Chapter 21 Keep your Luna in check

Chapter 21 Keep your Luna in check
TALIA POV

“Gentlemen, look at what we have here.” One of them licked his lips slowly, his eyes dragging over me in a way that made my skin crawl.

“Fresh meat.” Another extended his claws, scraping them against the wall with a sharp sound.

“Not just any meat… human meat.” The third added, and they all burst into laughter.

My chest tightened as fear crept in. I stepped back slowly, my hands trembling as I tried to steady myself.

“Easy now, sweetheart. We’re not going to hurt you… yet.” The first one grinned, taking a step closer.

“I—I’m sorry for barging into your territory. I promise it won’t happen again,” I stammered, my voice shaking as I kept moving backward.

“Trust me, you won’t be able to barge in again,” the second one muttered darkly.

“Wait…” the third inhaled deeply, sniffing the air. “Do you guys smell that?”

The others went still.

They sniffed again.

“She’s marked,” one of them said.

“Marked by a warrior Alpha.” The first added, and they all exchanged looks.

“She’ll be better off as a sacrifice. Her blood would be perfect to please the souls of our brothers.”

“What? No, no please no,” I cried, panic rising fast. “I won’t come back here again, I swear, please…” I kept stepping back, my heart racing wildly.

“Too late for that, sweetheart.” One of them lifted his claw and swung it toward me.

I screamed, my eyes squeezing shut as my body froze.

A deep growl ripped through the air as a hand suddenly grabbed the rogue’s wrist mid-attack, stopping it inches from me. My eyes flew open and I saw Liam standing in front of me, his grip tight, his jaw clenched.

The rogue struggled, but Liam twisted his arm harshly and threw him aside.

The other two lunged at him immediately.

Liam moved fast, his fists slamming into one, sending him crashing into the wall. He turned and kicked the second one hard, making him stagger back before delivering another blow. The first rogue tried to get up, but Liam grabbed him and slammed him down again.

Within seconds, all three were on the floor, groaning in pain.

My breathing was uneven as I stared at him, shock and relief mixing inside me.

He turned to me, his eyes dark, then grabbed my hand tightly.

“Come,” he ordered, pulling me along as he dragged me out of the building.

“What are you doing here?” I asked breathlessly, struggling to keep up with his pace.

He didn’t answer, his grip only tightening as he kept walking.

TALIA POV

“I was looking for Zane,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady even as my chest still rose and fell from the fear I hadn’t fully shaken off.

Liam’s grip on my wrist didn’t loosen.

“Does this look like somewhere people just walk into?” he asked, his voice low, controlled, but sharp enough to cut. His eyes held mine, dark and unreadable. “Or do you enjoy putting yourself in danger?”

“I saw people coming out from here,” I replied, pulling slightly against his hold, trying to reclaim some space. “So I thought he might be inside, discussing something with whoever he came to meet.”

A quiet scoff left him.

“Are you really that naive, Talia?” he muttered, his lips pressing into a thin line. “I thought you were smarter than most, but it seems you’re just like the rest. Empty-headed.”

My brows drew together instantly, irritation flaring.

“Empty-headed?” I repeated, my voice rising slightly. I yanked my wrist free and stepped back, putting distance between us. “I wasn’t waiting for you, and I didn’t ask for your help,” I added, looking away from him, refusing to let him see how much his words got to me.

“Really?” he asked, his tone dropping further as he stepped closer again. Before I could move, his hand shot out and grabbed my wrist again, pulling me back toward him.

“Yes, really,” I snapped, lifting my chin stubbornly. “If I’m empty-headed, then you make my life worse, Liam.”

His jaw tightened, and for a brief second, something flickered in his eyes—something I couldn’t quite place.

“So you can handle rogues by yourself?” he asked, his voice colder now.

“Yes,” I answered immediately, even though the memory of those claws inches away from me still made my heart race. I refused to back down.

“Then go back in there,” he said, his tone flat. “I’ll leave you to deal with them alone.”

My breath caught.

Before I could respond, he pulled me closer again, his grip firm, almost possessive.

“Wait,” I protested, struggling slightly, my free hand pressing against his chest as I tried to push him away.

“What’s going on here?” a familiar voice cut through the tension.

I turned instantly and saw Zane.

Relief flickered through me for a split second, but it faded just as quickly when I saw the expression on his face. It was cold and sharp.

Liam released my wrist slowly, his hand dropping as if nothing had happened. I immediately rubbed the spot, my skin still tingling from how tightly he had been holding me.

“Talia,” Zane called, his voice firm, demanding my attention.

“Nothing,” I said quickly, stepping slightly toward him. “He helped me. There were rogues, and they were about to attack me.”

Zane didn’t look convinced.

He let out a short scoff, his gaze moving between me and Liam. “You expect me to believe that?”

My stomach tightened.

Liam stepped forward then, closing the gap between them, his presence instantly shifting the air around us.

“Keep your Luna in check,” he said coldly, his eyes locked on Zane. “Or I’ll continue cleaning up after your mistakes.”

The words hit harder than they should have.

My brows furrowed as confusion filled me.

Why would he say that?

Zane’s expression darkened immediately, his jaw clenching as his eyes snapped back to me.

For a second, neither of them spoke.

The tension between them was suffocating.

Zane started walking toward me slowly, each step measured, controlled, but there was anger in every movement. Instinctively, I took a small step back, my heart beginning to pound again, but this time, it wasn’t because of the rogues.

It was because of him.

He stopped right in front of me.

Then his hand shot out.

He grabbed my wrist roughly, his fingers digging into my skin as he yanked me closer to him.

I gasped softly, startled by the sudden force.

“Zane..” I started, but he didn’t let me finish.

“I’m going to teach you a lesson,” he said, his voice low, dangerous, each word deliberate.