Ch. 271..275: Alpha King’s Lost Luna Chapter 271-275

Chapter 271

After what felt like an eternity of hearing about the event, Ronald and Helene’s wedding day came.

Aside from the new guests who had arrived early in the morning, everyone was invited to visit Ronald’s residence and have lunch with the happy couple.

Just as I had yesterday, I’d decided to take a walk around the castle grounds, and as I roamed about, I shivered. The weather wasn’t ideal for a wedding. It was incredibly dismal and cloudy, not to mention windy, with no sun shining through the thick layer of clouds. It looked like it could rain at any given moment. I doubted there would be a visible moon in the sky when the night came.

In the South, werewolf couples had to make their vows beneath the moon, otherwise, it was believed the marriage would be doomed. It was a superstition, most likely, but still, it was an important thing to my people.

But the Northerners didn’t seem to care about such traditions. I heard no mentions of the moon at all amongst the guests or anyone else in the castle.

When the sky grew darker, the guards approached me and recommended that I go back to my room, but I wanted to stay. I hadn’t brought Finnick or Lila with me today. I needed some quietness to contemplate my next moves and my son had been overly excited from the moment he’d awoken. Though he liked nothing about the North, he was very much looking forward to the wedding.

I couldn’t blame him. Every kid loved big events with colorful balloons and joyful people, and Finnick was no exception.

Ms. Benn hadn’t brought Lila to our room this morning since we’d all be attending Ronald’s wedding tonight and she would be on duty until very late. Her daughter had been placed under the care of a maid who wasn’t going to serve tonight. I supposed it was an excuse. Ms. Benn was probably afraid I was going to do something bad tonight and didn’t want Lila to get involved.

I didn’t blame her, but I couldn’t care less about any of them now. The only thing that occupied my mind was Asher’s condition.

The Alpha King’s condition had raised a serious new issue. I had planned to gather

Dreame

enough information and get the antidotes before finding a way to leave Yurenee, but now,

all I could think about was his disease. I wasn’t sure if the antidotes would be useful to Asher, but I was certain that if anyone could cure him, it was Raven.

That’s why this had been so complicated and difficult.

I needed to change my plan but I honestly didn’t know if there was another plan I could come up with. I needed Raven to help me. If the sorceress was unwilling, I would have to kidnap her. I would do anything necessary to help ASher, even if it was completely unwise or crazy.

I had been thinking all night, trying to figure out a feasible solution, but things were complicated, to say the least. Asher told me that he had only brought six soldiers with him to Yurene. That wasn’t nearly enough to go up against Kaleb. Not only that, but the only weapons I had were Helene’s needles and my little self- made one. While they could do a decent amount of damage, there was only so much they could inflict if necessary, and I wasn’t sure if this would be enough to get us out of Vlokwell.

I had a strong feeling that we could get away from here if we were smart enough, but taking the most important sorceress in Yurene with us… was another story completely. I had no idea how we could sneak Raven out of here, especially with how she tended to run her mouth. How could we get her quiet enough to sneak away? Especially if she didn’t want to go with us willingly?

Then there was the matter of Finnick and Erika. I couldn’t leave them behind, but could I help them get away? I knew that Erika could handle herself perfectly well, but Finnick was just a little boy. He was serious and intelligent, but he was still a child, and he wouldn’t understand what was happening. I knew him well enough to know that he would be too frightened to get away, and I couldn’t risk letting him fall behind.

As I stared up at the terrible, cloudy sky, I wanted to let out a frustrated scream of anguish. There was so much to risk here and I didn’t know what to do about any of it. Things felt even more impossible than usual, and I was failing to find a solution to solve all of the arising issues.

Asher had told me that it was alright. As long as I no longer wanted to send him away, as long as we were together, there was nothing to be afraid of. He would love me for the rest of his existence and he didn’t care about anything else so long as I was by his side.

Dreame

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As loving as the sentiment was, I hadn’t allowed him to speak of death. He wouldn’t die. He must not die. We still had the rest of our lives ahead of us. We were so young and had so many more years to come. I would do anything to save him so that we could live out those years together, but as I stared up hopelessly at the sky, I began to doubt myself. How could I save him from such a miserable, premature fate?

