Ch. 226..230: Alpha King’s Lost Luna Chapter 226-230

Chapter 226

After we exchanged goodbyes with the kind shop owner, we left the store and began to roam along the streets. | spotted many clothing stores along our walk, but Helene didn’t seem all that interested. Every time we would go inside one. Helene would peruse the displays and try on a few items, but she didn’t seem impressed by any of them.

After we left the third shop. | got the feeling that Ronald's fiancee didn’t actually want to buy anything. She appeared as if she was just acting like she was shopping, though | didn’t understand why. There was some sort of ulterior motive behind this visit, but what was it?

| had no idea what was going on, but | remained cautious regardless

We continued walking down the street, and when | glanced around. | realized we were quite far from where the car had dropped us off. | was admittedly exhausted. | hadn’t walked that much in quite some time. Since I’d been confined to my chambers in Vlokwell, the only exercise I’d gotten was the journey to Ronald’s tower. | wasn’t used to this kind of effort.

Thankfully, some reprieve came when Helene spoke up.

“Should we get a warm drink?” she suggested, and she gestured to the storefront beside us. It was a lovely-looking coffee shop, and the smells that emanated from it were delightful, | nodded at once, relieved to finally get a moment to rest.

We entered the shop and then sat down at a table near the window. A young man approached us with a smile and took our orders. | happily ordered a latte and a fresh pastry. | hadn’t indulged in something like that in a while, so | was quite thrilled to drink something other than bitter tea

Once the young man was gone, Helene turned her attention to me and flashed me a strange smile.

“Cas sandra, what do you think of the gemstone?” she asked me again, and then she leaned in closer. “Please, give me your honest opinion. | really want to know what you think.”

| was a little taken aback. Why was she so insistent about such a thing like that? Was the piece of jewelry weighing on her mind so heavily?

But | knew that sometimes, things weren't that serious. Perhaps she simply wanted another woman’s opinion.

“It's lovely.” | offered kindly. “But-”

“Something about it isn’t right, Helene finished my sentence when | began to trail off. When | nodded, her smile waned ever so slightly. The owner claimed the gem is from the South, but | have my doubts. | think something is amiss.”

“If you think something is wrong, why would you give the owner so much money?” | blurted out before | could stop myself.

Your maid gave him a bag of coins. Why bother if you suspect something is off about the gem?”

Much to my surprise, Helene shrugged. “I couldn’t find a better store in this town. The jewelry in his shop is alright, even though his taste is lacking. There are much better stores in the South, wouldn’t you say?”

I smiled and nodded. “Yes, you’re right.”

She smirked. “A ring with that large of a gemstone makes me feel like a vulgarian.”

Before | could say a word in response, Helene stretched her hand and finger. Suddenly, she gasped. | noticed the problem immediately.

Her engagement ring was gone.

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“My engagement ring,” she uttered, and her rosy cheeks flushed scarlet and her breathing grew more rapid. “I must have forgotten it in the store when | tried on the other one.”

Nervousness painted her expression, and she turned to her maid quickly. “I need you to go to the store for me at once and fetch it, Alana

The young

young woman seemed hesitant and clenched her jaw. Helene didn’t pay her irritation any mind.

“Do you want to be punished?” she demanded, and she lifted her chin ever so slightly. “If the ring is lost due to your indifference, you will be punished in one way or another.”

The threat was enough to send the maid away. She nodded her head and smoothed her dark curls down. “Yes, My Lady. Will you please wait for me?*

Helene gave the slightest of nods, and then the maid left the shop. She continued to stare out the window and watched the maid go down the street.”

“Keep smiling.” Helene uttered in a low voice without looking at me. For a moment, | wasn’t sure if she was speaking to me, but I caught on quickly and did what she asked. | wanted to ask what was happening, but she spoke first.

