Ch. 166..170: Alpha King’s Lost Luna Chapter 166-170

Chapter 166 Strange unease CAS SANDRA I sensed a strange unease in my heart, restlessness and exhaustion creeping in that I didn’t know how to curb. Perhaps it was due to Asher’s absence from Anemond, or maybe it had stemmed from Kane’s strange behavior from the day before. The words he’d uttered to me were ambiguous and set me on edge in a way I couldn’t explain. Asher’s stepbrother had told me that I hadn’t changed much, which at the time had caused my heart to sk ip a beat in panic. What did that really mean? And why had he said such a thing to me in private? While Kane had attempted to explain that many people changed considerably after attaining a significant position in Anemond, such as that of a royal healer, his reasoning didn’t quite convince me. I could sense that he was hinting at something else, yet I couldn’t decipher or make sense of his true intent. Was it possible that he could know something about me, that he could know who I’d been in the past? The idea startled and scared me; after all, I’d never been particularly close to Kane. During our childhood, I had spent most of my time and days with Asher, while Kane had seemed like a distant figure. He’d always been Asher’s brother and little more. We might have exchanged a few words occasionally and made a few niceties here and then, but nothing significant lingered in my memories of the past. As we’d grown older, we became little more than strangers, since my attention was solely focused on Asher. Yet, a nagging possibility haunted my mind. Could Kane Collins have somehow uncovered something about me? III 1/4

I knew he was astute. Margaret had once foolishly insisted and campaigned amongst others that her son could ascend to the throne and rule over Wegalla, and I was certain it wasn’t for nothing.

If Kane had information about my past, why hadn’t he brought it up directly? And why did he regard me with that uncomfortable gaze? His violet eyes were beautiful, but there was something in them that made chills run down my spine. It was as if he knew something he didn’t want to share, a joke or conspiracy that belonged to him and him alone. Was Asher’s brother planning something devious? Though I didn’t want to suspect him, especially considering how much the Alpha King trusted him, it was odd that Kane offered me company yet only spoke so ambiguously. Encounters with him often left me confused and nervous, which only hurt my m ental state. I was under so much stress with the clinic, the poison, and the mysterious disease already. Did I now have to fear Kane Collins in the same way that I did his mother and the rest of the people in Merliscire who didn’t want me around? Just as I started to drown in my sea of thoughts, a voice interrupted my descent into worry. “Cas sandra?” Erika tried to get my attention. “Ca ssandra?” I blinked a few times and then met the maid’s worried gaze. For a moment, I couldn’t formulate a reply and simply stared back at her until she spoke again. “Cas sandra, honey, you’ve been staring at those boxes for ten minutes now,” she said gently, and her big blue eyes were full of concern. “Are you okay, sweetheart?” At once I remembered my purpose in the room, and embarrassment flooded through me. I had come into the medical supply room in the clinic to retrieve a heartbeat monitor and meant to return to my patient shortly after. L 2/4 “Sorry,” I uttered quietly, and heat spread through my face. “This isn’t like you,” Erika said as she walked toward me. “You’re usually more professional when it comes to a patient needing attention. Do you need some help?” Though her words could have been construed as harsh, I knew her well enough. to know that that wasn’t the case.

“I’m alright,” I assured her, and I forced an apologetic smile as I tucked a loose strand of hair back into my bun. “Thank you for offering, Erika.” She nodded but continued to study me. “Is this about the king?” she wondered as she took a step toward me. I’d off-handedly mentioned to her that Asher was leaving the capital for a brief, unknown reason, but she hadn’t asked too many questions. “Are you worried about him?” “A little,” I admitted. “But I know he’ll be alright.” Asher had mentioned a three-day return upon his departure, which was nothing compared to the five years we’d spent apart. If I could handle that, I could handle this. Besides, it was his brother I was more anxious about. I managed to snap out of my daze and continued about my business as usual. It was yet another busy day with plenty of patients requiring assistance. There were a few with minor injuries along with a few dealing with colds or instances of seasonal allergies. I administered medicine, and herbs, and even had to stitch up the knee of a young girl who had taken a tumble in the district not too far from here. While the work seemed never-ending, I was grateful for the distraction. With how much focus my healer duties required, I was able to push Asher and Kane from my mind and worry about my patients. 3/4 I was grateful that Asher had given me this building and allowed me the honor of helping the people who lived here. It was one thing to treat the people of Merliscire and another to take care of the commoners who lived on the outskirts of the palace. I was glad to be able to aid my new community, and it was rewarding to heal people who really needed it. 牢牢牢 Later on, during a patient checkup in the afternoon, Lancel made an unexpected visit. When he walked into the clinic, his typically serious demeanor seemed more pronounced than usual. Erika offered him a seat, but I heard him refuse from the entry.

