CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & THIRTY ONE


    Talia’s POV


    De 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 Shadoww, did you send Henry to track them?” De asked.


    I shook my head. “No. I strengthened the defenses and banned their return.”


    “That’s it?” De stopped walking. “You didn’t think you had to have someone watching them?”


    “At the time, I believed removing them was enough,” I exined. “I didn’t think they would be stupid enough toe back.”


    De 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,” De 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 exined. “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,” De countered. “She got past his defenses. Who’s to say Jason couldn’t do the same?”


    “No, Walden would’ve noticed,” I said stubbornly.


    De 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 Nn 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 exnation.


    “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 Shadoww and see how things are going,’ I replied. ‘Has anything unusuale up in thest 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 Shadoww.’


    ‘No, Luna. Jason has note near Shadoww. 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 vignt.’


    ‘Always.’


    “Thank you, Henry.”


    +25 Bonus


    I ended the link. Talking to Henry had not been asforting 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, Nn sat across from me. ra and the maids moved quietly around the table. Nn watched me pour my water absent-minded.


    “Are you not feeling well?” Nn 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.”


    Nn frowned and then turned to ra, “Leave us, please.”


    She and the others bowed and exited the room. When the door clicked shut, Nn asked again, “What is wrong? Just tell me, Talia.”


    “I thought I saw Jason today,” I said.


    Nn 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 exined.


    “Did you see his face?” Nn asked.


    “I did, but only for a second. I know how it sounds,” I said. “I already contacted Henry. He confirmed that Jason hasn’te anywhere near Shadoww.”


    “Then it wasn’t him.” But Nn 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, Nn. 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?” Nn asked.


    “That’s the point, Nn, I don’t know. I don’t know if my mind is ying tricks on me, but something about that warrior wasn’t right,” I said.


    Nn exhaled slowly. “If there is any chance, any at all, that Jason found a way into Bloodmoon, we don’t need to dy. 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,” Nn 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.


    Nn 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!”


    Nn was already on his feet. “What is it?”


    “A supply depot is on fire at the border!” 1


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