I knew that Raven would surely be present at the wedding banquet. She was an important figure here at Vlokwell, so her attendance was probably necessary. Maybe I could take the chance…, ask her to have a conversation with me in private, pull her aside and take her where no one could see us, and then have Asher’s soldiers subdue her. I could administer anesthesia and perhaps it would take effect quickly enough to pull this off.

But how could we pass all the necessary checkpoints if we carried an unconscious Raven with us? Her limp body would attract too much attention for us to sneak her past the guards, and I could think of no reasonable explanation to offer them if we got caught.

My head started to ache as my thoughts swirled around in my mind. I stopped in place and took a few deep breaths as I tried to collect myself. This seemed impossible, but I needed to stay as level-headed as possible if I wanted to survive.

Just as I did, I noticed that someone in the distance was trying to catch my attention. A man was standing beside a huge wooden box similar to the one I’d seen yesterday. He was dressed in a uniform

I didn’t recognize, and it wasn’t until I took a few steps forward that I began to recognize him. When he waved at me excitedly, my lips parted in surprise, and I let out an involuntary gasp of complete surprise.

It wasn’t just any man standing there in the garden.

It was Rayden.

Chapter 272

The moment I’d noticed Rayden, it seemed like the guards had done the same. As the tall, dark-haired man from Wild Crawler approached me with long strides, I noticed the guards all tense up in unison.

I began to panic. What was about to happen? And what was Rayden doing here in Vlokwell?

Before Rayden was about to greet me, one of the guards stopped him from getting any closer to me. I flashed Rayden a firm expression and silently let him know that it wasn’t wise to show that he knew me.

I half-expected confusion, but Rayden understood immediately. Instead of acting like he was coming to speak with me, he turned his attention to the guards and wore an expression of confusion.

“I’m so sorry,” he apologized to them with a convincing frown on his tanned face. “I think I’m lost. I had been led to my room by a nice maid before, but I came out here to tell my serv ants that they needed to be careful with our boxes. I know it might sound silly, but when I decided to go back to my chamber, I found myself lost in the crowd. There are so many people here and this is my first time at Vlokwell, after all.”

One of the guards, an older one with gray hair, looked suspicious of Rayden’s

story.

“Where are you staying?” he demanded. “What room and building?”

Rayden answered him quickly, and then the guard’s expression softened, as if he believed him.

“It’s that way,” he said gruffly, and then he pointed beyond us.

Rayden nodded and then gave him a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much for your help, sir. It’s greatly appreciated.”

He left hastily, and as I dedicated the room number he’d provided to memory, I realized that he was staying in the same building Asher and I were in. His room number indicated that he was on the same floor as Asher and I forced myself to keep a straight face even though I wanted to squeal with happiness.

What a lucky coincidence!

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I couldn’t believe how this all had worked out. I hadn’t expected to see my old friend Rayden here in Yurene and now that he was here, perhaps my plan could work out after all.

As it started to rain, I informed the guards that I was going inside, and after they nodded, I decided to visit Rayden immediately. We had much to discuss and I couldn’t wait a moment longer.

Once I got inside the building, I climbed up the stairs and went directly to the fourth floor. Since it was Ronald and Helene’s wedding day, there were no maids or serv ants in the entire side building, and because all of the guests were in Ronald’s tower residence, there were no guests in the corridor either. It was completely empty, which meant I could relax, at least just a little.

I hastened my pace but kept myself calm. I didn’t want to overwhelm Rayden straight away, but I knew there was a strong chance of it anyway.

I stopped in front of the door with the number Rayden had told the guards and then knocked on the door. After the first knock, the door opened, and Rayden’s broad, white-toothed smile greeted me warmly.

There was another young man I didn’t recognize with him in the room, but he looked much more shy than my old friend.

“Is it alright if we have the room for a moment?” Rayden asked him kindly. “This is my old friend, Melissa, from a Pack on the other side of the country. We haven’t spoken in quite some time and I’d like to catch up.”

Much to my relief and surprise, his companion didn’t question his excuse at all.

“Nice to meet you, Melissa,” he said simply and then he left the room. Once he was gone, Rayden closed the door behind him and then stared at me in disbelief. His eyes trailed over me nervously, and he tugged at his long bluish-black hair.

“Hello, Cassandra,” he greeted me. “Please, come sit.”

