Chapter 24: Chapter 24

~Ariana's POV~

After eating, I went back to sleep, Talon stayed with me while Jay had to go to the office to get some work done. I woke up a while later, Talon wasn't there so I assumed he stepped out for a bit.

Getting up, I headed to the ground floor, as soon as I was out of the elevator, I heard a commotion from outside, heading out to the porch, I saw an angry Talon storming towards Claire who was currently yelling at Luca and the twins with her goons, rushing to catch up with him, I grabbed his hand, halting him, as he turned his furious eyes to me.

"Calm down Lon, you might hurt someone, let me handle this." I said, before heading to the middle of the fight whilst pondering if in my current condition I wasn't a worst option than Talon,

"that's enough Claire...Dan, Mia calm down." I said facing the twins,

"stay out of this African." I heard from Claire, I turned around with a raised brow,

"mind your words when speaking to my mate Claire." Talon growled, coming to stand beside me,

"no it's okay Talon...am I supposed to be offended by that Claire?, Cause I'm not, how childish can you get, it's always this with you, do you think you're the only one who lives here, you're always causing a commotion, I don't even know if I can still classify that as attention seeking cause if it is, we're getting a little too desperate here don't you think?" I asked,

She glared hatefully at me,

"this situation has nothing to do with you Luna." she said mockingly,

"oh and why's that exactly Claire?" I asked smirking, I was well aware that the fact that Luca was her mate and she rejected him was kept a secret, she didn't respond, just glaring, I chuckled,

"no reason then?, good, because as the Luna of your pack and the Leo Reginae of the pride whose property you're currently occupying, I believe it is within my right to understand why there's a commotion between my pack members on my property." I stated with finality.

"You...." She began but probably didn't have anything to counter that, I ignored her turning to Luca,

"you okay Luc?" I asked softly and he nodded,

"Luc? I know you're desperate Luca but if this is to make me jealous then it ain't working." Claire said cockily and I sighed, before I could reply Luca did,

"and why would I want to make you jealous, it's not like you're anything to me." Luca said with a shrug and I smirked, Claire on the other hand went livid, forgetting that her situation was a secret and there was a crowd around us she yelled.

"Spare me that crap Luca, like you weren't the one begging me just a few minutes ago to take you back as my mate." she said scoffing, completely revealing her secret in the heat of her anger.

Luca's expression changed and I could see the hurt in his eyes, she didn't even save him some face. I on the other hand was angry, I glared at Luca angrily, how could he lower himself to that little bitch.

I turned

to her, her wordings had completely dishonored this warrior in front of his pack and members of the pride and somehow I felt an immense need to defend him.

"You're a horrible person Claire, you don't deserve Luca." I stated coldly before turning back to him,

"why Luc?" I asked, not understanding why he would do such a thing, knowing the kind of person Claire was, there was no way that conversation could have ended well, he sighed looking away,

"I just felt I should give it one last shot .." he began but I cut him off,

"fuck that one last conversation shit you think you need to have with her, you've had too many of those already and nothing changed, it'll just be an opportunity for her to feed you bull shit that part of you wants to hear, stop willingly wasting your time Luc." I said angrily, I totally understood him  but I just couldn't help but say it as it is, he needed a blunt wake up call.

Claire growled but a look from Talon silenced her, I didn't even turn to her, my focus right now was Luca,

"I think...I love her." he said defeated, my words despite how true had obviously hurt him, I sighed placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, Talon growled lowly but didn't say anything,

"look at me Luca, listen, this, this isn't love, take a look at yourself Luca, look at what she's done to you, I'm by no means a love expert but I know enough to know, love shouldn't be exhausting, it shouldn't leave you feeling stressed out, less than and unappreciated. Love is supposed to be free, natural and almost a complete relief from the monotony and routines of life. Real love won't leave you drained, it won't leave you depressed, lost or distraught. Love is a healer, love is a friend, and love is a protector. I won't lie and say love is all happiness and good stuff, no love isn't easy by any means, it's a challenge, but when it's good, it's a treasure. Real love won't break you, it will build you and it will bring out the best in you. Luca, before you say you love her, ask yourself, is she worth it?, If yes, then you have my full support but if no then fuck all this Luca, you deserve better, you gotta fuck with a bitch who knows there's niggas out there finer than you, holding more power than you, but she still fucks with you for the simple fact that them niggas just ain't you.... that's when you know you gotta real one Luc." I finished, everyone around was silent and in awe, Luca looked at me, and he smiled, a true, beautiful and confident smile.

Turning to Claire he stared her down,

"I don't hate you Claire but I'm done investing my time in you." he stated emotionlessly, she laughed,

"considering I never wanted you am I supposed to be bothered?" She asked, he shrugged nonchalantly.

"it's your loss then." he said walking away, but stopped in his tracks at her voice,

"my loss huh, face it Luca, you won't ever find someone like me." she stated smugly,

what the heck was up with this girl, couldn't she let him walk away without throwing more shades, why would he even be looking for someone as horrible as her?

"isn't the point of a break up to find someone totally different from you?... what's all this you won't find someone like me talk, please go and sit down." I said with a scoff, and Luca continued on his way shaking his head in amusement, before he went out of sight, he turned and mouthed something,

"Thank you Luna.", were his words and I gave him a brilliant smile in response.

