Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 82

Talia’s POV

I was three days away from the Hunting Rite and every breath I took during training was a struggle.

I threw myself into training, but I could barely maintain it. Without my wolf, every movement I felt off. My stamina dropped faster than it ever had before. I was covered in sweat and wheezing before the others even looked winded.

I kept forcing myself to match them, but each time the sessions ended with me on the ground in exhaustion. It was humiliating. I was the Princess. I was supposed to be ruling over the Silverfang, and I couldn’t even run 6 miles.

As the Alpha King’s daughter, I had always been stronger and faster, but now I was looked at with pity and concern. Maybe Nolan was right. Maybe I should have had Jason beaten for the continued stress he was putting me through. If he hadn’t betrayed the mate bond, I would still be a Luna and not have gone through a stressful heat that made my wolf silent.

I just wanted my wolf to come back. Every day I called her and was met with silence.

At dinner that evening, my father expressed his concern. “Talia,” he began, setting his fork down, “your abilities are not what they were. You should not compete in the Hunting Rite this year. I am afraid you may injure yourself.”

“The Hunting Rite does not require battle, Father,” I responded. “I am still skilled in hunting. I just need to adjust my training to increase my stamina.”

“Still, your healing is slowed. I’m just worried you got injured,” my father countered.

“Please,” I said, leaning forward. “Let me do this.”

“Solon, what do you think?” my father asked.

Solon looked at me to our father before answering. “She’s right. Hunting is different from battle. She can handle it.”

Father sighed and said, “Very well. If this is your wish, I will not stop you. But you will not push yourself recklessly. If I see you straining, I will have you removed.”

Relief washed over me. “Thank you.”

“Why do you want to participate? You haven’t participated in years,” my father asked.

“I want to win first place.”

Solon chuckled, shaking his head. “You know Father would grant your wish regardless of the outcome.”

“I know,” I said. “But if I win, Nolan would not be able to refuse outright.”

I thought about the way Della’s eyes lit up when she spoke of Marco. She deserved the chance to live with him openly. I would do anything to make sure they had a chance to live the life that they deserved.

Father rubbed his chin as he processed my words. He finally sighed and said, “If you take first, I will speak to Nolan. That is all I can promise.”

Relief washed over me as I was thinking my father would have put up more resistance than this. “Thank you, Father,” I said, leaning over to hug him.

He gave a faint smile even though he still looked conflicted. “Do not worry too much for Della. Even Nolan would not defy the Moon Goddess by forcing his Beta to break his fated bond. No Alpha could.”

I wanted to be comforted by my father’s words, but I knew better. If what he said was true, why did Jason betray me?

The memory of Jason’s rejection no longer bothered me, but it was a stark contrast to my father’s words. Jason had willingly turned his back on the mate bond due to pressure from his own father and a lie. It felt almost naïve and ill advised to believe another male would not do the same.

My thoughts wandered to Nolan. I wondered if his mate had already appeared. It was doubtful because she wasn’t around. But if she had, how would he treat her? Would he resist the bond, the way I had once resisted mine with Jason? Or would he embrace it?