Ch. 241..245: Alpha King’s Lost Luna Chapter 241-245
Chapter 241 CASSANDRA
The next day, Lawoke with a’lump in my throat. My stomach ached with nervousness, and when | rose from my bed, my entire body trembled so mu li that | needed to sit back down. There was still so much on my mind that | could hardly contain my nerves. As | stared at the rays of sunlight streaming in through the ice-white curtains, | wanted to cry from the
I'd managed to stay strong and keep from breaking down so | wouldn't worry Erika or Finnick, but that task was proving far too difficult these days. Ronald, Emmett, Kaleb, Raven, Asher.. all of them danced around my mind, rendering me unable te handle anything else.
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| wrapped my hands around my sheets and gripped them tightly, so hard that my knuckles turned white. | hated the king of Yurene for putting me in this position for putting all of us here Emmett too.
Suddenly, | heard movement behind me, and when | turned, Finnick stood by my bed, his favorite teddy bear in his hand. His dark hair was rumpled and his big gray eyes were bleary from sleep, but his expression was concerned.
“Mommy?” he prompted me. “Are you okay?”
| forced a smile and nodded. Wordlessly. Finnick walked over and climbed up into my bed. He sat beside me for a moment and then leaned against me.
“It'll be okay,” he whispered, and | wrapped my arm around him pulling him even closer. | kissed the top of his head. “I know, baby. | love you.” “| love you too,” he whispered.
After a while, we crawled back under the covers and cuddled. Finnick fell back asleep, and though | was too alert to do the same, | closed my eyes anyway.
The day could wait. For now, | needed my baby, The meeting with Ronald was in his residence like always.
Usually, when | met with the king’s cousin, Helene would come and say hello to me before she left us alone, but this time. she didn’t come to greet me. | supposed that like Ms. Benn had said the day before, Helene was seriously ill. | didn’t see her or her maid anywhere
Ronald didn’t mention Helene or her sickness either, which surprised me even further. When we stepped out onto the terrace it seemed to be business as usual. His soft blue eyes were more alert than usual, and he wore a curious expression on has handsome face
“Have you made any progress?” he wondered with a slight tilt of his head, and then he took a sip of bitter tea Though he didn’t say it out loud. | knew he was referring to my investigation of Kaleb
| considered mng course of action for the briefest of momenty and then nodded my head. | had prepared for this talk and to tell any lies. | didn’t know how much information Ronald already had and | didn’t want hun to think | was ang or doinuing the truth. That being said | decided not to tell him the whole truth either particularly
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So instead, | told Ronald all about the prison tower and the research being conducted on the top floor, led by Raven and to other researchers. | told him that while | knew they were studying something. | wasn’t sure what exactly because Raven refused to tell me. | briefly described what | had seen in those wards, the dying “guinea pigs. Of course, | didn’t call them that foul nickname, but rather by what they were, prisoners. Victims of horrid experiments.
Ronald frowned, though he didn’t seem to doubt what | told him. He considered my words for a moment and then spoke.
“I've heard hearsay about that prison tower,” he remarked as his eyebrows crinkled and he folded his hands on the table. “But | didn’t expect such craziness from my cousin. Kaleb has always wanted to use evil sorceries to achieve his vile ambitions
His voice trailed off and he shook his head in disgust. | was surprised by the phrase “evil sorceries and didn’t know what to make of it. It was almost as if Ronald forgot that he was half sorcerer himself.
Ronald seemed deeply troubled by this information. His eyes seemed distant and his mouth drew into a thin line. “| hope you'll be able to bring me more information next time,” he said calmly. “We need to work together on this.”
He stared at me, and for a moment, | thought I’d been caught and that Ronald had realized | hadn't told him the whole truth. But he didn’t say anything. He ran his hand through his long hair and stared out at the wall surrounding the fortress. It was clear that he had much on his mind, and | desperately wished | could return to my room and put this conversation to
rest. “How is Helene?” | wondered. “Ms. Benn mentioned she was ill and I’ve been worried.” “Helene is fine,” he said simply. “She just needs some rest. Wedding planning has burnt her out, that’s all.”
