Chapter 390

[ 912 words ]

Talia’s POV

Before I could reply to Arya, Walden jumped in. “I’d be happy to go with you for your shift ceremony, Arya,” he said warmly. “You’ve always been like a daughter to me.”

But Arya shook her head. “Thank you, but I want Alpha Nolan with me.” She then turned to me again. “Please, Luna. Won’t you agree?”

Nolan stood stiffly beside me. I could tell he was uncertain. He felt responsible as Alpha, worried about me, and unsure what Arya really wanted. My mind raced. Was Arya testing us, or trying to come between Nolan and me?

‘This little brat,’ my wolf growled. ‘You have to agree. Otherwise, it’ll seem like we don’t keep our promises.’

I forced a smile, even though I hated all of this. “I don’t mind, and those are the rules,” I finally said, trying to sound calm. “And I, for one, don’t want any of Della’s nasty eggs.” I gave a weak laugh.

Arya relaxed, giving a small, grateful smile.

‘You should say yes,’ I told Nolan through our mate bond.

Nolan hesitated. I could feel he was torn between his duty as Alpha and his loyalty to me. He finally nodded, and Arya said happily, “Thank you, Alpha. Thank you, Luna!”

The tension in the crowd faded just slightly as people started talking again, but I could feel the pack watching us, eyes flickering in our direction. Near the drinks table, a woman leaned in to whisper urgently into Jamie’s ear, and their glances kept darting from Arya to me. Two warriors exchanged uneasy looks behind folded arms, pretending to carry on their conversation but clearly straining to catch every word.

I heard someone mutter, “Did you see Luna’s face?” while another voice answered, “Arya always was bold, but that’s a new record.”

Arya’s request seemed to undo all the good Della had tried to do tonight. The pack was tense again, waiting to see if I’d lose my temper. I had to stay calm, even though I wanted to call Arya out for asking something so bold.

Noticing the pack members gossiping, Della frowned. “No, we’re going to have a fun night, dammit,” she muttered before climbing back onto the crate.

“What do you think you’re doing? This party isn’t over,” Della yelled. “Jamie, keep the drinks coming. We’ve got more rounds to play. Or is everyone scared to keep going?”

A few pack members stepped forward to get the game going again while Marco played more music. I took another sip of my water before Nolan gestured toward the packhouse. I was fine with leaving. I wasn’t in the mood to celebrate anymore

Once we were far from the party and the music was just a low hum, Nolan pulled me aside. “You don’t look so good,” he said, worried. “Are you alright?”

I laughed, trying to break the tension. “It’s just the Bloodmoon Pack’s drinks. They’re strong enough to drop a moose.”

He frowned and brushed my hair out of my face. “Maybe you should see a doctor. You look really pale.”

I pushed his hand away and tried to joke. “I’m fine, really.” He still didn’t look

convinced, so I took his arm and led him away from the crowd.

We walked in silence, our boots crunching on the ground. After a while, Nolan spoke quietly. “I didn’t want to say yes to Arya.”

I stopped and squeezed his hand. “I know. I’m not mad at you.”

He shook his head, looking embarrassed. “It was disrespectful to both of us. I felt awkward. Why did she put you on the spot like that?”

“It’s okay, Nolan. As Alpha Queen and Luna, it is my job to guide the pack, keep the peace, and show everyone they can rely on me. The pack and Arya need to trust me, so if this is what she wants, I can’t say no,” I said. “Even if I am a bit jealous.”

“I think she’s planning something.”

“Arya isn’t planning anything I think. She’s just a young woman looking for a daddy figure,” I said, though I wasn’t sure I believed it. “Maybe that’s what she wanted to talk about earlier.”

He looked away and ran a hand through his hair. “Walden told me more about her past tonight. Arya’s an orphan. She had no one. Her parents died just after they joined the Bloodmoon Pack. The warriors took her in, and she trained harder than anyone else. Walden noticed her because she beat half the warriors in the ring, even though she’s so small. Eventually, he made her his deputy.”

I saw Arya in my mind as a little girl, struggling to find her place. Now her request made sense. She wasn’t trying to trick anyone; she had simply always had to fight for everything. Even my wolf, who had been suspicious of Arya, calmed down within me, and a sense of respect grew where there used to be mistrust.

Nolan squeezed my hand, his eyes gentle. “You’re a good Luna, Talia. You always give people a chance even when it’s hard.”

My face flushed. “Don’t give me too much credit. I’m still jealous, but I trust you, and

I want Arya to get the ceremony she deserves.”

He pulled me into a hug, steadying me with his warmth. “Thank you.”

I relaxed in his arms, letting the night air cool my face. “Tomorrow, when you help Arya, I’ll wait outside the forest. I’ll be there if you need me.”

He pressed a kiss to my forehead and chuckled. “I only hope her shift ceremony goes smoothly… and that she doesn’t give me too much trouble.”

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