“Thank you for the offer, but I don’t need to sit,” he insisted. “I wish to speak with Healer Cas sandra privately,” I finished up with my patient, and once I had sent them on their way with some medicine to take care of their cough, I followed Erika to the waiting room. Once the maid departed and Lancel and I were alone, the older guard approached me. His expression was intense and my heart began to race. Had something happened to Asher? “I have a message for you, Miss Cas sandra,” he stated with urgency. “Spi ke wishes to see you immediately. Will you come with me?” While I was relieved that his concern had nothing to do with the Alpha King, his tone was more strange than usual. Lancel was usually very collected and curt. If Spi ke needed me immediately, something was up. Perhaps he had the results of the water sample or some other important findings to share. Either way, I couldn’t refuse him an audience. 4/4

Chapter 167 Hope CAS SANDRA I struggled to keep up with Lancel’s long strides as we reached Merliscire. The older guard was much taller than I, so the effort made my heart race, but I managed to speed up enough to follow alongside him. His urgent gait only made my worry increase. What had Spi ke discovered? And how did he manage to get Lancel’s attention in the first place? Had the guard been posted near the dungeon at the right time? Or had Spi ke merely waited for him to appear so he could relay the message? Focus, Cas s andra, I urged myself. I knew the more questions I asked, the more I would panic, and I needed to remain level-headed. For all I knew, the news was going to be important, and I needed to be calm in order to think clearly. When we reached the dungeon, we practically raced down the stairs until we arrived at the hall of cells. I nearly tripped as I speed-walked, but Lancel managed to steady me before I could fall and hurt myself on the cold stone floor. “Thanks,” I said gratefully, and after he nodded, I slowed my pace and walked at a normal speed toward Spi ke’s cell. As we approached, I was surprised to see that the imprisoned imposter was in such high spirits. His face was visibly excited, and his trembling hands repeatedly skimmed over the paper he held. He murmured phrases like “right”, “brilliant”, and “perfect”, and with each utterance, my curiosity grew stronger. myc As he noticed me, Spi ke tossed the paper aside onto the table and rushed over to the bars in an almost frenzied manner. His dark eyes were frantic, and if it weren’t for the iron fence that separated us, I wondered if he might have launched into an attack.

1/5 “What’s going on?” I wondered, curious about our unexpected meeting. “Lancel mentioned you urgently wanted to see me. This isn’t our usual time to meet.” Spi ke’s eyes glinted with even stronger intensity and he clenched the bars so tightly that his knuckles paled. “Where did the water sample originate from?” he asked. I hesitated for a moment as my stomach twisted into a knot as I considered telling him it was none of his concern. While confidentiality had been the name of the game this entire investigation, I quickly debated whether or not I needed to continue on with the secrecy.

But before I could make that call, Sp i ke spoke again. “You were right, Cas sandra,” he blurted out. “The water you brought me is contaminated. If what I’ve uncovered is correct, it likely caused the disease that was recorded in the coroner’s report.” My heart suddenly ski pped a beat and my lips parted in shock. I struggled to find words and my thoughts raced through my mind in disbelief. Becky’s theory and suspicions had been correct. The people of Wild Crawler were getting infected by their water supply. I took a moment to men tally praise my assistant’s scientific mind. For someone so young, Becky was a force to be reckoned with, and I was lucky to have her as my partner. Her discovery had the potential to save a lot of lives. But before I could get ahead of myself, I had to ask Sp i ke a question, one I’d been wondering since Becky had shared her theory. “Does this discovery mean you could find a cure for the disease?” I wondered. Spi ke’s lips curled downward into a slight frown, and I started to grow worried, but before I could panic too much, his expression shifted into one that was borderline arrogant. O L