His tone gave me the sense that he didn’t want to talk about her at all.
“Does she need someone to examine her?” | pressed. “Or even check in-”
“There’s no need,” Ronald cut me off, and then he shifted the subject abruptly. “Do you know if Kaleb wants to form an army and launch a war against Wegalla?”
Though the question was jarring, | answered it the best | could.
“| can sense so,” | replied. Though | don’t know if it's a solid plan. He hasn’t confirmed or denied it, but | have a strong ferling that he’s got some sort of mission in mind.
Rould nodded. “I think he’s going to take action now, or at least soon. The king of Wegalla has been missing for quite some time. It's the best opportunity for him to strike
My mind suddenly went blank and my lips parted in surprise The king as mussing” | repeated back
Aulier peser returned to Aucmond: What happened to hime Was he even alive | didn’t understand what was happening joner Was soumrone holding han hostage torturing hime And if he was gone, who was running Wegullat
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i pounded an heavily in my cheat that it began to’ ufas my head in
Chapter 242 CASSANDRA
When | awoke. | couldn’t move. | tried to stretch my limbs and make sense of where | was, but it was impossible. | felt as if | was tightly bound to a bed, strapped down with no hope of excipe. It was dark, so | couldn't tell for sure, but | wondered if maybe | was in the bed that I had seen in Raven’s lab in the prison tower.
My breath was so thin that | felt as if | could die at any second. My body was burning, a horrible, aching feeling that | never wanted to experience again. It was almost like | had returned to the inferno in Rosepetal. Maybe | had never truly been saved at all, and everything that had happened to me past the point of the blaze was nothing more than a mere hallucination before death.
Suddenly, | felt my inner wolf groan. A painful groan, followed by anger.
“Why have you been so weak and cowardly?” she growled at me, her voice fierce like Cora’s. “Where has your warrior’s spirit gone?”
She then scolded and cursed me. “You aren’t this person. You aren’t a weakling. You're a daughter of Felix, not some small. sniveling common wolf. So, why are you acting like this?”
| wanted to speak to reply back to her and tell her what had happened to me, but | couldn't. | didn’t have the strength to do so. My body was completely numbed, though my mind was clear. If only | could call out to her with my thoughts and reassure her. tell her that deep down within me, | was the same warrior I’d always sworn to be. I'd tell her that even though I’d merely served as a healer since the blaze had taken my life from me, that hadn’t meant that | wasn’t a fighter.
But then again was | still a fighter? Had 1 cast aside my warrior instinct in favor of surviving?
Suddenly, my wolf appeared before me. Her thick, plush fur was snow white, her body was muscular and strong. Her eyes were the same green as mine. My wolf form was just as beautiful as it had always been
| admired her for a moment and felt a longing in my soul. Seeing her again was like coming home. My wolf stopped cursing and shouting and simply glared at me with her glowing eyes.
must fight now, she insisted as she took a step toward me. “Fight for our mate, our country, and our future You cannot hade in the shadows and be a coward anymore”
Suddenly, | heard the sound of a machine a series of fast beeps accompanied by voices in the far distance.
Sure | wasn’t sure if | was dreaming or not. | couldn't tell it had opened my eyes, though | knew | probably hadn't. | saw my soundings
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Then, | heard Kaleb. “Stop this. This is too much, Raven,”
“This is what has to be done if you want to get it.” she argued. “I won’t lose this opportunity, Kaleb. You should trust me 89
Then, there was a screech | didn’t know what happened, but the space was filled with horrified gasps and angry mumbles Suddenly, | felt someone lift my body, holding me away from the bed, but the moment | rose from the mattress, my min went blank again, and | slipped back into oblivion.
When | finally woke up. | wasn’t in the lab, but | wasn’t in my own chambers either. | was in a large room with a high ceilir that had an elaborate mural of the Moon Goddess upon it. | stared at it for a moment in wonder and then | heard Kaleb’s
voice. “You're awake,” the king of Yurene stated, his tone lacking any sort of emotion
| moved slightly and turned my attention away from the mural. Kaleb was standing not too far away, his navy blue eyes unamused as they regarded me.
| opened my mouth to speak, but my throat was too dry. Kaleb immediately grabbed a glass of water from a table and brought it to me. As | carefully sipped from it, | regained some of my energy.
| suddenly remembered that when I'd fainted, | was on Ronald’s terrace. Would that make Kaleb suspicious? Did this mean that our alliance had been exposed?
