Chapter 464

Talia’s POV

Everyone at the table was watching as I took a bite.

No one tried to hide it. Clara stood with her hands folded, the girl next to her froze, and even Della stopped talking, which was always a rarity.

I took the spoon from Nolan and then placed it in my mouth. The stew tasted great.

“Clara, this is amazing,” I said, and everyone visibly relaxed.

Clara sighed in relief. “Thank the Goddess your taste buds aren’t ruined.” She then hurried back to the kitchen, with the girl following. They returned with drinks for everyone and a plate of sweets. After that, they kept refilling drinks any time my cup was half empty.

The room became noisy again as everyone talked to each other instead of just focusing on me. I finally felt like I could eat in peace even though I still noticed a few people staring at me. All I had to do was keep it together until I could get to my

room.

“Henry’s not here tonight. He left with Arya earlier,” Nolan said as he started up a conversation.

“Henry? Alpha Jason’s beta? Why would he be visiting me?” I asked.

“He didn’t agree with what Jason did and left Jason,” Nolan explained as he put some food on my plate. “You made him Alpha there when you became Queen. It’s been going well for him for four years now.”

The last I remember, Henry looked so guilty when I walked out of Shadowclaw. I never would have thought he would side with me over his best friend. ‘Henry always did what was right,’ my wolf said. ‘It isn’t that hard to believe.’

“And he found a mate?”

“Yes, to Luna Arya. You two had a rough start, but you helped him with her,” Nolan said. “She used to be Bloodmoon’s deputy chief warrior. Now she’s Luna of Doomfur.”

“How does a deputy chief warrior end up running Doomfur?” I asked. Doomfur had been chaotic for some time and hadn’t had a Luna in years.

“That is a long and messy story. I will tell you about it another time,” Nolan replied.

Nolan kept things easy and told me funny stories about our twins. He mentioned that Alpha Landon from Lonefur gave me a special gemstone when I was pregnant, claiming it would protect the baby, and then wouldn’t stop bragging about it for a year. He also joked that Colin still hadn’t found a mate and was now acting like he didn’t even care.

“It has been painful to watch. He’s even considering taking a chosen mate,” Nolan added. “I told him to wait a little longer. It took me years to find you, and it was well worth the wait.”

I couldn’t help but blush at his compliment. Nolan continued to surprise me. Everything I’d ever heard about the Alpha of Bloodmoon made him sound cold and unapproachable. But this man had spent the whole meal serving the twins and me before himself, and was carefully explaining five years of my life in small, manageable pieces so I wouldn’t feel overwhelmed.

Why hadn’t I met him first instead of Jason?

Elian reached across to me for bread, and Nolan gently moved his hand back to his plate without pausing his conversation before giving Elian the piece he wanted. Nyla held out her cup, and he filled it, not missing a beat.

As I watched him, I got this strange, warm feeling I couldn’t explain. It was like being in a place you’ve never seen before, but somehow knowing it’s where you’re supposed to be.

People started leaving after an hour. Solon and Leslie went first, and then Della hugged me so hard it hurt, promising to explain everything in the morning. I watched as her mate escorted her out of the dining hall. Soon, only a few staff were clearing the table.

I stopped Clara as she walked by with a stack of bowls.

“Thanks for dinner,” I said. “Both of you. It was wonderful, and I know it was a lot of work.”

Clara just stared at me with a confused expression. “Luna, you don’t need to thank us.”

“She’s thanking us like we’re strangers,” the girl said.

Clara waved her off and said, “Don’t be so formal. Nothing has changed between

us. Five years asleep and you come back polite. Perhaps we should get the witches to put Annie in a coma.”

“Hey! Don’t joke like that!” the girl exclaimed, and Clara laughed.

“I’m only teasing,” Clara said.

They kept joking about it as they went back into the kitchen.

I waited until they were gone.

“The girl with Clara,” I said to Nolan. “I don’t know her.”

“That’s Annie.”

“Should I know her?”

“Yes, you brought her here from Silverfang,” he said, putting down the dish towel. “Her father died, and you gave her a home. She practically worships you.” Hearing that made my chest feel heavy. I’d meant so much to her, but I had no memory of it, which made me feel both sad and guilty.

“And you haven’t told her I don’t remember her,” I said. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because she’d take it harder than anyone here,” Nolan said. He glanced at the kitchen. “If she found out you don’t remember her, it would break her heart.”

I thought about how she’d been

watching me all night as if she was expecting more from me It made me feel guilty. There’s nothing you can do right now. We will getour memories back,’ my wolf said.

“I agree. Let’s not tell anyone other than those who already know,” I said.

“As you wish, my queen,” Nolan said, causing me to blush.

“I don’t think I’m going to get used to that,” I said.

“You used to say that before the coma,” Nolan said.

I yawned before I could stop myself.

Suddenly, exhaustion hit me, and everything felt blurry. I realized I’d been awake for nine hours after five years asleep, and most of that time was spent learning my life wasn’t what I remembered.

Nolan stood up and tried to pick me up, one arm behind my back and one under my

knees. His touch sparked desire through me, which caught me off guard.

“What are you doing?” I demanded.

“Carrying you upstairs to bed,” Nolan said, and I felt desire coiling in my stomach.

My wolf whined, but I couldn’t do this. I didn’t know him.

“I can walk,” I protested, pushing against his chest. “Put me down. I’m fine.”

He stopped immediately. He always did, which somehow made it worse. I put space between us and cleared my throat. “I think we should sleep in separate rooms for the time being.”

That’s when I saw both kids standing in the doorway, watching us.

Nyla’s forehead was all wrinkled with worry.

“Mom,” she asked, “aren’t you going to bed with Dad?”