I smiled back at him, and once I took a seat, he got to work and made me some tea. The room was silent for a while, and once it was done, he sat down at the small table with me and fidgeted with his sleeves.

“Why are you here, Rayden?” I asked him after a moment. I realized it was blunt, but I couldn’t think of another way to ask him how he was here in Yurene.

“I heard you were about to marry the Northern king,” he explained. “I thought you must have been forced into it, so I came here to help you escape.”

<

A small chuckle escaped my lips. It seemed that everyone had heard the news of my engagement. Rayden seemed confused by my reaction, so I explained what was happening.

“I accepted the king’s proposal, but it’s not what you think,” I assured him vaguely. “That being said, I do need your help with something, Rayden.”

He nodded happily at my statement, as if he were thrilled by the concept. He started to ask me how I was doing and if I was alright, but before he could get too much further, I held up my hand to stop him.

“I’m sorry, Rayden, but I can’t talk for much longer,” I said politely. “I’m unharmed, I promise. But I’ve found out some of Kaleb’s plan.”

When I told him about the idea of a human body weapon, Rayden appeared excited and then angry. When I questioned his reaction, he told me about the “living dead” and the progress of Becky’s research.

As he told me all about it, I saw there in shock. Though I had suspected the living dead might be a reality and not just a joke Kaleb had made, I was still taken aback by it all. But at the same time, I was happy to hear that Becky had made great progress toward an antidote.

Rayden told me that the antidote Becky had invented had indeed passed the

necessary tests.

“Now that there’s a cure, everything can get back to normal,” he explained, his tone seeping with happiness as he smiled at me. “Everyone is going to be so thrilled to see you back, Cassandra.”

I didn’t want to ruin his mood, so I simply asked how he got here to Yurene. As far as I knew Wild Cralwer hadn’t been invited to the wedding, so how had he gotten North?

Rayden told me he hadn’t been invited, but had instead asked for help from his father’s best friend, the Alpha of the Red Stone, an autonomous Pack that bordered Wild Crawler.

I nodded my head as I considered his words. “How many came with you?”

“More than twenty,” he explained. “If including the Alpha’s se vants.”

I nodded, “Would the Alpha of Red Stone help?”

“He’s been like my uncle for my entire life,” Rayden explained. “I can ensure he’ll

help. Besides, it shouldn’t be difficult to get you and Finnick out of here.”

I shook my head and leaned forward in my seat. “It’s more complicated than that, Rayden. It isn’t just me here, Rayden. Our king is here too. The Alpha King.”

Chapter 273

The day after the sudden attack in Sky Pride, Asher departed for Yurene to save Cassandra, and not soon after my stepbrother left, Alpha Arthur fell into a coma.

It was a sudden occurrence, even more surprising than the attack on Silas, and though the healers of the remote Pack couldn’t identify the exact cause, they suggested the attack had caused excessive emotional fluctuation.

Arthur’s daughter Kiara was utterly distraught by her father’s loss of consciousness, and just after the Alpha was escorted to a private wing of his castle to be observed, I had to pull her into another room and rub her back as she wept.

I wasn’t sure how long we were there, but time ceased to matter as I rubbed the poor girl’s back and assured her that things would be fine. I wasn’t entirely sure that was true, but I had to keep the hope alive regardless. We needed Sky Pride’s assistance if things we were to go to war against Yurene, but even that aside, I didn’t want Arthur to pass away. He was a little strange, but he was an earnest man, and the last thing this Pack needed was the loss of their leader.

Since Kiara and I hadn’t officially been wed, according to the traditions of the Pack, Darwin was appointed to manage on behalf of the Alpha.

However, despite this technicality, Darwin and I always found ourselves at odds with one another. We were constantly butting heads, and it made things challenging.

For example, Darwin believed that Silas Moses should be sent away immediately, while I countered that the Beta needed proper medical treatment before leaving. I worried that otherwise, Silas could die

on the road back to Anemond, but Darwin didn’t seem to care much. He insisted that Silas be sent away at once, and since he had the final decision, I had no choice but to comply.

Thankfully, Darwin agreed to let two healers accompany Silas on his way back to Anemond. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless, so I had to celebrate as much as I could.

Hours later, Silas was sent away to Anemond, and as he was being ushered away to return to the capital, I sent a prayer to the Moon Goddess for both his safety on the road, and for his health to be restored. While Silas and I weren’t exactly the best of friends, I didn’t wish him any ill will.

