Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 80

Talia’s POV

Nolan lifted the glass in his hand to toast me. Then, he tilted his head toward the bar and said, “Come. We can talk where it’s quieter.” Without waiting for my agreement, he started walking back and I followed.

Della winked at me as we walked back to the bar. Inwardly, I groaned. I knew she wasn’t going to behave and pester me about this after the party was over. I sat back down next to her and Nolan took a seat a stool away from me.

“Thank you,” I said quietly. “For taking me to the hospital last time.”

I hated that I owed him anything, least of all gratitude. Worse still was the fragmented memories of that night kept returning at the worst time. I still couldn’t believe I begged him to mark me.

“It was nothing,” Nolan responded.

What?

The last time I thanked him he had been rude to me. Why was his response different this time?

“You clean up well, Alpha Nolan,” Della chimed in, leaning around me. She gave him a bold once-over. “Very handsome. You almost look like a gentleman tonight.”

I groaned and hissed, “Don’t embarrass him.”

“What? I’m just stating the obvious. You agree with me, right? He looks good tonight,” Della continued, and I tried to hide my face behind my drink.

Nolan didn’t react, but his Beta did. Marco scowled. “You should know better than to parade yourself around in that dress. It’s indecent. Miss Della.”

Della gasped as if he had struck her. “Indecent?” she scoffed. “This is a camisole dress. It’s elegant and trendy, not that you’d know the difference.”

Marco’s ears darkened as he walked over to her. He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled off the stool. “It’s too short. It shows too much.” He pulled off his jacket to give it to her, but Della slapped his hand away.

“It shows exactly as much as I want it to,” Della shot back. “If you have such an issue with it, don’t look.”

Their argument drew curious glances. I didn’t understand why she was getting so worked up. “Della, take it easy. I don’t think Beta Marco meant any harm.”

“No, Talia. He doesn’t get to tell me what I can and can’t wear.”

“You’re impossible!” Marco snapped. “Beta Logan raised you better than to flaunt yourself like this!”

Della’s eyes widened in anger. “Oh, thank you, Father Marco. Next time I’ll remember to ask you how I should breathe too,” she mocked.

“Della, I don’t mean-” Marco started.

“No, I don’t want to hear it,” Della said before walking toward the dance floor. She grabbed the first willing partner and began dancing.

Marco pinched the bridge of his nose and cursed under his breath before following her onto the dance floor.

“What was that about?” I said to myself. The tension between them was strange. Had I missed something while I was recovering?

When I turned back to the bar, I noticed Nolan had slid onto the stool beside me. He was staring at the row of bottles.

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