CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & TWENTY EIGHT


    Talia’s POV


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    Today was one of the most boring days of my life. I should have been happy for the downtime, but I was restless. There was nothing for me to do, and I didn’t have the patience to read.


    De suggested that we take a walk. Even though it was a beautiful day, I was still bored out of my mind.


    “Why is today so boring?” De groaned.


    “I have no idea, but it is driving me crazy,” I replied. “Shouldn’t you be working on the wall?”


    “No, my Luna. My job is to keep youpany,” De replied and winked.


    Nn was still protective of me, so he was not allowing me to go into the city just yet. All we had left to do was to walk around or perhaps go swimming, but that didn’t sound fun either.


    “Maybe we have been dealing with chaos so long that normal days just feel weird now,” De replied with a shrug.


    “Well, Nn told me something interesting this morning that we can go investigate,” I said.


    “That he wanted you to stay in your room today where you’re safe?” De teased.


    “No,” Iughed. “Nn told me he had a surprise waiting for me at the central garden.”


    “Alpha Nn doesn’t seem like the ‘surprise’ kind of a guy, but let’s investigate anyway,” De said as she looped arms with <ol><li></li></ol>


    We passed through the stone archway and stepped inside.


    Both of us stopped.


    The original flowers and greenery that once filled the Alpha’s private garden were gone. In their ce stretched rows of roses in different shades: deep red, pale pink, ivory, and soft peach. The beds were evenly spaced, trimmed neatly, and arranged with clear walking paths between them. It looked almost identical to my garden back at Silverfang.


    De let out a low whistle. “He is much more attentive than I thought.”


    “Yes,” I said quietly. I felt a mixture of surprise and happiness. My wolf huffed, ‘Why are you surprised? He wants you to be happy. That is his responsibility. He should know everything about us just like you should know him.’


    “I’m really d he’s your mate, Talia,” De said. “He really cares about you.”


    I nodded. “I am too.” I had been lucky enough to be blessed with a second chance mate, and I was so happy that it was him.


    “I have to admit; he’s bing more and more romantic. He might even surpass Marco at this rate,” De added.


    Iughed softly. “Don’t let Marco hear you say that.”


    “He can handle it. Maybe it will incentivize him to do more.”


    We walked deeper into the garden. The soil looked freshly turned. The stems had been trimmed properly. Whoever arranged this had put in time and care.


    “I want this garden to be in the same shape as the one in Silverfang,” I said. “Roses require a lot of attention. I don’t want them to be neglected. They need…”


    “I know, I know,” De said, interrupting me. “Trust me, I have spent enough time with you to know what roses need. I’ll make sure the omegas take great care of them when you’re not able to.”


    I bent slightly to inspect one of the lower branches and adjusted a stray stem.


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    After a moment, De looked around and asked, “Where is Maggie?”


    1 straightened, “What do you mean?”


    “Thest time we entered this garden, she tried to stop us,” De said with a small smirk. “I almost expected her to appear again and remind us it was restricted.”


    “Well, I’m Luna now, so she wouldn’t do that again,” I said.


    “And if she dared, I’d be right there to p the audacity out of her,” De dered.


    “You’re never going to forgive her, are you?”


    “Not until I am able to spend five minutes pping her. So, no, never,” De replied and I couldn’t help butugh.


    I turned toward the group of maids near the entrance. Maggie was indeed not among them. This was unusual because Maggie had been my shadow after the Viki incident.


    “ra,” I called.


    ra approached immediately. “Yes, Luna?”


    “Where is Maggie?”


    ra hesitated briefly before answering. “She went outst night and hasn’t returned yet.”


    I frowned. “She has been out all night?”


    “Yes, Luna. I checked.”


    I frowned. “That’s unusual. She has not missed her duties before.”


    “This is the first time she has been absent without notice,” ra added. “I am a little concerned, but I didn’t want to say anything just yet in case I was overreacting.”


    De crossed her arms. “Ugh, I hope she isn’t foolish enough to put herself in danger again. Or she could be plotting against you.”


    “She was terrified after what happened with Viki,” I argued. “She won’t repeat that mistake.”


    “Then, it could be something positive,” De suggested.


    “Like what?”


    “Maybe she found her mate.”


    I blinked. “A mate?”


    “Is it so hard to believe?” De replied. “She’s 20 and it is not impossible. Perhaps she has caught up with her mate right now.


    The idea of Maggie finding her mate wasforting. That would solidify that she would nevere for my position or Nn again.


    “I don’t think that’s it. She would have told me,” I said.


    “Would she?” De countered. “After everything that happened, I don’t think she would share that information. It’s not like you two are friends.”


    Before I could respond, I noticed movement along the path leading from the main house.


    Maggie was speed walking toward us. Her posture wasposed. However, her hair was in a messy bun and her clothing looked hastily put on as if she had woken upte.


    213


    CHAPTER TWC HUNDRED ANWENTVIRT


    When she reached us, Maggie lowered her head in a respectful bow. “Luna, sorry I’mte.”


    De’s eyes flicked over her, whispering to me with a smirk. “Told you.”


    “What?” Maggie asked, looking up in confusion and worry.


    I smiled, stepping closer. “Maggie… Did you find your mate?”


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