Once he was gone, we returned to the castle’s meeting room, and the subject of

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Roxy was brought up. Darwin thought we had spent too much time and resources watching over the Yurenian sorceress. The Hand of the Alpha pointed out that we had already sent the most elite soldiers away with the Alpha King.

“Why should our men waste their efforts on some Northern sorceress?” he sniffed angrily as he crossed his arms against his chest and raised his nose haughtily, “I see no reason to keep her here.”

“Roxy is dangerous, but useful,” I tried pointing out, but Darwin laughed before I could finish my statement.

“She is not useful to Sky Pride,” he insisted.

Such arguments lasted for almost the whole day. Darwin hardly made any concessions. An unpleasant atmosphere seemed to hand in the air, partly due to the Alpha’s illness, and partly because of the tension between us. Darwin had the utmost authority here, and as much as I hated his declarations, I found it hard to challenge him. Other members of the Pack, despite outwardly appearing to disagree with Darwin’s views, complied with his instruction nonetheless.

It was understandable yet frustrating, and when we adjourned for the day, I headed back to my chambers. Once the door to my room was closed tightly behind me, let out a loud groan of defeat.

I

This had all been more challenging than I’d expected. I thought I could use Sky Pride to combat Oliver Moses, but after the events of the day, this idea seemed impossible because Darwin would surely object to it. The sno oty Hand of the Alpha was far more difficult to deal with than Alpha Arthur, and I had no idea how to handle things here.

When night fell, I heard a knock at my door. I let out a soft sigh, assuming it was Darwin, but much to my surprise, it was Kiara on the other side. She smiled at me warmly and gestured down at the food tray in her arms.

“Hello,” she said softly. “I heard you hadn’t had dinner, so I brought you some

food.”

“You didn’t have to do that” I said. “That was very kind of you. Please, come take a

seat with me.”

The Alpha’s daughter nodded, and then she joined me at the table in the corner of the room. As she arranged the tray in front of me, her hands shook a little, and she bit her full lower lip.

“How are you doing, Kiara?” I asked after a moment of silence.

“I’ve been so worried about my father,” she admitted, and then she tugged on a strand of her long curly hair. “I’ve been praying to the Moon Goddess for his safety. I hope it will help.”

“I’m sure it will,” I assured her. “That was very nice of you.”

She smiled humbly and then glanced toward the window. As I noticed the regality of her delicate side profile, a strong sense of guilt seized my heart. Kiara was so innocent and pure… and I was using her, wasn’t I?

“I hope I didn’t interrupt your evening,” she spoke up as she turned back to face me. “I just wanted to tell you something.”

I gave her a smile and the warmest voice possible. “You weren’t interrupting, I promise. What did you want to tell me?”

Kiara hesitated a moment and then spoke. “Darwin said something to me a few hours ago…”

She gulped heavily and then her eyes fell to the table.

“What did he tell you?” I asked gently as concern flooded through my mind.

Kiara’s beautiful hazel eyes met mine.

“He told me he loves me,” she admitted. “And that he wants me to reject your proposal.”

My eyebrows shot up, though I wasn’t that surprised. I wasn’t blind. I could see a glint in Darwin’s s when he looked in Kiara’s direction. But obviously, Alpha

Arthur had no intention of marrying Kiara to him.

I was certain that Darwin was taking advantage of the fact that the Alpha was ill to make his move and that my presence only served as a further threat.

“And what did you say to him?” I asked, and then another question escaped me. “How do you feel about his declaration?”

Kiara shook her head. “I… I/don’t feel that way about him.”

I nodded my head and then my eyebrows knitted together. “What made you want to tell me this? I don’t mind you sharing things with me, I’m merely curious.”

She twisted a coil of her hair around her finger nervously and her cheeks flushed. The bit of warmth against her dark skin was lovely, and for a moment, I was in awe of her. She was so effortlessly beautiful.

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After a moment, her eyes met mine again. “Do you love me, Kane? I… I want an honest answer.”

I sat there frozen for a moment, which she misinterpreted at once.

“I knew it,” she said as she smiled bitterly. “I know the reality of it all. I’ve never been an attractive girl-”

“You’re a very lovely girl,” I interrupted her, and I leaned forward in my seat. “I promise, Kiara, I’m telling you the truth. You’re so much more than you think you

are.”

