Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 450

Talia’s POV

Camilla didn’t answer right away. She picked up one of the older books and turned it so we could see the page.

“The Rebirth Ritual,” Camilla said quietly.

“I’ve never heard of it,” I said, frowning at the page.

“You wouldn’t have. It belongs to us, and we don’t talk about it outside these woods,” Camilla said, smoothing the page. “Listen. I’ll explain it once, then you can ask questions until you understand.”

“Go on,” Nolan prompted.

“Ten of my witches will take part of your wolf spirit and seal her away.” Camilla traced the page with her finger. The writing was cramped and old, the ink faded where hands had touched it for years. “You’ll carry the twins like you are now. When it’s time, you’ll give birth.”

“And then she dies,” Nolan said flatly, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes. That part does not change. It will be exactly as Leslie told you and exactly what Talia saw in her dream.”

“Then what’s the point of the ritual?” I asked. My hands shook, but I tried to keep my voice steady.

“Your wolf will be kept safe,” Camilla said. “After you deliver your children, we’ll return what we took. Your wolf will go back into your body and bring you with her. You’ll come back, Talia. It’ll take time, and you’ll have to heal, but you’ll be alive. Both your children will be too.”

“There’s no version of this where I don’t die,” I said.

“No,” Camilla said.

“I have to die,” I said. The words tasted bitter.

“You do. There’s no way to keep the twins safe and stop it. If we try to stop them from taking from you, we hurt them. You already said that’s not an option,” Camilla explained. “So we let it happen, then we undo it. That’s the ritual.”

‘That is not fair,’ my wolf whimpered, somewhere deep down and getting fainter every day. ‘What did we do? The Goddess gave us two. She gave us two and then made it like this. Why would she do that to us?’

I didn’t have an answer. My thoughts spun. Every story I knew about fate or sacrifice felt hollow now. Was this a test, or just bad luck? My chest ached with all the things I still wanted to say and every future slipping away.

I didn’t have an answer.

“Camilla,” Nolan said, his voice raw. “If you give her wolf back and she doesn’t wake up, what then?”

“Then she does not wake up,” Camilla replied simply.

“That’s it? That’s your answer?” Nolan demanded.

“Yes it is. That is all I can do for you,” Camilla said, not looking away from him. “You are welcome to not choose this path.”

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