“Keep smiling, Cas sandra,” she urged when she turned back to me. “Don’t look confused or worried, otherwise they’ll notice something is wrong”

They?

| was even more confused, but | did what Helene told me to. | smiled and behaved as normal. When the young man brought us our food and drinks, | gave him a polite message of gratitude, and when he left, Helene took a sip of her coffee and sat forward.

“We finally have some time to speak,” she said quietly. “Maybe ten minutes, given Alana’s penchant for walking slow

“| don’t understand,” | whispered as | glanced around. “Helene, what’s going on?”

“Of course you don't,” she replied. “No one would understand. Cas sandra, did you really think we could get the freedom to go anywhere we wanted? We've been followed and watched since we left the castle.”

My jaw threatened to drop at this revelation, but | managed to hold it together. “Followed? By whom?”

“It's not important,” Helene said. “There are many parties in Viokwell. Could be Kaleb, Ronald, or maybe some other high- born family seeking an opportunity to drag those two in the mud. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that we can talk now.”

She took a sip of her coffee and | did the same to appear normal While my caramel latte was delicious, this odd situation somewhat spoiled the taste. This moment was tense, and | wasn’t sure what she was about to tell me, but | knew it was likely far heavier than anticipated.

| was a fool to think this outing was innocent.

“I'll get straight to the point,” Helene said, and she ran her hand through her soft caramel brown hair. “I have no idea what deals you've made with Ronald, but | need you to bear in mind that he’s not better than Kaleb, All of these Northerners are the same. They're all equally savage and insane.”

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. How could Helene say such things about her supposed fiance? How could anyone utter anything like that about their soon-to-be husband?

Unless it was a marriage for show?

Was that a Yurenan tradition?

Chapter 227

| was in the middle of having a meeting with a few lords when Roxy suddenly burst into the meeting room.

While part of me was annoyed by this interruption. | was also a little relieved. This meeting hadn’t been going well.

Yurene didn’t work like Wegalla. Once a Pack was taken over by our country, they no longer functioned as a true Pack, as they had before. Their former Alpha was stripped of their title immediately and was no longer a true Alpha. Instead, they were made Lords, their new position authorized by myself, the king of Yurene.

| was the only leader these new citizens could pay their loyalty to. That was the rule of our country. But true to our nature, wolves had always lived in Packs and served their own Alpha. So, technically, the Lords still had their independence and absolute authority over their Pack members. Therefore, it was important to make sure the Lords were on my side.

At my core. | didn’t believe in faith and loyalty. | knew once my power declined that those close to me would betray me at once. It certainly wasn’t difficult to figure out that quite a few of the Lords favored my cousin, Ronald Adams, much more.

Given the circumstances, | believed it was time to reaffirm and remind everyone of the severe consequences of treason. But today was not the day for that. | would find another opportunity to show my power.

Roxy's break-in gave the Lords a good excuse to be dismissed from the hall. After | gave them a short gesture, they filed out of the room one by one, and once they were gone, | turned my attention to the warrior sorceress

Is it true that you’re going to marry the healer you brought from the South?” she demanded. Her cat-like blue-green eyes flashed with an emotion | couldn’t place, and her lips drew into a thin line.

Behind her stood Anubis, and when we made eye contact, he simply offered me a shruga

“| couldn’t stop her,” he explained lamely. “She’s far too strong.

“Is it true?” Roxy asked again, only this time, more intense.

| huffed and shook my head. Of all of the things I'd expected her to say, this was not one of them.

“It's true,” | answered her, and my eyebrow raised in slight annoyance. “I assumed that Raven already told you the whole story-” “She did.” Roxy cut me off, and her nostrils flared in agitation. “But | still don’t see why you have to marry her.”

“| don’t see why | need to explain my actions to you,” | fired back, and | narrowed my eyes at her. “You forget yourself, Roxy. | am the king.

Anubis grumbled at my response and then tried to reach out for Roxy's arm, but the warrior pushed his hands away. He took a step back in defeat and sighed.

“It's time for you to leave,” he insisted, but she shook her head.

