Walden. I underestimated everyone.”

Anger flared in me, but grief quickly overtook it. “You show no regret.”

He laughed, a short, bitter sound. “Regret is wasted on the weak. I curse Walden and the rest for their luck, not for what I did. If I could do it over,” His voice broke, but he forced it steady. “I’d be more careful. I’d win.”

Tears streamed down my face. “If you’d just let yourself be ordinary, this wouldn’t be happening. We could have started over and regained the time we lost. It wouldn’t have mattered if you were Alpha or even just a regular pack member, but now I’m going to lose you.”

He softened, just for a moment. “You were always too soft for this world.”

“Geoffrey, stop! What are you doing?”

Geoffrey’s voice was urgent, almost pleading. “You have to do it. You have to kill me. They’ll never let me live. If you do it, it’ll be mercy. Please, Arya.”

I shook my head frantically, tears blurring my vision. “No! I won’t!”

He pressed his forehead to mine, his grip trembling. “Please. Let it be you.”

My scream echoed off the stone walls. Henry and Marco burst into the dungeon, eyes wide with horror. Marco shouted, Henry reached for Geoffrey, but Geoffrey only held me tighter, urging me on. “Now, Arya. Please.”

I sobbed as I raised the dagger. My hands shook so much I could barely hold it. Geoffrey watched me, his eyes calm. “You have to. It has to be you,” Geoffrey pleaded again, and then I drove the blade into his heart.

Geoffrey gasped and his arms went limp. He pulled me close and whispered, “You did well, my little sister.” The dagger slipped from my hand and hit the floor.

“No, no, help me, Henry, Marco, help me!” I pleaded as I cradled him in my arms.

“Don’t…I love…you,” Geoffrey said as blood filled his mouth. His face turned red. He choked, and then the light left his eyes.

Henry and Marco pulled me away, but I barely noticed. All I could do was cry for my dead brother.