Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 1 Emergency

CASSANDRA

“For the glory of Wegalla Empire, you must die!” Intruders snarled at me as I knelt on the floor.

“Please let me see Asher. Please…” I begged.

“How dare you speak the name of our king!” The soldiers growled and grabbed my hair, forcing me to raise my head. They were like shadows towering over me.

“Please. I need to talk to him. I’m pregnant. I have his baby!” I cried.

The head soldier snorted. “Baby? You think you’d be qualified to deliver a baby for our king? Filthy whore! He won’t come to you anymore. Don’t you understand? He’s with Lady Adalyn. Now drink it!”

“No!”

He pulled me harshly, gripped my face and pried my mouth open. Mysterious liquid flew down my throat.

Burning. I began to gag.

“Die! You wretched moron.” They spat at me before slamming the door. And I heard the click of the lock.

I struggled to move, but my eyes felt swollen, and my legs were strengthless. The smell of smoke quickly filled the room.

Fire engulfed me.

*****

My mind wandered as I stared out the window. The sky was a perfect clear blue, and the air was filled with the sound of children’s laughter. A smile formed on my lips at the sound.

Far beyond me, the pups, accompanied by their parents, made their way toward the forest not too far away from where I sat. It was finally time for the annual hunting festival, and the pups chattered and giggled with excitement as they tugged at their mother’s and father’s sleeves.

I remembered their innocent happiness well. When I had been a pup myself, I’d been infinitely impatient and raced far ahead of my father and brother, urging them the entire way to move faster. I’d been so excited to get a glimpse of the hunting group I wished to one day be a part of. I was eager to find my place amongst the Pack.

I’d been grown for a long time now, and yet, these pups had more freedom than me.

ability to shift into my wolf

cherish. I’d moved far away and

feel the familiar ache of loneliness, the sound of footsteps rang out behind me. I snapped out of my stupor and

Cassandra, I almost fell

hands through her thick dark hair. Her light green eyes were slightly bloodshot, but her small smile offset her tired aura. “It’s been such a crazy day.

her. “Here, come sit down. We still

to be a healer. And Marley had been my first patient. Shortly after I helped heal her, she decided she wanted

on the stool beside me and then glanced out the

believe it’s already time for the hunting festival,” she sighed, and she tucked a strand of hair behind

village has been loud

you imagine? I was stopped by them three times this morning for the question – ‘How to get to

more like your Finnick. He’s such a good boy. Mine are little monsters,

for a moment, and a strange expression crossed her pretty

Cassandra,” she said quietly. “I didn’t

unable to shift, and therefore, I was not allowed to enter the

is too young

five years past since that calamity. I need to

sweet boy?” Marley wondered with a curious

Luna and

son while I

It was accompanied by a peculiar mark on different parts of the patient’s bodies, each slightly raised, red, and warm to

place for him,” Marley interrupted my thoughts again, and then beyond us, bells rang out. She glanced up at the

I nodded. “Let’s go.”

named Anna, and her brown eyes were slightly glazed over. Her skin was pale and coated with a slight sheen of sweat, and her arms were wrapped around herself as she shivered. Marley and I escorted her to a

described her symptoms. For a moment, I was worried she was ill with the mysterious sickness, but it seemed to just be a common cold. I prescribed her some medicine, and after she gratefully thanked me for helping her, the

and suddenly, a tall man burst

dark clothing and the sword at his side indicated his rank. I recognized

was often

him, and I flashed him a smile, assuming it would be returned. When it wasn’t, I knew something was wrong. Jasper was always friendly with Marley and me when he came to the clinic, but today, his expression was

you right away, Cassandra,” he addressed me hurriedly. “You must accompany me to the Pack House. It’s