“Shut up” she spat and then she glared at him. Her scornful look lingered for a moment, but when she turned her attention. back to me, her expression softened and turned almost wistful. “You changed, Kaleb. You said you didn’t but you wouldn’t have made a decision like this if you hadn’t. You're different.”

| rubbed my temples and exhaled sharply “Everyone changes, Roxy. Only the dead remain steadfast. | don’t have time for this useless argument. You don’t hold any authority over my decision.”

Roxy opened her mouth to speak but closed it quickly

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“Since you're here, | have a job for you,” | stated firmly as | stared into her eyes. “I want you to take Asher Collins.”

The sorceress’ dark eyebrows knotted together immediately. “The king of Wegalla? | don’t understand.”

Anubis scoffed and crossed his arms against his chest. “I don’t think a little girl like Roxy could ensnare the king of the South.”

| glared at him. “I think she can because Asher Collins isn’t presently in Anemond”

“What?” Anubis gasped in surprise.

190

“There was an Official announcement made in Wegalla,” | explained. “It clearly expressed that the king was missing. This is the perfect opportunity to take him. He is lacking his usual guards, so he’s unprotected for the first time since this plan was set into motion. Now is the perfect opportunity to strike.”

“Why not send Anubis?” Roxy mumbled as she glanced at the ground.

“Because Anubis has another job to do,” | replied, and | crossed over to her, “Besides, Roxy, you're the best pick for the mission. Asher Collins has the ancient disease within him-

“He does?” Roxy interrupted, her expression surprised as her full lips parted in shock.

| nodded. “Yes. He’s vulnerable, so now is the time to act. | want you to bring him back to me, alive.

| took a step even closer still. “Will you carry out this mission for me?”

Roxy took a long, deep breath, and then bowed her head obediently. “I will”

We stared at one another, and then she spoke again, only this time, her voice was softer.

“I'll always do what you want,” she said. “You know that, Kaleb, 1 haven’t changed.”

Before | could even utter a response, the sorceress turned on her heels and left the room without my dismissal. The sweet aroma of her blackberry perfume lingered in the air around me, and for a moment, | was frozen in place.

“It's difficult to deal with young girls like her,” Anubis complained, and when | turned around to face him, his pointed face was annoyed. “What do you want with Asher Collins, anyway? This is a blunt move. If the South knew that you took their king. it would be a declaration of war.”

“| know,” | said firmly, and | crossed my arms. “Do you remember what Raven said? If we want to invoke Cas sandra’s wolf spirit, we have to use something strong, emotional, and related to her past. It’s the only way to awaken her.”

Anubis lifted an eyebrow. “You intend to kill her mate in front of her?”

I snorted. “An eager thought. But maybe we start with some light torture first. We can see how messing with him affects her and go from there. I’m willing to push it as far as we can”

The assassin grinned at me and his black eyes flashed. “I thought you were growing soft, but obviously, | couldn’t be more wrong. You're just as devious as ever, Kaleb.”

While | could revel in this praise, | chose not to acknowledge it. Tell me, how is Cas sandra?”

“She’s been meeting with Ronald's fiancee quite a few times this week,” he reported. “But there doesn’t seem to be anything strange about it. Helene is little more than a powerless prisoner of Ronald’s. She and Cas sandra have nothing to gain by spending time with one another.”

“How do you know she isn’t meeting with my cousin secretly?” | wondered. There were no informants in Ronald’s tower, so Cas s andra might have been using Helene as a cover-up to hide her meetings with Ronald.

Chapter 228

| was completely stunned. Had Helene really said that sentence aloud, or had | simply imagined it

Leave Yurene? With her?

As the shock of her proposal died down. | realized that Ronald’s fiancee didn’t seem to be joking. Her expression was quite serious. The rosiness of her cheeks had faded and her lips were a solemn, thin line.

“| don’t understand,” | uttered for what felt like the millionth time, and after | glanced around us, | lowered my voice even further. “Helene, you're betrothed to Ronald, Your wedding is scheduled in less than a month. Why would you leave?”