Looking up, I caught sight of Jay at his window watching, he had an odd expression on his face, how long had he been there?,

"since the start of the commotion." Talon answered my thoughts, noticing my line of sight, turning to him, I could see the pride in his eyes,

"I'm so proud of you my little flame, you would make an amazing Luna." he said honestly, a hint of sadness in his tone, I didn't have time to ponder over it  as my friends crowded me, each commending my actions, Kayla, Leo, Grey, Jake, the twins, Cain, most of the pack and pride members and even Jay's parents had all watched the show, I hadn't really noticed the faces in the crowd till now.

Leona gave me a thumbs up, her husband smiling beside her, before they both returned to their home, I turned to Talon pouting,

"playing the hero takes so much energy, I'm hungry." I said and he chuckled,  Grey came into my line of sight grinning and I glared crossly at him, he sighed,

"come on Ana, how long do you hold grudges for?" he asked baffled,

"for...ever!" I replied hauntingly with a huff and he frowned, before smirking, I raised a suspicious brow,

"constant supply of chocolate for a month?" He asked evilly handing me a huge box of chocolates that I couldn't tell how I hadn't noticed earlier, my eyes widened as I grabbed it nodding vigorously,

"whatever it was I was angry about, you're forgiven." I said happily, and everyone laughed.

Talon went in the kitchen to get us something to eat while I ran to Jay's office, partially to show off my goodies and partially to escape Dan's greedy eyes.

Bursting into his office, he raised a brow at me as I slammed the door shut, grinning victoriously,

"Dan." I said in explanation as I headed to him, he chuckled stretching his hand towards my chocolate pack and I turned instantly, changing direction to my couch, settling down majestically, I opened my prize, smiling eagerly, I picked up a little ball of chocolate and popped it into my mouth.

Talon came in, handing me and Jake a plate of sandwich, I huffed at the difference in the size of my sandwich and theirs, Talon laughed,

"Alpha's size." he said smugly as Jay laughed, I glared at them before smirking and scooting closer to him on the couch, grabbing his sandwich I took a huge bite out of it, going back to my spot, chewing happily, once I swallowed, I turned to him with a grin,

"I'm the Alpha's mate, whatever is his, is mine as well.... Luna's perks." I said smugly, before happily focusing on my sandwich, Jay laughed at Talon's expression which looked something between shock, awe and lust, soon enough they were chatting and laughing, I scoffed in annoyance, finishing my sandwich, I didn't know why I found their newly found friendship annoying, probably because it wasn't the goal..or I'd rather they were both going down on me already...

'I did not just think that' I groaned internally, but i had to admit it was much better than having them at each others throat, I really didn't know how long this would last, looking deeper into the new development I had noticed it was a bit strained, the shadows of pain still between them, I didn't want them to ignore their pain as they were doing now, I wanted them to accept it and move on from it, for now however I'd take what I can get. Like a cunning spider, spinning a web, I would eventually entrap them and leave them helpless. My annoyance faded away at my thoughts as a confident smirk overtook my previously gloomy features...I leaned back into the couch, stretching my legs and casually crossing them whilst thinking smugly.....'it was only a matter of time Alpha's, by the time my web was done, you both wouldn't know what hit you'.

~Jaylen's POV~

I stared subtly at my queen as she was absorbed in her thoughts again, what I'd give to know what went through her mind. We were currently in my office, I, Talon

and Ana.

Yeah, Talon, I figured if I was really going to be done with him then I had to prove to myself that I was over him, that includes letting go of all feelings whatsoever including hate. Our rilvary had after all began in my anger towards him for his rejection. It was a known fact that the line between love and hate was a crazy thin one, when I couldn't get one, I resorted to the other, now that I thought about it my distancing myself from him totally only showed how much he had really affected me...or rather how much I had let him affect me, becoming hateful and angry despite knowing my feelings would eventually affect my pride, I ended up involving them in all this.

I was hurt and I lashed out, it was unnecessary, perhaps I hoped my reaction would cause a change in his decision or something, I didn't really know, I understood now that to truly be over him, I had to be done with him, not mad, hateful or upset ..... just done and what better way to be done with my mate that rebuilding the fences of an eternal friend zone between us.....

Glancing at my queen I was pulled out of my thoughts by the sexy tilting of her lip into what I now knew to be her signature confident smirk, as always she was up to some mischief, but did she really have to make it look so sexy..?

I groaned internally at my train of thought and audibly as she leaned back into the couch, stretching her long legs and crossing them casually, even something she did so thoughtlessly had a fire raging within me that only her touch could quench, even her words from earlier when she threw her position as my queen at Claire's face and claimed our land, her property, had me all hot and bothered, the entire confrontation did, the other night, when she had told Claire not to be unfortunate by raising her tone when speaking to her... God, the command in her tone had me hardening instantly.

I couldn't go after her because a cold shower seemed more urgent at that moment.... if sinful temptation was a person then she'd be the perfect representation, she had me thinking all sorts of sinful things ..damn, the things I'd do to that body...the undoubtedly sinful things.

I knew I wasn't the only one having this train of thought, the scent of Talon's arousal permeated the air, teasing me, enticing me and telling me I'd never be able to let him go, despite the fact that I tried ignoring it, it spurred mine on and I was practically shaking with need, in all this, my delicious queen was completely oblivious...or was she?, Because the moment she came out of her thoughts, she had a glint in her eyes that had me feeling I was in danger.... deliciously, sinful danger.

~Author's Note~

I see what's going on here.... something is cooking.... something....sinful