“That’s kind of you to say,” she remarked, seeming like she didn’t believe me. “My father has always told me that love wasn’t necessary in a marriage. He told me he wasn’t in love with my mother when they got married, but their marriage was good anyway. Is that true? Are loveless marriages able to work?”

I didn’t know what to say. My mind immediately went to my mother. Her first husband, my biological father, was no more than an ambiguous figure. All Margaret had ever told me was that he was an abusive man who left us right after I was born.

And the former King, Asher’s father… though he married Margaret shortly after the queen died, he didn’t love my mother at all.

 

Chapter 274

Even as a child, I had been well aware of the fact that my new stepfather didn’t love my mother. Though the King of Wegalla had always treated us well, and Margaret never complained about his lack of attention or kindness, it wasn’t difficult to tell that he didn’t share any affection toward her. Truthfully, Asher’s father had only married Margaret because she had been his late wife’s maid. After Selene Collins’ death, the king was desperate to learn any and all information he could about the queen, and he saw his union with my mother as an opportunity.

He asked Margaret to tell him everything about the late queen: how she had laughed, how she would smile, the things that brought her happiness. Every single detail about her. Selene was the only subject of their conversations, and while my mother didn’t outwardly protest or refuse him, it bothered her greatly.

She had told me once that she believed the king was just trapped in his regret. He regretted that he had neglected his beautiful and beloved wife. He was remorseful and told my mother once in a drunken stupor that life felt unbearable after Selene’s death.

Despite the king’s words and actions, Margaret was fully convinced things would change. She believed that if she tried hard enough, she could help Asher’s father forget Selene.

But it was nothing more than a delusion in her mind.

Things didn’t improve, not in the slightest.

One day, I had even heard the king ask Margaret to imitate Selene.

I didn’t remember what I had wanted that day, but I had overheard the conversation when I was roaming the halls of Merliscire in search of my mother. I had been searching high and low, and when I arrived in the corridor near their room, I heard voices filtering out. I froze for a moment and then quietly crept toward the room until I was just outside of it. I crouched down low to ensure I wasn’t detected and held my breath as I listened in.

Their conversation was nothing noteworthy until the king asked my mother to speak like Selene. It wasn’t a typical order, more like a plea, and when he spoke the words out loud, Margaret had laughed, thinking it was a joke. The moment she had laughed, the king’s demeanor changed and his pleas turned into a command. He told her that as her king, he was giving a command and she had to obey.

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Margaret had done as she was told and obeyed, though she was ashamed to do so. When her imitation didn’t meet the king’s standards he berated her and told her she was a terrible actress.

“I thought you knew Selene the best,” he snarled at her. “That’s why I married you, Margaret. But it seems like I made a mistake.”

He left the room soon after and Margaret broke into tears. Thankfully, the king hadn’t seen me as he rushed out into the corridor, and once he was gone, I ran in to comfort my mom.

As I looked at Kiara, I found it hard to speak. What I wanted to say wasn’t going to do me any good, nor her. I wanted to say that marriage without love often leads to something tragic and horrible.

It was true, considering how Margaret and the king had ended. And it was the deepest secret I held in my heart. I would never find the courage to confess to my brother that Margaret had been complicit in killing his father. She had once confessed to me that she had put an end to the late king’s life using some sort of chronic poison, and while killing was never the answer, I couldn’t blame her for wanting an escape from the cruelty.

Kiara waited patiently for my answer, as if it was going to decide her future for her, and when I didn’t speak, she reached out toward me and gently touched my arm.

“Kane?” she asked softly as her lovely eyes stared into mine.

I snapped out of my daze at once.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized. “I’m just a little distracted. I don’t know, Kiara. I wish I had an answer, but I don’t have one for you.”

The light in her eyes diminished and her gaze dropped at once.

“That’s fine,” she said quickly, and then she nodded her head. “It was st upid of me to ask, of course. You’ve never been married so you wouldn’t know.

She glanced at the window again and then sighed.

“I appreciate your honesty, Kane,” she said. “In the past… suitors would say without hesitation that they were madly in love with me, as if they thought I was too slow- witted to know they were lying. But I’m not. I know most of those men were liars. They only wanted me because I’m the Alpha’s daughter. Their sights were only set on power and a complacent wife.”