“Because | don’t want the wedding to happen,” she replied bluntly. “I don’t want to marry Ronald.”

My eyes nearly fell out of my skull and my lips turned into a frown. “I don’t get it. You seem like such a nice couple-”

“It's nothing but a performance, Helene cut me off and then she shook her head. “I suppose I’m a better actress than 1 thought. It's the only way I’ve been able to stay alive for so long, My life has depended on my ability to lie and fake complacency.”

After she took a long, deep breath, she took a long sip of her drink and then began to tell her story. She spoke at an incredibly fast speed and kept glancing at the window as she went on. It was apparent that she was making sure that her maid wasn’t going to walk in on our conversation, and with every glance, | felt anxiety swell within me.

What if we got caught?

What would happen to us?

Would we be punished for attempted treason?

Despite my fears, | managed to quell my thoughts and gave Helene my full attention.

She explained to me that she was from the South, She’d been captured by a Northerner while she was on a trip with her parents and two sisters ten years ago when she was only sixteen years old.

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Her father had planned to do business with a Pack in the Northern area, and they were set to stay there for a few months. while he conducted his affairs. Her father was very determined to strike up a deal, so her family agreed to this temporary

It was winter, she remembered, and it was snowing heavily when they arrived. They were staying at a mee, cozy cabin, and the was quite thrilled to be there. While things were strange and foreign, she felt safe and content.

Calm

“Nave, she sand bitterly.

wood took place soon after they arrived Yurene started a sudden attack against the Pack that Helene’s father was trying to conduct basis with The Park was unprepared and tell quickly. The violence was unstguable

Her parcidudied in the raid, and

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mistera wyje laiced to separate They were all taken by different soldiers,

ed so many times that she had

wood Ingrulcation at the lands of hey Southern.

.

When Ronald found her three years ago, she had just killed her last master. He had been a twisted psycho and she couldn t bear his actions any longer. She was forced to take matters into her own hands and poisoned the man’s morning tea

After a moment of pause, she explained that the master was a Lord in Yurene, and one day, Ronald happened to visit him. When he’d arrived and noticed the dead master lying lifeless on the ground, Helene thought she would be executed. But Ronald seemed to have another plan for her.

“He made me an adoptive daughter of the lord,” she explained. “Messed around and forged some official paperwork that made me appear to be a blood relation of that wicked man. Since he’s the king’s brother, the matter was easy enough. He even covered up my former master’s death and had the coroner state that it was a heart attack that killed him.”

“Wow.” | uttered in shock and | shook my head slowly. Poor Helene. To have gone through so much | couldn't imagine what it had been like to be a slave at such a young age. She’d endured so much.

After a moment, | leaned in closer. So, Ronald saved you?”

Helene’s smile grew sardonic. “I had thought so. Ronald seemed to be so nice back then. He was younger and much more handsome than the masters I’d once served. And he was prestigious, of course. What more could a captive wish for?”

She sighed. “I thought I was lucky. But soon, | knew luck had nothing to do with it. The reason Ronald spared my life and saved me was because he wanted to use me

“How | implored.

Helene offered me a rueful smile. “There’s only one way a man can make use of a woman who doesn’t have anything but her body. Needless to say, after all I’ve been through... I’m fed up with this life. | want to leave it all behind.”

| didn’t know what to say.

This was all so much to process.

“Despite my excellent performance, Ronald has never stopped watching me,” Helene continued on. “But ever since you two began to meet, he hasn’t paid as much attention to me. | think the chance to go has finally come. Luck is finally on my side. This is where you come in.”

“What can | do?” | wondered cautiously.

| think the wedding would be the best opportunity to escape,” she said quietly. “The gate will be opened for guests. Some of them will be from Southern areas. If we plan it just right, we could blend ourselves among the servants and slip out.”