2/5 “Of course I can,” he proclaimed, and then his words grew even more confident. “I don’t appreciate you questioning my abilities, Healer Cas sandra. Though I’m not as proficient as some talented sorcerers, I hail from Dark Abyss, after all. I should be able to cure it easily.” Relieved yet dizzy with euphoria at this revelation, I took a long, deep breath and tried to steady myself. This was an incredible development and I wasn’t sure how to handle this news. “Well, please develop the cure as quickly as possible,” I urged him. “How long do you think it could take?” At the mention of a timeframe, Spi ke hesitated, but then he shrugged. “I won’t take too long,” he said nonchalantly. “Perhaps a week or so.” “A week or so?” I repeated back in surprise, and again, my heart leaped in my chest. Could we really come that much closer to healing the people of Wegalla within a week? Could we be that much closer to healing Asher in a week? “Yes,” Spi ke replied. “That would be perfect,” I agreed, eager for the results. “Please do your best, Spi ke. This could do wonders for the country.” “Of course,” he said, and then he got a strange glint in his dark brown eyes. “You know, I could use something to inspire my creativity…” “Oh?” I asked, and immediately, alarm bells rang out in my mind. “What did you have in mind?” “I do my best work after a drop of ale,” he mused, and a devilish grin crossed over his lips. “Perhaps a mead or a nice wine would do the trick as well.” I felt conflicted by the proposal. While giving the imposter at least a little something for all of his trouble, providing alcohol to a prisoner of the Alpha King’s 3/5 raised viable concerns. Lancel and I exchanged a glance and his eyebrow raised up but then he nodded.

“I think something can be arranged,” I agreed cautiously. “Or at least be considered.” Spi ke nodded and then shrugged. “I suppose that’s all I can hope for. Now, leave me be. I would like to get to work at once if this is going to get done in a week. Goodbye, Healer Ca ssandra. The next time we speak, I should have something to give you.” “Thank you, Spi ke,” I said gratefully. “I appreciate it.” Without a moment’s hesitation, I gestured down the hall and Lancel began to lead me at once. As we ascended the stairs back up to the main floor of the palace, an idea crossed my mind.. “Lancel, is there a possibility of reaching the Alpha King?” I asked. “I think this is something he should be made aware of right away.” But the older guard shook his head in response. “He’s unreachable. But he’ll return in a few days and he will be briefed then.” “Okay,” I decided, though that answer didn’t satisfy me much. “And Lancel, I think it would be best for us to accept Spi ke’s request. I’ll bear the responsibility if anything goes awry.” Lancel nodded and that was that. I immediately returned to the clinic and relayed this new information to Becky, who appeared surprised. “I was right?” she asked quietly and when I nodded she shook her head in shock. “Wow. I can’t believe it.” “I know,” I agreed. “It’s insane.” 4/5 “Well, I promise I’ll double-check the findings for accuracy,” she said. “Just to make sure that we’re not getting too excited.” “Of course,” I said with a nod. Hope surged through me as I anticipated sharing this new development with Asher. Hope. It was something I hadn’t felt in a while, and it was refreshing. 5/5

Chapter 168 Something in discussion As I led Marco away from the busy corridor of the palace and left the attending guard’s side, a snarl rose from my belly. “Silas is a complete and total a ss,” I cursed under my breath as my head began to pound with anger. My hands curled into fists at my side and an indescribable. sense of agitation swelled within me. My spiteful brother hadn’t bothered to inform me that he was going to be leaving Anemond with Asher, and I couldn’t wrap my mind around his reasoning. Why hadn’t he told me they were leaving? had assumed my threats against his little mate would have stuck, rendering Silas obedient and compliant with my demands to watch my husband, however, it seemed my little brother had changed. He no longer heeded me as he had in the past. I cursed again. It seemed as if no one truly graced my company these days, nor did they wish to. I realized that I hardly saw Margaret anymore. Kane Collins, ever the gallant play boy, had suddenly transformed into a devoted son. He rarely left his mother’s side, which left me with no opportunity to discuss serious matters with her. For instance, that dreadful, terrible kiss I’d witnessed between that dirty, filthy healer and Asher… To think a peasant’s lips had been pressed against my husband’s, far from the watching eyes of Merliscire. Now that his little mistress had moved away from the palace, the happy pair had every opportunity to kiss and canoodle without anyone catching onto their game. To witness Asher’s infidelity had been heartbreaking and filled me a scorn unlike any other. O

