Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 91

Talia’s POV

“Viki? Why are you doing this?” I asked.

“You have no idea, do you?” she said. “We’ve been watching you all along. My people knew the moment your wolf went silent. And now with the Hunting Rite, everyone is too busy to worry about you. It was the perfect opportunity for me.”

“Your people?” My voice was hoarse. “Who are they?”

Viki smirked. “It doesn’t matter. You won’t live long enough to need to know. Tonight, you die, and with you, every mistake of mine gets buried. I’ll have a clean slate.”

I pressed my back against the wall, trying to make myself as comfortable as possible despite the silver chains cutting into my wrists. “So, this is about revenge...”

Her eyes gleamed. “Of course. Do you know what you cost me?”

“Viki, you did this to yourself,” I retorted.

“Shut your fucking mouth.” Her voice cracked into a snarl. “If you had not run your mouth, Jason wouldn’t have despised me. Michael wouldn’t have tried to hang me!”

“You want to blame me for your mistakes?” I asked, though my voice trembled with exhaustion. “I didn’t tell you to lie, nor did I tell you to poison yourself with the Redbone Flower.”

Her chest heaved. Her lips twisted between a laugh and a sob. “Do you have any idea what you ruined for me? My wedding was perfect. I was meant to be Luna. It was mine, Talia! Mine. And you just couldn’t keep your fucking mouth shut.”

“Viki, what are you talking about?” I responded.

“You really are going to keep lying to me?” she asked in disbelief. “My father DIED because of you! If you had kept your promise, he wouldn’t have died. After everything, he loved me. He didn’t see me as just a tool. Do you understand now? I have to do this for my father.”

“I didn’t tell anyone anything!” I retorted but Viki didn’t hear me.

“NO!!! Everything fell apart because of you. And now I finally have my chance to take it back.”

I frowned. I hadn’t told anyone that Viki was taking the Redbone Flower. Solon found out through Marco. So, it’s Nolan? “I didn’t tell anyone. Solon found out through...”

“You expect me to believe that you didn’t tell? Do you think I’m a fool?” Viki snapped, cutting me off.

Her fingers dented the bars as she trembled with rage. Her voice cracked as she spoke. “Don’t you dare sit there acting innocent over and over again. You’ve always been a cunning little snake.”

“You’re projecting. You’d do something like that,” I countered. “Not me. Even with you insulting me day in and day out as Luna, I did nothing to you when I could have gotten you disciplined. So why would I hurt you now when I could’ve easily done it as Luna?”

I didn’t respond. I just glared at her while mentally preparing for what she had planned next.

“You really think he’ll come for you? You’re just an omega, Talia. No one is going to come for you.”

She unlocked the cell door and swung it open with a scrape that echoed down the corridor. “Look around. This is all you deserve.”

I forced myself not to shrink back. Panic had slowly turned to fear as I realized how unstable Viki was. My instincts screamed for me to fight and do whatever I could to get free.

“Still being stoic? Let’s fix that,” Viki smirked and clapped her hands.

Two rogues slunk forward from behind her. They entered the cell, shoulders rolling, and their eyes gleaming yellow. Their clothes were tattered, bloodstained, and caked with mud. The stench of sweat, blood, and bile hit my nose and made me gag. One grinned. His teeth were yellow and broken with bits of rancid meat in between. The other’s mouth was smeared with blood as if he had just finished mauling someone.

“Evening, Lady Viki,” the one with the yellow teeth said, bowing his head to her before looking at me. “You brought us a gift.”

Their gazes swept hungrily over me. My throat tightened as bile began rising. I never felt so weak until today. I called out to my wolf again, but still no response. Only silence.

Despair surged in me, but I held her stare. If this was the end, I would not beg.