Her eyes seemed enthusiastic at the mere suggestion, and | didn’t want to let her down, but | wasn’t sure how this would work “I'm worried this will be extremely difficult,” | admitted. “And | don’t know that I can leave with you. It’s too dangerous, and | can’t just leave my son and maid behind”

The light left Helene’s eyes and her smile waned for just a moment. Disappointment flashed across her features and she sighed. Maybe she was let down by my response, or maybe she knew that this was too impossible. She continued to smile. but | knew it was just part of her performance

My heart clenched in my chest and it took all of my power to keep from crying Helene was clearly in pain and | wanted to get hex far away from this place she didn’t deserve any of this wanted nothing more than for her to return to her homeland wherever it was, and try to live the life that had been jobbed from her in the raud

| datar katos if | should have said it, but | couldnt stop ends from falling out of my mouth any way

though | don’t thank thas

idea | help you” | said. “If you re determined to get away from your nightmare. |

Chapter 229

After days and nights of hard work, | finally hit my breaking point and collapsed.

D ickson had been right when he’d tried to tell me to slow down, but | hadn’t been eager to listen. So, when my body finally eaved, | succumbed to an intense bout of illness. Di ckson ushered me into a private room in the clinic and started treating. me right away.

| was feverish for days and my mind was dizzy. The hours move in ways | couldn’t comprehend, and | didn’t know how long | had been sleeping. | could feel it when D ickson came into my room and applied a cool cloth to my forehead, but | didn’t have the strength to say anything. | was far too weak to move or speak

Sometimes, | had nightmares. In those wicked dreams, | would see the faces of Marina and Angela, as well as shadow-like beings that lingered in the background. The shadows would surround me and try to engulf me with their black power.

| would wake from them crying but then fall back into heavy slumber. This continued on for a while, until finally, one night, | opened my eyes and found the strength to move.

| was woken up by a loud noise downstairs. Though the voices were faint. | heard someone talking with great emotion. Soon after, another more soothing voice tried to calm them down. As they spoke, | glanced at the clock. It was quite late and well past clinic hours.

So, who was the mystery visitor?

| removed the cloth from my head and carefully got out of bed. My legs wobbled, and | took a moment to acclimate myself before | took a timid step forward. Once | was certain | could move without falling, | walked over to the door and then quietly moved to the staircase.

After a moment of pause, | climbed down the stairs, and when | reached the bottom, | was surprised to see Jasper and D ckson. “Becky?” D ickson asked in surprise, and he rushed to my side swiftly. He instinctually held his arm out to steady me and I accepted it gratefully. “What are you doing down here?”

“What happened to you. Becky?” Jasper asked with concern as his eyes trailed over me. | hadn’t had a chance to look at myself, but | was almost certain that | looked pale and terrible. There was no way that | appeared as put-together as 1 normally did, not if I'd been unconscious for so long.

“She’s been working too many hours,” Di ckson explained for me, and he led me over to a chair. “She’s worn out.”

“But I’ve slept enough now,” | insisted, though | took a seat anyway. “Or maybe I’ve been asleep for too long How many days was out for?

Di ckson frowned and stared at me as if | were insane. “You've only slept for half a day, Becky”

| was unmediately taken aback. Considering how many had dreams | had | thought I’d been asleep for at least three days. It certainly felt like it.

But despair my conson. | brushed my thoughts aside and loodied at Jasper What was the tall, muscular guard tromm Wild Crawler doing here Shouldn’t he have been at Marley’s side, attending to the many aiding patients in the Pack’s chine

“What a going on | wondered and Jasper’s expression gees serious

Marley se me he explained vaguely and after he exhaled sleeply, he continued Something happened my Wild Crawler

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My heart began to race in anticipation. “What happened?”

Jasper exchanged a glance with Di ckson. They seemed reluctant to share, but the time for vagueness ha They needed to be upfront with me.

Don’t hide anything from me. | insisted as | glanced between them. “I’m feeling much better now. | can hand

Jasper hesitated, but after a deep breath, he said something that made me stop in my tracks.

“This is going to sound crazy. But some of the patients the ones that have died...well.. they've come back to life.