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“You shouldn’t demean yourself,” I said softly as I tried to make sense of her words. “Kiara, you’re clever and kind… you deserve so much more than a man who would underappreciate you.”

“Thank you for saying that,” Kiara replied, and she gave me a small smile. “I was happy when you said you wanted to marry me. I had heard about you from cousins and friends who came to visit Anemond at festivals. You’re even more charming than the stories I’ve heard.”

She stopped suddenly and then rose from her chair.

“But I don’t think we should get married,” she said, and then she nodded her head. “Thank you for your time, Kane. I hope you have a pleasant night.”

Before I could utter a word, the Alpha’s daughter turned and started to walk out of the room. I jumped up from my seat and immediately followed her.

“Kiara-” I called out, but she glanced behind her and stopped in place.

“If we hadn’t met under such a circumstance, would you have ever considered marrying me?” she wondered as her eyes trailed over me. My lips parted, but before I could give her an answer, she continued. “I think Darwin might be the better choice for me. He might be a bit too old, but I know his love for me is real. He’s been here for me longer than anyone else and he’s loyal to my father. He would respect me and treat me well. Perhaps it would be better for me to marry him instead.”

A lump formed in my throat and I wanted to say something, but again, Kiara stopped me, this time holding her hand up.

“I’m not like my father,” she said. “I know the king of Wegalla is in trouble, and I believe Sky Pride should do their duty and support the king. Even if I marry Darwin, I will persuade him to help you, Kane.”

“I don’t think he would,” I countered before I lost the courage to do so. “And I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to marry him.”

Silence hung in the air as my voice disappeared. I hadn’t meant to blurt out the last sentence, but it fell out of me before I could stop it. I didn’t think she should marry that fool of a Hand, but I couldn’t figure out a good reason to give her. I didn’t want to deceive her and tell her that I loved her or promise her a perfect marriage. It would also be cruel to say that I distrusted Darwin and knew she wouldn’t be happy with him without being able to offer her something better.

But it was true.

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I wanted better for her.

She was kind, smart, and beautiful. She didn’t deserve to settle like she thought she did.

Before I could say something more, abrupt knocks on the door cut through the silence, and then the door opened.

One of the soldiers who had been appointed to watch over Roxy stood on the other side.

“Pardon the intrusion, Lord Kane,” the soldier said in a panicked voice. “The sorceress has escaped.”

Chapter 275

Rayden seemed completely surprised by the fact that Asher was here in Yurene as well, and though it was clear from his expression that he wanted to know more about the situation, he didn’t ask for the details.

The new Alpha of Wild Crawler sat at the table patiently and allowed me to share some of the more vague aspects of the king’s presence while leaving out the ones that would get him in trouble if he were caught. I didn’t want to keep secrets from the sweet young man who had come here with the intention of rescuing me, but I didn’t want Rayden to get in trouble on my behalf and face punishment at the hands of these violent Northerners. I’d seen firsthand what the prisoners in the tower looked like after being

tortured and medically experimented on. I wouldn’t risk Rayden’s life like that.

At the same time, there were things I needed him for, and if it was possible to receive his help, I couldn’t refuse.

I told him that we needed to take a sorceress back to Wegalla with us, and to my surprise, he didn’t question the reason. He simply told me that we could use the large wooden boxes for smuggling purposes.

From there, we enacted a plan.

We would move after the wedding ceremony began.

While Helene and Ronald stood there at the altar, Rayden would wait at the gate outside of Vlokwell. Meanwhile, Asher and I would go fetch Raven. I had figured out several routes that weren’t as guarded

as the rest, so I was certain I could get to her without being spotted. Rayden said he’d arrange for some of his companions to be there in case any accidents were to happen. They were loyal to him and he knew they would cooperate easily.

Once our plan was crafted, Rayden and I parted ways, and I left his room quietly. As I stepped into the corridor, I felt the urgent need to talk with Asher, but knew that he was off at Ronald’s residence with the other guests. The Alpha King was wearing a disguise that concealed his identity, and while I knew he would be safe, I was still nervous that he would get caught.

I waited in my room anxiously, pacing back and forth as I waited for him to return, and with every minute that passed, my nervousness grew.

