CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SEVENTEEN
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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SEVENTEEN
Talia’s POV
Healer Leslie’s temporary home was at the edge of Silverfang territory. It was one of the cabins we used to house rogues while we decided whether to include them in the pack or let them recover and move on. Smoke rose from the chimney, so I knew Leslie was home. I walked up to her door and knocked.
It opened almost instantly. Leslie stood in the doorway wearing a loose shirt and mismatched socks. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail. Her eyes widened when she saw me. “Talia? You found me already?”
Before I could answer, she grabbed my wrist and pulled me inside, saying, “Come in before someone sees you,”
The cabin smelled of herbs. Then I froze as a familiar scent hit me. Nn was standing near the table, looking just as shocked to
see me.
I hated the fact that I had the urge to go to him, to pull him down by his shirt and kiss him. I forced myself to stay where I stood. My shock and yearning for him turned to anger as Leslie walked past me and I noticed her attire again.
What was going on between them?
As if she could read my thoughts, Leslie quickly said, “I’m not sleeping with him, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
My attention locked on Nn. “Then what are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” Nn replied.
“Do you think this is a game?” I asked.
Before I could say anything more, Leslie pped her hands and said, “The Moon Goddess must beughing at me right now.”
I turned to her. “What do you mean?”
“You two are mates,” Leslie answered.
Nn shot her with a warning look. “Leslie.”
“You told her, but you couldn’t tell me?” I shot back at him.
“What? Don’t re at me,” Leslie said, waving Nn off. “Talia, you’ve got it all wrong. He didn’t tell me anything. I figured it out days ago. It doesn’t take a genius to put it together.”
My cheeks burned with embarrassment.
“Nothing to be embarrassed about,” Leslie said easily. “I tried not to say anything at the dinner but watching you both avoid each other was painful.”
She picked up her mug and took a sip of tea. “Honestly, I’m surprised it took you this long toe here,” she continued, leaning against the wall. “Usually, one mate runs to me begging for a solution while the other tries to pretend nothing is wrong. Today, I got both of you at once. It must be my lucky day or the Moon Goddess’s sick joke.”
I ignored her sarcasm. “Then you already know why I’m here. I want the herbs you talked about that night. The ones that suppress the mate bond.”
Leslie looked between us, then grinned. “Oh, this just got more interesting,” she hummed.
“Can you give them to me or not?” I asked firmly.
“You don’t need them,” Nn cut in.
“You have no right to tell me what I need,” I snapped.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SEVENTEEN
+25 Bonus
Nn didn’t respond, but his brow furrowed. I scoffed. Instead of telling me what he was thinking, he stayed silent.
Leslie let out a long sigh. “Alright, this conversation is going nowhere.” She walked back to the table, shooed Nn aside, and reached under it. Leslie pulled out two small packets wrapped in brown paper. “Here. One for each of you.”
Nn frowned. “Both of us?”
She nodded. “You’d be surprised how often I have to give them in pairs. Makes things easier when neither side wants to admit they care.”
I reached out and took the packet. “How does it work?”
“Simple,” Leslie said. “You add it to tea. It should start working in twenty-four hours. The herbs suppress a mate’s scent and dampen the bond for a while. It won’t make the bond disappear, but it’ll make it easier to ignore. However,” she added, pointing a finger at both of us, “the effect fades with time. The only way to truly break the bond is through rejection.”
Nn’s eyes flicked toward me. “Rejection?” he repeated.
“Yes, you know, the official rejection,” Leslie said with a shrug. “I, Leslie, reject you,’ and so on. That’s the only permanent way to stop being affected by the mate bond. The herbs only dy the inevitable decision of whether you’ll ept or reject it.”
I tightened my grip on the packet. “Thank you, Leslie.”
“You really think this is the answer?” Nn asked.
I red at him. “What else is there? You’ve spent all this time pretending the bond doesn’t exist. I’m just returning the favor.”
Leslie nced between us and muttered, “Maybe you should talk before making any permanent decisions.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I said quickly.
Leslie raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because you’re both here asking for the same thing. That means you still care enough to fight
about it.”
“I don’t care,” I said.
“Neither do I,” Nn replied right after me.
Leslieughed. “Sure. Keep telling yourselves that.”
She handed Nn his packet and leaned against the table. “If you two are serious about this, you should at least discuss whates next. Otherwise, the herbs will wear off before you even make up your mind.”
I turned toward the door. “I don’t need to talk,” I repeated.
Leslie caught my wrist and leaned close. “You do. Trust me. If you both walk out now, you’ll just end up back here again,” she whispered. “He saved your life, so at least hear him out.”
I stared at her, unsure if she was trying to help or just amuse herself.
“Fine,” she said finally. “If you won’t talk here, go outside. I have things to do, and I don’t need you two sulking in here.”
She pushed us gently toward the door. As soon as we stepped outside, she called out, “And do it away from my house.” Leslie closed the door before either of us could respond.
I wanted to just go back to my room and sulk, but De, Marco, and now Leslie were all saying the same thing, Nn and I needed to talk. There was nothing to talk about. He didn’t want me, and I didn’t need him to say it, but a small part of me still
wanted to hear him out.
With a sigh, I said, “Alright. Let’s talk, Alpha Nn.”