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| expected Kaleb to question me, to demand that | confess, but instead, he asked me nothing. He took a seat on the chair beside me and leaned forward.
“You fainted because you aren’t used to the weather in Viokwell,” he assessed. “You've been exhausted these days. | may have pushed you too hard, and for that, I’m sorry Cassandra.
He rose from his chair and stared down at me. His golden brown hair fell loosely over his shoulders and gleamed under the light that streamed in from the window. He was dressed more casually than usual, and | was surprised at the sight of him. Despite his cool demeanor, he seemed fairly calm, if not bored. His expression didn’t seem like one of anger or betrayal.. so had he not suspected anything after all?
“| had Raven check your condition and you're fine, though | didn’t send you to your room because | didn’t want to worry your son Kaleh revealed. “The last thing | wanted was for him to get upset over nothing, though | wouldn’t blame him. He’s been under much stress, as you so clearly have been.”
Though part of me thought it was incredibly considerate that the Northern king had considered the feelings of my son, a lump formed in my throat as the rest of his statement settled in
So, it wasn’t a hallucmation? Were the machines, the tubes, all of it were they real? Had it been real? Were the researchers studying me, probing around, and trying to push me to some sort of extent?
| simply nodded, unable to do much more.
My mind continued to spin in circles as | tried to understand what exactly had happened to nie. Ed supposed that my wolf had been a parafestation of whatever my bram was trying to sort through, but the rest? What was all of that about?
“M. konn will get you something to eat Eatch continued and then he turned and tradict himmelt on the doorway and spoke over balasubder
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| toward the door. Before he left
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Chapter 243 CASSANDRA
The king of Yurene didn’t say anything further before he left the room. Once the door closed behind him. | let out a heavy breath and sat up. | swept my long copper hair off of my sweat-soaked neck and then let out another sigh.
| felt disoriented. | didn’t think Kaleb’s words were truly an indication or acknowledgment of my secret alliance with Ronald. If the Northman truly knew of such a thing, he wouldn't have been so calm while speaking with me. While he wasn’t hotheaded, he also wasn’t relaxed, and | had the sense I’d have seen irritation in his eves.
There was only one explanation. Ronald must have covered the situation.
While | was appreciative of that, | realized that Kaleb had officially put a stop to my visits with Ronald and Helene. Though | could take a chance and try his temper, ignoring what he’d said just now. | didn’t think it was wise. | still had so little information that any bold move could ruin our plans- Ronald's, Helene’s, and mine.
Above all. | needed to find out what had happened to me. And the best source of information, no, the only source of information...
Ms. Benn walked into the room after knocking once. The head housekeeper helf a tray in her hands, and after she acknowledged me with a nod, she set the food plates on the table. She seemed like she didn’t want to be in my presence and was behaving as she had before I’d helped her daughter.
“Ms. Benn,” | prompted her before she could leave. “Could you join me? | could use the company.”
The housekeeper’s ice-blue eyes stared at me in surprise for a moment, and | swore from her expression that she was going to decline my invitation, but then she nodded. As she sat down, | was surprised that she wasn’t arguing against the idea, but | wasn’t going to question it too much.
“Is Lila doing well!” | wondered. “Has her recovery been alright?
“Yes,” she answered. “Everything is fine.”
Her replies were simple and short, but they were better than silence.
| gave her a bitter smile. “I thought you liked me better now, Ms. Benn.”
Implying that | was upset by her cold attitude seemed to do the trick. Her expression softened and then she released a small sigh.
” very much appreciated your help, she admitted, and then her eyes glanced elsewhere. “But | don’t think this is the proper place for someone like myself to stay and chat”
“Why?” | wondered, and then | joked with her “Is this place under surveillance?”
