Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 394

Talia’s POV

Our footsteps echoed down the stairs into the sub-basement. The air smelled like old sweat and mildew, like a locker room no one had cleaned in years.

"Ugh, why does it always smell like this?" Della complained under her breath.

"The dungeon isn’t meant to be pleasant for anyone. That’s the whole idea," I said. Della just grumbled quietly.

Walden stayed quiet, his face tense. He was probably still trying to figure out why Arya betrayed us.

Marco’s voice carried down the hall before we even reached the holding cell. “You are not in a position to make demands,” he told her. “We’re trying to help you but…”

"Then bring her here," Arya snapped, interrupting Marco. "If you want answers, bring the Alpha Queen. Otherwise, I’m not talking."

She saw me before I could say anything. Her hands were cuffed behind her back. Arya stepped away from the bars and sat in the only chair in her cell, her eyes never leaving me.

I crossed my arms and met her eyes. "You got what you wanted," I said. "I’m here now. So start talking."

Arya looked at Walden. "I told you, I want a doctor." She turned her head so I could see the bite mark on her neck. "Check it yourself. You’ll see it’s real."

“You just want to spread the lie that Alpha marked you,” Walden said. “I won’t allow it.”

I didn’t need a doctor to tell what I was looking at. The bite was fresh, the skin around it red and swollen. But I didn’t believe for a second that it came from Nolan.

“That mark isn’t this,” I said. Arya’s eye twitched before she laughed.

"Not even going to check? Scared of the truth?" she taunted, trying to get under my skin.

"There’s nothing to be afraid of," I said. "Nolan would never betray me.”

“You’re foolish to think that,” Arya retorted. “Even fated mates betray their mates. You of all people should understand that.”

Della growled, "Watch your mouth, you little psycho bi…”

"Della, enough," I snapped, stopping her. We needed Arya to talk, not get angry and shut down.

Arya’s smile grew, cold and mean. "You think I’m lying? Or maybe you just think I’m crazy? Please explain the mark on my neck then. Accept reality. Your mate chose me after he got tired of you."

"This is pointless," Della said. "She just wants to mess with your head. Let’s leave."

"If you go, you’ll never figure out how to wake him up," Arya said.

"Wait. Don’t you want to know why I did all of this?" Arya called out. I stopped, annoyed with myself for hesitating. She could probably see my doubt just by the way I stood.

"I’ve admired Alpha Nolan for years. I tried so hard to impress him, to make him notice me, and he refused to see me when I became a top warrior because of you," Arya explained. "When my shift ended, I decided this was the perfect time to find out if you were really worthy of him."

I should have trusted my gut. Arya was just like Maggie. At least she hadn’t teamed up with outsiders to hurt me. She did this by herself.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” Marco scolded. “Do you know how you sound?”

I shook my head. "You’re young and naive. Nolan would never choose you instead of me."

Arya’s eyes narrowed, and she pointed a finger at the bite on her neck. "He already did. This is proof."

Della grabbed my wrist, squeezing hard. "Don’t waste your time on her. She wants to mess with your head. You know better than to listen."

I could have asked Leslie to make an antidote, but I didn’t want to put more pressure on her. She was already pregnant and helping Solon recover.

‘Let’s do it. We can give her the beating she deserves,’ my wolf said within me.

"Fine. You want a fight? You’ve got one. Tomorrow at noon, the main training grounds."