1/4 I’d wanted to tell Margaret right away so we could put our heads together and craft a scheme to finally send that wretched Cas s andra Keller away for good, but I couldn’t mention that vile woman’s name in front of Kane. And Margaret had once advised me against acting alone, so I was feeling beyond

helpless just standing by and watching as Cas sandra kissed my man. As I pictured them kissing in front of their shoddy clinic, my vision grew tinged with red, and I clenched my hand. A whimpering sound interrupted my thoughts, and when I looked down, I realized I’d unintentionally gripped Marco’s hand too tightly. “Mommy?” he whined quietly, and I quickly released my hold. “Sorry, baby,” I apologized gently, and I leaned down and kissed the top of his dark curls. Normally, the smell of my son’s head comforted me like no other, but between Kane, Asher, and Silas, I was in no state to relax. “Mommy, where did Daddy go?” Marco wondered as he froze in place. His sudden stop yanked at my arm and I was forced to come to a halt. “I don’t know,” I huffed, and just as I was about to roll my eyes, I forced myself! to be kinder to my son. After all, it wasn’t his fault that he had an absent father who just disappeared without explaining himself. “You heard the guard, honey. Daddy had to go conduct some business with Uncle Silas-” “But I want to see himmmm,” Marco extended his words into a whine, and he stomped his little foot on the ground as he frowned at me. “Why would he leave without telling us?” “I don’t know,” I admitted shortly. “But he’ll be back soon. Come on, Marco, your grandmother is waiting for us. Perhaps she’ll have some new games to play with you.” At the mention of playing, Marco nodded, and then we resumed our walk. Taking Marco to the House of Moses was mostly for my mother’s benefit. Mother hadn’t seen Marco since the prince had begun school, and according to her, she missed him quite dearly. She’d sent a letter to the palace asking me to bring him 2/4 over this afternoon, and while I didn’t particularly want to see my parents with everything going on, dropping Marco off would only benefit me. I needed some alone time to sort through my feelings and formulate a plan of attack. I couldn’t let Cas sandra Keller go unchecked, nor could I with Silas. Asher was different, as he was the Alpha King of

Wegalla, and I had little to no jurisdiction. over his affairs. He could come and go as he pleased, as much as I hated that, but that didn’t mean I would let him disappear without getting to the bottom of his whereabouts. The walk was brisk, and within minutes, we arrived at the mansion’s front gate. But as we approached, I was suddenly taken aback and stopped in my tracks. Marco stopped beside me and craned his neck to see what was happening. Kaleb, the handsome king of Yurene, stood on the porch with my father, sharing laughter as if they were the closest of friends. His golden-brown hair glinted in the afternoon sun, and even from my vantage, I could see a glimmer in his dark blue eyes. Why was he here? A frown formed on my lips as I studied them. As of recently, Kaleb frequently visited the House of Moses. My father had even accompanied the foreign king around Anemond- an unusual occurrence for him, as he was never one for doing things personally like that. He preferred to keep guests of the palace at arm’s length. Truth be told, I wasn’t fond of Kaleb. Though the man was incredibly handsome and tall, he paled in comparison to my Asher and seemed sly. Unease crept over me as I worried about my husband’s potential misunderstanding of Kaleb’s frequent visits. I wondered at once if Asher knew how often he was here. Perhaps that was why he’d slipped away without telling me a word, or even why he was so distant lately. I I led Marco through the gate, and as we approached, I glared at Kaleb when our eyes met. “I’ll see you later, Oliver,” the king of Yurene said to my father, and then he 3/4 nodded at me. “Lady Adalyn. Good to see you.” “You as well,” I replied, though my tone held little interest. He seemed indifferent to my unfriendliness, and as he passed by, I rolled my eyes in his direction. I was relieved that the king of the North was

