CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & THIRTY ONE
Talia’s POV
Della walked beside me along the unfinished stretch of wall. Her expression remained serious. “Are you sure?”
“I could just be overreacting,” I replied.
“When you expelled Jason and Michael from Shadowclaw, did you send Henry to track them?” Della asked.
I shook my head. “No. I strengthened the defenses and banned their return.”
“That’s it?” Della stopped walking. “You didn’t think you had to have someone watching them?”
“At the time, I believed removing them was enough,” I explained. “I didn’t think they would be stupid enough to come back.”
Della looked at me like she wanted to say more but was choosing her words carefully. “What if Jason found another way in, like the way Viki did,” Della suggested. “He’s not the kind of a man to just give up, especially with Michael breathing down his neck.
“No, this is different,” I explained. “Walden is very thorough. He knows every warrior’s background. Jason couldn’t have walked in without someone recognizing him.”
“And yet, Viki was able to do it,” Della countered. “She got past his defenses. Who’s to say Jason couldn’t do the same?”
“No, Walden would’ve noticed,” I said stubbornly.
Della didn’t argue, but she didn’t look entirely convinced either. “I think you should listen to your instincts. You should be cautious and not dismiss it.”
“I know. I am going to tell Nolan tonight,” I agreed.
By the time we returned to the pack house, I had almost convinced myself I was overthinking it. The man at the border only resembled Jason. Things had just gotten resolved. It was natural that my mind would find his face in a stranger’s.
‘You haven’t been doing that. Why would you see him now all of a sudden?’ my wolf argued.
‘It’s called PTSD and it can show up at any time.’
‘Contact Henry,’ my wolf urged, unconvinced by my explanation.
“I don’t want to make something out of nothing,” I replied.
‘And what if it is something? Then you would be putting yourself and others in danger. Contact Henry.’
I closed my eyes and reached out through the mind link. Henry responded quickly, ‘Luna Talia, is everything okay?’
‘Yes, everything is fine. I just wanted to check on Shadowclaw and see how things are going,’ I replied. ‘Has anything unusual come up in the last few days?’
‘Nothing out of the ordinary,’ Henry said. “The pack has adapted well to the changes. Why? Why are you asking all of a sudden?”
‘I saw a warrior today who looked like Jason,’ I answered. ‘I wanted to know if you have anyone check on his whereabouts or if he attempted to return to Shadowclaw.’
‘No, Luna. Jason has not come near Shadowclaw. Neither has Michael. I have eyes on every entry point, Luna. I would have told you the moment I suspected anything.’
‘I know you would have. Just stay vigilant.’
‘Always.’
“Thank you, Henry.”
1/3
+25 Bonus
I ended the link. Talking to Henry had not been as comforting as I assumed. If Henry hadn’t seen Jason, there could be a chance that the warrior was Jason.
‘No, I am overthinking things. He wouldn’t be that stupid,’ I told myself.
At dinner, Nolan sat across from me. Clara and the maids moved quietly around the table. Nolan watched me pour my water absent-minded.
“Are you not feeling well?” Nolan asked. “You’ve barely touched your food.”
“No, I’m fine. I’m just thinking about the wall,” I said. “Walden expects it to be finished within the month.”
Nolan frowned and then turned to Clara, “Leave us, please.”
She and the others bowed and exited the room. When the door clicked shut, Nolan asked again, “What is wrong? Just tell me, Talia.”
“I thought I saw Jason today,” I said.
Nolan put down his fork. “What?”
“At the border, I saw one of the warriors in the group being sent back for training. He had the same build, the same way of standing,” I explained.
“Did you see his face?” Nolan asked.
“I did, but only for a second. I know how it sounds,” I said. “I already contacted Henry. He confirmed that Jason hasn’t come anywhere near Shadowclaw.”
“Then it wasn’t him.” But Nolan still looked bothered, and he wasn’t reaching for his fork. He was staring at the table like he was working through something.
“But I can’t shake it, Nolan. The way he looked at me wasn’t the way a warrior looks at his Luna,” I added.
“Are you sure it wasn’t him?” Nolan asked.
“That’s the point, Nolan, I don’t know. I don’t know if my mind is playing tricks on me, but something about that warrior wasn’t right,” I said.
Nolan exhaled slowly. “If there is any chance, any at all, that Jason found a way into Bloodmoon, we don’t need to delay. We need to investigate now. I won’t risk him harming our pack or you again.”
“I know. That’s why I’m telling you.”
“If it is him, I will kill him,” Nolan growled.
“I won’t stop you from doing what is best,” I said. There is only so many times you can give a person a chance. I was too lenient with Viki, and I was not about to make the same mistake twice.
Nolan nodded slowly, but the tension didn’t leave his face. He opened his mouth to speak again when the dining room doors flew open.
Maggie rushed in, her face pale and her breathing uneven, as if she had been running for a long time. “Alpha. Luma. We have an emergency!”
Nolan was already on his feet. “What is it?”
“A supply depot is on fire at the border!” 1