1 stared at him in disbelief, but | knew at once from his solemn expression that he wasn’t joking.

“What are you talking about?” | demanded. “I don’t understand.”

“| know it sounds crazy,” he repeated. “It’s rather shocking, but I’m telling you the truth.”

He shook his head and then leaned against the nearest table and crossed his muscular arms.

“The death number in Wild Crawler has been increasing,” he explained. “As a result, some of the corpses weren't burnt or buried in a timely fashion. Two days ago, two of the guards of the mortuary were attacked. One died and the other was heavily injured. The one who survived reported what happened to him. He told Marley and Alpha Rayden that he’d been attacked by a corpse, only it wasn’t a corpse... it was a moving, breathing entity.”

My lips parted in shock.

A breathing corpse?

This sounded like a twisted nightmare, one even scarier than the ones I'd endured upstairs.

“Marley and Rayden thought it would be necessary to send me here and tell you both what happened.” Jasper said. “We thought you might have an explanation.”

“| don’t know.” | admitted as | shook my head. “Nothing like that happened when the first patient died. The coroner took quite a few days to examine the body and complete his report. The body never reanimated.”

Jasper nodded “Marley considered that as well. But she proposed a theory... she believes that the first patient didn’t actually die from the disease”

“What do you mean Di ckson spoke up, and he pushed his dark glasses up the bridge of his nose.

“The first one who died was old and he had many other diseases, Jasper offered. “The mysterious illness might have been a trigger but it wasn’t the ultimate reason for his demise

| considered this idea for a moment and then frowned. “So that would mean that the patients who died directly from the disease are more likely to reanimate? To become the living dead”

“That’s Marley’s speculation” Jasper sad..

Tist my lower lip and pondered

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| nodded thoughtfully Did Marley manage to take a blood sample

“There was no blood sample.” the guard answered. “The living dead had no blood in their veins.”

| felt a little defeated at his reply. A blood sample could have given us a great deal of answers and would have been immensely helpful.

When | frowned, Jasper reached into a leather bag beside him and retrieved some papers. He held them out to me.

“You'll understand what | mean after you read Marley’s report”

[e)

Chapter 230

Just as Jasper suggested. Marley’s report was concise and clear.

The reanimated corpses had gained newfound strength in death They were able to move and attack swiftly and gracefully They also had great physical strength, more so than some of the most impressive and powerful werewolves in Wegalla

However, they didn’t seem to possess the ability to think for themselves Marley also wrote that she didn’t think they had. sight as well because when the surviving guard ran away for help and returned with a group of heavily armed individuals. they all witnessed the living dead still attacking the body of the dead guard. Marley surmised that the smell of flesh and blood attracted them to a target and that alone seemed to be the reason why they attacked.

As | scanned the report, | made note of a few question marks Marley had scrawled beside some bulleted points. There seemed to be some things she wasn’t sure about, but from her findings, | could draw a few simple truths,

First, the “living dead” were still dead. Despite their reanimation, they had no heartbeat, and their blood didn’t flow

Second, they were inclined to attack living people. It was as if they were possessed by evil spirits and were fueled by a desire to kill.

As I’considered everything I'd just read, | carefully rose from my chair, and without a word, walked past Jasper and into my lab. | retrieved my record and scanned through my notes. After a minute. | found a few comments I’d made, about the poison.

Yes, 1 had suspected that the final stage of this mysterious disease appeared to be mind-destroying, but | never got the opportunity to confirm it with Dic kson, as | was overwhelmed by everything that had happened recently.

| stared at my notes for a moment and then walked back out into the lobby.

“Is it true that the patients at their final stage of the disease appeared to be losing their minds?” | asked Jasper and D ick son bluntly. The were silent for a moment and then Dic kson nodded.

“| treated a patient who could hardly form a complete sentence or recognize their own relatives,” he said quietly, and his sky-blue eyes looked defeated behind his glasses. “But then again, we need to keep in mind that many diseases have similar

traits

“| know,” | replied. “And most of those diseases are mental illnesses. This is different. This disease comes from a poison.” Dic kson frowned but then nodded thoughifully.