leaving the day after tomorrow. It was fortunate that both the Beta and the Alpha would be away from Anemond when Kaleb left. He didn’t need any extra attention. Yurene was a small country that honestly didn’t seem worth all of this fuss. Father didn’t wear his usual disapproving expression when he saw me. Usually, he ignored me, and when he didn’t, all he’d offer me was a nod upon my return from the palace, conveying his disappointment. I knew he saw me as a disgrace to the family. My inability to capture the Alp King’s heart along with my awkward position in court fueled gossip. I was the king wife without a claim, which meant I was hardly anything in their eyes. However, today seemed different. Father twitched his lips and ruffled Marco’s curls before he straightened up and met my gaze. “Adalyn,” he said in a tone I couldn’t make sense of. “After you take Prince Marco to your mother, come join me in my study. I have something I want to discuss with you.”

Chapter 169 Crazy Old Beta ADALYN After I nodded in surprise, Father gave me a small gesture of his own and then. disappeared into the mansion. I stood there, frozen for the briefest of moments as my heart pounded heavily in my chest. What did Father wish to speak to me about? His tone was as serious as usual, but it lacked the severity I’d come to expect. So, what was the problem? Did this have something to do with Margaret? Or perhaps with Asher or even Silas? Whatever it was, I knew better than to leave my father waiting, so I leaned down and ran my hand over Marco’s soft hair. “Let’s get you over to Grandma, baby,” I suggested to the young prince gently. “Grandpa and I have some business we have to attend to.” Marco’s eyebrow shot skyward, and just as I thought he was about to whine, his expression shifted and he simply smiled a dimpled smile. “Okay, Mommy,” he said patiently. I was a little surprised at the lack of argument or whining but didn’t question it. My mind was too preoccupied with whatever Father was about to share with me to worry about Marco’s unexpected behavior. So, I led him inside the House of Moses. The moment we stepped into the family mansion, the familiar scent of lavender and lemon reached my nose and I let out a soft sigh. Mother had a strong love of candles, particularly ones made in the market of Anemond, and for as long as I could remember, the house always smelled like flowers and citrus. Mother appeared from the dining room and offered a brilliant smile at Marcus as 1/5 he ran into her arms. “Oh, my sweet boy!” she greeted him warmly as she squeezed him tightly. Her eyes fell on mine and she gestured toward the stairs with her head.

“Don’t worry, darling, I’ve got him,” she assured me quietly. “Go on up to the study. Your father is waiting.”

“Thanks, Mother,” I replied, and then I turned to Marco. “Have fun, baby.” When Marco didn’t respond, I let out a small exhale. Now that he was with his grandmother, it didn’t matter, so it was best for me to just go ahead and leave them be. My heart raced in my chest as I ascended the stairs toward Father’s study on the third floor. The entire level was Father’s private domain, off limits unless granted express permission. I remembered once, as a foolish child, I’d daringly climbed up to the third floor to exhibit my courage and intimidate Silas. I’d stood there in the hallway, laughing at my little brother’s reluctance to follow, but my laughter came to a sudden halt when I felt Father’s grip on my shoulder. His hazel eyes had blazed with an unmatched fury, and that night, I’d been denied dinner as punishment. Even now, my body was trembling with fear as I walked through the silent hallway. The entire third floor exuded a quiet atmosphere. The curtains were drawn and what little light remained came from a few flickering candles. No se rvants were allowed up here, and as I approached the door of Father’s study, the sound of my heels echoed through the corridor. I took a deep breath as my head swam with anxiety and excitement, and then I knocked on the door. “Come in,” Father called out promptly, and without hesitation, I opened the door and stepped into the room. The study appeared far more ordinary than I’d expected. It was small compared to the Alpha King’s, but it was s acious enough to house a large ebony table and 215 jet-black leather couches. Just like out in the hallway, the heavy curtains were drawn shut, and lavender candles flickered on the mantle above the fireplace. Father sat at the table in a tall wingback chair, examining some papers. Silently, he gestured for me to take a seat opposite him.

