Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 61

Nolan’s POV

I didn’t answer Marco’s question. I walked past him back to my room. While I walked, I replayed every second of the encounter earlier in the garden. The way Jason clawed at Talia like a desperate animal, the way she fought him, and the way my own wolf nearly tore through me to intervene.

I didn’t like how much I felt out of control. I didn’t like seeing Jason on Talia like that. The urge to hunt him down to teach him a lesson was almost unbearable.

I slung my door open and sat down at my desk, rubbing my hand over my face. Marco followed me in and closed the door behind him. “Alpha, what’s going on?” he asked.

“You should have told me,” I said coldly, not bothering to look up at him.

Marco frowned. “Told you what?”

“That Talia and Jason were mates once!” I snapped.

His brows lifted slightly, and then laughed, “Wait. Hold on. Did it matter now?”

“No. But you should tell me they were fated mates before,” I argued.

“You said the alliance was the priority. That’s why I didn’t bring it up. I didn’t think you’d want to waste time digging into her past when you’d already called her the enemy’s daughter,” Marco explained.

My jaw clenched. “You don’t get to decide what details matter and what don’t.”

Marco’s gaze hardened. He wasn’t intimidated by me, not completely. That was part of why I kept him. “And you were dismissive of anything I said about her, so why do you care now?”

“Because I need to know EVERYTHING about the enemy’s daughter. That was important, Marco,” I growled.

“Alpha, what happened? Why do you care so much now?” Marco asked with confusion.

“He tried to force himself on Talia,” I bit out, heat rising in my chest. “Had the audacity to say he wanted her back as his Luna.”

Marco’s gaze hardened for a moment. Abuse of she-wolves was always something that enraged him. “That ungrateful bastard,” Marco growled.

“What else? Marco,” I pressed.

“Alpha King refused to acknowledge Jason as her fated mate, so Princess Talia disguised herself as an omega just to become his mate and the Luna of Shadowclaw back then.” Marco let out a rough breath..

“She did that? For him?” I asked in disbelief.

Marco nodded once. “Yes. That’s how much the mate bond can push someone. She gave up her standing, her title, and her family all for him.”

I had always believed she and Solon were just like their father. Arrogant, driven by power and pride. To think she had willingly cast it aside for Jason of all people, it was unheard of.

I turned to him slowly. “You presume too much, Marco.”

“No. We’ve been friends since we were kids. I know you, Nolan, just like you know me. You feel for her even with the pendant on and it’s only going to get worse.”

“I said enough,” I growled, letting a fraction of my aura bleed into the room.

Finally, I exhaled and pulled it back. “If you’re so eager to keep me on task, then do your job. Jason claims he’s here to study some warrior training.”

“You want me to find out the real reason he’s here?” Marco confirmed.

“Yes,” I said coldly. “I want every detail. If he has other intentions for this so-called alliance, I’ll know it before he even sets anything in motion. And if he dares to doublecross me, I’ll rip his throat out.”

Marco smirked as he stood up and said, “Finally, something that sounds like you. I’ll handle it. But you can’t ignore the bond forever, Nolan.”

When the door shut behind him, my wolf pressed forward one last time. ‘Don’t reject her. Don’t make Jason’s mistake. She is ours. If you lose her, you lose everything.’

I pressed a hand to my chest where the pendant rested, the heat of it biting against my skin as I forced his voice down again.

“No,” I said quietly. “I will not be ruled by a stupid bond. Not now. Not ever.”