Though it wasn’t a serious statement by any means, Ms Ben seemed taken aback by when | said
“That is absolutely impassible, she uttered as she stared at me in disbelief. This is the kings chainber. It will never he My lips parted as | glanced aroual the room. The king’s chainber
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what I’d have expected from Kaleb. Sure, the bed was quite large, but it was canopied. It was incredibly lovely, not somewhere I'd have expected such a conniving king to reside.
Once | got over the shock, | realized Ms. Benn was right. If it was Kaleb’s chamber, nothing would be nothing would be overheard. This was the best opportunity for me to ask for something | couldn't
| set down my fork and looked at Ms. Benn. “I have a request. And | would like for you to help me.” | made sure to make my tone as serious as possible, and the housekeeper raised an eyebrow.
“| want you to find out what happened to Lady Helene,” | requested.
Ms. Benn frowned and studied me with concern as if I'd said something absolutely ridiculous. ance and
“Something must have happened, and | don’t think it’s an illness that stopped Lady Helene from seeing others,” | continued. “Since the king has forbidden me from going to Lord Ronald's residence... | wanted to ask you for your help.”
“Cassandra, I’m not supposed to snoop in on a lord or lady’s life Ms. Benn replied as she shook her head. “But you are able to do so, | insisted.
Ms. Benn didn’t deny it. | had thought so. As a head maid trusted by the king, Ms. Benn had the freedom to go around the whole castle without suspicion. She was the best choice to help me by far.
Before she could argue, | continued again. “I also need a list of the guests that will be attending the wedding. A full list, if possible.
This time, she stared at me as if my head were on fire and her lips moved downward into a frown. “What do you need that for?” she asked. “| can’t tell you now, but it’s important,” | assured her. “Please, Ms. Benn. | desperately need your help with this matter”
She offered me a weary stare and took a moment to consider my request. She ran a hand over her hair, smoothing a loose strand that came out of her bun, and then let out another very small sigh.
“| can get you a list, but | will have to ask for the king’s permission,” she said. | shook my head. “No, the king can’t know about this. This would have to stay between us.
This agitated Ms Henn. Her cheeks flushed scarlet and her nostrils flared as she spoke
“| don’t know what you’re planning, Miss Keiler, but | won't betray my king, she insisted, every word tinged with anger ‘1 are you that | will do no such thing. If you want the list, the king must know!” the rose to her feet and started.
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Ms. Benn’s face turned ghostly pale. “What do you mean by that?”
As | watched her gulp heavily, | simply shrugged. “Nothing. | just wanted to remind you that Lila hasn’t made a full recovery. A lot of things can change in a short amount of time. Ms. Benn 1 just wanted to remind you of that
Chapter 245 ASHER
When | awoke. | found myself in a terit. My vision was blurred, but | could see the vague outlines surrounding me. The sound of faint voices lingered beyond me, outside, but when | tried to move my lips and utter a sound. | couldn't.
The last thing | could remember was racing heading toward the North. My mission had been so set in my mind that | couldn't understand what | was doing here.
What happened to me?
| wanted to sit up, but despite my every effort, | couldn’t move. My limbs were numb, as if every inch of me had been paralyzed. | couldn’t even lift a finger or curl my toes
Did Kane or Silas drug me? No, that would be ridiculous,
Perhaps this was all just a dream- my vision failed to focus and my body was rendered immobile because | was deep in slumber. That had to be it. The scenes that danced in my mind and swirled around like a tornado were merely a dream, Nothing had actually happened.
After a while, | managed to twitch my finger, and then | could roll onto one side. It took great effort, and once | was there, | heard movement outside. They must have heard me shift.
Silas and Kane rushed into the tent. Their faces wore sithilar expressions of displeasure and a little bit of brooding, which gave me a terrible feeling. Something was wrong, something terrible.
“What happened?” | demanded before they had he chance to speak. My voice was raspy and a little broken, and my throat ached.
The Beta and my stepbrother exchanged a glance. They seemed as if they didn’t want to answer me, so | spoke again. “What happened?” | repeated. “What’s going on??”
Kane exhaled heavily. “Something really weird happened, Asher
“What do you mean?” | wondered.