I swallowed hard, feeling a lump in my throat as I did. I took a seat and then Father raised his piercing eyes from his papers and studied me. “How are you doing, Adalyn?” he asked me casually. “And Prince Marco, is he well?” I nodded in surprise. “Yes, we’re doing quite well. Thank you for asking, Fat “Of course,” he replied. Though the conversation was simple enough, I felt awkward. Father and I rarely engaged in small talk. As I observed him closely, I noticed the dark circles under his eyes. He seemed more exhausted than usual, which was strange because for as long as I could remember, he’d never seemed tired even once. table. Father cleared his throat and then leaned forward and rested his elbows on the “Adalyn, how long have you been married to Asher?” he wondered. “Five years,” I replied, and then I clarified. “Well, five years, two months, and seven days to be precise.” Father nodded slowly. “I’m sorry, darling, that I never compelled Asher to claim you as his Luna. It’s one of my strongest regrets.” My eyebrows shot up and the lump in my throat tightened. Father had never apologized to me before, so it wasn’t a sentiment I was familiar with. I was rendered speechless and then he spoke again. “Tell me, Adalyn, do you desire to be the Luna of the Crescent Pack or Asher’s wife?” 3/5 I was confused, to say the least. “Forgive me for saying so, but those two options aren’t contradictory, Father. If Asher claimed me, I’d still be his wife, right?” Father raised a gray eyebrow. “They aren’t contradictory for now, but perhaps soon they might be.” His tone was as causal as if he were discussing the weather, meanwhile, I was stunned. What was he implying? My eyes widened in disbelief, and then Father smiled at me. It was an expression I didn’t see often,

and that smile sent a chill down my spine. I shivered and then Father leaned in even further. “You needn’t rush to decide,” he assured me. “I wouldn’t harm Asher. I like the boy well enough. Though I suppose I should clarify… I won’t cause him harm so long as you cooperate.” Speechless and rigid, I sat there in shock as my brain considered what he was saying. Father’s threats weren’t to be taken lightly, if the past was any indication, and whatever he was implying… it was likely something terrible and perhaps illegal. What was he threatening? Was Asher in danger? Was my position in court and my standing in the Crescent Pack in danger? All of these vague questions and suspicious undertones left me confused. My head ached as I tried to keep up with what was happening. Before I could open my mouth to question him and get some clarity on this meeting, Father continued speaking. “Cooperating with me would be beneficial, my dear daughter,” he suggested with a sly smile on his lips. “In fact, it might help you with certain desires… such as removing that healer you despise so much.” 4/5 As I gazed into his eyes, my stomach twisted into knots and another shiver ran through me. Whatever was going on, I was thoroughly convinced that Father had lost his sanity. 5/5

Chapter 170 Dream about Emmett CAS SANDRA That night, I had a terrible dream. It wasn’t the first time I’d dreamt about Emmett since his death, but this one was peculiar, to say the least. In the dream, Emmett wore a long black robe with a good that mostly obscured his handsome face, though I could still see the familiar glow of his blue-green eyes. They were a strange shade, a rich teal blue with a ring of emerald around them, and in the dream, they were so bright, that it was as if they were lit from within. We lingered outside the forest, and it seemed as if he were about to embark on a journey. As he breached the line of trees, I stood there for a moment and then decided to follow discreetly behind. I followed the trail of his cloak and shadowed him closely, so much that I could smell the familiar warmth of his cologne. All around me, the trees loomed above, so far into the sky that I could hardly see anything else. The immense forest seemed endless, and as I peered around us, a strange, anxious feeling crashed over me. I’d always felt a peace in the woods. But this place seemed dangerous. Just as quickly as he appeared, Emmett seemed to vanish suddenly, leaving me startled and frozen in my tracks. I tried to call out for him, but my voice caught in my throat, and couldn’t escape. Sweat broke out across my forehead, and then a dark figure flashed before my eyes. Again, I tried to cry out, but suddenly, I became aware that someone was standing behind me, and their hand covered my mouth. Before I could fight against them, I was pulled backward. My heels dug into the earth in an attempt to escape, but my attacker was too strong for me. My heart pounded in my chest and I fought O