I was sure that Asher would find a reason to come back to meet me before the

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wedding ceremony, but timing was everything. Kaleb was going to send a maid to pick me up, and I needed to make sure all would work out correctly.

A yawn escaped me as I gazed out the window. I didn’t know why I was feeling so exhausted. Perhaps it was the bad weather. The clouds and darkness were an ominous sign, and I hoped it wouldn’t be bad luck.

It was 3:00 PM when Asher finally returned. I knew he was back from Ronald’s when I heard the familiar hum of a Wegallan song. It was the signal we had decided upon the night before. Once I heard the signal, I was supposed to go to the staircase and go down to the fourth floor to meet with him.

I raced out of my room and then headed to the stairs with great haste. Thankfully, no one else had returned to the building yet, so the hall was empty, and I rushed right into Asher’s room without getting caught.

Once the door was closed behind me, Asher swept me into his arms and kissed me. My arms wrapped around him tightly, and he spun me happily in a circle before setting me back down. We continued to kiss passionately, our lips and tongues pressing and exploring each other’s for quite a bit of time. It seemed as if we could never get enough of one another, and the moment we were together, we wanted to give into our wolves’ instinct. Though I couldn’t shift anymore, the primal urge to be together was still quite strong, and it took all of my effort to peel myself off of him:

“What took you so long?” I asked as I gazed up into his sterling eyes.

“Ronald was quite talkative,” he sighed, and he gently stroked my long hair. “I’m sorry I was gone for so long, baby. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

“It’s okay,” I assured him. “While you were gone, I was working on a plan.”

I told him about my reunion with Rayden, and Asher seemed less than pleased that the newly appointed Alpha of Wild Crawler had come all the way to the North to save me, but he listened carefully to our plan anyway.

As I repeated the details to Asher, I felt my confidence grow ever so slightly. Maybe I would always feel more reassured and confident with him at my side.

When I finished talking, Asher leaned down and pressed his lips against mine softly.

“I’m so proud of you,” he told me when he pulled away, and he smiled warmly. “I knew you would figure out a plan, Cas sandra. You’re always my heroine.”

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I smiled back at him, and as love swelled within my heart, he caressed my cheek.

“I need you to promise me that if we can’t get the sorceress, we will still leave this place and find somewhere else to live together,” he said, his voice almost a plea. “I- don’t want you to endanger yourself further.”

Though I nodded my head, I didn’t want to consider the possibility that we might not be able to bring Raven with us. I needed her to come with us to cure Asher’s disease, and despite the promise I made him, I wouldn’t leave empty-handed.

The moment I returned to my room, I raced to get myself ready. Though I wasn’t going to attend the wedding, I needed to appear as if that was the plan.

Erika helped me apply a light touch of makeup and then arranged my hair in a soft, messy updo. I pulled on a pale blue dress with halter straps and a high slit on one side of the skirt that was both pretty to look at and practical enough for me to move quickly if necessary. I added some of the jewelry Kaleb

had given me to further add to the facade, and the moment I finished putting an earring in, there was a knock on the door.

The maid had come to collect us much earlier than anticipated, and Erika let her into the room, the young woman explained that Kaleb wanted to see me before the wedding. While I didn’t understand the reasoning, I nodded anyway.

Erika and Finnick came with me, and both appeared excited to be leaving the chamber. They hadn’t entered the main building or seen the banquet hall before, so they were amazed by its grandness.

When we entered the room, I spotted Kaleb right away. The king of Yurene was drinking in the corner, far away from the crowd, meanwhile, Ronald was chatting with guests in the center.

I asked Erika to take care of Finnick and find him some snacks to eat while I went to see Kaleb. My maid agreed and with no hesitation, she escorted my son away, and I headed toward the Northern King.

While he was wearing a suit and his long golden brown hair had been brushed out and smoothed down, Kaleb’s eyes indicated that he wasn’t all that together. He appeared to be tipsy already, and when I approached him, he smiled at me and took my hand. He pressed his lips against my hand, and when he raised his gaze, his dark blue eyes seemed unusually bright under the light of the chandelier.

He seemed excited. Maybe too excited.

“It’s too noisy in here,” he remarked as he glanced around. “We need to find a better room to talk in. Will you come with me?”

He gestured for me to take his arm, and though I didn’t want to, I complied anyway.