His violet eyes glanced away and then he shook his head lightly. At first, you were racing so fast that we could barely catch up to you. You were so swift, Asher. And then all of a sudden... you stopped. We caught up to you, and your face looked so. bewildered”
My eyebrows creased together as | med to understand what he was saying. This was all sounding so strange, and when | uned to tracimy memories for what he was talking about | couldn’t remember anything
“Your body went still,” Kane continued. “And then you appeared as if you were going to fant 1 frowned at hom
flas gear seat atter taking a mement tegniter his word. “I was as if you were possessed by a spirit or something We uried to speak wash you tour in was like you could hear like you combinace. You just stout there like you were lost of something We ned everything as could to get you to soap sucht u butu wan Chappening. And then, you closed your
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invented this whole story to deter me from going to the North: Ed remembered seeing red upon learning that Cassandra and the king of Yurene were going to be wed, and it was then it was like Silas had said like something had possessed me
Admittedly, | had a sharp temper, and sometimes, if the situation was dire enough. | lost my composure and lived in a strong state of anger. Yet, I’d never been in this position before. Id never been so upset and out of control
| never lost control. Even in my darkest moments, | was able to remain myself.
Though | didn’t want to believe them. | knew they were telling the truth.
It was like I'd been some kind of puppet controlled by someone else. Stiff and unresponsive before collapsing to the groun | didn’t understand. How was this possible?
What was going on here?
| thought again of Cassandra and wished she were here. As a healer, | was certain she could explain what was going on and why I'd acted in such a manner.
The ghost of her scent lingered in my mind and my heart ached Cassandra.
| took a moment and then looked back at Kane. His expression told me that he was holding something back. His face was weary and his eyes seemed like they were somewhere else.
“Say whatever’s on your mind, Kane,” | stated firmly. “There’s no reason for you to hide anything from me. This is all so confusing and you're making it worse by acting this way. So speak plainly.”
My tone was harsher than usual, and | wished | could have softened it just a little before speaking. | was acting like an egotistical king who couldn’t listen to anyone and only focused on themselves.
Much like my father had been in the old days.
| hated this side of me. | wasn’t this person. But | also hated being this vulnerable. | wasn’t a poor, fragile thing, but the truth of the matter was that my body was weak. | could hardly move from the cot.
Luckily, Kane didn’t seem offended by my severe tone. Instead, he just appeared even more worried. “Asher, where did you get those black marks on your arms?” he asked quietly and my heart stopped.
For a moment, | was confused, and then | remembered the thing I'd long cast aside. The disease. The entire reason I'd insisted Cassandra come back to me with Anemond in the first place. The starting point of our reunion, and the thing that had plagued my nightmares for months.
With everything happening lately, I'd completely neglected my health. But now that | remembered the severity of my condition, the pressure hung around me like a noose.
“| didn’t mean to pry,” Kane continued, and he approached the cot. “But | discovered them when | checked your pulse, and | was shocked, to say the least Asher, they don’t look alright. When did you get them?” | don’t know, | said quickly. It wasn’t a lie, but | knew | must have sounded pessimistic and uncooperative What else could 1 say?
1 buk it could be a good explanation for what happened to you before you fainted, my stepbrother suggested, and he tan Lis hand through his golden hair “Does Cassandra haow abaur marks
Inodded reluctantly and then sighed. “Yes, she does. If they’re the reason for my strange behavior and the stiffness, it must Find CRM For Small Business
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be some sick joke of the Moon Goddess. As strange as it sounds, | thought this was a blessing because it had brought me and Cassandra together again. With her treating me daily, we became close once again. But now we couldn’t be further away from one another
As | continued, my voice grew more and more hysterical. | trembled and couldn't control myself. “Calm down. Asher Kane soothed me as he came closer.
“How can | calm down?” | snapped at him, and then | turned to Silas. “Could you calm down if your mate was in a dangerous situation? Or if she was set to marry another man?”
The Beta frowned and his lips drew into a thin line. He didn’t answer, only stared at me with his strange golden eyes. Kane studied me for a moment and then huffed and turned to Silas.
“Can you leave us for a few minutes?” he requested firmly. “I need to speak with my brother alone.”