1/4 for breath. I managed to make a small noise, and then the figure spoke. “Shhh,” he urged, and I quickly stopped struggling. I knew that low, soothing voice anywhere. It was Emmett. Once I was steady in my stance, I straightened up and turned around to face him. But even in our close proximity to one another, his face remained concealed. Despite this, I could sense his solemnity. This wasn’t unusual for Emmett, but I felt a deeper indication of things being amiss. He then started walking forward, and as his cloak dragged along the forest floor, I knew I had no choice but to follow yet again. I glanced around cautiously, taking note of my surroundings. Emmett guided me through thick dark green foliag but then came to a sudden stop behind a large fallen trunk. The wood was decaying- it was clear it had crashed down long ago. Emmett spoke again. “Don’t follow me,” he said calmly. “It’s too dangerous.” My curiosity spi ked as I tried to make sense of what was happening, and then a question appeared in my semi-lucid mind. “Emmett, when you went on all of those mysterious journeys, when you left me in the clinic at Wild Crawler to fend for myself… where did you go?” He remained silent for a moment. “Go home, Cas sandra,” he urged me finally. “Please, return.” He turned to leave, but I wasn’t going to let him. In the back of my mind, I wondered if my insistence on following him might have stemmed from a subconscious awareness that Emmett was destined to perish. Either way, I didn’t want to lose him again. So, I reached out to touch him, but when I did, his cloak gained a mist-like property, and my hand ran through it as if he were a ghost. Emmett turned back around, and though his face was mostly concealed, I could see his lips for the briefest of seconds, and they parted to speak, but before his words could escape, the dark figure from before appeared again. As it quickly vanished, I began to tremble in fear, and Emmett swiftly pulled me forward and switched

places with me. When he did, I saw the dark figure looming behind him, and my jaw dropped in shock. Though I couldn’t make sense of the figure’s shape, the feeling of dread washed over me. Confused by the sudden turn of events, my vision turned red, as if it were blurred with blood. The figure spoke in a deep, gravelly voice. “What are the whereabouts of the “thing”?” it demanded. Emmett began to laugh and as the sound of it filled the air, then blood started to gush from his neck. Tears welled from my eyes at the gruesome sight and soon spilled onto my cheeks as the blood streamed everywhere. I cried out but remained frozen, and then a colossal hand moved past Emmett’s dying body and reached toward my throat. “What are the whereabouts?” the voice demanded again, and just as I closed my eyes in the dream and prepared to meet my demise… I woke up with a start. I sat up in bed and panted heavily. As I fought to catch my breath, I wiped a sheen of perspiration from my forehead. I clutched onto my damp bed sheets until my knuckles paled, and a few deep breaths later, my racing heart finally slowed. Once I was steady, I quietly climbed out of bed and walked over to Finnick. My beautiful boy was fast asleep, and I took solace in the peaceful sight of his dreaming body. As I stood there, my lower lip trembled. Poor Emmett. Why had I dreamed of something so distressing? Bad dreams hadn’t plagued me for a while, and this one added to the uneasiness in my heart. Clearly, my brain was under immense pressure from the events of late, but why had my dream been so gruesome? I’d dreamed of the inferno and the pain over and over again, but this instance was far more terrifying somehow. Once I realized I wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep, I decided to head downstairs. The lab beckoned. In the wake of this dream, I knew I needed to review Spi ke’s report, as it had gone straight to Becky

without my scrutiny. Though I knew my assistant was more than capable of handling the evidence herself, I needed to see the report for my own peace of mind and ensure that all was well. As it was the middle of the night, the clinic was cold and quiet, and I wrapped my robe around me tightly. The stairs beneath my bare feet were freezing, and I regretted not wearing slippers. Still, I walked through the lobby and made my way to the lab. The clock in the corner of the room read 3:00 AM. A yawn rose up from my throat, and I knew I would likely feel awful later in the day, but I couldn’t stop thinking of things. Surely, the report would put me at ease. But upon entering the lab, I sensed something amiss. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and my arms broke out in goosebumps. I glanced to the right of me, and suddenly, a dark figure flashed past the window for a split second. I rushed to the window with incredible speed, but when I gazed out of it, I found no one in sight.