CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & TWENTY FOUR


    Talia’s POV


    Chaos erupted within the crowd. Pack members began to panic.


    “Why are we out here if there are mad rogues around?” someone yelled.


    “I have a family!”


    “Everyone calm down,” Nnmanded and the crowd silenced again, but fear was still wafting from them.


    “Is the Mad rogues’ blood as poisonous as the legends?” Walden asked, looking directly at me. “It is said that even being near is dangerous.”


    I could tell from his tone he was implying that it couldn’t be true. My wolf growled in annoyance as a few pack members were exchanging looks and muttering that it was just an urban legend.


    “You are correct. Those who are afflicted lose reason,” I continued. “They do not distinguish between enemy and ally. They react like rabid animals, biting at anyone nearby.”


    Walden frowned. “Then, how did you survive, Luna?”


    “I was only scratched by one infected wolf and that one scratch nearly cost me my life,” I responded.


    Walden frowned, visibly appalled by this new information. The crowd of pack members began to visibly panic. “Alpha, why didn’t you inform me of this?” Walden asked.


    “We did not announce this immediately because we did not want panic spreading through the pack without proof,” Nn exined. “We wanted to make sure that this was the Mad Rogue poisoning.”


    “After extensive testing, we confirmed it was true,” I said.


    “Luna, you recovered. Does that mean it can be cured?” a warrior near the front of the crowd asked.


    “Only because we had a healing herb prepared in advance. I required two full days of treatment before my condition stabilized. And even then, if Alpha Nn hadn’t gotten me to the doctor in time, I would not have made it,” I answered.


    “Two days?” Someone repeated in rm.


    “I was not hiding away in my room because I was embarrassed by being kidnapped,” I said. “I was still recovering. You all know how quickly normal wounds heal. Three hours at most for most of us. Even with wolfsbane poisoning, it would not take a full day for a wound to heal.”


    I pulled down my cor to reveal the scar on my shoulder. “This is what the Mad Rogue poisoning did to me.”


    Walden’s expression changed. The challenge faded from his face. He finally looked remorseful.


    “If a group of infected rogues crossed the border at once,” I continued, “and several of our warriors were wounded, we would be dealing with an outbreak. If enough warriors were weakened at the same time, our defenses would copse.”


    “This is why the wall is needed. The wall would give us time for Silverfang and Shadoww toe to our aid,” Nn added


    Walden bowed low to us. “I understand now, Alpha. Luna, Alpha, I apologize for doubting.”


    The crowd remained quiet as they processed the information. The earlier anger had disappeared and was reced with tear


    “Are there any objections?” I asked.


    No one spoke.


    Walden stepped forward and bowed his head slightly. “There will be no more dys. We will have the wallpleted within a


    173


    month.”


    +25 Bonus


    “Thank you,” I said. “All of you for understanding.”


    Several hourster, Nn and I finally returned to our quarters. Nn chatted about Walden and how he would reprimand himter, but I wasn’t paying attention. I was still upset that he didn’t trust me. I took a shower to clear my head.


    “You handled the situation well today,” Nn said quietly.


    “I did what any respectable Luna would have done,” I said as Ibed my hair at the edge of the bed.


    He crossed the room and stood in front of me. “You did more than that. You squashed a potential riot before it even began. The pack will remember this.”


    I did not respond.


    Nn studied my face before saying, “You’re exhausted.”


    “I’m fine.”


    “You don’t have to pretend with me. Did you overexert yourself?”


    “I’m not pretending,” I said. “I’m frustrated.”


    “About Walden?”


    “About you.”


    He blinked. “Me?”


    “Yes.”


    “You’re still upset about me ordering you to stay behind?” Nn asked.


    “Yes, and you forced my own Beta to go against me,” I replied.


    “I was trying to protect you,” Nn argued.


    “No, you were trying to control me because you’re afraid of losing control again,” I countered. “When there is unrest, you cannot leave me behind again. I am your Luna and I am a warrior. I am not someone you ce in a room for safety.”


    “Talia, I know that, but sometimes there isn’t a need for you to get involved. I could’ve handled it on my own,” Nn exined.


    “You can not shield me from every conflict, the pack will see it and Walden picks up on it,” I said. “We cannot have the pack thinking I am weak.”


    Nn frowned. “You think I see you as weak?” he asked.


    “I think you see me as someone you cannot lose,” I said. “But protecting me by excluding me is not the same as trusting me.”


    Nn sat down next to me and grabbed my hand. “Don’t ever think that I don’t trust you, Talia.”


    “Then, act like you do.”


    “What do you need me to do to show you that I trust you?”


    “Promise me something.”


    “What?”


    “That we face issues together. That I will not be left behind while decisions are made or conflicts are handled. I don’t want the pack thinking that I am a coward.”


    +25 Bonus