“We all believed that the poison was intended to kill someone.” | said before | could stop myself. “But maybe it isn’t. Maybe it’s aimed at changing people’s nervous systems and manufacturing the living dead.”

Jasper inhaled sharply and stared at me as if I’d uttered something absolutely insane. “How is that possible?”

| shook my head. “I don’t know. I’m willing to bet that only a sorcerer or sorceress would know how people could move and attack when their body is no longer living. But what | do know for certain is that this is dangerous, much more dangerous. than any other terrible disease

After all, what would be more horrible than death?

Turning into a monster.

“Did you find out who carried out the poisoning Laskeid Jasper,

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Chapter 230)

He shook his head. “Not yet, but we did find someone suspicious. One of the guards in Wild G interested in the “living dead’ and was caught messing with some of the corpses when Alpha burnt. It seemed almost as if he wanted to steal them away before they could be destroyed.

“Who were they?” Dic kson wondered.

Jasper shrugged. “We don’t know his name. He was caught and interrogated, but we couldn’t find out we could confirm with certainty is that he wasn’t a Southerner. His accent was different.”

“He was....” Di ckson trailed off.

“A Northerner?” | finished for him, and we exchanged a fearful glance with one another.

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“We suppose so,” Jasper replied as his eyebrows knitted together. “We believe he was some sort of spy. But we couldn't fi out more because the guard took his own life after the initial interrogation.”

My heartbeat quickened and my stomach twisted into knots. A Northern spy? There was only one explanation, and the m thought of it was nearly enough to make me sick. As my head began to pound, | reached out and steadied myself on a nearby table. My head swam with dizziness and my lower lip trembled.

Di ckson stared at me with concern, but | held my hand up when he tried to walk over to me. Jasper seemed too stressed to notice my bout of sickness, but | didn’t blame him at all. This was all a terrifying mess.

“If the guard was from the North...this must have something to do with Yurene,” | expressed, fear painting my tone. “No other Pack would be able to plan something of this magnitude.

Ashudder ran through me.

Ca ssandra could be in danger.

“We have to do something to inform Cas sandra about what happened in Wild Crawler,” | blurted out, and my chest heaved as | fought to catch my breath. My poor, dear friend was trapped up in that snowy, terrifying place.

“Calm down, Becky,” Dic kson said, and he tried to steady me as | fidgeted, but it was no use.

“| can’t,” | said as | shook my head back and forth. “We have to do something. We could write, or phone, or... anything. We have to tell Cas sandra”

“That’s not possible, Becky,” Di ckson said gently, and when he lightly touched my arm, | met his gaze and nearly broke into tears. “If the king of Yurene is the mastermind of this whole twisted situation, there’s no way for us to reach out and tell Cas sandra the truth. He’d never allow it and we have no point of contact.”

While | knew he was right, | couldn’t just give it up. She was my dearest friend. | couldn’t let this go.

“Is there a way for someone to enter Yurene and get in touch with her?” | asked desperately. | knew the question sounded even crazier, but | couldn’t help it.

Silence hung in the room and no one met my eyes. | stood there helpless and shaking, as | waited for an answer | knew would never happen

Ca ssandra was long gone she'd been taken by Kaleli to that awful country, meanwhile, the Northern king was trying to mess with Wegalla if this potser continued to spread and patients reached the final stage of the disease, there would be a full-on cone that would be difficult to stop. There was in telling how far this pilot would go, but as | considered everything. my only comeniu Jasper suddenly cleared his throat and cased the tension.

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“There might be a way-he said quietly.

| froze in place and stopped fidgeting. “What do you mean, Jasper?”

“Yes, what are you suggesting?” D ickson chimed in his tone utterly cautious,

Jasper hesitated and then continued.

“Rayden mentioned there will be a wedding happening in Wild Crawler soon,” the guard stated vaguely. “It might be our