Dust within ancient walls Miles Brooks 58

CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT

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CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT

Talia’s POV

I sat in the quiet garden, the last of the day’s sunlight soft against my shoulders. A pack management book rested in my lap. Solon had recommended it, insisting it would sharpen my leadership skills.

“I have enough leadership skills as a Luna,” I told him.

“Yes, to a pack that used you as an event planner. This is different. Just read the book, Talia,” Solon stated, ruffling my hair.

“Fine,” I pouted.

Solon was right about the book. I had only finished the first chapter and felt like I had learned so much. Right when I was getting ready to start the next chapter, my wolf growled a warning.

‘Jason is here.’

“What?!” I frowned.

I snapped the book shut and started to gather my things. If I moved quickly enough, maybe I could avoid him altogether. But before I could rise from the bench, he was already there, blocking my way.

Damn it.

Jason looked different than the last time I’d seen him. There was the faintest trace of exhaustion on his face. But the arrogance in his eyes was still there, so Viki’s lies hadn’t humbled him.

“Talia,” he greeted, his voice deliberately soft. “I came to apologize.”

“You’ve already apologized. There’s nothing you could say that I want to hear,” I said, clutching my book in front of me like a shield.

“Please just hear me out, Talia,” Jason pressed. “I hurt you because I was deceived. Viki poisoned me with lies. She tricked me, and I was too blind to see. But now-” He spread his hands like a man offering a gift. “Now that she’s gone, nothing stands between us.”

“Did she manipulate you when you slept with her?” I asked.

Jason opened his mouth and then closed it quickly as he tried to think of what to say.

“You were cheating with her long before she told you she was pregnant, weren’t you?” I continued.

“Only because she lied to me about you. She said…”

I raised my hand, interrupting him. “You trusted an outsider over your fated mate. That is more disrespectful than cheating. Nothing will change our past now. We’re no longer mates. You made sure of that.”

His jaw twitched, but he forced a thin smile. “Do you remember the nights we shared? Do you remember what it felt like to be in my arms? I could give that back to you. I could give you everything, Talia.”

I raised a brow. “Everything? Can you return the years I wasted? Can you remove the humiliation I felt? Or what about the title of Luna? Or does your father still forbid that?”

For the first time, his confident expression faltered. “My father wants me to marry the Alpha King’s daughter. It’s politics, nothing more.”

CHAPTER FILTY FIGHT

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So, that was what he was here for. My wolf chuckled, ‘He’s an idiotic fool.’ I couldn’t wait to see his face when he realized I was the Alpha King’s daughter.

“But don’t think that means I don’t love you. I do. I always have. I always will. I can give you everything but the title. You’d still have my heart,” Jason stated.

I scoffed. “How generous of you to offer me the position of mistress while you crown another woman. No need and no thank you, Jason. Solon can give me everything I want, and he doesn’t have to lie to me to do it.”

His eyes narrowed and he finally let his mask fall. “You think Solon loves you more than I do? You think he’d give you more than I can?”

“Nope. I just know it,” I smirked.

I stood and turned to leave, but Jason moved faster than I expected. His hand shot out, yanking the collar of my shirt down roughly, exposing the skin of my shoulder.

“What the hell are you doing?” I exclaimed.

Jason’s grip tightened as he searched my neck and shoulder. He was looking for a mark that wasn’t there. Jason laughed. His lips twisted into a feral grin. “I knew it. I knew you wouldn’t let him mark you. You still love me. You’re still mine.”

“I’m not yours,” I spat, jerking away from him and pulling my shirt back up. “I will never be yours again!”

Fury flashed in his eyes. He lunged, grabbing me with both hands. His mouth crashed against mine. It was no kiss. It was teeth and rage. His fingers tore at my shirt, nails grazing my skin.

“Did he do this?” Jason demanded between breaths. “Did Solon touch you the way I did? Did he try to mark you?”

Get off me!” I snarled, shoving at his chest with all the strength I could gather. My wolf surged forward, lending me power. My claws tore at his chest, drawing blood.

Jason growled, he shook me hard as if he could shake the defiance out of me. “You are mine, Talia! I’ll prove it. I’ll mark you again, and you’ll see. You’ll remember who you belong to.

I fought him with everything I kicked, clawed, and twisted my body to break free. My wolf snapped inside me, snarling encouragement, pushing my limbs to strike harder. But I couldn’t break free of him.

“Stop fighting me!” he snapped. “Stop pretending! I know you still feel it! I can see it in your eyes!”

“You see nothing but your own madness!” I spat back, my teeth bared.

Jason forced me back down against the bench. One hand clamped around my throat while the other painfully wrenched my head back by my hair. He ignored my punches as he pressed his weight over me. His face was buried in the crook of my neck.

“You’ll thank me for this,” he hissed in my ear. “You’ll see that no one can love you the way I do.”

I thrashed harder, my claws slashing into his chest. I opened my mindlink with Solon and Della, desperate, hoping they could get to me before this maniac marked me again.

And then, a voice, sharp and cold, cut through the night air.

“Alpha Jason, what are you doing?”